Parents' Guide to

Angelo Rules

By Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 6+

Boy's big ideas are funny, but messages are mixed.

TV Cartoon Network, Netflix Kids' Animation 2010
Angelo Rules Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

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age 12+

Based on 3 parent reviews

aya_akrasia
aya_akrasia Adult
July 31, 2020
age 8+

This title has:

Great messages
StevenOT
StevenOT Adult
September 11, 2015
age 10+

fun for kids, but only superficial ethics

My kids like this show, but from watching it with them, I'm concerned. The characters are well developed, quite nuanced but it's the general episode structure I take issue with. To much of it seems to revolve around lying, deception and complex ploys to get what you want. Although this of course may not work out, the few seconds of each episode this makes up probably doesn't get through to the young audience. I feel it portrays adults and peers as gullible fools to be taken advantage of if you can get away with it. If we wanted to raise a generation of con artists, that might be fine- but I have higher aspirations for my kids.
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What's the Story?

To 11-year-old Angelo (voiced by Jennifer Visalli), the world lacks a certain fairness for kids. What with unwelcome household chores and homework assignments that slip your mind, what's a boy to do but devise elaborate schemes to even the odds a bit? And for that, there's no one better than Angelo, whose sees life's little unpleasantries as big opportunities to test his mettle against the unsuspecting adults in charge. With help from his best friends, Sherwood (Aaron Conley) and Lola (Cassandra Morris), Angelo will stop at nothing to ensure that things go according to plan...HIS plan, that is.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (3):
Kids say (6):

ANGELO RULES is one of those shows that can really expose a generational divide in its audience. Whereas kids will relate to Angelo's many quandaries and find his creative solutions hilarious (and possibly even genius), parents are likely to have a slightly different response to his blatant disregard for the rules. True, it's all in fun, but if a message is to be taken from this show, it's that if you set out to get your way, you'd better pull out all the stops on the effort.

That said, Angelo isn't a bad kid, and his relationships with his friends and family show that there is a softer side to him. He's just unwavering in his convictions, and that kind of commitment is bound to stir up trouble at some point. The bottom line? So long as your kids know that Angelo's brand of mischief won't fly with the adults in their lives, this overly confident kid hero's escapades are a fun escape from reality. What's more, the show's creative animation style gives it an unpredictability that viewers will enjoy.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Angelo's schemes. Are they feasible in the real world? Why do his friends go along with him on these plans? Could your kids say "no" if a friend wanted them to do something they knew they shouldn't?

  • Why does Angelo think he has the right to break rules to get what he wants? What would the world be like if everyone lived by that code? Is it ever OK to break a rule?

  • How does this show portray grown-ups? Do Angelo and his friends respect any of them? Kids: Why is it important to respect the adults in your life?

TV Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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