Danger Mouse
Secret agent's globe-trotting adventures are fun for kids.
Danger Mouse
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Danger Mouse is an '80s British cartoon that loosely parodies British spy movies. Despite the good-vs.-evil setup, the characters' exchanges are more comical than they are antagonistic, and what violence exists (bombs, dynamite, etc.) is without consequence. Many of the highbrow jokes will sail over kids' heads, but they make the show a lot of fun for the older crowd as well. The stories make good use of the show's changing settings, exposing kids to basic geography and culture in places like Scotland and Italy.
Community Reviews
Great cartoon
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What's the Story?
DANGER MOUSE is a British series about the world's most cunning secret agent, who just happens to be a rodent. Wherever freedom and safety are threatened, Danger Mouse (voiced by David Jason) is there to save the day. Accompanied by his faithful -- if timid and mishap-prone -- sidekick, Penfold (Terry Scott), DM travels the world to foil the schemes of his archnemesis, Baron Silas Greenback (voiced by Edward Kelsey), and a handful of other villains. Directed by their boss, Colonel K (Kelsey again), DM and Penfold must outwit the best of the worst to protect the world from their evil designs.
Is It Any Good?
Danger Mouse is a much-loved spy spoof whose age does nothing to tarnish its entertainment value. The resourceful protagonist usually divides his energy between unraveling Greenback's plots and rescuing hapless Penfold from one mistake after another, but true to form, he always manages to save the day just in the nick of time. You don't have to be familiar with spy movie tropes to enjoy these stories, but for parents who are and who watch with their kids, the subtle parodies are a fun change of pace.
With clean content throughout, an all-animal cast, and plenty of silly predicaments for the heroes, kids will find a lot to like in this classic. Need another reason to give it a try? This globe-trotting series incorporates aspects of its various settings in ways that introduce kids to notable geography, culture, and artistic qualities of each area, all without seeming (at least to kids) the least bit educational. All in all, that's good stuff from a fun show.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how the villains are presented in this show. Are they at all scary or threatening? How do they interact with Danger Mouse and Penfold? Is it always easy to distinguish good and bad in the real world?
Kids: Why do Danger Mouse and Penfold work well together even though they're very different from each other? Do differences in personality strengthen friendships? When have you experienced this with a friend of yours?
Families can talk about traveling and world cultures. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be? What would you like to see and experience there? What do you think would be some of the highlights of a visitor's trip to where you live?
TV Details
- Premiere date: June 4, 1984
- Cast: David Jason, Edward Kelsey, Terry Scott
- Network: Online
- Genre: Kids' Animation
- Topics: Adventures, Cats, Dogs, and Mice, Great Boy Role Models, Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
- Character Strengths: Courage, Teamwork
- TV rating: TV-Y
- Last updated: July 16, 2022
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