Edens Zero
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Edens Zero
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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 Edens Zero is an action sci-fi anime that amps up the violence and sexiness in the latest series by creator Hiro Mashima (Fairy Tail, Rave Master). While the show emphasizes themes of friendship like most shonen series, it also tackles sensitive topics like trauma, abuse, and sexual violence. Cartoon battles involve explosions, weapons (swords, guns, mech armor), and overpowered punching. There are also scenes where characters kick and hit people lying on the ground. Female characters are sexualized with revealing outfits and exaggerated figures, and are victims of sexual violence -- ranging from men aggressively reaching to touch their breasts or legs, to a story arc about a frog villain trafficking and abusing women. While some characters might verbally call out and such violence, others (including the heroes) enable it with crude sex jokes. Fans of Fairy Tail may enjoy the familiar characters and shonen anime tropes, but audiences should be aware that Edens Zero is a more mature series.
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What's the Story?
EDENS ZERO tells the story of a lost boy traveling space to make friends, discover his history, and fulfill his destiny. When Rebecca Bluegarden (voiced in English dub by Kira Buckland) and her robo-friend Happy (voiced by Tia Ballard) visit the abandoned theme park planet of Granbell, they discover a lone human boy living amongst robots. Shiki (voiced by Sean Chiplock) has always wanted lots of friends, and with Rebecca's arrival he's given a chance to leave Granbell and make his wish come true. On their journey to find Mother, a wish-granting goddess, they meet new companions who join their crew, battle villains across the universe, and get tangled up in time travel, mystery, and warfare of cosmic proportions.
Is It Any Good?
This futuristic space adventure ]follows familiar action anime tropes -- both good and bad -- resulting in a show that, despite a refreshed setting, gets tiresome and at times outright uncomfortable. Edens Zero does have entertaining aspects, like engaging world-building and an eclectic ensemble of characters. It's fun to see Shiki winning dramatic battles in the name of friendship, and it's encouraging to see heroes stand up to villains.
But the fun stops when "fighting for good" is contradicted by characters' treatment of women. The show condemns sexual abuse in the same breath that it condones objectifying and harassing women. The mixed messaging on this topic undermines the show's effectiveness in handling other serious topics.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about violence. Characters use violence in different ways (e.g., to solve problems, express anger, hurt others). Is violence ever justified? Could the characters have handled some situations differently? If so, what could they have done instead?
Families can talk about the relationship between sex, humor, and violence. How can you identify and differentiate between inappropriate and dangerous situations? How can you keep yourself and others safe, especially online?
TV Details
- Premiere date: April 11, 2021
- Cast: Sean Chiplock, Kira Buckland, Tia Ballard
- Network: Netflix
- Genre: Action
- Topics: Adventures, Friendship, Space and Aliens
- TV rating: TV-14
- Last updated: February 17, 2023
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