Common Sense Media Review
By Joly Herman
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Kid-friendly 'toon is more imaginative than most.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 7+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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Johnny Test
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 43 parent reviews
Based on 121 kid reviews
Kids say that while the show can be entertaining and humorous, especially for those who watched it during their childhood, many criticize it for its crude humor, bad role models, and annoying sound effects. Reactions are mixed, with some viewers appreciating the comedy and animation, while others find it repetitive, poorly made, and unsuitable for children due to negative messages.
- humor appeal
- bad role models
- mixed reactions
- crude content
- childhood nostalgia
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Johnny Test (voiced by James Arnold Taylor) is an 11-year-old kid who likes to play air guitar and wants to impress his friends. Everything seems pretty normal ... until his sisters begin to experiment on him with the vengeance of amateur mad scientists. With Mary and Susan's help, Johnny gets powers such as the ability to travel through time or gain supernatural intelligence when he dons a pair of pants. Other experiments have silly side-effects like hairstyles that change in the blink of an eye.
Is It Any Good?
Surprisingly inventive and not as violent as other cartoons in this genre, JOHNNY TEST is an age-appropriate choice for kids. The only thing worth mentioning: All the experiments Johnny undergoes are unattended by adults, which allows all types of zany plots to unfold. But as long as he's in one piece by dinner time, Johnny is free to be experimented upon every day.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Johnny's parents' role reversal. Hugh is a stay-at-home dad, while Lila is an extremely busy working mom. How do real families cope with sharing roles? How have these roles changed over the years?
Which of Johnny's powers would you most want to have? Would you be willing to go through a dangerous experiment to get a special ability?
TV Details
- Premiere date : September 17, 2005
- Cast : James Arnold Taylor , Louis Chirillo , Maryke Hendrikse
- Networks : Cartoon Network , WB
- Genre : Kids' Animation
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures , Book Characters
- TV rating :
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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