Kappa Mikey
A home-grown anime series for the tween set.
Parents say
Based on 5 reviews
Kids say
Based on 19 reviews
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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 this show lacks meaningful substance and has little educational value, but aside from that, it's harmless entertainment. Any violence is confined to the LilyMu scenes (the superhero show-within-a-show portion of each episode), and characters are not harmed.
Community Reviews
Mindless but funny parody of the anime genre
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I like Kappa Mikey,it's funny.
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What's the Story?
Nicktoons' anime series KAPPA MIKEY follows American actor Mikey Simon, who wins the chance to star in the Japanese anime series LilyMu via a scratch-off card contest. Mikey delves into his new gig, suddenly finding himself living in Japan and adored by millions as the series' new superhero. His presence helps revive the show's sagging ratings, but not all of his co-stars are happy to have him around -- particularly the show's former darling, the jealous and petulant Lily. Fellow actors Mitsuki, Gonard, and furry little Guano are a bit more welcoming, helping Mikey adjust to his new life.
Is It Any Good?
If you're looking for substance and strong messages, you'll find them lacking; Kappa Mikey's entertainment value lies more in the constant blur of color and action (and dancing sushi between scenes) rather than the script. The show is also an odd mix of animation styles; to emphasize Mikey's fish-out-of-water situation, the creators made him look very flat and two-dimensional, whereas the other LilyMu cast members are drawn in typical anime style, with their facial features becoming strangely distorted according to their mood. Speaking of those moods, two of the characters, Lily and Guano, often throw screaming temper tantrums, which grates on the nerves after a while.
Kappa Mikey might be a bit more engaging if it had stronger plotlines and more likable characters; even Mikey acts like a dumb, inconsiderate college kid at times. The show generates a few laughs here and there, but the mix of animation styles and the high-strung characters are somewhat off-putting.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the characters' attributes. What are their positive and negative traits? How does each one set a good or bad example by his or her behavior? How could Lily moderate her behavior to be more likable? How could Mikey be more considerate of his roommates when he first moves in? How does Ozu create bad feelings between Lily and Mikey, and how could he be more fair and helpful?
TV Details
- Premiere date: February 25, 2006
- Cast: Jesse Adams, Michael Sinterniklaas, Sean Schemmel
- Networks: MTV2, Nicktoons
- Genre: Kids' Animation
- Topics: Superheroes, Friendship
- TV rating: TV-Y7
- Last updated: February 28, 2022
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