Common Sense Media Review
Kids will go bananas over this adorable classic.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 4+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
What's the Story?
MAGILLA GORILLA, a classic Hanna-Barbera cartoon that originally aired from 1964-1967, follows Mr. Peebles (voiced by Howard Morris), a cranky, frustrated businessman who's desperate to sell Magilla (Allan Melvin), a sweet, fumbling ape who spends his days eating bananas and hanging around outside Mr. Peebles' front store window. Because he's lowered his asking price considerably, Mr. Peebles usually doesn't have a problem selling the gorilla -- but every time, Magilla's new owner ends up returning him and demanding his or her money back because of the ape's troublesome antics. The equally troublesome Ogee (Jean Vander Pyl) seems to be the only one who continues to ask \"How much is that gorilla in the window?\" But Mr. Peebles always turns her down, because her offer is always too low.
Is It Any Good?
The only thing this series is guilty of is poking fun. Mr. Peebles views Magilla as a nuisance, so he treats him like one. As a result, some young viewers might get the idea that all animals are stupid. Parents should point out that even though humans are intellectually smarter than animals, apes are the smartest creatures in the animal kingdom -- and that lack of intellect or education is never a valid reason to degrade another person and/or animal.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about self respect. Is Mr. Peebles disrespectful of Magilla? If so, how? Does Magilla give himself enough respect? Why is it disrespectful to poke fun at someone else? Is teasing ever OK? How can you tell if you've gone too far? How can you defend yourself when someone else makes fun of you?
TV Details
- Premiere date : September 14, 1964
- Cast : Allan Melvin , Howard Morris , Jean Vander Pyl
- Network : Boomerang
- Genre : Kids' Animation
- Topics : Animals ( Wild Animals )
- TV rating :
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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