Matt Hatter Chronicles
Uneven action series has peril but decent role models.
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Matt Hatter Chronicles
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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 Matt Hatter Chronicles features many battles between teenage protagonists and full-grown (and often overgrown) monsters of all shapes and sizes. No injuries are shown, and no one dies, but weapons are involved, and sometimes the teens' lives are in danger. Matt engages in these exchanges without his parents' knowledge, and he keeps secret his grandfather's fate. Teamwork is a central theme and factors into the teens' success against the older and more powerful villains. Of the three, Roxie emerges as the best role model, since she's brave, determined, and more thoughtful in her approach to solving problems than Matt tends to be.
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What's the Story?
MATT HATTER CHRONICLES opens as Matt Hatter's (voiced by Tommy Campbell) family moves into the Coronet movie theater belonging to his grandfather, Albert, who's alarmingly nowhere to be found. Upon exploring his new home, Matt discovers a portal to the Multiverse, a secret dimension where he meets Roxie (Larissa Murray) and Gomez (Marcel McCalla), who tell him he must step into his grandfather's shoes and battle the monster villains unleashed on the Multiverse by the evil Lord Tenoroc (Kevin Eldon). Unbeknownst to his parents, Matt now splits his time between his world and this other dimension, searching for clues to his grandfather's whereabouts and trapping the villains dispensed by the vengeful Tenoroc.
Is It Any Good?
Full of action, adventure, and fantasy, this uneven series has lots of visual appeal but a less-than-imaginative plot. It only takes a few episodes to see the pattern: Lord Tenoroc calls up a villain, Roxie and Gomez call on Matt's help, the three pool their resources to book the bad guy, rinse and repeat. Tenoroc never changes his tactic (it never dawns on him to release more than one monster at a time?), and Matt never thinks beyond the challenge directly in front of him, which could explain why his grandfather's fate in limbo doesn't change.
Matt Hatter Chronicles struggles in some spots, but the overall presentation is right up kids' alley. There's a lot of action, a colorful collection of fantastical villains, and the opportunity for an everyday kid to be a hero, even if it is in a world no one else knows about. And with indomitable Roxie and clever Gomez in the mix, there are some decent role models at times and consistent messages extolling the virtues of teamwork.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how fantasy compares to what exists in the real world. Instead of the monsters Matt faces, what kinds of threats exist for you? In each case, what is your best defense?
Does Matt break any rules in keeping his activities secret from his parents? Why does he do it? Are there cases in which keeping secrets is OK? What are the dangers of doing so when it comes to important matters?
Is there a clear leader among Matt, Roxie, and Gomez? Would the team function as effectively if one of them weren't there? How is working with others a challenge? What are the rewards of succeeding as a group?
TV Details
- Premiere date: September 8, 2012
- Cast: Larissa Murray, Marcel McCalla, Tommy Campbell
- Network: Online
- Genre: Kids' Animation
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Adventures, Great Girl Role Models, Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
- TV rating: NR
- Last updated: September 20, 2019
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