Parents' Guide to

Mob Psycho 100

By Mark Dolan, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

Live-action anime adaption is uneven but fun for fans.

TV Netflix Science Fiction 2018
Mob Psycho 100 Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

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age 13+

Based on 2 parent reviews

Daniel L.
Daniel L. Adult
August 1, 2020
age 15+

A bit uncomfortable to see but fine for anime fans!

TV-MA
Dio fry
Dio fry Parent of 13, 13, 14 and 15-year-old
February 1, 2019
age 11+
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In MOB PSYCHO 100, Mob is a young Japanese teen -- unpopular with girls, not good at sports or academics, and living in the shadow of his brother, who excels in all three. The one thing that Mob has going for him is that he's an "esper" or a person with a psychic ability. He works part-time for a phony ghost exorcist but gets to use his powers occasionally when they encounter actual ghosts. While Mob struggles to become popular and win the attention of his crush, an evil organization is recruiting espers for nefarious purposes.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2):
Kids say (3):

An odd mixture of sad-sack romance, slapstick comedy, and X-men-style action, Mob Psycho 100 is tonally all over the place. Our hero, Mob, is such a passive and self-doubting nebbish it's hard to get behind him. His crush object is dismissive and aloof, but the audience is expected to support Mob in his pursuit of her. The exorcist is a con man and played for broad laughs. He's clearly taking advantage of Mob, yet he's also positioned as a caring father figure.

Overall, it's hard to tell exactly who this show is for. The romance angle is tame, the villain's plot is very dark, and the comedy is pretty childish. You could look at Mob Psycho 100 as having something for everyone in the family, but when the elements are so far removed from each other, it's more alienating than unifying.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about cultural differences. Mob Psycho 100 deals with universal themes like young love, sibling rivalry, and being yourself but is still very much a product of Japanese culture. How do you think this show would be different if it were made in America?

  • This show could be described as a live-action anime. What are some characteristics those genres share? Does the anime style work with real actors?

TV Details

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