Monsters vs. Aliens

Mostly comic hitting, slapping, and other mayhem. Ray guns blast holes in walls and are used to put monsters to sleep. Machine gun-style weapons and grenades cause explosions that destroy rooms and the objects in them but cause little harm to bystanders. Verbal threats like "You'll get it!"

Parents need to know that Monsters vs. Aliens is a TV series inspired by the popular DreamWorks movie of the same name. Like the movie, there's a good deal of violence in this animated show -- including grenade explosions, death rays (though no casualties are shown), machine gun rounds, and some physical exchanges that are more comical than worrisome -- but it's overall lighter fare than what the movie offered. A main character uses manipulation and trickery to push his nefarious agenda while feigning cooperation with the rest of his team, and typically he gets away with it. Humans aren't shown in a favorable light, there's more bickering than cooperation among some teammates, and you'll hear some body noises like loud belching. On the upside, these are characters who thrive on what makes them different, and each one's unique qualities play a positive role in the group at some point.