Moral Orel

TV review by Kari Croop, Common Sense Media
Moral Orel Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 16+

Older teens can tackle this 'toon's adult themes.

Cartoon Network Comedy 2005
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Parents say

age 15+

Based on 17 reviews

Kids say

age 14+

Based on 24 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 while this satirical Cartoon Network comedy is animated, it's part of the Adult Swim lineup for a reason: It's rife with graphic humor and isn't appropriate for young children. (For example, when the 11-year-old Orel takes a drag from his very first crack pipe, he snaps at his talking Jesus figurine and tells him to shut up.) Troubling content aside, however, the show can serve as a way for parents and older teens to talk about the pitfalls of religious fanaticism -- although families who are deeply religious may find the program offensive.

Community Reviews

mrjohnnny
mrjohnnny Adult
August 7, 2019
age 16+

Excellent Show

As a Christian myself, this show makes you think about some of the more hypocritical aspects of religion,albeit in a funny way. The earlier seasons have some cheap gags, but it gets more nuanced as the show goes on. The show mainly pokes fun at religious figures who don't practice what they preach rather than Christianity as a whole. The first two seasons are a comedic satire of these ideas, while the third is a drama that brutally deconstructs them. Keep in mind that Orel, the protagonist, keeps his faith no matter what happens to him. This is a show that tends to earn the TV-MA rating due to subject matter and tone rather than pure vulgarity. However, there are quite a few sexual references and occasional sex scenes. There is occasionally some moderate violence, but virtually no swearing. I wouldn't watch this with my family, but an older teen can handle this show for what it is.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Too much sex
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
furmaster64
furmaster64 Adult
December 7, 2018
age 18+

Jesus Christ! I didn't know it was a thing.

Who names their kid after oral?! Like why? Anyways, it tries to be a comedy poking fun of ultra conservative and ultra religious ideals. It was until we saw the true light at the end of Second Season. It's like realizing that you're in a cult of personality the whole time. They shift from making fun of christians to showing what cult like behavior done to the manipulated. Good show, but would not recommend for kids.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
See all 17 parent reviews

What's the Story?

MORAL OREL is created by Dino Stamatopoulos, a regular contributor to adult comedy shows like Late Night with Conan O'Brien. This sinfully clever stop-motion series packs a wallop of a message in a short amount of time -- and that's part of the problem. So much controversial humor peppers each episode's 15-minute run that the shock value of the humor could overshadow the program's subtle message. Borrowing its distinctive animation style from classic Rankin-Bass shows like Davey and Goliath, Moral Orel follows the often-shocking misadventures of 11-year-old Orel Puppington (voiced by Carolyn Lawrence), a devoutly Christian boy who tries his best to live by "the book" but often misinterprets God's teachings. Orel's good intentions lead to disaster.

Is It Any Good?

Parents should be aware of the types of "lessons" that kids could inadvertently learn from watching this show. For example, in an episode chronicling Orel's brief addiction to crack cocaine, his father cautions him that crack "is a gateway to slang," prompting the boy to solemnly vow: "When I do drugs, I'm going to speak properly." So while adults are more likely to see Moral Orel for what it is -- a biting social satire mocking religious fundamentalism and hypocrisy within the Christian church -- kids (even some older teens) probably won't appreciate the sophistication of the humor. (And in case you were wondering, young children definitely won't get the joke.)

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the ways in which religious dogma can be misinterpreted by those with good intentions. Does a person who is considered to be religious always act morally?

  • What statement are the creators of this series making about the state of modern-day Christianity?

  • How does this cartoon compare with Davey and Goliath, the early 1960s animated series it parodies?

TV Details

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