Common Sense Media Review
By Emily Ashby
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Violent, sexually explicit cartoon designed to shock.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 17+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Mr. Pickles
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 38 parent reviews
Parents say the show is a highly divisive animated series that mixes dark humor with graphic violence and unsettling themes. While some appreciate its outrageous and chaotic storytelling, many others find it offensive and believe it is not suitable for children, often highlighting its controversial content and the mixed reactions it elicits from viewers.
- dark humor
- graphic violence
- not for kids
- divisive reactions
- suitable audience
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 36 kid reviews
Kids say this show is incredibly dark and graphic, often deemed inappropriate for younger audiences due to its excessive violence, sexual content, and disturbing themes. While some viewers find it humorously absurd and entertaining, many reviews strongly advise against allowing children to watch it, emphasizing that it caters to mature audiences with a taste for shock humor.
- graphic violence
- inappropriate content
- adult themes
- polarizing opinions
- dark humor
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
MR. PICKLES follows the antics of a family dog with devilish designs on the people around him, except perhaps his 6-year-old owner, Tommy (voiced by Kaitlyn Robrock). At first glance, life in the Goodman house seems pretty average, particularly when it comes to Tommy and his best friend, Mr. Pickles, with whom he gets into plenty of curious situations. But what Tommy -- and most everyone else -- doesn't realize is that his happy-go-lucky border collie is actually a satanic murderer. Only Tommy's grandfather (Frank Collison) sees the truth, but since no one takes him at his word, the cultish canine's secret is safe for now.
Is It Any Good?
This ribald cartoon gets away with a lot of content that would be seen in an entirely different light if it were a live-action presentation. Although it does draw the line at showing full nudity, pretty much everything else gets a green light, and the result is excessive mature content that seems designed to reel in viewers on shock value alone. And shock you it will.
Obviously Mr. Pickles won't do teens any favors, and you'd be hard-pressed to find any positive messages in content that mocks nonconforming body types and abilities. Even so, its egregious stereotypes, over-the-top cartoon violence, and explicit humor is bound to entice some curious adult viewers.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about violence in entertainment. Is content such as what's seen on this show ever warranted? What is its purpose here? How is the effect different from what it would be in the hands of a live-action cast?
How are physical and mental disabilities portrayed in this show? Is it OK to laugh at stereotypes like these when they're generalities and not aimed at a particular person?
What do you think was the creator's intent with this show? Who is the target audience? Does its content match that of other Adult Swim offerings?
TV Details
- Premiere date : September 21, 2014
- Cast : Brooke Shields , Kaitlyn Robrock , Frank Collison
- Network : Cartoon Network
- Genre : Comedy
- Topics : Animals
- TV rating :
- Last updated : February 10, 2026
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