Common Sense Media Review
By Emily Ashby
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Obsessive crush borders on stalking. No, thanks.
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Pucca
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 15 parent reviews
Based on 33 kid reviews
Kids say that this show is a mix of entertaining and cute moments, with many enjoying its humor and nostalgic appeal. However, some express concern about its themes, particularly regarding the main character's obsessive affection for a boy, questioning its appropriateness for children due to elements of mild violence and suggestive content.
- entertaining
- cute moments
- obsessive themes
- mild violence
- nostalgic appeal
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Ten-year-old Pucca seems a sweet-natured (if flighty) girl who's content to help out at her family's restaurant and listen to the misguided advice of the three chefs who act as her guardians in her father's absence (he's traveling the globe in search of exciting culinary advances). But when it comes to Garu (Brian Drummond) -- the unlucky object of her affections -- Pucca becomes relentlessly determined to win his heart. She follows him everywhere and stops at nothing to win him over. Innocent Garu, who only wants to focus on honing his ninja skills, finds Pucca's smothering presence irritating -- and it's not long before viewers start to agree with him.
Is It Any Good?
PUCCA chronicles a young girl's exhaustive attempts to win over her one true love, who, despite her best efforts, remains focused instead on his career. But this isn't a soap opera, a dramedy, or even a movie of the week. Pucca is actually an animated kids' series that blends martial arts with a touch of magic and heavy doses of desperate, unrequited love. The mix is a recipe for disaster that will leave parents (especially those with daughters) with a bad taste in their mouths. While Pucca and Garu's problems could be resolved by some effective communication, the situation is complicated by the fact that neither of them speaks in actual words. Inexplicably, they're among the few characters on the show who rely on sounds -- mostly giggles and grunts -- to communicate.
Pucca is plagued by storylines and subject matter that can't find age-appropriate common ground. The complicated love/hate relationship and the prevalence of violence pushes the show toward the upper end of the age spectrum, but the otherwise simplistic plot drags it down and will bore older kids.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about relationships between boys and girls. What's the difference between liking someone as a friend and liking someone as a boy/girlfriend?
How can you let someone know that you like him/her? How does it feel when someone has a crush on you? How would you react if the person you liked didn't feel the same about you?
Can a crush be taken too far? This show offers parents the chance to clarify their rules about dating and might even be a starter for the birds-and-the-bees conversation.
TV Details
- Premiere date : September 18, 2006
- Cast : Brian Drummond , Michael Dobson , Tabitha St. Germain
- Network : Disney XD
- Genre : Kids' Animation
- TV rating :
- Last updated : October 13, 2022
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