Rescue Heroes
By Emily Ashby,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
First responders teach kids important safety skills.
Add your rating
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.
Where to Watch
Community Reviews
There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.
What's the Story?
RESCUE HEROES is an animated series that depicts rescue personnel and the specialized tools they use in their response to emergencies. Originally airing from 1999 to 2002, the series centers on first responders Jake Justice (voiced by Martin Roach), Billy Blazes (Norm Spencer), Ariel Flyer (Deborah Odell), Wendy Waters (Lenore Zann), and trainee Rocky Canyon (Joseph Motiki), as well as a rotating cast of support personnel. No matter where in the world an emergency happens, the Rescue Heroes leap into action to save the victims and neutralize the threat, all the while demonstrating essential safety tips for the audience.
Is It Any Good?
Rescue Heroes does a lot of things right, from casting true-to-life heroes like firefighters and police officers in place of superpower-charged men of steel to keeping the stories' content relatable to the kids who are watching. Each episode involves a different emergency situation of some kind, and whether it's a house fire or weather-related dangers, viewers will pick up useful tips for staying safe in similar scenarios themselves. Thanks to Billy Blazes and his team, kids see the value of knowing how to prevent an emergency and how to stay safe if they find themselves in one.
For a cartoon with such an emphasis on teaching, though, Rescue Heroes never comes across as preachy or overly instructional, which ensures that kids will give their full attention to the stories. What's more, the show's careful attention to the relationships among the characters allows kids to learn from their actions and subsequent consequences, which aren't always happy but do offer important social messages.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how to prepare for a variety of emergencies. What tools and supplies do you keep on hand in the event of a storm or a power outage? Does your family have a fire escape plan? Kids: Do you know how to call for help if there's an emergency at home?
Kids: Who are the rescuers in your town? Where are they located? How can you get in touch with them? What information should you share with them if you have to call 911?
What did the characters learn in this story? Whose actions had negative consequences? How could they have made better choices? What would you have done differently in their shoes?
TV Details
- Premiere date: October 2, 1999
- Cast: Lenore Zann , Martin Roach , Norm Spencer
- Networks: CBS , CW , Syndicated
- Genre: Kids' Animation
- Topics: Superheroes , Great Boy Role Models , Great Girl Role Models
- Character Strengths: Courage , Integrity , Teamwork
- TV rating: TV-Y7
- Last updated: February 25, 2022
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Watch
Our Editors Recommend
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate