Parents' Guide to Slugterra

Action, adventure, comedy, sci-fi, and (would you believe it?) cute little slugs crash head-on in this impressive cartoon about an unlikely hero who manages to stay true to his morals in a world where corruption and brute force threaten to rule the day. Eli is an average Joe who has no allusions about his heroic role, despite how those who knew his legendary father receive him in Slugterra. What he does have is a rag-tag team of loyalists and a whole lot of self-confidence, and he needs every last ounce of it to face lifelong Slingers three times his size. It's not hard to relate Eli's situation to a real-life one your kids can appreciate, and the hero's ability to find vulnerability in his opponents' games can remind your youngsters that even bullies can have their weaknesses.

Yes, there's a good deal of violence in this show, and at first glance the incorporation of the living, breathing slugs as weapon fodder gives thoughtful viewers pause. But there's some good to come even from this aspect of the plot, as Eli's compassion for the creatures sets him apart from his foes and most especially from Dr. Blakk, who treats his slugs as lab rats. Ultimately, the message kids get from this show concerns finding a cause worth defending, but not letting the fighting process strip you of your morals. Fight the good fight for the right reasons, choose your friends with care, and stick up for the little guy: all in all, not a bad set of takeaways from a highly entertaining cartoon.