Parents' Guide to

Super Friends

By Leanne Mos, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 5+

Classic superhero cartoon still saves the day.

TV Boomerang Kids' Animation 1973
Super Friends Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

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age 4+

Based on 4 parent reviews

Hendo H. U.
Hendo H. U. Parent of 10, 12 and 15-year-old
December 27, 2017
age 4+

Great for all ages!

My daughter is 12 and still likes the show. Only one punch in all eight seasons, in the season 7 theme song.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
ghecko13
ghecko13 Parent
October 8, 2012
age 2+

Great series for younger kids who like Superheroes without the violence.

I think this is a great series for little kids especially since it does not have any violence in it. Younger kids that are under 3-4 may not full understand the story line but my youngest who is 1 years old just enjoys watching the Superheroes. This series is a contrast to the revised version which is under the new name Justice League which is very different.
See all 4 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In the classic '70s and '80s Saturday morning cartoon SUPER FRIENDS, the Justice League heroes band together to save the world -- and themselves -- from evil. The Super Friends are, of course: Superman (voiced by Danny Dark), Batman (Olan Sule), Robin (Casey Kasem), Wonder Woman (Shannon Farnon), Aquaman (Norman Alden), and a slew of other heroes who come and go. In the original Super Friends (1973) and The All-New Super Friends Hour (1977-'78), produced by Hanna-Barbera and based on the DC Comics characters, the show is nonviolent and campy, although battles became more graphic in later episodes.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (4 ):
Kids say (3 ):

In its long life on the air, Super Friends underwent several transformations. The early episodes barely resemble the later ones, and parents of younger kids should keep this in mind. In the late '70s, when the show morphed into Challenge of the SuperFriends, the mood shifted to something quite menacing. Visual and sound effects were intensified, and the Legion of Doom was introduced. These 13 villains, including Lex Luthor and The Riddler, were truly sinister and were constantly in battle with the heroes. Battle scenes took precedence, although the violence was other-worldly and limited to laser-beam punches, explosions, and kidnappings.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the nature of teamwork. What makes each hero unique, and how does that help the group? How do the characters work together to combat evil? How can you tell who the bad guys are? Is it as easy to tell who's good and who's bad in the real world? Why or why not? Parents who watched the show themselves as kids can talk about what they remember about the show and how cartoons have changed over time.

TV Details

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