Parents' Guide to ToonHeads

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Common Sense Media Review

By Deirdre Sheppard , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 7+

Classic 'toons get documentary treatment.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 7+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

age 11+

Based on 2 kid reviews

What's the Story?

TOONHEADS is a documentary-style series that offers audiences an inside look at pop culture's most famous cartoons. Topics range from the creation of Bugs Bunny to the lives and voices of the producers and actors who bring the 'toons to life. Each episode (narrated by Leslie Fram and Don Kennedy) typically focuses on a specific cartoon history topic -- such as "How Elmer Fudd Got Fat" -- running cartoon clips that highlight the progression of that topic. Vintage Warner Brothers, MGM, and Paramount cartoons are all featured regularly.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say : Not yet rated
Kids say ( 2 ):

The cartoon segments featured in ToonHeads are lifted as-is from their original series/context. In other words, the slapsticky violence, innuendo, and other sometimes-iffy elements of series like Tom and Jerry and Looney Tunes are here, too.

That said, ToonHeads is a definite winner for cartoon aficionados and curious kids. The narrated sections are so short that most kids can sit through them as easily as a regular cartoon segment, and the clips themselves are -- of course -- classics.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how cartoons are created. How does a simple drawing become animated? How do cartoons talk? What can 'toons do that real people can't? What's your favorite cartoon?

TV Details

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