Total Drama Island
- Network: Cartoon Network
- Genre: Kids' Animation
Common Sense Media says
Clever cartoon reality show spoof OK for older tweens.
- Network: Cartoon Network
- Genre: Kids' Animation
What parents need to know
Positive role models
Violence
Sex
Language
Consumerism
Drinking, drugs, & smoking
Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that this animated series is meant for kids old enough to watch -- and appreciate -- a satire of reality shows like Survivor; those too young to get the joke likely won't find it very funny. There's some mild innuendo, characters can be rude to each other, and, of course, they're often made to suffer indignities and ridiculously difficult and dangerous "challenges." But there's little that's blatantly iffy beyond occasional fart jokes.
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What's the story?
TOTAL DRAMA ISLAND is a cartoon satire of reality shows like Survivor. The intentionally one-dimensional teen characters are thrown together in a summer camp setting, then broken up into teams and presented with challenges by their host. At the end of most episodes, someone's voted out and sent home.
Is it any good?
QUALITY
The best thing about Total Drama Island is that its knowing wink encompasses everyone -- viewers and characters alike. Many characters know that they're there to play their stereotypical roles (geek, tough kid, big sassy African-American girl, etc.), and they do so with one eye on the camera. The joke isn't just on reality shows -- it's on reality shows as they've become now, populated with students of the genre who are all trying to game the system. The show's theme song, "I Wanna Be Famous," says it all.
For all its satiric qualities, Total Drama Island actually manages to pull viewers in. There's a contest at the core, and kids who tune in for the spoof may find themselves caught up in finding out which character will manage to survive to the end. Overall, it's an enjoyable, smart show for anyone old enough to watch "real" reality TV.
Families can talk about...
Families can talk about what parts of reality shows this series is making fun of. Is it just the shows themselves, or also they way they're cast and created?
The characters are purposely presented as one-dimensional stereotypes -- because that's what producers of real reality shows often do to people through judicious editing. If someone only filmed and showed certain moments in your day, could they make you look mean or whiny? Why would someone want to focus on those parts of your character for a reality show?
TV details
| Cast: | Christian Potenza, Drew Nelson, Megan Fahlenbock |
| Network: | Cartoon Network |
| Genre: | Kids' Animation |
| TV rating: | TV-PG |
| Available on: | DVD |
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I will never let my child watch this again
HORRIBLE SHOW NEEDS TO BE CANCELED. One female character wears a tank top that barely covers her very large breasts. Also often shows the male characters with nothing but a black box over his privates. Also uses language my kid is not allowed to use ie "crap" not ok
What other families should know
Too much violence
Too much sex
Too much swearing
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fine for eight and up
this show is fine. i have no problem with it. do you people even know what kids say in school? even at age nine.
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