Parents' Guide to

Totally Spies

By Joly Herman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

Scooby-Doo meets Beverly Hills 90210.

TV Cartoon Network Kids' Animation 2001
Totally Spies 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 8+

Based on 7 parent reviews

quincy12
quincy12 Adult
August 26, 2019
age 7+

Kim Possible, but divided into three teenagers

Parents need to know that no, this isn't Kim Possible, but this French anime-style spy flick was a hit on Cartoon Network, but today, slowly being decapitated by the depths of Hell (Universal Kids). In fact, this show came before Kim Possible. The spies are usually focused on the mission at hand (with some distractions from Clover along the way) but it cannot avoid the obvious sterotypes, such as the mean girl Mindy, or the somewhat outdated Jerry. Whenever the girls are unable to act, Jerry is there to save the day. BTW, this show, and Kim Possible, need a crossover.
1 person found this helpful.
Theo D.
Theo D. Adult
November 17, 2018
age 6+
See all 7 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Scooby-Doo meets Beverly Hills, 90210 in cotton candy cartoon TOTALLY SPIES. The action takes place at Beverly Hills High School, but the girls are so often whisked away from school that being at school is so not even the point. What makes this series as catchy as a pop song has to do with the mysteries that the girls must solve -- and they often find themselves in places like Madrid or the Alps, which gives the show the slightest bit of international cred. Much like Velma and Daphne of the Scooby series, the girls have to use their ingenuity to solve the mysteries.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (7 ):
Kids say (22 ):

Totally Spies was first introduced on ABC in 2001, and, to its credit, it's garnered some staying power. Perhaps it's the manga-style animation, or the cool spy gadgets that viewers enjoy. But there is something charming about Totally Spies lying under the shallow façade. Whether viewers should subject themselves to the annoying dialogue to find the deeper stuff is up to their discretion. We think it's a decent show to catch once in a while, but anything more regular might give viewers the like, slightest headache.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the show's use of slang ("totally," "so not," "like," "you know," etc.) Do adults find it hard to take kids seriously when they use these words? How can language affect how people are viewed?

  • Are the girls actually clever, or are they just lucky to have the stuff that they have?

  • Do real teens look like these girls?

TV Details

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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.

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