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Parents' Guide to

Zatch Bell!

By Pam Gelman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 10+

Demons + kids = violent and scary for youngsters.

Zatch Bell! Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

age 11+

Based on 2 parent reviews

age 17+
age 5+

Equally heartwarming as it is heartbreaking.

The official review of Zatch Bell on this site is outrageous. Really, no positive messages? As for the user reviews, it's too violent, seriously? The "violence" in this series consists of flashes of light and the occasional pained groan. That's on top of the fact that this series is action/adventure – if you’re not in favor of cartoon violence, bar your child from those genres entirely. As for the person who mentioned the "breasts" song – why is that relevant if it's only in the Japanese dub? Besides the fact that it is culturally relative, we don't hear it in the American version, so why is it "wrong"? And another thing: when a book is burned, the character does NOT die – he or she is sent back to the "mamodo" (contrast this with "demon," another ridiculous accusation from the official review) realm. If you don’t understand this, you don’t understand the entire premise of the show. I loved Zatch Bell when I was younger. It moved me. All the characters were lovable and funny, and all the book-burning moments were heartbreaking. Definitely recommend this, with all my heart, to kids of all ages.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2 ):
Kids say (5 ):

The show's focus on relationships and the ability to trust a partner distinguishes it from many other anime adaptations. The series isn't just about violence -- although there's plenty of that, with constant battles involving spells and weapons -- but also about the relatable challenges and questions of identity that the characters face. Characters often think aloud about painful experiences in their past, and related flashbacks and evocative music add to the drama. Each character has his or her unique problems -- problems that aren't too unlike what kids face today.

The "battles" seen in some episodes can use dramatic visuals, language, sound effects, and music that becomes gratuitous, drawn out, and, at times, difficult to watch. There are also mild flirtations between characters, which lead to blushing and stammering. Overall, with its graphic violence, the characters' internal struggles, and the occasional eyelash-batting, parents may find Zatch Bell inappropriate for kids under 10.

TV Details

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