There's lots of Spidey merchandise out there for young fans.
Positive Role Models
a little
Peter Parker is a good guy with good values. As Spider-Man, he always fights on the side of good. Meanwhile, villains are mean, violent, insulting, and criminal -- clearly "bad" guys.
Positive Messages
a little
Courage and integrity ultimately win out over evil.
Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Peter Parker (aka Spider-Man) is college-aged in Spider-Man: The New Animated Series, a spinoff of the hit big-screen movie. He dates, kisses, and even allows a woman to sleep over at his apartment (speaking of which, most of the female characters have exaggerated figures, often with exposed flesh or generous bosoms). Spidey's battle against evil results in lots of cartoon violence, including villains wielding gigantic guns and regular near-death experiences, though all of the scenes are bloodless. Some scenes show Peter and his friends drinking cocktails.
I think this show is in the teen range because of an episode where a woman's leg gets shot and blood is shown. There are uses of “damn,” “hell,” “ass,” and “bitch.” There is also a scene of Peter spying on a couple making out, and a few instances of characters drinking alcoholic beverages. But you can learn things from it, and in reality, that’s what matters.
Regular on screen violent deaths of side characters
Not at all age appropriate for the generic PG rating label it was given on Disney plus. There is on-screen death (minor characters killed/dismembered by monsters) and blood, guns used to threaten and shoot at people and minor curse words like ‘hell’ and ‘damn’ are also used. Quality of the show itself it’s mediocre and I’m more upset that Disney placed a PG label on it and made this show accessible to my 5-year old
What's the Story?
Peter Parker (voiced by Neil Patrick Harris) moves into the digital age in SPIDER-MAN: THE NEW ANIMATED SERIES. Instead of taking photos for a newspaper, he shoots video for a TV station. And instead of being carefully drawn in pen and ink, he and his friends are brightly (if flatly) rendered in CGI. But Peter hasn't changed too much. He still pines for Mary Jane (Lisa Loeb), and, though he's a bit hipper than in the old days, he still has his shy, self-deprecating appeal. Here, Peter is both attending college and fighting for those in need as his superhero alter ego. He manages to get into all sorts of dangerous predicaments, but he uses his Spidey-sense to stay ahead of his enemies. Whether investigating an apparent attack on the city's mayor by sexy villain Silver Sable or a kidnapping by a group of high-tech terrorists, Spider-Man always manages to win his battles.
The show's half-hour episodes don't delve too deeply into Peter's darker side, and most references to his family and his past are left out. What's left is a flashy superhero cartoon interested mostly in terrific battles and unrequited love.
Fighting evil makes for some tense situations, and Spider-Man: The New Animated Series is packed with last-minute saves and death-defying leaps. These, mixed with sexy villains with big guns, make the show a better pick for older tweens. Plus, Peter isn't in high school anymore, so kissing and even co-ed sleepovers happen every once in a while. His best friend Harry (Ian Ziering) tosses out the occasional sexual innuendo, and Mary Jane has developed into a quite a flirt.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about violence. What kind of violence is featured in Spider-Man: The New Animated Series? What would the effects of that kind of violence be if it weren't a cartoon? Kids: Does watching fighting in a cartoon ever make you feel more energetic or hyper? What do you think that means?
Families can also compare the show to the Tobey Maguire movies. Which do you like better? Why?
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.
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
By Sierra Filucci
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
