Common Sense Media Review
By Emily Ashby
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Appealing cartoon has positive messages about self-image.
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Teenage Fairytale Dropouts
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 1 parent review
What's the Story?
TEENAGE FAIRYTALE DROPOUTS takes place in Fairy Tale Estates, home to iconic storybook characters as well as the young members of the next magical generation. The story follows best friends Trafalgar (voiced by John Hasler), nephew of the famous magician Merlin; Fury (Katherine Beck), daughter of the Tooth Fairy; and Jeremiah (Simon Kennedy), son of the beanstalk's Giant. With such legendary legacies, one might assume these teens have futures set in stone, but the truth is, they just want to chart their own paths, even if they're different from what their parents have in mind for them.
Is It Any Good?
This delightful show's appeal isn't easily assigned to one age group or another, and that's a great thing if you struggle to find something all your kids can enjoy together. Younger kids will like seeing the characters' similarities to (and often more so their differences from) legendary story heroes such as Pinocchio and Humpty Dumpty. Tweens will hone in on the main trio's coming-of-age woes, some of which they might understand firsthand. And parents can rest assured knowing the show's content is a great fit for just about any age.
Teenage Fairytale Dropouts delivers some really admirable messages through three teen characters who are floundering their way through growing up. Sure, it has fun with the fact that Fury's still waiting to "develop" her wings and Jeremiah's small stature is almost comical given his genetic giantism, but ultimately none of these issues puts a dent in the teens' solid self-esteem. What's more, although each story puts the characters in a rebellious situation of some kind (borrowing the family's golden goose without permission or misusing magic, for instance), there's always an obvious consequence and some positive lesson to be learned from the experience.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about self-esteem. What frustrates Trafalgar, Fury, and Jeremiah about how they look or what skills they possess? Is it ever difficult to name one of your own positive qualities? Is there a certain activity you do or task you complete that leaves you feeling really good about yourself?
Kids: Why are close friendships important? How do friends help you get through difficulties in life? In what ways do you show that you care about your friends?
What lesson do the characters learn in this story? What might the consequence have been for you if you had done something similar? Does TV life always seem idyllic? If so, why?
TV Details
- Premiere date: May 31, 2014
- Cast: Katherine Beck , John Hasler , Simon Kennedy
- Network: Discovery Family Channel
- Genre: Kids' Animation
- Topics: Fairy Tales , Great Boy Role Models , Great Girl Role Models , High School , Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
- Character Strengths: Communication
- TV rating: TV-Y7
- Last updated: September 20, 2019
Did we miss something on diversity?
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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