Dexter's Laboratory

Much like the cartoon, the older sibling annoys the younger

Dexter's Laboratory produced by Cartoon Network.

Plot: Dexter is an average, elementary-aged boy with a high grade point average and interest in science. He also has a large, complex laboratory, complete with supercomputers, nuclear chemicals, weapons, and killer robots. His parents remain clueless about the lab. However, his older sister, DeeDee, knows everything about the laboratory, much to her brother's chagrin. Dexter must maintain the lab's secrecy despite his sister's klutz-induced disasters.

Genre: Animation, Television, Comedy

Reading Level: I believe the show was rated TV-Y.

Similar Titles: Powerpuff Girls, Phineas and Ferb

Personal Thoughts: While I was always more of a Powerpuff Girl fan, Dexter's Laboratory set the stage for a new trend in Western animation. Cartoons began to focus on pleasing both children and adults, as some of the jokes in Dexter focus on one demographic or the other without necessarily excluding either. Like Powerpuff Girls, though, some newer viewers may find the older, rougher animation style unattractive. Still, many of the jokes remain relevant and pleasing to modern viewers.

Powerpuff Girls

Blossom is my favorite

Powerpuff Girls produced by Cartoon Network.

Plot: Due to the acceedental inclusion of Chemical X, a blend of sugar, spice, and everything nice results in the creation of a super-cute, super-powered trio known as the Powerpufff Girls. The three girls, known as Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup, dedicate their powers and their lives to protect Townsville, the disaster-prone city of their creation. Overzealous fans, jealous schoolmates, supernatural forces, unreasonable chores, irate supervillains, schoolyard bullies, and bad habits threaten the town, but the Powerpuff Girls are determined to save the world before bedtime.

Genre: Animation, Action, Comedy, Television

Reading Level: Aimed at elementary ages, but much of the humor and references will appeal to older audiences.

Similar Titles: Dexter's Laboratory, Samurai Jack

Personal Thoughts: Apparently, the show's creator intended to use the cartoon to counter the melodramatic, sickly-sweet magical girl craze of the early 1990's. However, the show quickly became a force of its own due to its creative storylines and appealing characters. The series eventually won four awards, including two Primetime Emmys. I am not certain newer viewers will appreciate it, though. True, it avoids some of the reference problems of many other older cartoons. However, the animation style seems extremely rough, especially compared to the Flash-based animation of modern cartoons. Still, if viewers look past the old-school animation style, the series remains relevant and enjoyable.

Batman Beyond

Resume! Resume!

Batman Beyond distributed by Warner Brothers.

Plot: After decades of fighting crime, Bruce Wayne can no longer act as the famous vigilante. Shortly after he retires, though, a troubled high school student sparks a series of events leading to a change. Terry Mcginnis, a former delinquent, becomes the new batman. Under the tutalage of his predecessor, Terry learns to find and fight crime, although he maintains his own personality. The mix of old methods and unjaded vision allow him to counter new threats and returning villains.

Genre: Animation, Television, Action

Reading Level: While the series avoids gore, many of the episodes address death, social issues, and loss in a manner unsuitable for sensitive viewers.

Similar Titles: Batman the Animated Series, Superman the Animated Series

Personal Thoughts: The title, much like Batman the Animated Series, mixes character development, action, and realistic concerns to produce a highly acclaimed television show. Some of the impact came from addressing current concerns, such as genetic modification, environmental issues, rising levels of divorce, steroid usage in sports, and teen peer pressure in a futuristic setting. However, the realism also produced some very dark episodes with graphic, but not gory, results. It also had fewer "lighter" episodes than Batman the Animated Series did. As a result, the series may be inappropriate for younger viewers. Please understand viewers' sensitivities before recommending.

Duck Dynasty

Sprite is watching a DVD

(Let me think I'm clever)

Duck Dynasty presented by A&E.

Plot: The series follows the daily events of the Robertson family. The family runs Duck Commander, an extremely popular and profitable duck-call company. However, they still encounter issues every family does, such as community events, school days, and yard sales. Additionally, they regularly participate in hunting, fishing, off-roading, and other "redneck" activities. Managing all aspects of their lives provides constant challenges and stress, but they still genuinely care for each other and their blessings.

Genre: Documentary, Television

Reading Level: I believe the shows are generally rated TV-Y7. The family avoids swearing, but some hunting and cleaning sequences may trouble sensitive viewers.

Similar Titles: Dirty Jobs, Billy the Exterminator

Personal Thoughts: While the show seems to follow the traditional, odd-family-making-a-reality-television-series formula, it also brings in some unique features. Family drama does appear in most episodes, but the drama resides mostly in good-natured taunts or contests rather than the more popular winners against losers method, making it a bit more family friendly than some other reality programs.

Additionally, the hunters, while inclined to goofiness, are not the bad guys. For some reason, hunting seems to be an aspect of most villains in fiction, and showing some of the reality of hunting offers viewers a new and, perhaps, needed view of a different lifestyle.

Tanked

Y U PUT TREVALLY IN THREE-FOOT TANK?

Tanked presented by Animal Planet.

Plot: The series follows the work, trials, and successes of a successful Las Vegas aquarium company. Some aquariums demand creative thinking under strict time schedules. Others allow the company to make a difference in their customer's lives.

Genre: Television, Documentary

Reading Level: Not Rated; occasional cursing may offend some viewers.

Similar Titles: Cake Boss, Billy the Exterminator

Personal Thoughts: I think I would enjoy this show more if I did not work at an aquarium. While I appreciate the series' ability to bring attention to the complexities of creating custom aquariums, it tends to avoid major issues facing the aquarium trade. For example, the show neglects to address the needs of the animals. Six-inch blacktip reef sharks, destined to reach four to six feet in length, cannot be housed in 4-foot long aquariums indefinitely. Triggerfish, pufferfish, lionfish, and naso tangs, while pretty, will eventually harass or devour anything they are kept with. Few public aquariums need any more of these animals, so donating such creatures is out of the question, leading to the abandonment or death of most of the fish. Also, the show neglects to mention the importance of "boring" but important aspects of maintaining a tank, such as cycling, water quality, and filtration. As a result, the tanks seemingly take an instant-creation quality, leading to misunderstanding of the difficulty in keeping a marine environment. To be fair, though, the show still manages to address some issues facing the aquarium trade, such as sustainability and tank size issues. The insider look, though, keeps me from really enjoying the program.

Walking with Monsters: Life Before the Dinosaurs

Dimetrodon explains how it really happened

Walking with Monsters: Life Before the Dinosaurs presented by BBC.

Plot: While dinosaurs remain the most beloved of ancient creatures, paleontologists find fossils that predate them. The show attempts to recreate life before the dinosaurs. Starting in the oceans, small, hard-bodied creatures eventually reach land and create a number of reptile-like animals. Strangely, the creatures eventually begin to show mammalian-like characteristics, leading to one of the oddest families, the mammal-like reptiles, no longer existing on the planet.

Genre: Documentary, Animals, Television

Reading Level: Not Rated, but examples of predation make it unsuitable for sensitive viewers.

Similar Titles: Walking with Dinosaurs, Dinosaurs Unearthed

Personal Thoughts: The series does promote interest in groups of animals often ignored by dinophiles. Unlike the more famous reptilians, most of the life addressed in Monsters is smaller, but still interesting. Unfortunately, the series lends itself to ample speculation, such as dimetrodon parental care or euchambersia toxicity. It also tends to focus on unlikely circumstances, such as a giant arthropod impaling itself on a tree stump. As a result, the series tends to be impressive, but not necessarily realistic.

Transformers: Prime

 Optimus is the best

Transformers: Prime presented by Hasbro Studios.

Plot: Following eons of war, the heroic Autobots find themselves on a strange planet inhabited by complex organic life. The planet, Earth, is one of the strangest they have encountered, but they quickly find allies among the humans. Three children form a team with the Autobots to help them adjust to the new land. However, the Autobots did not arrive alone. The evil Decepticons, lead by the former gladiator Megatron, also discover the planet. Unlike the Autobots, they do not crave peace, but domination at all costs.

Genre: Animation, Adventure, Television Shows, Science Fiction

Reading Level: I believe the show is rated TV-Y7; watchers may need to be cautioned about violence. Due to the robotic nature of most fights, however, there is not a lot of gore.

Similar Titles: Green Lantern: The Animated Series; Batman: The Animated Series

Personal Thoughts: The show represents a growing trend among animated programs. While they continue to be made for children, they also appeal to adults through character development and complex stories. It also displays realistic results. Heroism requires sacrifices with effects that do not disappear in the next episode. For example, when a character dies or gets injured, they stay dead or traumatized. While this makes good storytelling, it can also be too intense for sensitive viewers. For fans of character and action-focused programs, though, the series can be rewarding.

Side Note: I like how the kids act like actual characters. Previous series tend to fall into the trap of keeping children as props or loads.

Jackie Chan Adventures

Jackie Chan Adventures presented by Kids'WB!

Plot: The series follows the adventures of the legendary martial artist, Jackie Chan. Throughout the cartoon's five seasons, Jackie, with the assistance of Uncle, Jade, and Toru, fight supernatural powers seeking to conquer the world. Further help comes through the enigmatic Section 13, strange allies, and legendary talismans. Yet, the world is one of balance, and where one evil power falls, another, stronger one must take its place. Fortunately, the J Team will always be ready to defeat such powers.

Genre: Animation

Reading Level: I believe it was rated TV-G.

Similar Titles: Teen Titans, The Batman, Xiaolin Showdown

Personal Thoughts: The series combines the action and humor of a Jackie Chan film in a semi-sequential, kid-friendly television show.

For those wondering how the show relates to dragons, a dragon named Shin Du is the main antagonist in four of the five seasons. In the remaining season, the power of the dragon allows the J Team to make its last stand. So dragons (or at least one dragon) are prevalent throughout the series.

Top Gear

Top Gear Episode 2, Season 9.

Plot: Three British car fanatics take unique views and unexpected challenges pertaining to perhaps the world's most popular transportation device - the automobile. The challenges, however, are highly unusual. Challenges range from finding a parking space for a power car in London to driving to the North Pole.

Genre: Documentary, Car Culture

Reading Level: Rated TV-PG

Similar Titles: Dirty Jobs, Mythbusters

Personal Thoughts: Much like Mythbusters, the show makes a series of complicated tests for two main reasons: to test if a challenge is possible and to do it because they can. The very quirky show manages to satisfy both "car guys" and non-car aficionados with solid information, surreal challenges, and humor. Additionally, they review and reflect on famous high-end cars, occasionally with British superstars.

Finally, the Stig. Look him up.

Disney XD

Disney XD presented by the Disney Channel. Retrieved from http://disney.go.com/disneyxd/

Plot: The webpage describes and advertises Disney XD, an aspect of Disney aimed at male tweens. As part of the Disney Channel's Internet presence, Disney XD enjoys the best marketing can offer. The page displays colorful and often animated displays, buttons, and options. In addition, users can access games, create personal avatars, and watch videos of shows offered by Disney XD. In addition, the page links to other webpages, including ones regarding more popular shows, such as Phineas and Ferb, The Avengers, and Naruto.

Genre: Website

Reading Level: Most shows are rated TV-Y7 or TV-G

Similar Titles: Naruto Shippuden, Nickelodeon website

Personal Thoughts: The site enjoys high potential. Not only does it offer information about the channel, it also gives users an opportunity to socialize and play online in the relative safety of a Disney-based website. In addition, it does offer clips and full episodes of more popular shows, allowing users without cable to still enjoy them. However, the massive advertisements, particularly in the form of commercials during the videos, can be disconcerting. Also, navigating to particular programs tends to be a lengthy and frustrating endeavor.