What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that this series is filled with
standard cartoon violence like extensive falls, dust-stirring
collisions, and fistfights. Occasionally, there's also
unrealistic use of firepower; in one scene, a cannon fires
children instead of cannonballs (the kids emerge unscathed).
Flapjack's adoration of Captain K'Nuckles is disturbing since
the captain is selfish, dishonest, and unkind and routinely
encourages Flapjack to ignore Bubbie's motherly advice. The
series does attempt to convey positive messages about good
social behavior, but the lessons are typically overshadowed by
the rest of the content and the show's chaotic pace.
Families can talk about role models. How does the media affect our views of model behavior? Do you think famous people are held to a different set of standards than the rest of us are? Is that fair? Who are some of your role models? What characteristics do you admire in them? How would you feel if someone you looked up to did something wrong?
Common Sense Media Review
Flapjack (voiced by Thurop Van Orman) is a young boy with an
oversized thirst for adventure. Raised at sea by gentle talking
whale Bubbie (Roz Ryan) -- whose cavernous insides provide a
cozy home for her adopted son -- Flapjack's eyes are opened
when he meets an old pirate named Captain K'Nuckles (Brian
Doyle-Murray), who fills his head with exaggerated tales of his
exciting experiences at sea. Now Flapjack's blind adoration
sets him adrift with the crooked captain in one sticky
situation after another, despite the fact that Bubbie -- and
everyone else in Stormalong Harbor -- sees K'Nuckles for the
dishonest scoundrel he truly is.
On the surface, there's nothing overtly worrying about THE MARVELOUS MISADVENTURES OF FLAPJACK, but there are some underlying issues that parents may take issue with. Poor Flapjack is caught in the middle between two adults -- both of whom he loves and admires for different reasons -- who bombard him with conflicting ideas of what it means to be a good, upstanding person. Bubbie tries her best to teach him that charity and friendship can solve any conflict, but it's usually Captain K'Nuckles' irresponsible quest for mischief that wins out.
There's also a fair amount of standard fare cartoon violence (fistfights, crashes, that sort of thing) and some use of guns and cannons, but the fact that no one is ever hurt just underlines the show's improbability. Precious little about this series is relatable to real life, and even attempts to include positive lessons are lost amid its chaotic pace. Though the target audience of young tweens -- especially boys -- might have fun with Flapjack's adventures, in the end they'd be better served by a show with a little more substance.
Better adventurous choices for tweens include The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones and The Sarah Jane Adventures .
Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing information to help parents make media and entertainment choices for their families.
