So, my son, about to turn 3, has recently discovered Rescue Bots and has gone crazy for them. Fortunately, I was forward-thinking enough to buy all of the Rescue Bots toys back when he was still 1 -- he played with them some but didn't show any interest in the show until he got older. This has made me start thinking about what other TF shows would be next in line, developmentally speaking, as appropriate shows for him (and his younger sister) to watch. I'd definitely be interested in feedback from other parents who have gone through this process of introducing shows to their kids, but also general thoughts from anyone on age-appropriateness are welcome. There are lots of Japanese cartoons and such that are definitely for older kids, but the ones I'm most curious about are: 1) Rescue Bots (seems appropriate in the 3-7 age range) 2) Transformers Animated (I'm guessing this would be next, but introducing bad guys and combat is definitely for later) 3) Transformers G1 (pre-movie) -- maybe this would be up after TFA, combat but bloodless, very little true danger for villains or heros, I watched it when I was 10-13 yo but I think it could be appropriate for 7+, maybe lower 4) Transformers Prime -- seems a bit more mature than G1 but still has humans interacting with the bots, but honestly haven't watched much of this 5) Beast Wars/Machines -- no humans, darker, some higher level concepts like honor/time travel/possession, some scary characters like Tarantulas, plus there are some deaths to characters (terrorsaur, scorponok, optimus primal, etc.) 6) Transformers The Movie -- this is definitely for older kids, laser blasts now actually hurt people, many characters get permanently killed, lots of darker themes here, probably 13+ 7) Transformers G1 (post-movie) -- I don't remember these episodes being particularly dark, but chronologically it would make no sense to watch these before the movie Would appreciate any thoughts people have on these. I've not included Cybertron or Robots in Disguise or anything in that area, because I honestly haven't watched them. Feel free to comment on them, because I'd like to know of any of them are good options. All of the above are shows I've watched to some extent myself and would eventually like to introduce them to my kids. What ages have you or would you introduce these shows at? Is the list above more or less the order you would do it in? Have I forgotten any scary episodes or anything that would revise some of these shows upward?
Transformers the Movie 13+? BAHA. If I watched BTAS at age 3 and turned out fine your kid can catch pretty much all the TF cartoons and be okay.
If you are afraid of cruelty and death, I can assure you: if your children are small enough- they will not understand the depth of it and will be fine. If your children are sentient enough to understand the depth of loss, it is too late to hide some media from them. I distinguish the shows due to the speed of scenes changing. Very small kid might be fine with slow shows, but an older one will feel the lack of action. It is not an instruction- every human child can be different, due to the way their parents treat and rise them.
I can't really comment on any other cartoons as I only seen G1 and bits of Prime. IMO, Prime is a bit too mature for a 3 year old probably. There are some parts - there's one epuisode where the dead body of Cliffjumper is reanimated - that might be a bit scary. G1 I would say is fine, including the movie. I certainly wouldn't suggest it's "13+"!!! One thing I will say - my own boys (who are now 5 and 7, but were introduced to G1 earlier) actually found the old cartoon... a little dull. The huge amount of largely personality-less characters didn't help. Obviously the likes of Prime, Bumblebee etc were well received. "Rescue Bots" has been a big success though.
Transformers Rescue Bots is an absolutely wonderful way to introduce the world of Transformers to 2, 3, 4 year old kids. I think once kids get to be about 5 years old, they should be perfectly fine to watch the original cartoon, Beast Wars, Animated, Prime, or whatever other versions. I think the original animated movie is the darkest thing out there. I first saw it when I was five years old in 1986, and I loved it. It's still my favorite animated movie of all time.
Don't know about you guys, but I felt traumatized when Optimus Prime died in the Movie, and I was 12 at the time. Of course, that was due to a significant amount of hero worship, but still I think that if you show it to a kid too young either they won't understand the significance of the scene or it could be really upsetting. To have so many characters that I grew up with getting so casually killed off really did bother me. (Part of the reason why I don't let my 13 year old son watch Game of Thrones. But only part.) I guess I want them to both be the right age to appreciate the shows as well as be able to withstand the shocks and not get scared. My kids love (LOVE!) Frozen, but The Lion King scared them. I'm sure they'll like it eventually, but it's just not time yet. Appreciate all the responses so far. I agree that TF rime is probably still a few years off. What do you guys think about TF:A? I've watched most of the first season but not all of the other episodes. Is there anything to worry about in them?
G1 Milo, I was traumatized by the death of BreakDown in TF Prime, and I was like I am today. At least, you could explain to your child that, unlike the real life, the vanished character can appear in other shows, so it is not an eternal death and not the end of the story. I watched Animated to the end and felt very displeased, when the writters killed Prowl and StarScream for nothing. I mean, it was obvious that Prowl was suicidal from the very beginning, but I see the cause of their death pointless. There was no need for it. Not to mention, that one Prowl costs a bunch of nameless Autobots, and it was a great waste of resources.
I'd say G1 Series:4+ (All except MTMTE Episode 2 were rated U by the BBFC, MTMTE 2 was rated PG for the threat of the fire on the oilrig I think) G1 Movie:7+ (Much more serious and 'gruesome' than the series) Beast Wars:8+ (More mature humour) Beast Machines:8+ (Brooding and dark) RiD:5+ (Silly kiddy show, at least that's what I thought when it came out) Armada:6+ (Again silly but with some dark moments) Energon:100+ (no-one should have to watch this) Cybertron:6+ (Quite simple but also quite violent in places) Movies:12+ (Sexism, Racism, Gore, Crude Humour, Human Deaths, Torture) Animated:7+ (Some darker elements) Prime:8+ (Serious and dark in places) In my opinion
My daughters 3 and she watched prime before rescue bots but loves both (be it trying to balance some of the more violent episodes - anything with dark energon or silas in breakdowns body and the predacon episodes) shes loves my beast wars toys but i wouldnt let he watch those until she was older. again its the ones that have the Japanese sillyness/anime feel to them - RID, Energon, armada as there is no real violence or nastiness (or plot or story or quality)
G1, The Animes and Rescue Bots are harmless fun. BW, BM, Animated and Prime are for around over the ages 6 and up.
