WILD KRATTS: Episode 2.6: “Happy Turkey Day”

“A Turkey-tastic Time for All Ages”

None Light Moderate Heavy
Language
Violence
Sex
Nudity

What You Need To Know:

WILD KRATTS is an action-comedy TV series on PBS Kids about two brothers who teach children about wild animals. Chris and Martin Kratt are high-tech zoologists who study wildlife from across the world. In the season two episode, “Happy Turkey Day,” a mischievous chef threatens to poach a wild forest turkey for Thanksgiving. As for production value, the writing is sharp, the voice acting is solid, and the “animal education” bits are well-integrated.

WILD KRATTS has a strong moral proclivity for kindness, teamwork, and respect for wildlife. There is no mention of God, but the Kratt Brothers are committed to preserving the lives and habitats of wild animals. “Happy Turkey Day” contains mild slapstick violence and some practical pranks. The Kratt Brothers fly directly into a tree, the villain gets into a fight with a wild bear, and a chef threatens to shoot an egg at a wild turkey. The Thanksgiving episode of the WILD KRATTS is entertaining for all ages. However, the animation is stiff, and there is mild slapstick violence. MOVIEGUIDE® advises slight caution for younger children.

Content:

(C, BB, EE, V, M)

Dominant Worldview and Other Worldview Content/Elements:

A strong Christian worldview about teamwork and saving animals from danger, the heroes focus on teamwork and putting themselves in harm’s way, the same heroes save a wild turkey from being hunted by an evil chef, the protagonists thank their engineers for building their animal power suits, a strong environmental message of preserving animal life and their natural habitats, and the protagonists stress the importance of learning about wild animals;

Foul Language:

No foul language;

Violence:

Moderate slapstick violence but no character has long-term injuries, a man damages his wingsuit and crashes headfirst into a tree, animals pluck the feathers of a man’s high-tech turkey suit, a chef threatens to shoot eggs at his prey, and a chef gets into a fight with a wild bear;

Sex:

No sex;

Nudity:

No nudity;

Alcohol Use:

No alcohol;

Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse:

No smoking or real-life drug abuse; and,

Miscellaneous Immorality:

A man plays a prank of dumping cold liquid onto his brother’s face, and the same character pulls the same stunt at the end of the episode.

More Detail:

WILD KRATTS is an action-comedy TV series on PBS Kids about two brothers who teach children about wild animals. Chris and Martin Kratt are high-tech zoologists who study wildlife from across the world. In the season two episode, “HappyTurkey Day,” a mischievous chef threatens to poach a wild forest turkey for Thanksgiving. Will the Kratts be able to keep turkeys off the menu?

WILD KRATTS incorporates live-action segments but is primarily a 2D animated action series. In each episode, Chris Kratt, Martin Kratt, and their crew of scientists study animals in their natural habitats. When an animal is in danger, the Kratts jump to the rescue. They use “Creature Power Suits,” high-tech exoskeletons that transform the Brothers into any creature, like birds and gorillas. The Brothers share information about the animal’s strengths and its relationship with its habitat.

“Happy Turkey Day” is an excellent slice of your typical WILD KRATTS adventure. The writing is sharp, the voice acting is solid, and the “animal education” bits are well-integrated. The show is aimed at young children, but it is a great learning tool for people of all ages. The only downside is the wonky 2D animation. This episode came out in 2012, and the stiff character rigs definitely show their age. On the plus side, the aesthetic and color design is vibrant without being overbearing. Does its moral compass also hold up?

WILD KRATTS has a strong moral proclivity for kindness, teamwork, and respect for wildlife. There is no mention of God, but the Kratt Brothers are committed to preserving the lives and habitats of wild animals. The Kratts and their team rely on teamwork, thinking outside the box, and rescuing animals from physical danger. In “Wild Turkey Day,” the team thwarts an evil chef from poaching a wild turkey without a license. Lastly, the Kratts thank their assistants for providing them with gear. But are there any objectionable elements?

“Happy Turkey Day” contains mild slapstick violence and some practical pranks. The Kratt Brothers fly directly into a tree, the villain gets into a fight with a wild bear, and a chef threatens to shoot an egg at a wild turkey. No character is seriously hurt, however. Lastly, one of the Kratt Brothers pulls a stunt: a Rube Goldberg contraption that spills juice over a guy’s head. Otherwise, WILD KRATTS is morally sanitized like its PBS contemporaries.

The Thanksgiving episode of the WILD KRATTS is entertaining for all ages. The writing, art direction, and vocal delivery are rock solid. The episode has a strong bias towards teamwork, rescuing animals from danger, and stopping wild poachers. However, the animation is stiff, and there is mild slapstick violence. MOVIEGUIDE® advises slight caution for younger children.