Bakugan – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Bakugan

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

show2023

54%

WISE Score

Toy-commercial anime where six planets of battling creatures wage constant war—it's loud, it's colorful, and your kid will want the merch.

Bakugan

show

TV-Y7, 2023

54%

WISE Score

Toy-commercial anime where six planets of battling creatures wage constant war—it's loud, it's colorful, and your kid will want the merch.

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Screenwise Verdict

Look, Bakugan (2023) is exactly what it looks like: a reboot of a toy franchise designed to move merchandise. The six-planet setup with different creature species is a decent hook, and the battles are colorful and energetic enough to keep elementary schoolers entertained.

But let's be real—this isn't great television. The 6.3 IMDb rating and lukewarm parent reviews tell the story: it's loud, repetitive, and the positive messages about teamwork are buried under constant combat. The 15-minute episodes are both a blessing (easy to limit) and a curse (no room for actual character development).

If your kid is already into Bakugan toys or loves battle-focused anime, this will do the job. Just know you'll be hearing "Can we get the Dragon Bakugan?" on repeat, and you might need to institute a post-episode cool-down period. It's not harmful, but it's not exactly enriching either—it's the video equivalent of sugar cereal.

Age Fit

Best for the 7-10 crowd who are into collectible toys and anime-style action. Younger kids may get overstimulated, older kids will recognize it for the mediocre toy-driven content it is. This isn't appointment viewing—it's background noise that sells plastic.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

The 2023 Bakugan reboot features constant war between Bakugan species across six planets, which frames the entire show around conflict. Common Sense Media notes positive messages about teamwork and friendship, but acknowledges they're subtle and may be lost on younger viewers. The brawling action is persistent, though not graphic. Emotional tone is fairly age-appropriate for the 7+ range, but the relentless combat focus and toy-tie-in nature keeps this from feeling particularly nurturing or balanced.

Imaginative

Six planets with different Bakugan species (Avian, Dragon, Insect, Mammal, Aquatic, Dino) offers decent world-building variety. However, this is fundamentally a toy-driven franchise designed to sell collectibles—the imaginative elements serve merchandising first. The anime-style action and creature designs have visual appeal, but the format doesn't particularly invite creative expression or open-ended exploration. It's more about collecting and battling than building or discovering.

Safe

Common Sense Media rates it 7+, noting that brawling is action-packed but not graphic or gory. No inappropriate content for the target age group—no death, nudity, or mature themes. Kids mode is available. The main safety consideration is the overstimulation factor that parent reviews mention: the constant action can amp kids up. The toy-marketing aspect is transparent rather than manipulative. Overall, parents know what they're getting into.

Enriching

The educational and developmental value is limited. Positive messages about teamwork exist but are subtle and easily overshadowed by the battle-focused plot. This is primarily entertainment designed to drive toy sales. The 6.3/10 IMDb rating suggests even fans find it mediocre. Skills developed are minimal—pattern recognition in battles, maybe some strategic thinking. No meaningful ethical dilemmas or character growth that would stick with viewers.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Six distinct Bakugan species across different planets offers visual variety and world-building that keeps things from feeling too repetitive
Action-packed battles deliver the excitement that 7-9 year olds crave, with anime-style energy and creature designs
Teamwork and friendship themes are woven throughout (even if they're competing with explosions for attention)
15-minute episode format makes it easy to limit screen time—though this also means character development is pretty shallow

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What to Watch For

This is essentially a 22-minute toy commercial, and kids will absolutely ask for the collectibles—set expectations early
Parent reviews consistently mention the overstimulation factor: constant battles can leave younger kids amped up and bouncing off walls
The positive messages about cooperation are there, but they're subtle enough that younger viewers (under 7) will likely miss them entirely
The 6.3 IMDb rating tells you what you need to know: even fans think this is just okay

Conversation Starters

"If you could design your own Bakugan species, what would it look like? What planet would it live on?"
"The characters are always battling—do you think they could solve their problems by talking instead? Why or why not?"
"Which Bakugan type do you think is strongest? Is being the strongest always the most important thing?"
"How do the characters work together as a team during battles? What makes a good teammate?"

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