The Tick – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

The Tick

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

show1994

65%

WISE Score

100

Avg. Tomatometer

A nigh-invulnerable blue superhero yells 'SPOON!' and fights crime—peak '90s absurdist cartoon brilliance that's aged better than you'd expect.

100%

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The Tick

show

TV-Y7, 1994

65%

WISE Score

100

Avg. Tomatometer

A nigh-invulnerable blue superhero yells 'SPOON!' and fights crime—peak '90s absurdist cartoon brilliance that's aged better than you'd expect.

100%

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Screenwise Verdict

Here's the thing: The Tick (1994) is genuinely great—smart, wholesome, funny, and safe. It's got a perfect Rotten Tomatoes score and solid IMDb rating for good reason. The Tick himself is a wonderful character: invulnerable, optimistic, kind, and hilariously oblivious.

BUT. It's 30 years old, and it looks it. The animation is flat, limited, and very Saturday-morning-TV-budget. For kids raised on Spider-Verse and modern Pixar, this is going to feel ancient. The pacing is '90s episodic cartoon, which means repetitive and low-stakes.

If your kid is already a superhero superfan who appreciates absurdist humor and can handle retro aesthetics, this is a gem. If they're used to modern animation standards and need constant visual stimulation, they'll tap out in five minutes. It's not the show's fault—it's just old.

The WISE components are solid, but the watchability penalty for 2025 kids is real. This is a 'you might love it IF you can get past the dated animation' situation.

Age Fit

Best for ages 7-12 who are already into superhero content and can handle '90s animation aesthetics. The absurdist humor and dated animation style mean most modern kids under 7 won't engage, and teens will likely find it too juvenile unless they're nostalgic or genuinely into retro animation.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

The 1994 animated Tick is remarkably wholesome for a superhero parody—it's goofy, earnest, and models genuine heroism despite the absurdist humor. The Tick himself is unfailingly optimistic and kind, even when he's being hilariously oblivious. Violence is cartoonish slapstick with no real consequences. The show gently mocks superhero tropes without being mean-spirited, and the Tick's relationship with Arthur emphasizes loyalty and friendship. Pacing is energetic but not chaotic—it's '90s Saturday morning cartoon energy.

Imaginative

This is peak '90s absurdist superhero satire with genuinely creative world-building. The City is populated by wonderfully bizarre heroes (Die Fledermaus, American Maid, Sewer Urchin) and villains (Chairface Chippendale, El Seed). The show rewards creative thinking and celebrates weirdness—the Tick's battle cry 'SPOON!' is gloriously nonsensical. It parodies superhero conventions while creating its own mythology. The animation style is distinctive, and each episode presents inventive scenarios that kids can riff on in their own play.

Safe

This is Saturday morning cartoon safe—Common Sense Media rates it for age 7+, which tracks. Violence is purely slapstick with no blood, injury, or real peril. No sexual content, no profanity, no scary imagery beyond cartoon villains. The Tick is invulnerable and Arthur is perpetually anxious but never in genuine danger. No death, no trauma, no content that would shock a young viewer. It's as safe as superhero content gets while still having stakes and conflict.

Enriching

The Tick offers solid lessons about heroism, friendship, and doing the right thing, wrapped in clever satire. The Tick's unwavering moral compass and Arthur's growth from timid accountant to confident sidekick provide character development. The show's humor works on multiple levels—kids enjoy the slapstick while older viewers appreciate the superhero genre parody. It encourages questioning conventions and celebrates individuality. However, it's primarily entertainment rather than deeply enriching—you're not walking away with profound insights, just a good time and some gentle life lessons.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Genuinely funny superhero parody that works for kids AND adults—the Tick's earnest heroism is both hilarious and heartwarming
Celebrates weirdness and individuality without being preachy; Arthur's journey from nervous accountant to confident hero is surprisingly solid character development
Completely safe cartoon violence with zero edge—no blood, no trauma, just a big blue guy throwing bad guys around
Introduces kids to satire and meta-humor in an accessible way; they'll get the jokes now and appreciate new layers later
33% Rotten Tomatoes score and 7.8 IMDb rating suggest it holds up for those who can handle '90s animation aesthetics

⚠

What to Watch For

The animation is VERY 1994—think flat colors, limited movement, Saturday morning TV budget. Modern kids raised on Pixar may bounce off it hard
Humor is aggressively absurdist (battle cry: 'SPOON!'); some kids will find it hilarious, others will just be confused
Episodes can feel repetitive in the classic '90s cartoon way—villain shows up, Tick punches them, everyone learns nothing. It's the journey, not the destination
Best for kids already into superhero stuff who can appreciate the parody angle

Conversation Starters

"Why do you think the Tick is so confident even when he has no idea what's going on? Is that a good thing or does it get him in trouble?"
"If you were a superhero, what would your weird battle cry be? (Bonus points if it's a kitchen utensil)"
"Arthur is really nervous and the Tick is super brave—do you think they make a good team because they're different?"
"What's the silliest villain we've seen so far? Could you design an even sillier one?"

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