NinjaJack
11-24-2003, 06:04 PM
Thankyou Premethus http://www.lionlamb.org/dirtydozen2004.htm
The Dirty Dozen
Violent Toys, Video Games and DVDs to Avoid in 2003-2004
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Violence for Tiny Tykes:
Toys, Television and Video Games
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Action figure: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Casey Jones, Playmates, Ages 4+
Video Game: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Konami, rated E for Everyone.
The toy: From the Casey Jones action figure box: "Judge, jury and enforcer! … Casey has a unique sense of what’s right or wrong and you better be on the side of right or he’ll slapshot you upside your head with his hockey stick. This hockey mask-wearing vigilante roams the streets of New York City serving up his brand of quick justice to punks and thugs."
The brand: The seemingly cute Ninja Turtles – being "relaunched" in 2003 -- actually behave according to a vigilante code, where they (and not law enforcement officials) are "judge, jury and enforcer!" The box illustration of another toy in this brand -- the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Combat Lair (for six-year-olds, by Mega Bloks) – depicts a scene of gleeful mayhem as the ninjas fight "bad guys" with ninja chains, swords and overturned barrels. In addition to the TV program, this brand is marketed by three movies and a video game.
http://www.konami.com
Power Rangers Ninja Storm
Action figure: Ninja Training Playset, Ban Dai, ages 4+
Video Game: Power Rangers Ninja Storm , THQ Inc., rated E for Everyone
The toy: This year’s version of the ubiquitous Power Rangers also focuses on ninjas. The current villain is Lothor, who "kidnapped students at 19 ninja schools in an evil plan to take over the world. Now the battle is on!" A frightening story line for four-year-olds, who don’t fully understand the difference between fantasy and reality. Yet the "Training Playset" urges pre-schoolers to "start Ninja Storm training today!"
The brand: Like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, this is another television-generated brand with the message that the best way to solve problems is through violence. While the Power Rangers are portrayed as "good guys," they solve problems through fighting. For example, the Tsunami Cycle toy features the Red Ranger and "Missile Firing Action!"
http://www.bandai.com
Transformers
Action figure: Transformers Universe Razorclaw, Hasbro, Ages 5+
Video Game: Beast Wars Transformers, Hasbro Interactive, rated E for Everyone
The toy: This robot has "projectile-launching attack wings, firing battle quills" and "launching cannons." Since this is a toy for pre-schoolers, it has "missiles [that] fit in hands for hand-to-hand battle!" To introduce even younger children to this brand, Hasbro markets a Playskool version called Transformer Go-Bots targeting three-year-olds and their parents.
The brand: This is another toy/TV program with a totally inappropriate story line for preschoolers. From the Razorclaw toy box: "In the distant future, the evil Unicron wages a final war for ultimate control of the Universe … As the enemy sides clash in the biggest war the Universe has ever seen, their bodies emit a powerful radiation known as Energon. Little do they know that Unicron is secretly harvesting this mysterious force to increase his own strength!" A tot prequel for The Matrix?
http://www.hasbro.com
World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE)
Action figure: WWE Training Day, Jakks Pacific, Ages on box range from 3 to 12+
Video Game: WWE Smackdown! Here comes the Pain, THQ Inc., rated T for Teen
The Toy: This is a "training" set of WWE action figures. "Are you tough enough to train with these WWE superstars?" the wording on the box asks children. This is part of the "Ruthless Aggression" series and is "safety tested for ages 8 and up."
The brand: Although the WWE website tells parents that the television show is "tailored for teens and young adults," WWE licenses numerous action figures, video games and other products for children. Jakks Pacific also offers an "Elimination Chamber" playset, and a series of "Flex’ems" action figures with proportions that can only be achieved with massive doses of steroids.
http://www.thq.com
Deceptive Branding:
The Sequel That Isn’t
Jak
Video Game: Jak II, Naughty Dog, rated T for Teen
The video game: The story begins after Jak bursts out of prison, where he has been tortured for two years. He is angry and "practically shaking with bloodlust and thirst for revenge," according to one review (Toronto Star.) The game’s producers were influenced by the adult-rated Grand Theft Auto, according to several reviews. "The thing is Grand Theft Auto with elves and a talking rat. What a brilliant idea," notes the Star.
The brand: Jak II sounds like a sequel, but it isn’t. The original game in this series – Jak and Dexter – was rated E for Everyone and was a cute game about a young elf named Jak and his pet, a talking rat named Dexter. Parents who feel comfortable with this "brand" are in for a rude surprise if they purchase the sequel for their young children.
http://www.naughtydog.com
The Dirty Dozen
Violent Toys, Video Games and DVDs to Avoid in 2003-2004
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Violence for Tiny Tykes:
Toys, Television and Video Games
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Action figure: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Casey Jones, Playmates, Ages 4+
Video Game: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Konami, rated E for Everyone.
The toy: From the Casey Jones action figure box: "Judge, jury and enforcer! … Casey has a unique sense of what’s right or wrong and you better be on the side of right or he’ll slapshot you upside your head with his hockey stick. This hockey mask-wearing vigilante roams the streets of New York City serving up his brand of quick justice to punks and thugs."
The brand: The seemingly cute Ninja Turtles – being "relaunched" in 2003 -- actually behave according to a vigilante code, where they (and not law enforcement officials) are "judge, jury and enforcer!" The box illustration of another toy in this brand -- the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Combat Lair (for six-year-olds, by Mega Bloks) – depicts a scene of gleeful mayhem as the ninjas fight "bad guys" with ninja chains, swords and overturned barrels. In addition to the TV program, this brand is marketed by three movies and a video game.
http://www.konami.com
Power Rangers Ninja Storm
Action figure: Ninja Training Playset, Ban Dai, ages 4+
Video Game: Power Rangers Ninja Storm , THQ Inc., rated E for Everyone
The toy: This year’s version of the ubiquitous Power Rangers also focuses on ninjas. The current villain is Lothor, who "kidnapped students at 19 ninja schools in an evil plan to take over the world. Now the battle is on!" A frightening story line for four-year-olds, who don’t fully understand the difference between fantasy and reality. Yet the "Training Playset" urges pre-schoolers to "start Ninja Storm training today!"
The brand: Like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, this is another television-generated brand with the message that the best way to solve problems is through violence. While the Power Rangers are portrayed as "good guys," they solve problems through fighting. For example, the Tsunami Cycle toy features the Red Ranger and "Missile Firing Action!"
http://www.bandai.com
Transformers
Action figure: Transformers Universe Razorclaw, Hasbro, Ages 5+
Video Game: Beast Wars Transformers, Hasbro Interactive, rated E for Everyone
The toy: This robot has "projectile-launching attack wings, firing battle quills" and "launching cannons." Since this is a toy for pre-schoolers, it has "missiles [that] fit in hands for hand-to-hand battle!" To introduce even younger children to this brand, Hasbro markets a Playskool version called Transformer Go-Bots targeting three-year-olds and their parents.
The brand: This is another toy/TV program with a totally inappropriate story line for preschoolers. From the Razorclaw toy box: "In the distant future, the evil Unicron wages a final war for ultimate control of the Universe … As the enemy sides clash in the biggest war the Universe has ever seen, their bodies emit a powerful radiation known as Energon. Little do they know that Unicron is secretly harvesting this mysterious force to increase his own strength!" A tot prequel for The Matrix?
http://www.hasbro.com
World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE)
Action figure: WWE Training Day, Jakks Pacific, Ages on box range from 3 to 12+
Video Game: WWE Smackdown! Here comes the Pain, THQ Inc., rated T for Teen
The Toy: This is a "training" set of WWE action figures. "Are you tough enough to train with these WWE superstars?" the wording on the box asks children. This is part of the "Ruthless Aggression" series and is "safety tested for ages 8 and up."
The brand: Although the WWE website tells parents that the television show is "tailored for teens and young adults," WWE licenses numerous action figures, video games and other products for children. Jakks Pacific also offers an "Elimination Chamber" playset, and a series of "Flex’ems" action figures with proportions that can only be achieved with massive doses of steroids.
http://www.thq.com
Deceptive Branding:
The Sequel That Isn’t
Jak
Video Game: Jak II, Naughty Dog, rated T for Teen
The video game: The story begins after Jak bursts out of prison, where he has been tortured for two years. He is angry and "practically shaking with bloodlust and thirst for revenge," according to one review (Toronto Star.) The game’s producers were influenced by the adult-rated Grand Theft Auto, according to several reviews. "The thing is Grand Theft Auto with elves and a talking rat. What a brilliant idea," notes the Star.
The brand: Jak II sounds like a sequel, but it isn’t. The original game in this series – Jak and Dexter – was rated E for Everyone and was a cute game about a young elf named Jak and his pet, a talking rat named Dexter. Parents who feel comfortable with this "brand" are in for a rude surprise if they purchase the sequel for their young children.
http://www.naughtydog.com