Someone please educate me about X Men for my 6 year old

[artvandalay]

My 6 year old is suddenly fascinated with X Men. The boys at recess have been playing X men. I don't think he's old enough for the movie, so I did a search on my Direct TV, apparently there are 3 different X men cartoons series:

1. X Men
2. X Men Evolution
3. Wolverine and the X Men

Which of these would be the most age appropriate? I would like the one that is least violent/graphic, so whichever one is geared for a younger age group, that is what I would like for him. For reference he is also very interested in Star Wars and has been watching Clone Wars cartoons and I do not find it violent. In Clone Wars most of the fighting is done with light sabers. I guess I am reluctant to have him watch shows with guns, but that is inevitable, right?

Also does anyone know what the difference of these 3 series?

[lizzywednesday]

They're all fairly mature, but most Marvel universe superheroes tap into real adolescent/young adult anxieties in the real world. Stan Lee is not only a marketing genius but, in many ways, he's still a very anxious, awkward 12-year-old boy.

Anyway, Marvel-verse aside, the 3 cartoons are fairly similar in subject matter.

It's standard superhero violence - hand-to-hand combat, ridiculous situations, etc. - and giant robots (Sentinels) with some political underhandedness (that a younger kid's not going to pick up on) and racial prejudice (that a younger kid might pick up on) as major themes.

The one that's just plain "X-Men" (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103584/) is the one I remember being on TV ... when I was in high school.

I'm not sure I would be entirely comfortable allowing a 6 y/o watch it (or read the comics) but whatever.

The "Wolverine and the X-Men" series might be the most "tame" ... it seems to have started in 2008 and appears to be produced by the same company doing the new Superman and Justice League cartoons.

Honestly, I'd go to Hulu to see if I could find episodes before trying to buy videos since there are themes that are a bit more mature than I'm comfortable with a Kindergarten/1st-Grade audience experiencing.

[wolverine2]

Does he know there's a show and want to watch it?

My boys have been interested in superhero stuff and I never let them watch anything. They pick up tidbits from friends at school and make up their own details when they are playing (which I am fully supportive of), but just because they're interested in it doesn't mean I'm going to let them watch it. I get a kick out of what they come up with on their own (they like to play spiderman and "ire man.")

But then, I like to shield my kids from just about everything commercial if I can help it, so they are exposed to things later in general (DS1 hasn't seen Star Wars yet and thinks it's "RBD2").

[artvandalay]

and racial prejudice (that a younger kid might pick up on) as major themes.

.

Oh wow... that is not good.

I just looked up all 3 on Netflix, it said X Men Evolution was listed as:

Genres:Children & Family (http://movies.netflix.com/WiGenre?sgid=302), Cartoons (http://movies.netflix.com/WiGenre?sgid=620), Kids' TV (http://movies.netflix.com/WiGenre?sgid=1087), Comic Books and Superheroes (http://movies.netflix.com/WiGenre?sgid=642), Ages 5-7 (http://movies.netflix.com/WiGenre?sgid=2052), Ages 8-10 (http://movies.netflix.com/WiGenre?sgid=2053), Ages 11-12 (http://movies.netflix.com/WiGenre?sgid=2054)

while the other two series started at Age 8-10.

He is not aware of what X Men movies/shows are available. He just asked to "watch x men". He's not adamant about it, so I'm fine with holding out until he's older. He keeps asking me what powers all the different guys have (Wolverine, Magnito... etc. My husband can answer some of the questions but I have no clue).

I didn't even think about Hulu. I will try there and watch an episode of Evolution and see what I think. I've been letting both boys (ages 4 and 6) watch the old He-Man cartoons on Hulu. I have to sometime stifle my laughter at all the campyness. But He-Man was from a simpler time....things are so different now :/

[Reyadawnbringer]

I would go for the Marvel super hero squad that just started coming out on DVD. It has a mixture of several marvel super heroes and is geared more toward the younger age. It is not available on netflix though.

[s7714]

I would go for the Marvel super hero squad that just started coming out on DVD. It has a mixture of several marvel super heroes and is geared more toward the younger age. It is not available on netflix though.

I was going to suggest Super Hero Squad as well. Wolverine is a main character and often there are other X-Men characters. I haven't seen as many X-Men during the current season, but there were quite a few in the first season.

http://www.hulu.com/search?query=The+Superhero+Squad+Show&st=1&fs=null

[artvandalay]

OK I just looked up this Super Hero Squad - I think it's great! He has asked about Iron Man (he has no idea who he is, but some of the other boys talk about him) and I see he's in this, too.

I think he would like this. Thank you guys for recommending it!

[arivecchi]

My 4 yo is obssessed with super heroes too. We bought him a bunch of books and figurines but he watches the cartoons on TV with DH and I at times. Yes, they are a little violent at times, but he knows it's all "pretend fighting". Maybe you can watch them with him and decide what you are comfortable with.

[daisymommy]

I will have to look into the Super Hero Squad as well.
FWIW, I have an 8.5 year old, and we have never let him watch the X-men movies...no way. Too violent and scary if you ask me.