Jellystone Review

He's smarter than the average bear! In fact, he's a doctor! Yogi Bear, Boo Boo and Cindy are doctors in the brand new HBO Max series, Jellystone! set in the new fictional city of the same name, Yogi and a ton of other Hanna-Barbera characters live together in (semi) harmony. Yogi is out of the forest and making an honest living but don't worry there are still antics aplenty! One look at the new Jellystone! series and it is obvious this isn't your typical Saturday morning show, so is Jellystone! OK for kids? I break down language, themes and violence in my Parent Review of Jellystone!

Disclaimer: I was granted early access to Jellystone! for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Jellystone! An HBO Max Original Available July 29th

Jellystone! | Series Synopsis

Welcome to Jellystone, a quaint little community chock-full of colorful characters. It would be a peaceful place, if it weren’t for the hilarious personalities constantly getting themselves, and the town, into trouble! Yogi Bear, Cindy Bear, and Boo Boo are surgeons at Jellystone Hospital, Jabberjaw is hungry for a promotion at Magilla Gorilla’s swanky clothing shop, El Kabong fights crime, and Doggie Daddy takes helicopter parenting of Augie Doggie to new heights. With Huckleberry Hound as mayor and Top Cat running the streets, there’s never a dull moment in this madcap little town! 


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Jellystone! | Parent Review

Jellystone! is more cartoon-sitcom for adults rather than a cartoon show for kids.

The 2D animation of Jellystone! is a welcome sight when compared to other newly resurrected cartoons (Rugrats, Kamp Koral: Spongebob) however the animation style is certainly not like Yogi Bear shows of old. 

Even though the lines are sharper, the characters are still recognizable; Yogi still has his famous green hat and tie (under his doctor's coat of course) and Boo Boo still manages to look like, well, Boo Boo. 

In my viewing of a few episodes it is clear that Jellystone! plans to take on more adult themes, this iteration of Yogi isn't chasing picnic baskets.

So is Jellystone! OK for kids? 


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Language

From what I've viewed so far there hasn't been true "adult" language used in the series. I did hear a  "what the heck?" but nothing to really write home about here, thus far.

There are adult themed jokes that are sure to go over certain age groups' heads, for instance, Cindy is in a book club that is reading, what appears to be a rather risqué story about Fred and Wilma Flintsone, as well as some instances of bathroom humor.

Cartoon Violence

It seems that a recurring theme of Jellystone! is that the town, or part of it, ends up in ruins by the end of each episode. 

The violence is plentiful but it is also your typical, slap-stick cartoon violence where characters are hit with frying pans, blown up, crushed by heavy objects - but are fine in the next scene.

My Final Thoughts

Fans of Hanna-Barbera are sure to find a lot to like about Jellystone! 

If said fans were hoping to introduce their younger children to these beloved characters they may be a bit disappointed as I mentioned this isn't a show for preschoolers, but The Yogi Bear Show is available on HBO Max!

Jellystone! is chock-full of beloved characters beyond Yogi, Boo Boo and Cindy. Top Cat, Snagglepuss, Magilla Gorilla, Captain Caveman and Huckleberry Hound are in the series - just to name a few.

Each 20+ minute block is broken into two separate, 11(ish) minute stories which makes this series easy to digest.


Age Recommendation for Jellystone!: 8+
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Jellystone! is fast paced, features madcap characters and is more like a less-raunchy Family Guy and less like a series you'd find on any channel that has a "Jr." at the end of it.

Checkout Jellystone! on HBO Max July 29th to see the fun (and all around ridiculousness) that comes with Yogi Bear being a doctor and Huckleberry Hound being the town's mayor.