IESB has broken the news that there will be a new animated “Star Wars” series based on the Star Wars: Galactic Heroes line of toys by Hasbro. This new series — if we’re to believe the article, it’ll be called “Squishies”, which seems unlikely — is meant for the preschool/kindergarten crowd, which makes sense, given the line of toys.
Though rumors have swirled about the production of a live-action series, neither that nor any information of a release date for this new animated series have been announced.
I remember the day my preschooler came home talking about Darth Vader. This surprised me because we hadn’t exposed him to any “Star Wars” material, deeming it a little too violent for a four year old to consume. Of course, his preschool friends had seen the movies, and would role play them. At some point, we realized that certain things are out of our control, and that we have to simply let them be. We could, however, keep “Star Wars” out of our own home.
This latest news, though, just seems like a money-hungry grab. Whether or not characters are actually shown getting shot or cut, the “Star Wars” universe features a lot of combat. Kids mimic what they see, and it seems unnecessary to give young kids a show about fighting. Though I will say it’s a fine opportunity for parents to discuss the nature of violence, both in real life and as it’s depicted in the media. All actions have consequences, and this should be stressed to our children, who may think otherwise, watching the tidy way events tend to just clean up on television. So, thanks, George Lucas, for your inadvertent help with this. Let’s hope your new show includes a little moral education as well.
