6teen is a show I have been familiar with since I was a kid watching Teletoon, although I only paid minimal attention to it back then. However, I got into the series after revisiting its sister show Total Drama, and greatly enjoyed it. But seeing the review page, I was saddened by how the reviews were very negative (one scathingly so, although the guy behind it seems to be a 90s hand-drawn purist who thinks Canadian cartoons are a crime against humanity, since he has a similar review for Total Drama). So I'm gonna inject some positivity and explain why I believe 6teen is a true gem in the underrated world of Canadian animation.
The other reviews trash the show's animation as "bland", "ugly", and "straight out of John Kricfalusi's nightmares". I disagree. 6teen has a unique artstyle that I've really never seen in any cartoon ever. I cannot compare it to any other series (although its sister show Stoked has a few similarities). The colours and character designs are diverse and pleasant on the eyes. The way the characters move is passable too; while obviously made in 2000s-era digital animation, the lack of Off-Model bounciness that some hate actually works well with the non-cartoony tone.
I've heard some say the show is pure Toilet Humour. While there are some fart jokes, they're not as common as detractors claim. The show is legitimately funny, with the humour coming from the situations the characters get in and their banter with each other. I've also heard people say the show is boring. I get why they feel that way, given the grounded tone of the series, but to me, it's relaxed and down-to-earth. It's not supposed to be super zany; it's a live-action sitcom in cartoon form, like King of the Hill. The Slice of Life atmosphere is part of the appeal. It's fundamentally about teens being teens and what they do when not at high school (hence why high school is ignored by the show).
However, my favourite thing about 6teen is the main characters. All 6 are great characters, and I like all of them. The way they all act and talk is very true to how teens are and makes them feel very real. The creators clearly understand teens, and how to write them. I have heard a few complain that the characters are little more than stereotypes, and while they definitely have elements of teen stereotypes, they are still likeable characters who you'd swear you knew from high school. Also, the theme song is awesome.
Overall, 6teen is a great show to me. Good artstyle, funny writing, a refreshingly grounded tone, enjoyable characters, and a sincere and realistic depiction of teenagers. While it may not be as popular as Total Drama, I personally believe 6teen is the superior show and has aged better. Please don't let the other reviews convince you 6teen is garbage, because it isn't. If you love Fresh TV's other cartoons, like Slice of Life shows or teen comedies, or want a great Teletoon series, I highly recommend 6teen, because the show deserves more appreciation.
It's Actually Much Better Than the Other Reviews Make It Sound
6teen is a show I have been familiar with since I was a kid watching Teletoon, although I only paid minimal attention to it back then. However, I got into the series after revisiting its sister show Total Drama, and greatly enjoyed it. But seeing the review page, I was saddened by how the reviews were very negative (one scathingly so, although the guy behind it seems to be a 90s hand-drawn purist who thinks Canadian cartoons are a crime against humanity, since he has a similar review for Total Drama). So I'm gonna inject some positivity and explain why I believe 6teen is a true gem in the underrated world of Canadian animation.
The other reviews trash the show's animation as "bland", "ugly", and "straight out of John Kricfalusi's nightmares". I disagree. 6teen has a unique artstyle that I've really never seen in any cartoon ever. I cannot compare it to any other series (although its sister show Stoked has a few similarities). The colours and character designs are diverse and pleasant on the eyes. The way the characters move is passable too; while obviously made in 2000s-era digital animation, the lack of Off-Model bounciness that some hate actually works well with the non-cartoony tone.
I've heard some say the show is pure Toilet Humour. While there are some fart jokes, they're not as common as detractors claim. The show is legitimately funny, with the humour coming from the situations the characters get in and their banter with each other. I've also heard people say the show is boring. I get why they feel that way, given the grounded tone of the series, but to me, it's relaxed and down-to-earth. It's not supposed to be super zany; it's a live-action sitcom in cartoon form, like King of the Hill. The Slice of Life atmosphere is part of the appeal. It's fundamentally about teens being teens and what they do when not at high school (hence why high school is ignored by the show).
However, my favourite thing about 6teen is the main characters. All 6 are great characters, and I like all of them. The way they all act and talk is very true to how teens are and makes them feel very real. The creators clearly understand teens, and how to write them. I have heard a few complain that the characters are little more than stereotypes, and while they definitely have elements of teen stereotypes, they are still likeable characters who you'd swear you knew from high school. Also, the theme song is awesome.
Overall, 6teen is a great show to me. Good artstyle, funny writing, a refreshingly grounded tone, enjoyable characters, and a sincere and realistic depiction of teenagers. While it may not be as popular as Total Drama, I personally believe 6teen is the superior show and has aged better. Please don't let the other reviews convince you 6teen is garbage, because it isn't. If you love Fresh TV's other cartoons, like Slice of Life shows or teen comedies, or want a great Teletoon series, I highly recommend 6teen, because the show deserves more appreciation.