unior high school can be traumatizing for any sixth-grader, but Robot Jones has a harder time than most. While he may be smart, athletic and great at video games, Robot Jones is also a 3-foot-8-inch, 500-pound robot with a 9,468-megavolt memory.
In a world where robots are commonplace, Robot Jones is an experimental prototype that has been designed to interact with humans. He's been programmed with basic emotions and, even though his technology is pretty new, he hasn't quite mastered human interaction. Unfortunately for this unusual sixth-grader, his Mom Unit and Dad Unit are slightly antiquated and they just don't understand their son's programming.
In "PU to P.E.," Robot Jones sets off to Polyneux Middle School and discovers the challenges of taking Physical Education. Robot Jones is great at the athletics. However, just as he thinks he's successfully negotiated P.E., the teacher tells the class to "hit the showers." When Robot Jones discovers that he's expected to get wet, he has to figure out a way to stay away from the showers despite the teacher, who thinks the robot is shy. Not so. Robot Jones is terrified of rusting. As day after day passes and he manages to avoid the dreaded showers, the teacher determines that Robot Jones will have good hygiene if it's the last thing he does.
In "Vacuum Friend," Robot Jones can't quite seem to fit in. The other kids don't laugh at his jokes and he has to turn down an offer to go to a pool party. He's afraid robots and humans aren't meant to interact. At home, Robot Jones reboots Gramps Unit, an old computer that believes robots are far superior to humans and should unite. Robot Jones finds himself confused, but the next day he does manage to find the perfect friend, a vacuum cleaner called Dust Buddy. With his new best friend, Robot Jones decides he doesn't need human friends anymore. That is, until the vacuum's electric cord reaches its
limit and his new buddy gets unplugged.
An engaging series in search of its audience
Whatever Happened to ... Robot Jones? is a colorful, engaging new animated series for the younger set. While the series doesn't have many laughs, Robot Jones does deal with the issues of feeling different and going to school. There's more than a little bit of heart to the show, and in each episode Robot Jones gets to learn a new lesson, whether it's that showers after P.E. won't kill you or that friends can be different and still be friends.
The new series from creator Greg Miller isn't sophisticated enough for older kids. The characterizations are broad and the point of each episode is obvious. However, for specifically those reasons, younger kids will find plenty to like in Robot Jones. The character of Robot Jones is about as much of an outsider as a sixth-grader can be. He understands how terrifying school is and he has nightmares about it. He has the same fears many kids have.
While the series does a nice job of exploring the horror of junior high school, Robot Jones could stand to be funnier. There are some nice sight gags, but overall the show is a little thin in the humor department. Still, the young ones will be entertained enough to stay tuned.
However, the real problem is the timeslot. The audience that will be most interested in this appealing little series will be in bed by the time the show airs on Fridays at 9:30 p.m. The Cartoon Network airs many of its series in the evenings, but to have Robot Jones on so late makes little sense. The series will not appeal to adults at all and older children will be looking for something a little more complex to watch.
