The show has a cool premise but what really sells it is the animation. The color palate is pretty sweet. There's some serious issues dealt with but it's pretty family friendly with great optics. As always watch for your self and make your own opinions.
27 Reviews
Better late than never
azzakwan8 March 2023
Just discovered this show few days ago in 2023 when i wanted safe pg cartoon for my son. I thought it was a boring show, with lazy quick uninteresting animation but i was wrong. My son & i hooked up with this show. Fun intro song, fun multiverse not realising it came a year after rick & morty, fun avatarish adventure (before disney owns 21st century) without things getting serious when i just want a fun go lucky adventure without hurting my emotions like owl house, gravity falls, etc so far since we haven't finished watching the whole season. Pretty weird, i had watched gravity falls, star vs forces of evil but how did i miss this one? Even there's no youtube suggestion, no facebook feed, as if there's a conspiracy probably too many ip in this series but why just 2 seasons?
Disney XD Gets it Right
josephneuheardt24 April 2015
Warning: Spoilers
Penn Zero is a cartoon that deserves to get noticed. since 2012 with the premier of Gravity Falls, Disney has entered a new era of cartoons that have been very good so far. sure there have been shows that are more meh like Randy Cunningham or the 7D, but there have been way more good then bad. Personally, the best shows currently on the channel include Phineas and Ferb, Gravity Falls, Wander over Yonder, Star Vs. the Forces of Evil and now Penn Zero. There are many reasons why this show is really good and a couple reasons why not everyone will like it.
Let's start with the plot and structure. Basically, it is one of those cartoons where you have an ordinary team of kids saving the day. The show might seem generic at first, but it is actually very good at what it wants to be. With such a broad and easy premise that the show has, you would expect the writers of the show to just throw the characters into very generic scenarios such as space world or pirate world. Instead, the characters actually travel to pretty unique dimensions that have plenty of thought put into them. One episode has the gang travel to a world of stuffed animals and the villains are giant babies. It might sound strange, but the show knows how to handle the settings well and how the characters will adapt and fit in to the world.
Then, there are the characters. At first, the main trio looks like the most generic cast of all time. you would expect Penn to be the jerk who wants everything done his way, Boone to be the fat sensitive type that always does whatever the jerk tells him, and Sashi to be the moody nobody girl that always complains about how dumb the other two are. Surprisingly, this is not the case. Penn is much more enthusiastic and definitely makes good decisions while also being pretty goofy. Boone is more of a laid back character who also looks out for his team. Sashi is the more serious one, but she seems to actually enjoy Penn and Boone's company. Then there are the villains, Rippen and Larry. These two are actually pretty hilarious with Rippen being the focused villain and Larry being the unfocused chatterbox. These two might feel generic but they have their own little quirks that really make them enjoyable.
The humor and character development is very strong here. One thing you will notice with this show is that there is not much toilet humor, gross out, or unfunny puns. Usually, most of the humor comes from the dialogue and how the characters say it. Some jokes in the show would probably be not as funny if the voice actors did not put so much heart into their voices. The show also does contain a small dose of toilet humor, but it is not just shoehorned in like Sanjay and Craig. Usually, the toilet humor comes from Penn and Boone mispronouncing words or just because the characters are in a dimension that relates to toilets literally. It might seem a little meh but they barely use it and it's nowhere near as cringe worthy as Breadwinners or anything Nick. As for the character development, they actually do this very well. Usually when the trio goes to a dimension that challenges their abilities they learn weaknesses they have and they try to improve them. One episode involves Sashi not being able to complete the mission because she is too serious and cannot be seen clowning around in a clown dimension. During the episode, she learns that it's OK to be goofy sometimes and that she can does not always have to be so serious. The trio also do have complications with each other sometimes but they actually learn their mistakes and it's never anything generic either. It definitely makes the characters very likable when they look out for each other and it makes the show look a lot more well thought out by making the characters imperfect in many ways.
One of the most unique things about the show is the animation. The style is definitely it's own thing and isn't trying to look like the overused adventure time style. The only show that i can say looks the most familiar of this show is Samurai Jack, but that is only because both shows don't have outlines on their characters. The character movement is very crisp and this is one of those shows that uses flash or toonboom to it's advantage. Because the textures and colors of the show are so detailed, it would be extremely hard to animate this show traditionally. This show's animation is done by Mercury Film-works which also animates Wander over Yonder and Star Vs. the Forces of Evil so you expect it to look great.
Once again, Disney has managed to produce another great show for this generation. While this show might be overlooked by older viewers, I really recommend checking it out because at least we are getting a show that has a different style of humor and animation then some shows on CN or especially Nick.
Let's start with the plot and structure. Basically, it is one of those cartoons where you have an ordinary team of kids saving the day. The show might seem generic at first, but it is actually very good at what it wants to be. With such a broad and easy premise that the show has, you would expect the writers of the show to just throw the characters into very generic scenarios such as space world or pirate world. Instead, the characters actually travel to pretty unique dimensions that have plenty of thought put into them. One episode has the gang travel to a world of stuffed animals and the villains are giant babies. It might sound strange, but the show knows how to handle the settings well and how the characters will adapt and fit in to the world.
Then, there are the characters. At first, the main trio looks like the most generic cast of all time. you would expect Penn to be the jerk who wants everything done his way, Boone to be the fat sensitive type that always does whatever the jerk tells him, and Sashi to be the moody nobody girl that always complains about how dumb the other two are. Surprisingly, this is not the case. Penn is much more enthusiastic and definitely makes good decisions while also being pretty goofy. Boone is more of a laid back character who also looks out for his team. Sashi is the more serious one, but she seems to actually enjoy Penn and Boone's company. Then there are the villains, Rippen and Larry. These two are actually pretty hilarious with Rippen being the focused villain and Larry being the unfocused chatterbox. These two might feel generic but they have their own little quirks that really make them enjoyable.
The humor and character development is very strong here. One thing you will notice with this show is that there is not much toilet humor, gross out, or unfunny puns. Usually, most of the humor comes from the dialogue and how the characters say it. Some jokes in the show would probably be not as funny if the voice actors did not put so much heart into their voices. The show also does contain a small dose of toilet humor, but it is not just shoehorned in like Sanjay and Craig. Usually, the toilet humor comes from Penn and Boone mispronouncing words or just because the characters are in a dimension that relates to toilets literally. It might seem a little meh but they barely use it and it's nowhere near as cringe worthy as Breadwinners or anything Nick. As for the character development, they actually do this very well. Usually when the trio goes to a dimension that challenges their abilities they learn weaknesses they have and they try to improve them. One episode involves Sashi not being able to complete the mission because she is too serious and cannot be seen clowning around in a clown dimension. During the episode, she learns that it's OK to be goofy sometimes and that she can does not always have to be so serious. The trio also do have complications with each other sometimes but they actually learn their mistakes and it's never anything generic either. It definitely makes the characters very likable when they look out for each other and it makes the show look a lot more well thought out by making the characters imperfect in many ways.
One of the most unique things about the show is the animation. The style is definitely it's own thing and isn't trying to look like the overused adventure time style. The only show that i can say looks the most familiar of this show is Samurai Jack, but that is only because both shows don't have outlines on their characters. The character movement is very crisp and this is one of those shows that uses flash or toonboom to it's advantage. Because the textures and colors of the show are so detailed, it would be extremely hard to animate this show traditionally. This show's animation is done by Mercury Film-works which also animates Wander over Yonder and Star Vs. the Forces of Evil so you expect it to look great.
Once again, Disney has managed to produce another great show for this generation. While this show might be overlooked by older viewers, I really recommend checking it out because at least we are getting a show that has a different style of humor and animation then some shows on CN or especially Nick.
Great Show, Very Underrated
carolperalez25 August 2016
Penn Zero is one of the most underrated shows on Disney XD ( if not, the only ) and it needs more attention. It is very over-hated for no good reason at all. there are seriously people who hate Penn Zero simply because of his hair. seriously, hating something because of it's DESIGN is retarded. ever heard of, "don't judge a book by it's cover?". Unless the design is unprofessionally hideous (not counting intentional cases like South Park or 12 Oz. Mouse), it's silly to hate a show soley on the design. Penn Zero is an amazing, funny, thought provoking show about some kids who fight evil and some dudes who fight good. Each episode takes place in a different dimension and has a stand-alone plot, although there is some continuity. It is very self-aware and thrives on subverting tropes. The characters often get development and get to interact in new and interesting ways. 9/10 Highly recommend
how has this show not gotten more attention?!
meganconley-3031725 July 2017
i love this show! it is so funny and perfectly crafted that i could watch it for hours! as a kid who grew up with the likes of Kim Possible, American Dragon Jake Long, The Proud Family etc it's really nice to see Disney have a show that is this enjoyable again. I can't stand half of the shows they have on there. This really is one of modern Disney's treasures and i am so sad that it is STILL not getting the attention it deserves. People just don't have taste anymore i guess.
Another childhood favorite!
KellenDrumhella77720 November 2021
I don't know why people brushed this show aside. I know, it looks like Disney's Ben 10, but trust me, it's even better than one can imagine. The genre jumping is what makes this show unique and standing out from the rest of action packed shows. If only Disney treated it better, more people would see just how amazing this show is.
Meh.
inkdinosaur26 March 2015
The animation is fair. But the comedy is lackluster: just seems like another Johnny Test show; with the exception of the animation being far better than Johnny Test's will be. It feels like it the comedy is trying to hard to be funny, but it turns out being annoying: I had one chuckle at a small slapstick scene, but that's about it... It's not the kind of show I would want to watch; and Disney XD repeats the very few episodes they've aired so far; so that becomes very annoying hearing the same jokes about butts and incoherent screaming about things. I am definitely more excited for Star Vs. The Forces of Evil, than I was for this one. The animation on Star looks a lot more visually pleasing, and the comedy had me laughing a lot more than this show did. In the long run I would recommend Star over Penn Zero.
Fun, Clever, Creative, Awesome
brandongarcia-3106616 July 2017
Since we're already six days into Season 2 i figured i'd hurry up and write this. I have read so many reviews of this show after having a couple of my friends suggest it to me and i'm glad they did. I see a lot of people call this show "creative", "unique" and they sure are right! This show is so fun and enjoyable to watch, i absolutely love the design, the characters, the humor and the creativity. I don't mean to sound like most of the other reviewers here but that's the best way to describe this hidden gem of a show. This is the kind of show you watch after a bad day, or just need a good laugh. This show never gets boring, because every episode there is a new world (although some episodes they revisit previous worlds) filled with new characters. It's almost like watching a different TV show each time. I am very sad to hear that season 2 is the last. Hopefully more people will see it and Disney will change their minds and renew it or netflix will pick it up and keep it going kind of like how they picked up Longmire a while back. This show deserves so much more love and attention. I haven't seen a show that made me feel so happy in a long time. Watch this show whenever you can. It airs it's new Disney XD at 5am for some reason, so go over to watchcartoononline and watch the first 8 episodes of Season 2. You'll want to watch them over and over again.
it's good but something regular
minionaspilcueta25 January 2019
The funniest and INSPIRING show I've ever seen
jctreyes8 March 2019
I've seen this show many times... And this is the reason why I got into animation. The style was great, the plot was unique and the humor is genuine... This show has a lot of potential it's sad that it has to end in just 2 season... They can have more, there are a lot of possibilities that can be made to this show due to its ever changing theme... It's so Flexible and it can cover a lot of animation style, stories and even musical... MUSICAL in TV animation series...
everyone show watch this show!
mikhaila_taylor18 July 2017
i think that everyone should watch this show. I never gets boring as there is a new world every episode. it leaves excited and wondering what's going to happen in the next episode. You will love the characters, they are so enjoyable and brilliantly developed. With all of the crap that is on TV in this day and age, it is such a relief to find a show like this. This show is definitely a 10/10. No matter how old you are, you should watch this show.
A Very Enjoyable Cartoon
suzettmarin19 July 2017
i fell in love with this show on the first episode. the characters are lovable (especially Sashi) and the worlds are very well designed and entertaining. there are lots of heartwarming moments and life lessons in this show that are great to teach to your kids, a quality that is almost impossible to find in TV shows today. This is definitely a 10/10.
great show, needs more attention
jeremyhervey16 November 2016
my friend had me watch this a couple of weeks ago and i finally got around to watching the rest of the first season on "watchcartoononline" and i have to say i really like it. the three main characters Penn, Boone and Sashi are really lovable and fun to watch, and all of the different worlds they visit and characters they encounter really highlight the unique awesome creativity this show has to offer over most cartoons these days. it leaves you looking forward to what whacky world will be next. it is a hidden gem on the Disney XD Channel and it really needs to get more attention. it is very funny and creative and sure beats the heck out of the rest of the garbage on that channel such as Pickle and Peanut and that overrated Star vs. The Forces of Evil. i was really surprised to find out that a lot of people hate this show. give this a shot, it is not a bad show at all. can't wait for season 2
So much potential
danielle_burnett17 July 2017
a friend of mine of tumblr told me that this show was ending on the 28th. That is so not okay! This show has WAY too much potential and life left in it to end! This is the greatest show Disney has had since phineas and ferb and gravity falls! i love the characters, i love the voice actors, i love the design and i love the creativity. The creator (Sam Levine) said himself that he wanted the show to go on for 5 seasons max. That is what this show deserves. Disney if you can read this please DO NOT end this show. Let it go for as long as can be. This is one of the greatest shows you have right now. You need to promote it more and give it more screen time rather than air the new episode a 5 in the f**king morning. What is wrong with you guys?! Sorry for that rant, anyway my honest review of this show is that it is very fun, very funny, the characters are amazingly done and you can learn from them as well. The relatable events in the show such as relationships with others is so great that it will almost feel like real life. despite all the fanciful things in this show. i would actually give this show an 12 out of 10. Perfect in every way.
This Show is pretty cool so far.
GravityLoudHouseLover12 July 2015
This is show is pretty cool. I just saw this show on Disney XD on demand and I like it. This show is about Penn Zero who is a part time hero with his friends Boone who is Voiced by Adam Devine who voices Pizza Steve from Uncle Grandpa. Then there Sashi who is also one of Penn's friends and teammates who are always trying to stop Rippen and his minion Larry who are always trying to Penn and his friends. My Favorite Episode so far has to be Totally in your body which aired last Monday on Disney XD. I'm looking forward to more episode on the way. Bottom line Penn Zero: Part Time Hero is pretty good show. Anyway I am giving this a 10 out of 10. Alright this RegularShow1 saying have a nice day.
CAN THIS SHOW BE ON DISNEY PLUS ALREADY?!
richiesburgers21 December 2021
Seriously Disney! You forgot to add Penn Zero on your streaming service. Yet you allowed Pickle And Peanut which nobody liked to get in!
Penn Zero Part Time Hero is the most consistently good show I've seen! Good guest stars, wonderful animation, and a great ending!
So if any IMDB employees are reading this, please remind Disney what they are missing.
Penn Zero Part Time Hero is the most consistently good show I've seen! Good guest stars, wonderful animation, and a great ending!
So if any IMDB employees are reading this, please remind Disney what they are missing.
Highly recommended!
frog-328382 July 2016
If you appreciate uniqueness in animation and creativity in story telling, this is your cartoon. A visual feast with a well executed attention to detail, the design delights the eyes and playfully nips at the imagination. Likewise, the stories and characters deliver the viewer into other worlds that plow down the typical boundaries of good vs evil story telling. This is one of the few cartoon series in which it is difficult to dislike any of the characters, as the opportunity to learn from them all(even the villains) is nearly impossible to miss. I feel that children and adults alike can appreciate not only the fanciful and fun filled stories, but the growth and development of each character and the parallels often drawn between them. Penn Zero is an animated series about relationships with others (and within ourselves) that is relatable and thought provoking allowing for tremendous charter development and greater imaginative thinking for the viewer. Watching this with my son has spurred many conversions and provided much food for thought while we laugh, especially when we recognize ourselves in the characters.
Brilliantly voiced, with an intelligently humorous script, Penn Zero is a winning combination for kids of all ages.
Brilliantly voiced, with an intelligently humorous script, Penn Zero is a winning combination for kids of all ages.
Just watch it
han_hoang20029 December 2015
This is the best show Disney has made after Gravity falls so far. At first, I was like: " sure it will be like a group of heroes saving the world, fight bad guys" But I can tell you, it was really funny and you can never tell what's ahead because the dimensions were very cool. You have to watch it because it was very funny. If you love Disney then watch it. It has both action and humor in it so it will be great. I'm really picky in stuffs like these but I can tell you this is not so bad. The characters are cute and awkwardly funny. When I first saw this show, I thought: "Nah! They're gonna win it easily". When I watched it the second time: "OMG! That was cool". After Many other times: "I'm gonna watch this forever"
Love this show! Season 2 is even better than the first!
johnroth-4527416 July 2017
Season 2 is off to a great start! I have been a fan of this show since it debuted in 2014 and i highly recommend it to everyone. The characters are fantastic, the art style is beautiful, the humor is great and the worlds are amazing and creative. It really bothers me that this show isn't getting the attention it deserves, it is so much better than the majority of TV shows nowadays. How can a show this imaginative and creative be this underrated? Disney really gave this show the short end of the stick. This could have been the next Phineas and Ferb but instead they wanted to focus on shows like Billy Dilley's Subterranean Summer, Future Worm and the overrated Star vs. the Forces of Evil. Bottom line this show is 10 out of 10 and season 2 is even better than season 1. Give it a chance, i guarantee you won't regret it.
Best since Gravity Falls
brendenbeckley17 July 2017
this has to be the best show Disney has had since gravity falls. The characters are very well developed, the story is great and the worlds are just too much fun. As a fan of sci fi i have always been a sucker for the whole "multiverse" concept and this show turns that concept into a fun children's version of something i feel like i would see in Doctor Who. Season 1 was fantastic and enjoyable. It was more goofy and childish than Season 2 is. Season 2 is much more serious and grown up. Lots of tense emotional moments that even adults would feel. This is a show for the whole family, not just kids. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys adventure, sci-fi, good humor and creativity. This show will not disappoint you.
Very funny and entertaining
peterhall-3383731 August 2016
Text Got to say, the more PZPTH episodes I watch, the more I fall in the love with the show! They weren't just fun, funny, and exciting, but some new tidbits about the main trio were in this one!
"Flurgle Burgle" was great in revealing more about Sashi, her family, and her reason for trying to be such a hardworking sidekick. I loved seeing her and Boone get to interact a lot this episode while Penn was "out of commission" (Penn's dilemma was hilarious!), and it's interesting finding out that Boone's parents are/were part-time heroes while Sashi's aren't. I didn't get to see the end of the episode, but whether or not it featured Sashi's brother, I hope he does make an appearance in the future!
"Temple of the Porcelain God" was also very funny and unique from the usual episode structure. It's great to hear and see that the team is getting better, though it's even funnier that it was all part of a wild scheme by Phyllis, who we got to see more of this episode. Also, hi, Boone's mom! I love that (I think?) Adam DeVine also voices her!
Overall, fantastic episodes! The trio was marvelous, Rippen and Larry were at their top game in the humor department for these episodes, and it makes me realize that we may have no real idea how much secrets about the characters are being hidden from us. I can't wait for season 2!
"Flurgle Burgle" was great in revealing more about Sashi, her family, and her reason for trying to be such a hardworking sidekick. I loved seeing her and Boone get to interact a lot this episode while Penn was "out of commission" (Penn's dilemma was hilarious!), and it's interesting finding out that Boone's parents are/were part-time heroes while Sashi's aren't. I didn't get to see the end of the episode, but whether or not it featured Sashi's brother, I hope he does make an appearance in the future!
"Temple of the Porcelain God" was also very funny and unique from the usual episode structure. It's great to hear and see that the team is getting better, though it's even funnier that it was all part of a wild scheme by Phyllis, who we got to see more of this episode. Also, hi, Boone's mom! I love that (I think?) Adam DeVine also voices her!
Overall, fantastic episodes! The trio was marvelous, Rippen and Larry were at their top game in the humor department for these episodes, and it makes me realize that we may have no real idea how much secrets about the characters are being hidden from us. I can't wait for season 2!
best Disney xd show
brianmalaise31 August 2016
I love this show SOOO much, the other Disney xd shows are awful. You know one of my favorite things about Penn Zero is? How unpredictable it is. It does such a good job at taking clichés and changing them to be a completely new idea. Like, in 3 big problems, you'd think the villains would be zapped in as the monsters and the heroes would be zapped in as the army and junk, but no it's the other way around. It just goes to show that people who you think are good guys could be bad and people who you think are bad guys could be very good. Idk. Penn zero is by far the best show to come on Disney XD. The other shows are so lame compared too this. It does not deserve the hate it gets.
One of the greatest and funniest shows Disney XD has ever put out
xander_sanchez25 August 2016
Plot- The plot is straight-forward enough, even though we don't get a pilot and don't have a full origin story until near the end of the first season (and since this was greenlit for Season 2, that's why it has the ongoing + symbol). Penn Zero, and his friends Boone and Sashi, are selected to be "part-time heroes," meaning that they enter into other dimensions and save the world however the mission says they have to. Meanwhile, they have to contend with Rippen and his henchman Larry, a Part-Time Villain, who will become a full-time villain if he wins just one mission and defeats the good guys. Why were they selected to be heroes? Well, as we learn later (don't worry about spoilers here, it's part of the origin story), Penn's parents were actually full-time heroes who were accidentally sent to "The Most Dangerous World Imaginable" with no way of getting back and so each new mission is essentially training in hopes that they might find a way for Penn to be reunited with his parents. Characters- The characters here are really damn good. Penn, obviously, assumes the role of the hero, Sashi is the sidekick (which she chose for herself since it would mean she'd get to do all the kicking and punching and fighting), and Boone is...surprisingly, the Wise Man, a role which, at first, seems like an odd fit but he can usually pull through in a pinch when he has to. It's also kinda bizarre how--despite in the other realities--Rippen is the leader and Larry is his henchman, Larry is actually the school's principal and Rippen is an art teacher who constantly resents the fact Larry is his boss (especially considering how Larry sucks at being as evil, and is so incompetent he's usually a big factor in why they lose most of the time). There's also the characters in the various worlds they visit who tend to be pretty enjoyable and some like Sharif Scaly-Briggs even have their own stories. Enjoyment- This is a very enjoyable, very fun, and very entertaining series that makes good use of genre-savvy humor. Clearly, the creators know exactly what they're doing and enjoy it. Plus, to make things even better, it turns out that this series got a second season (and, even better, Pickle & Peanut is most likely cancelled on on hiatus with no news as of this writing that it was renewed for another season), and it promises for even bigger stuff to happen. Creativity- I can't even tell you how much originality and creativity went into this series, just from all the unique and amazing worlds they visit: a Western where livestock and horses are replaced by dinosaurs, Top Gun with dragons (with some dragons having names like Renegade and Blaze while others have cat names like Cupcake or Mittens), an alien game show to determine the fate of Earth (yeah, I know Jimmy Neutron did that first, but this is different), a world of clown cops, and this is ALL just Season 1 alone! Execution- Penn Zero is clever, funny, action-packed, entertaining, and most definitely worth a watch. I can't think of any reason you shouldn't be watching this right now unless you don't have Disney XD.
Unique and very creative
melissa_rivera31 August 2016
Penn Zero Part-time Hero is a great show with a unique style and it's own set of adorable and butt-kicking characters. The creator of the show is open to his fans and the rest of the crew are just generally kind and funny. Some of the lines are improvised and every episode at least one character gets development. And if you didn't know this show also has an arc and not just a show that has a routine (but I appreciate cartoons like that too). A large amount of emotional scenes and great comedy, great backgrounds and etc. Once I saw the characters I immediately felt a connection among every single one of them. Boone's fears, Sashi's problem about the fact she can't make her parents proud because it's better if they didn't know what she does everyday and etc. I recently watched two episodes - Defending the Earth & Number One, Number Two Go ahead and watch Penn Zero, a show with great humor and creativity. Cause it will make you laugh and cry.
See also
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