James Bond Jr.

I remember when I was nine years old. I'd come home and watch this show on tv. I've since grown up and still remember that he really is James Bond Jr., complete with a scientist friend and a cute girl to make things interesting. I even wanted to make a movie out of it, but I couldn't think of all the actors I'd put in the roles.

As a whole, JBJ is a commonplace 80s cartoon, down to the animation and storyline. I've seen a good chunk of the show, and while I thought it amusing at best, it wasn't the greatest thing in the world.

However, if you are a Bond fan viewing of at least one episode is a must. Otherwise, you aren't a true one! *^_^* (Coming from the daughter of a Bond fanatic, you must realize.)

(Meeting when the show "James Bond Jr." was conceived)

Boss: Okay, team, we need a new toy line to market. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles aren't going to be hot forever.

Person #1: I got it! How about a kid, who goes to an exclusive Prep school, and fights crime as a super secret spy. Super Spy Kid! He'll have weapons, a slick car, and a team that helps him.

Boss: I like where you're going, but we need to tie it to something marketable, something familiar, something that will sell...

Person #2: How about James Bond?

Boss: Yes! That's exactly what I was thinking!

Person #1: James Bond? You mean, the book and film series with violence, sex and dark story lines? How are we going to appeal that to kids?

Boss: Easy. We make it a version with younger characters. Let's make it... his nephew! Call him James Bond Jr.

Person #1: But isn't James Bond an only child? Isn't the Junior surname for sons only, not nephews?

Boss: Nonsense! An eight year old won't know the difference.

Person #2: Yeah, and we tie the toyline to a TV cartoon. We drop the violence and sex to be almost non existent, add characters related to other Bond characters that somehow end up at the same school, and have humor only a kid can appreciate.

Boss: Yes yes yes! The toy promotes the cartoon, which promotes the toyline. I love it!

Person #1: But... isn't that talking down to kids? Blunting what James Bond was really about?

Boss: Who cares! Ian Fleming isn't going to walk through that door in disapproval. Get this going immediately. The next Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles!

Basically, that's what I imagine how the meeting went when this series was created. If you couldn't tell, I was never a huge fan of it. Poor animation, watered down action, corny and cheesy jokes and humor, and anything resembling the classic Ian Fleming works neutered to kid friendly levels. The show was a vehicle to sell a toy line and that was pretty much it. It came at the height of "kid versions" of adult characters (Muppet Babies, Flintstone Kids, etc.) as well as the cartoons inspired by toys. Soon after this show, high quality action cartoons were created like "Batman: The Animated Series" and "X-Men", but this show followed the unfortunate trend at the time of action cartoons talking down to kids all in the name of toy sales. Oh yeah, and James Bond was an only child!!! Don't waste your time on this one.

The only thing I liked about this cartoon was the catchy opening theme song. I used to turn the channel after that. I have one question. If James Bond is his uncle and not his father, then why is he named James Bond JR.? Does that make any sense? Does this cartoon make any sense? It's not worth watching folks. Good theme song though.

It is probably the nostalgia over memories of being ten years old again and waking up early every morning during the summer holidays to watch this show but I do have a soft spot for 'James Bond Junior', not least because it had a very catchy theme tune! The cartoon sees teenage James Bond Junior, the nephew of the famous MI6 spy, attending Warfield School, along with his classmates IQ, the grandson of Q, the beautiful niece of Miss Moneypenny and Felix Leiter's son Gordo. Of course, the kids always find themselves embroiled in plots that see them fighting against SCUM (Saboteurs and Criminals United in Mayhem), a criminal syndicate of terrorists, psychos and mad scientists.

A far cry from Charlie Higson's darker young Bond novels, 'James Bond Junior' sounds cheesy because it is cheesy. But for a cartoon show aimed the under twelves', it provided a light-hearted introduction to the James Bond franchise (which was needed at a time when we were lumbered with Timothy Dalton as Bond- the man is a great actor but he just wasn't right for the role). It was a nice homage to Bond and certainly much more entertaining than the dumbed down pap that kids are stuck with these days. At least in this show, you didn't have adults pretending to the sixteen and fighting paper mache aliens like you see in the never-ending 'Power Ranger' series.