All Rise...

Judge David Johnson gives this cartoon an atomic wedgie.

The Charge

Thought saving the world was tough? Try defending the whole galaxy sometime!

Opening Statement

And for your next cartoon that I've never heard of…

Facts of the Case

Young Betty is a green-eyed, red-haired little girl who excels at school, but often has to put up with the usual crap from her idiot classmates. Back at home she kills time with her troublesome cat and her Sharon Stone look-alike MILF of a mom. But there's more to Betty than meets the eye. Much more.

You see, Betty has an alter-ego: the super-powerful "Atomic Betty, Galactic Guardian and Defender of the Cosmos." When called into action by a talking fish space admiral, Betty morphs into her superhero costume, gets beamed aboard her state-of-the-art spaceship and, helped by loyal friends Sparky and X-5, takes on whatever sinister threat has endangered the universe.

That threat usually materializes in two forms: the dark-overlord-who's-also-a-cat, Maximus IQ, and the evil, tantrum-throwing baby Infantor. At any given time one of these diabolical villains could be hatching an appropriately diabolical plan to neutralize Atomic Betty and take over the cosmos.

The Evidence

Betty to the Rescue! features eight, 12-minute episodes:

• "Maximus Displeasure"
Betty is tasked with traveling to a far-off planet where Maximus IQ is planning yet another galactic takeover attempt. Her orders: to obliterate his top-secret laboratory.

• "Cosmic Cake"
Another nefarious plot has Maximus IQ throwing himself a huge birthday party, with an evil trick: the frosting on his cosmic cake, once eaten, will render people powerless to his will. It's up to Betty, Sparky, and X-5 to squash the cat's scheme.

• "Attack of the Evil Baby"
Pretty self-explanatory, actually. Here Betty first meets Infantor, the titular evil baby, who would go on to become one of her most ruthless adversaries.

• "Crass Menagerie"
That fish guy tells Betty to haul off to see a famous artist, so she can have her portrait painted. Little does anyone know that painter is actually Maximus IQ in disguise, and he plans to capture Betty in his magical menagerie forever.

• "The Trouble with Triplets"
Can this be? Betty has been labeled a criminal for destroying a space restaurant. Turns out Maximus IQ has created three Betty look-alikes to run amok, and it will be the real Betty's job to kick the crap out of them.

• "The Substitute"
Betty learns that her comrades Sparky and X-5 have been captured. She's given a couple of replacement crew members to help retrieve her friends—but wouldn't you know, they're just plants by Maximus IQ!

• "Infantor Rules!"
This cartoon sure likes to use exclamation points! Betty and her pals must face Infantor again! And this time he's trapped them in a video game! Can they survive?!

• "Best (Mis)Laid Plans"
Betty is sent to track down Maximus IQ, who's made off with top secret plans of a new spaceship. Thankfully, he's, you know, a cat, so it shouldn't be that hard.

Atomic Betty does nothing for me. It's a mediocre cartoon, featuring all the bluster and craziness typical of ADHD animation like, say, The Fairly Oddparents, but only a fraction of the wit. Mainly, the cartoon is about Betty jumping through the air with fake techno blaring in the background and kicking evil space robots in the face. If that's all you or your kid is looking for, then more power to you. Betty should deliver. Consider me underwhelmed.

Full frame and 2.0 stereo (in three languages) plus a two-minute bonus short comprise the disc's gravy

Closing Statement

Nothing about Atomic Betty lifts above the pack of other headache-inducing animation.

The Verdict

The accused is shuttled off to Neptune for a few weeks.

Give us your feedback!

Did we give Atomic Betty: Betty To The Rescue! (Volume 2) a fair trial? yes / no

What's "fair"? Whether positive or negative, our reviews should be unbiased, informative, and critique the material on its own merits.

Share This Review

 Tweet

Buy This Blu-ray/DVD

Additional Purchase Recommendations

Similar Decisions

• The Babysitters Club
• Baby Looney Tunes, Volume 3: Puddly Olympics
• Barbie: Fairytopia
• Joseph: King Of Dreams