‘Transformers: Rescue Bots’ Fans Will Enjoy The Team’s “Adventures” Time And Again

Courtesy: Shout! Factory/Shout! Factory Kids/Hasbro Studios

Transformers Rescue Bots officially called it a wrap last year after four full seasons on Hub/Discovery Family Channel, and while the series – which is now the longest-running series in the Transformers franchise – is officially done, not all of the series’ episodes have been released on DVD as of yet.  Two more DVDs featuring a total of ten more episodes have been released jointly this year via Hasbro Studios and Shout! Factory Kids.  The first, Outdoor Adventures, was released January 30, and it is another enjoyable addition to any Transformers fan’s home DVD library.  That is proven in part through the DVD’s episodes.  This will be discussed shortly.  The stories presented within the episodes add even more interest to the DVD and will be discussed a little bit later on.  The DVD’s average price point rounds out its most important elements.  When it is considered alongside the episodes and their stories, the end result is a DVD that is another enjoyable collection of Transformers Rescue Bots episodes and thankfully not the series’ last.

Transformers Rescue Bots: Outdoor Adventures, the first of two new collections from the longest running series in the history of the Transformers franchise, is an enjoyable new addition to the series’ Thankfully it is also not the only of the series’ episode collections to be released this year.  For the sake of this review, the focus will remain on this collection, though.  One of the items that make this collection so enjoyable for audiences is its episodes.  The episodes all follow the common thread in its title, Outdoor Adventures.  The disc’s lead episode, “The Riders of Midwinter” sees the Rescue Bots having to brave some snowy weather in order to help one of Griffin Rock’s citizens deliver warm bread to everybody as part of the island town’s annual winter celebration.  “Phantom of the Sea” takes the Rescue Bots onto a high seas time traveling adventure that also presents a love story that reaches across the ages.  The ocean theme continues in “Turning The Tide” as the Rescue Bots are introduced to one of Optimus Prime’s old friends during some high seas rescue training.  Again, there is that outdoors theme, and in its own original presentation.  “A New Hero” sees a young, impetuous Autobot head into not just the outdoors, but outer space in the second half of a two-part story arc.  The story arc in question follows the “new recruit” as he has to learn his own tough lessons.  ‘Endangered Species’ takes the team to the forests of Griffin Rock to protect a group of endangered birds from a bunch of overzealous birdwatchers whose interests are their own, not the birds.  Once more, audiences have another outdoor adventure in another setting different from the DVD’s other presentations.  This shows even more why the episodes in whole are so important to note in the DVD’s overall presentation.  Each episode follows that common thread of the outdoors, just in its own original fashion.  That in itself gives audiences something to appreciate.  It is just one of the elements that makes the DVD a welcome addition to any Transformers fan’s collection.  The stories within the episodes are just as important to note as the episodes.

The stories are so important to note because each presented a plot separate from one another and because of their overall content.  The disc’s lead episode is an original holiday-themed story that is unlike pretty much any other holiday themed TV show’s episodes past or present.  It’s not just another story focusing on someone saving Christmas because something happened to Santa.  It’s a story about family and friends, and about tradition that also sees the Rescue Bots grow as characters even more.  While there is plenty of heartfelt feelings throughout the story, there are also some fun jokes that will put just as much of a smile on audiences’ faces as the story’s more heartfelt content.  Things take a distinct turn from there as the compilation progresses into “Phantom of the Sea,” which sees the Rescue Bots go on a time traveling adventure with a little bit of romance.  The story is centered on a Griffin Rock legend about a “phantom” ship that appears at certain times just off the island’s coast.  In other words, it’s a little bit of sci-fi and a little bit of romance, so it is completely separate in its own way from the rest of the collection’s stories.  The addition of a certain familiar character’s influence in the story adds even more interest to its whole.  “Turning The Tide” presents invaluable lessons about teamwork, friendship and loyalty as the Rescue Bots meet one of OP’s old friends, and again it is a story that does not repeat at all any of the themes in its counterparts in this collection.  “A New Hero” reminds audiences that sometimes, tough decisions must be made in life and we have to get over ourselves through Blur’s own personal journey of self-discovery.  Once more, audiences get here a deep message presented in an accessible and original way at least in the bigger picture of this series.  To that end, it’s even more interesting and welcome to the whole of the DVD’s presentation.  “Endangered Species” presents its own original story that presses the importance of caring for our environment without being preachy in the process.  It does this through the process of Boulder discovering a family of birds whose species was thought to be extinct.  The result is that a bunch of overzealous individuals (including the town’s self-centered mayor – who is a great caricature of real world politicians) descend on the town and nearly destroy the birds’ home because of their own selfishness.  They weren’t respecting the birds, but rather caring about their own selfish interests.  It’s a key lesson that, again, is not preachy in its delivery, but hits home and does so hard.  It’s also original not only in comparison to the rest of the collection’s episodes, but in comparison to so many other stories out there.  There might be similar stories from other shows out there, but odds are, few are so much like this one.  Keeping that in mind, its originality makes for even more proof of the importance of the collection’s stories.  It’s just one more original story that, when joined with the rest of the collection’s original stories offers even more for audiences to appreciate in this collection.  When this is considered along with the fact that the episodes all follow one common thread from first to last, it makes the collection even more impressive.  Of course, these two elements together are still not all that makes the DVD a welcome addition to any Transformers fan’s collection.  The DVD’s average price point rounds out its most important elements.

The average price point of Transformers Rescue Bots: Outdoor Adventures is almost $11.  That is found using prices from Amazon, Target, Best Buy and Shout! Factory.  Extensive searching for the title from Wal-Mart turned up nothing on the DVD.  Considering that the DVD’s run time is just short of two hours (110 minutes total according to the listed run time), that price is not too bad.  So many DVDs from other studios with less content are far more expensive.  It still leaves one wishing that Shout! Factory would make a deal with Hasbro Studios to release each of the series’ four seasons in their own standalone sets or the series in whole.  It might be a little more expensive than the average price of one of the show’s compilation DVDs, but considering the following that the series built over four seasons and that so many episodes still remain unreleased, odds are audiences would pay the money for full season sets or a full series set.  Until then though, paying an average price of $11 for nearly two hours of content is not a bad price to pay.  That is proven through the content in the DVD’s stories and the continuity in the episodes featured in the disc.  Keeping all of this in mind, Outdoor Adventure still proves to be another welcome addition to any Transformers fan’s collection.

Transformers Rescue Bots: Outdoor Adventures is not the last of the DVDs to feature episodes from the series’ four-season run.  Hopefully more than just the one other DVD after this one released this year will see the light of day, too.  If not, then at least audiences can have this collection to enjoy.  That is due in part to five stories that follow one common theme from start to end in this collection.  The stories presented within the episodes add to the collection’s enjoyment.  The relatively affordable average price point puts the finishing touch to the DVD’s presentation.  Each item is key in its own way to the whole of the DVD’s presentation.  All things considered, they make the DVD a group of adventures that any Transformers fan will enjoy going on with the Rescue Bots time and again.  It can be ordered online direct via Shout! Factory’s store.  More information on this and other titles from Shout! Factory is available online now at:

 

 

 

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Transformers Rescue Bots’ Latest DVD Is A Hit For The Whole “Family”

Courtesy: Shout! Factory/Shout! Factory Kids

Shout! Factory Kids teamed up late last month with Hasbro Studios for yet another collection of Transformers Rescue Bots episodes in the form of Transformers Rescue Bots: Rescue Family.  The single-disc compilation culls five more episodes from the animated Discovery Family series that the whole family will enjoy.  That is due in part to the episodes themselves.  This will be discussed shortly.  The stories within the episodes are collectively important to the collection, too and will be discussed later.  It is not the last of the collection’s key elements either.  The disc’s average price point rounds out its most important elements.  When it is considered along with the collection’s episodes and their stories, the whole of the collection proves to be yet another of this year’s top new children’s DVDs.

Transformers Rescue Bots: Rescue Family is one of this year’s top new children’s DVDs.  It is a collection that children will enjoy just as much as grown-ups.  That is due in part to the episodes culled for the collection.  Five episodes from the hit animated Discovery Family series were collected for this collection, which has remained the standard for every one of the series’ previously released collections.  The episodes – ‘Road Trip,’ ‘Prescott’s Bots!,’ Odd Bot Out,’ ‘Chief Woodrow’ and ‘More Than Meets The Eye’ – were pulled from the series’ second and third seasons.  The first three episodes were pulled from the series’ second season, and the last two from its third season.  This collection is not the first of the series’ DVDs to feature episodes from multiple seasons.  However, that its episodes were pulled specifically from those two seasons rather than randomly across the board presents a clear focus in the episode choices.

The episodes featured in Shout! Factory and Hasbro Studios’ latest Transformers Rescue Bots DVD Rescue Family are clearly important to the disc’s overall presentation.  That is proven through the focus placed on the seasons from which they were lifted.  While the episodes are clearly important, they are not the collection’s only important collective element.  The stories within the episodes are just as important to the collection’s presentation as the episodes themselves.  That is important to note because while they do bring back in some familiar secondary characters, the stories themselves do not repeat any of the episodes that came before or after.

“Chief Woodrow” is a key example of this statement.  Chief Burns’ brother Woodrow returns once again in this episode, except this time the trouble happens not beneath the island but on the island as Chief Burns is away at a Police Conference.  Woodrow (who is once again voiced by Mark Hamill – Star Wars, Batman: The Animated Series) ends up being named acting police chief after he saves the mayor, leading to even more trouble.

Lead episode “Road Trip” exemplifies that statement just as much as “Chief Woodrow.”  This episode’s story is yet another that is centered on trouble caused by Doc Greene’s inventions.  This time out, Doc Greene has developed a transporter a la Star Trek (rather fitting since Levar Burton made his fame on Star Trek: The Next Generation).  The problem is that the transporter turns out to be a one-way transporter, rather than a two-ray device.  This leads to its own share of problems for Cody and the Rescue Bots.  Meanwhile Kade has to be rescued by a paramedic named Taylor after the pair crash-land in the forest while Taylor is hang gliding.  Both of these story lines are original to the series’ history, showing again the importance of the stories presented in each episode.

The story line presented in “Odd Bot Out” is yet another example of that importance.  Blades’ infatuation with Bumblebee comes to the fore yet again in this story.  But instead of the pair working together to save Griffin Rock, Bumblebee works with Dani on a top-secret mission, leaving Blades the proverbial fifth wheel of sorts.  The reason they end up partnering is that Dani’s pilot’s license expired and she has to get it renewed.  Meanwhile sinkholes start appearing all around the island, threatening to sink the island thanks to Madeline Pynch activating an ancient technology below the waves just off of the island’s coast.  Given, it’s not the first time that the writers have had Griffin Rock’s residents threatened by a potential sinking of the island.  But the way in which the writers handled this matter did keep the story from just re-hashing its predecessor’s story.  Keeping that in mind, this story line is still another example of why the stories presented in this collection’s episodes are just as important to the disc’s overall presentation as the episodes themselves.

The stories at the center of Transformers Rescue Bots: Rescue Family are clearly integral to the collection’s overall presentation.  That is evidenced through the stories discussed above.  Keeping that mind, the stories are not the last of the set’s most important elements.  The disc’s average price point is just as important to its presentation as its episodes and their relative stories.  The disc’s average price point between major retailers Target, Wal-Mart, Best Buy and Shout! Factory’s own online store, comes to approximately $10.35.  Considering that the disc’s five episodes present a total run time of 110 minutes (1 hour, 50 minutes), a roughly $10 (plus tax likely) price tag is not that bad.  That is especially considering other discs with just as many episodes from other series and companies are nearly twice as expensive.  Keeping this in mind, it becomes clear why the average price point for this collection of episodes is important to the collection’s presentation as its episodes and their stories.  When it is joined with those elements, the whole of the elements makes this disc a grouping that is both enjoyable and cost efficient.  In turn, it becomes a collection that is deserving of plenty of applause and of being placed on any critic’s list of the year’s top new children’s DVDs.

Transformers Rescue Bots: Rescue Family is one of this year’s top new children’s DVDs.  It is a work that children and adults alike will enjoy thanks to its episodes and their stories.  Parents will especially appreciate the disc’s relatively affordable average price point.  Each is important in its own right as noted previously.  Keeping this in mind, this collection of episodes deserves its own share of applause and of being placed on any critic’s list of the year’s top new children’s DVDs.  It can be ordered online direct via Shout! Factory’s online store.  More information on this and other titles from Shout! Factory is available online now at:

 

 

 

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LPS: Making Friends Is A “Little” Collection That Boasts Big Fun For The Whole Family

Courtesy: Shout! Factory/Shout! Factory Kids/Hasbro Studios/Discovery Family

The Littlest Pet Shop is officially open for business once again.  That is because Shout! Factory Kids has released yet another new compilation of episodes from the family favorite animated series.  Littlest Pet Shop: Making Friends was released in stores and online earlier this month.  And there is plenty for parents and children alike to appreciate about this latest collection beginning with its episodes.  They are collectively just one of the collection’s important elements.  The writing behind each episode is just as important as the episodes.  Last but not least of note within these episodes are the musical numbers presented throughout.  Each element proves important in its own right to the whole of Littlest Pet Shop: Making Friends.  Altogether they make this latest collection of episodes another little collection that once again boasts lots of big fun for the whole family.

Shout! Factory Kids’ new Littlest Pet Shop DVD Littlest Pet Shop: Making Friends is another little collection that once again boasts lots of big fun for the whole family.  This is due at least in part to the episodes that make up the body of the collection. This new DVD, the series’ tenth, features five more (technically four since one of the episodes is a two-part episode) episodes loaded with fun for the whole family.  What especially makes the episodes themselves so important to the collection is that each one follows the same underlying theme of making friends.  That theme is presented in different ways from one episode to the next and will be discussed shortly.  That is tied into the episodes’ writing.  The continuous theme presented throughout these episodes is just one part of what makes the episodes important to note in this collection.  Audiences will be just as happy to note in this collection that all five (or four, whichever side of that argument one chooses) episodes come from the same season—Season 3.  Adding to that all they are presented in chronologic order for all intents and purposes.  Obviously not every episode from Season 3 is here.  But in examining the order of the episodes presented on the disc, they are presented in the same order as they appeared in their original broadcast.  All that was missing was the episodes in between.  Though, many of those other episodes have already been presented in previous LPS collections.  One can only hope that eventually after the series’ full four seasons have been presented in its standalone sets, the whole of Season 3 (and the series’ other three seasons) will see a proper complete release for true fans of the series.  That is a discussion for another time.  Getting back on track, the episodes presented in LPS: Making Friends prove in the end to be hugely important to the set’s presentation.  They are collectively not the set’s only important element.  The actual writing within the episodes is just as important to note as the episodes themselves.

The episodes that are presented in Shout! Factory Kids’ new LPS collection are in their own right hugely important to the set’s presentation.  One reason for that is that all of the set’s featured episodes follow one continuous theme.  The theme in question is indeed that of making friends.  Adding to that is the fact that the episodes each come from the same season.  As if that isn’t enough, the episodes are also presented in an order that is at least partially chronological.  Given, it’s not entirely chronological since the episodes that separate them aren’t there.  But in general, they are presented in the same order in which they appeared in their original broadcast.  All things considered here, the episodes prove hugely important to this latest LPS collection. Of course the episodes would be nothing without their writing.  The writing is what connects the friendship theme from one episode to the next.  At the same time, the stories presented from one episode to the next stand on their own merits.  In the set’s opener “Sleeper,” Blythe’s furry friends meet a new raccoon friend named Mr. Von Fuzzlebutt.  Yes, that’s really his name.  Everybody really likes him, especially one specific member of the group.  The thing is that this new friend is nocturnal.  So he spends much of his time at LPS sleeping.  This leaves Sunil and Vinnie to have to make it appear that MR. Von Fuzzlebutt is awake when he’s not.  The result is a story that has been done so many times before in so many different TV shows and movies.  One of the most notable of those others is the famed 80s buddy comedy Weekend at Bernie’s.  Keeping that in mind, the story at the center of this episode is one that will definitely entertain today’s parents (many of whom grew up in the 80s) just as much as their children.  The story behind this episode is just one example of what makes the writing within LPS: Making Friends so important to the set’s presentation.  The story behind “Why Can’t We Be Friends” is another example of the importance of the episodes’ writing.

“Sleeper” is a key example of what makes the writing behind this set’s episodes so important.  It is just one key example of what makes the writing so important, too.  The work behind “Why Can’t We Be Friends” is another example of what makes the writing so important.  Yet again here is that theme of friendship.  At the same time, the story stands on its own merits.  In the case of this episode the LPS pets meet a friendly spider named Webber.  Only not everybody is a fan of Webber at first.  Sunil, as it turns out, is deathly scared of Webber because of his own fear of spiders.  This is funny in itself considering that Sunil is a mongoose, who is much bigger than Webber.  It’s like the stereotype of an elephant being afraid of a mouse.  Of course over time Sunil learns those all-too-important lessons about stereotypes and pre-judging others.  Thanks to that lesson Sunil and Webber become friends in the end.  That story and lesson make this episode stand out clearly from the set’s other episodes even as it carries the set’s underlying, connective theme.  It is hardly the last episode that can be cited in proving the importance of the episodes’ writing, too.  The set’s two-part closer “It’s The Pet Fest!” is one more prime example of what makes the writing in these episodes so important to its presentation.

The writing within “Sleeper” and “Why Can’t We Be Friends” clearly shows why the writing in this set’s episodes is so important.  The stories stand out from one another but the underlying theme of friendship is clear and present.  It is just presented in different fashion within each episode.  That is a great thing, too.  They are not the only episodes to show the importance of the set’s writing.  The set’s two-part closer “It’s The Pet Fest” shows that importance just as much as “Sleeper” and “Why Can’t We Be Friends.”  This episode sees Blythe organizing a fundraising concert for a good animal cause.  There’s just one problem.  She didn’t file for the necessary permits in time.  As a result she has to make friends with her mortal enemies, the Biskit Twins for help.  It is yet another familiar plot element that has been used in so many movies and television shows before as is the case of a young person arranging a benefit concert.  Even though they are not exactly new plot elements, the show’s writers still manage to successfully keep both lot elements fresh and entertaining in this episode.  They do so by not only having Blythe bring in a band that is world-famous in the LPS universe, but also by having the LPS pets put on their own concert, too.  In the end Blythe and the Biskit twins do end up working and existing together.  And the benefit proves to be a huge success.  Blythe even gets a big new honor as a result while the Biskit twins are left literally high and dry to wrap up the episode on a high note.  Again, the episode presents that underlying, recurring theme of friendship yet still holds its own against its counterparts here.  That being the case, the episode’s story and its theme come together to show just as much here the importance of the episodes’ writing as “Sleeper” and “Why Can’t We Be Friends.”  “Room Enough” shows that importance, too.  Together with the set’s other noted episodes it shows even more the importance of the writing within these episodes.  All in all, the writing within every one of these episodes shows with full clarity the importance of the writing within the episodes.  They show why the writing is just as important to the set’s presentation as the episodes themselves.  The episodes and their writing are together not the set’s only important elements.  The musical numbers that have been incorporated into the episodes are important to the set’s presentation, too believe it or not.

The episodes that are featured in Shout! Factory Kids’ new LPS collection are undeniably important to the set’s presentation.  The same can be said of the writing within each of the featured episodes.  As important as both elements prove to be to the set’s overall presentation they are not its only important elements.  The musical numbers that are incorporated into these episodes are—believe it or not—just as important to the set as the writing and the episodes themselves.  The musical numbers are so important because of how rare they are in the grand scheme of the series’ four-season run.  It is obvious in the case of the numbers featured here that they musical numbers were intentionally incorporated into the episodes.  They were actually intentional parts of the story rather than just random mini-numbers thrown in for the sake of it.  They actually added to each story.  There’s a full-on pop punk piece in the set’s closer, and a more “poppy” number in “Room Enough” that will have viewers tapping their toes just as much.  For the rockers out there, the writers even incorporated a solid rock tune into “Sleeper’s” story.  In a weird way, it sort of conjures thoughts of certain musical numbers presented in Disney’s Phineas and Ferb.  Coincidence or not the similarity is there.  And it is fun regardless.  It is just as fun as those numbers and the others presented in this set, too.  Keeping that in mind, it should be clear just why the musical numbers incorporated in this set’s featured episodes are just as important to note as the episodes’ stories and the episodes themselves.  Each element is important in its own right.  That is obvious.  All things considered though, they make this DVD in whole yet another little collection that boasts once again lots of big fun for the whole family.  It is available now in stores and online and can be ordered online direct via Shout! Factory’s online store.  More information on this and other titles from Shout! Factory is available online now at:

 

 

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Shout! Factory Kids’ new Transformers Rescue Bots Is A “Tech” Of A Good Time

Courtesy: Shout! Factory/Shout! Factory Kids/Discovery Family/Hasbro Studios

The Rescue Bots are rolling to the rescue once again this summer with a brand new collection of adventures on DVD.  It comes in the form of Transformers Rescue Bots: Heroes of Tech.  The brand new DVD will be released in stores and online next Tuesday, June 21^st.  Just as with the series’ previous DVDs there is plenty to appreciate about this latest release beginning with the episodes themselves.  They all follow one consistent theme throughout the course of the disc’s nearly two hour run time.  This is just one of the disc’s key elements.  The writing within the episodes is just as important to note in the episodes’ presentation as the episodes themselves.  Last but definitely not least of note is the work of the show’s cast once more.  That is especially the case in the musical episode “I Have Heard The Robots Singing.”  The cast’s work rounds out this set’s most notable elements and completes its presentation.  Each element is important in its own way to the overall presentation of Transformers Rescue Bots: Heroes of Tech.  Altogether they make this set yet another welcome piece for the series’ fans of all ages.

Transformers Rescue Bots: Heroes of Tech is neither the first nor the last collection of episodes to be released from Hasbro Studios and Discovery Family.  Keeping this in mind it is yet another welcome collection for the series’ fans regardless of age.  The central reason for this is the set’s episodes.  Audiences will note that all five of the disc’s featured episodes follow the exact same theme—technology.  Each episode sees the Rescue Bots—Blade, Chase, Boulder, and Heatwave—having to save the day because technology has caused some sort of havoc in one way or another.  This is so important to note because it is not the first time that one of the series’ collections has managed to follow one collective theme.  This has been done with previous collections from the show, too.  There are lots of children’s series out there that have seen multiple DVD releases, too.  The thing of those sets is that not all of them present episodes that follow the sets’ titles.  Considering this, and the fact that it is not the first time that Shout! Factory (and Shout! Factory Kids) have succeeded in this avenue, it makes this element all the more important to this set’s presentation.  Now, having noted all of this, it becomes clear why the episodes presented in this collection are so important to its presentation.  Of course the episodes are collectively just one of the set’s important elements.  The writing behind the episodes is just as important to note as the episodes themselves.

The episodes that are presented in Shout! Factory’s (and Shout! Factory Kids’) new Transformers Rescue Bots collection are in their own right hugely important to the set’s presentation.  That is because they each follow one continuous theme from one episode to the next.  That seems at least somewhat rare in today’s overcrowded field of children’s DVDs.  It is just one of the important elements of the set’s presentation.  The writing behind these episodes is just as important to the set’s presentation as the episodes themselves.  This applies both to the episodes’ stories and their smaller elements.  In regards to the episodes’ stories audiences will enjoy the adventures on which the writers send the Rescue Bots and the Burns family.  “Space Bots” is a prime example of this.  This episode sees Doc Greene and Graham take a space station of sorts called the Asgard into space.  The Asgard doesn’t just launch into space either.  It uses a space elevator of sorts in order to reach space.  It isn’t the space elevator that has been conceptualized in real life by any means.  But the fact that the episode (which isn’t the series’ only episode to feature the Asgard, either) incorporates a very real life concept at its base is impressive.  That the writers would also incorporate the equally real danger of asteroid strikes into the story makes it all the more entertaining and engaging.  It is just one part of what makes the story such a prime example of the importance of the set’s writing.  There are other elements thrown into the story that are just as impressive.  Those will be left for audiences to find out for themselves.

“The Island of Misfit Tech” is another key example of the importance of the writing in these episodes.  This is evident right from the episode’s title, one of its smaller elements.  The title is a play on the Island of Misfit Toys, from Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer.  The story itself is just as important if not more so.  This story sees the Burns family joining Doc Greene on the highly classified island as they look for Cody.  They are hunting for Cody because he has inadvertently been taken there by a mechanical bull that has shorted out.  In the process, the bull got his jacket, which also had his communicator, thus leaving him unable to communicate with the team.  This is ultimately what leads the team to venture to the “island.”  What is interesting about the whole thing is that the bull that causes the whole mess just happens along at the story’s outset.  This is notable because while it seems like this isn’t much of a setup, it actually works, and does so quite well surprisingly enough.  Considering all of this, this story is one more way in which the writing shows to be so important to the set.  The epiphany presented at the end (which will be discussed later) proves that even more.  It still is not the last way in which the stories in these episodes prove so important in the episodes’ writing.  “I Have Heard The Robots Singing” is yet another example of what makes the episodes’ writing so important.

The stories that were crafted for ‘The Island Of Misfit Tech” and “Space Bots” are clear examples of the importance of the episodes’ writing.  They are not the only episodes that can be cited in explaining its importance.  “I Have Heard The Robots Singing” is another example of the importance of the episodes’ writing.  This episode is a nearly full on musical episode, save for a few minutes in the episode’s opening scenes.  It is not the first time that any show has gone the musical route.  There has been a handful of shows for grownups that have gone this route over the years.  But in regards to children’s shows it is one of the very few shows that has gone that route, if not the only one.  That aside, it is the first time that the series has ever taken the musical route, though.  So at least to that extent the writers are to be applauded.  The approach taken within the episode (its smaller elements) add even more to the episode.  That will be discussed shortly.  The story’s setup is what makes the writing here so impressive in the bigger picture.  It is caused when one of Doc Greene’s inventions is stolen by Priscilla Pynch.  Doc Greene’s reason for building the machine leads to a message within the story that is just as important to the story as the story itself.  It is another of those smaller elements that solidifies the writing’s importance even more and will be discussed later.  All things considered, all three of the stories noted here are clear examples of why the writing behind these episodes is so important to the set’s presentation.  And it is hardly the last example, too.  “Too Many Kades” presents a familiar story line (at least in the realm of animated series) when Kade is cloned multiple times over by yet another of Doc Greene’s inventions.  Each clone presents a different part of Kade’s personality.  They also cause their own share of confusion among the team’s members until the truth is revealed and they have to get all of the clone Kades back together.  The story presented in “One For The Ages” is just as familiar.  It sees Cody accidentally turned into a grownup by yet another of Doc Greene’s devices.  This is a story line that has been used so many times before by so many other series.  But again, it is the writers’ approach that makes it original here.  And yet again there is a message in this episode, too that strengthens the episode’s writing even more.  Whether through this story or any of the others noted here, it becomes entirely clear why the writing behind the episodes is just as important (at least in regards to the stories) as the episodes themselves.  The stories are however, not the only way in which the writing proves so important to the set’s presentation.  The smaller elements incorporated into the stories are just as important to note as the stories themselves.

The stories that were crafted for each episode in Transformers Rescue Bots: Heroes of Tech are in their own right key to showing the importance of the writing in the episodes.  They are however just the tip of the iceberg in doing so.  The smaller elements of the stories are just as important to the writing as the stories.  This includes the deeper messages of certain episodes, the dialogue incorporated into the episodes, and even certain other elements.  One moment in which the smaller writing elements prove entertaining comes in “The Island Of Misfit Toys.”  Right off the top the writers make a sports joke when Cody announces that he didn’t make the soccer team.  Heatwave very bluntly asks, “Is soccer the one where they run back and forth across the same patch of grass?”  Boulder responds with an almost inquisitive tone, “I think that’s called football.”  The way in which Heatwave poses his question hints at a sense of what most people think makes soccer (or football) boring.  It’s so subtle but such a great moment.  Boulder’s response is just as funny because it addresses the cultural diversity in terms of what the western world calls the sport versus what the rest of the world calls it.  The subtlety of the joke and the fact that the writers could actually incorporate two jokes into such a short moment makes it even more enjoyable.  It is even complimented right off the bat in “Too Many Kades” as the Burns family is playing basketball. Blades asks Chase about the game saying, “Okay, explain to me again.  This is football?’  Chase responds in the moment, “No actual feet are involved. The object of this game is to place the sphere through the hoop, hence the name hoopball.”  Heatwave corrects them both, noting that it is in fact called basketball.  The fact that the writers would harken back to a previous episode here is in itself great.  “Space Bots” offers some equally entertaining dialogue between Graham and Doc Greene regarding air sick bags and appetites that is a minor running gag of sorts.  And it will have audiences laughing just as much as the back and forth between Heatwave and Boulder about soccer in “The Island Of Misfit Tech.”  “I Have Heard The Robots Singing” also presents its own example of what makes the smaller elements of the writing just as important as the stories.  This episode is presented as if it was in fact a musical stage production.  It even includes a scene in which Dani and the rest of the team are singing a multi-part piece with Dani at the front.  The rest of the team shows up behind her in their own separate boxes, which feature just their faces as they sing backup (so to speak) to her.  It is a classic element used so many times in real life musicals both on stage and screen.  So seeing it used in the case of this episode is sure to put a smile on the faces of those familiar with said element and its use, and even those less familiar with it.  It’s just one more way in which the smaller elements of the writing prove so important.  There are so many more minor elements that could be cited within each episode.  When those elements are set against the elements noted here, and the episodes’ stories, the overall presentation here becomes one that audiences of all ages are bound to love.

Shout! Factory and Shout! Factory Kids’ latest collection of Transformers Rescue Bots episodes is another welcome for fans of the series regardless of age.  This is due in part to the episodes that are featured in the collection.  The episodes follow one continuous theme from one episode to the next.  It’s not the first time that a series’ compilation disc has done this.  Though, in the realm of children’s DVDs it is relatively rare.  Keeping that in mind it makes the episodes their own collectively important part of the set’s presentation.  The writing both in regards to the stories and their smaller elements is just as important as the episodes themselves.  That is because altogether the stories and their elements ensure viewers’ engagement and entertainment.  Each element proves important in its own right to the disc’s presentation.  All things considered Transformers Rescue Bots: Heroes of Tech proves to be another enjoyable collection of episodes from Discovery Family’s hit series.  It is a welcome collection for Transformers fans of all ages.  It will be available in stores and online next Tuesday, June 21^st.  Audiences can pre-order the DVD online now direct via Shout! Factory’s online store at https://www.shoutfactory.com/kids/kids-animation/transformers-rescue-bots-heroes-of-tech.  More information on this and other titles from Shout! Factory is available online now at:

 

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Twitter: http://twitter.com/ShoutFactory

 

 

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Shout! Factory Going Wild Again This Summer With New LPS Collection

Courtesy: Shout! Factory/Shout! Factory Kids/Hasbro Studios/Discovery Family

Shout! Factory and Hasbro Studios have teamed up once again to release another new collection of episodes from the former Discovery Family series Littlest Pet Shop.

Littlest Pet Shop: Making Friends will be released in stores and online on Tuesday, June 14^th.  This latest collection features five more episodes from the former Discovery Family series. In this collection’s episodes, Russell challenges Sunil and Vinnie in a contest to entertain a new raccoon named Mr. VonFuzzlebut in “Sleeper.”  Things don’t exactly turn out as any of them had planned, of course.  And in the same episode Blythe’s furry friends face a threat from the outside when Fisher Bizkit sends his daughters to find out why Littlest Pet Shop is so successful.  Blythe learns an important lesson about friendship in “Why Can’t We Be Friends” as she tosses away her old friends upon meeting a new friend.  Meanwhile in the same episode Vinnie learns his own lesson about friendship when he befriends a spider even though Sunil, his original friend, is afraid of spiders.  And in “Room Enough” Blythe has to deal with a very curious kitten while deciding on how to re-organize her room.  These are just some of the stories presented in this latest collection.  There is also a special two-part episode included in the collection that features a guest appearance from one Heidi Klum (America’s Got Talent).

All five episodes included in Littlest Pet Shop: Making Friends follow the general theme of friendship.  They are each also lifted from the series’ third season.  Littlest Pet Shop: Making Friends will be available in stores and online Tuesday, June 14^th.  It will retail for MSRP of $14.93 but can be pre-ordered at a discounted price of $13.93 now via Shout! Factory’s online store at https://www.shoutfactory.com/kids/kids-animation/littlest-pet-shop-making-friends.  More information on this and other titles from Shout! Factory is available online now at:

 

 

Website: http://www.shoutfactory.com

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Twitter: http://twitter.com/ShoutFactory

 

 

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Solid Stories, Acting Make Pound Puppies: Showstopping Pups Its Own Showstopper

Courtesy: Shout! Factory/Shout! Factory Kids/Hasbro Studios

Ace, Cookie, Niblet, and the rest of the Pound Puppies are back again with yet another great collection of episodes.   Shout! Factory recently partnered with Hasbro Studios to release the latest Pound Puppies DVD Showstopping Pups.  The series’ ninth new collection–and hardly its last—it boasts five more episodes pulled from the series.  The episodes that are featured in this new collection boast five more stories that the whole family will enjoy.  They are the tip of the proverbial iceberg in examining the set’s positives.  The more minute details of the collection are just as important to in this compilation as the stories presented within the featured episodes.  Last but hardly least of note is the work of the series’ cast in each episode.  Once again it stands out just as much as in the episodes featured in previous collections.  Each element is important in its own manner.  Altogether they make this latest collection of episodes one more that not only proves Pound Puppies was cancelled way too early after only three seasons but this latest collection is another welcome addition to any family’s home DVD library; especially families that are fans of the short-lived series.

Pound Puppies: Showstopping Pups, the ninth collection of episodes from Discovery Family’s (formerly Hub’s) short-lived series Pound Puppies.  One can only hope that being the series’ ninth collection of episodes, Shout! Factory and Hasbro Studios will release the series’ full season sets and/or full series set sooner rather than later.  While audiences wait for one or both of those sets to be released, this latest collection of episodes will most certainly help pass the time and entertain audiences.  The main element of the set that makes it so enjoyable and entertaining is its collection of stories.  The stories that are presented within each of the set’s five episodes will entertain audiences of all ages.  The story within the set’s lead episode “The Accidental Pup Star” is proof of this.  Rebound (voiced by Brooke Goldner—Littlest Pet Shop, Skatergirl) is accidentally caught on video singing about her adoration for her owner, Agatha (Betty White—Golden Girls, The Proposal, Hot In Cleveland).  When Agatha’s son Leonard, (Star Trek Deep Space Nine, The Little Mermaid, Benson) who also runs Shelter 17, discovers Rebound’s video he sets out to make himself famous rather than Rebound.  Of course the whole thing backfires on him thanks to Lucky an the rest of the Pound Puppies.  That’s just part of the story that makes it so interesting, too.  The story of why Rebound was caught on video is its own interesting secondary story that audiences will enjoy just as much.  That story will be left for audiences to discover for themselves.  It’s just one example of how the stories featured in these episodes are so pivotal to this collection.  “The Watchdogs” is another episode presenting its own fun and funny story.

“The Accidental Pup Star” features a key example of how the stories featured in this set of episodes prove to be so important to its enjoyment.  It is just one example of how the set’s stories make it an overall enjoyable presentation.  The story at the center of “The Watchdogs” is another key example of how the set’s stories make the set so enjoyable in whole.  This time around Niblet and Strudel set out to be crime fighters by night after an incident with some not so nice dogs.  Of course things start out okay for the duo.  But of course that doesn’t last for long.  In the grand scheme of things Strudel (Alanna Ubach–Meet The Fockers, Legally Blonde, Rango) learns that it’s a lot harder to be a crime fighter than she realizes and that she is already making a big impact by helping place other pups in their homes.  It’s just one part of what makes this episode so enjoyable, too.  There are smaller elements incorporated into the story that ad even more enjoyment for audiences—especially comic book lovers.  They will be discussed later.  Getting back on the subject, the story presented in this episode is just one more example of how the episodes’ featured stories are so important to the episodes’ presentation.  The story presented within the set’s closer “Back In Action” is yet another great piece for the whole family.  It is especially one that older audiences will enjoy.

The stories presented within “The Accidental Pup Star” and “The Watchdogs” are both prime examples of how the episodes’ stories are so important to the set’s presentation.  As integral as they are in proving the set’s enjoyment they are not the only stories that can be cited.  The story in the set’s closer “Back In Action” is yet another example of how the episodes’ featured stories are so important to the set’s presentation.  The story at the center of this episode follows a one-time famous dog named Bert (Clancy Brown—The Shawshank Redemption, Sleepy Hollow, Spongebob Squarepants) who needs a morale boost.  And yes, the Pound Puppies are right there to help.  They help when it is revealed that a young boy is in need of a real life rescue.  Bert realizes in helping in the rescue that he may be older and retired, but that doesn’t mean that he isn’t or can’t be a real life hero.  While the message here is likely not intentionally sent to audiences, its message that anyone can be a hero and do great thing is there.  It is a message from which audiences of all ages can and will benefit.  Yet again the story presented within the episode is only part of what makes it so enjoyable.  There are other, smaller elements presented within this episode, too that make it even more enjoyable.  As with the other episodes, those smaller elements will be discussed later.  Getting back on track once more, the story featured in this episode is just one more example of how the episodes’ featured stories are so important to the set’s presentation.  “It’s Elementary My Dear Pup Club” and “Hot Dawg!” both feature their own entertaining stories.  Those stories, together with the stories noted here, come together to show in whole why the stories featured in Pound Puppies: Showstopping Pups are indeed central to the DVD’s overall presentation.  The stories featured within this set are just one part of what makes the set’s featured episodes so enjoyable, too.  The smaller details of the stories are just as important to the episodes as the stories themselves.

The stories that are featured within each of the episodes in this set are undeniably important in their own right to the set’s presentation.  While they are obviously important to the set’s presentation they are not the set’s only important element.  The smaller details of the episodes’ stories are just as important of the stories themselves.  The smaller details of “The Accidental Pup Star’s” story are proof of this.  The writers directly related the story to its young viewers by having Rebound caught on a little girl’s smart phone camera and then posted to what is obviously supposed to be YouTube.  There is no mention of YouTube.  But in watching McLeash watch the video it is clear that he is watching the video on what is supposed to be YouTube.  There were likely legal reasons behind it not being directly named.  But that’s beside the point.  What’s important here is the fact that the writers incorporated modern technology and even tied it to a younger person shows a real attempt to reach viewers of the same age.  On another note, ‘The Watchdogs” is in itself a reference to the big screen adaptation of the graphic novel The Watchmen.  The episode obviously is nowhere near as dark or violent.  But seeing Strudel and Niblet dress up in their own home made costumes as their crime fighting alter egos will leave audiences laughing just as much.  What’s more seeing the duo struggle to stay awake is funny in its own right.  That’s because it seems like so many crime fighters do their “jobs” at night.  One can’t help but wonder in noting this how they stay awake during the daytime.  That in itself makes for its own share of laughs.  And again, it is just one more way in which the stories’ smaller elements prove to be just as important to this collection’s presentation as the stories themselves.  “Back In Action” provides its own smaller items that audiences—especially older audiences—will enjoy.  The story in itself is a spoof of the classic action series MacGyver.  To say that taking such an approach is original is an understatement.  The references to the series’ title character making huge creations (from bombs to scuba tanks and more—as fans of the series will recall) from the least number of objects is just as great to see.  It is a playful jab at MacGyver.  But it also pays real homage to the series.  Keeping that in mind, even this minute detail makes “Back in Action” all the more entertaining.  And it shows once more just how important the smaller details of this collection’s stories are to the set’s presentation.  They show that those smaller details are just as important to the episodes as the stories themselves.  And that is not to ignore the smaller elements of the collection’s remaining pair of episodes.  They boast their own great minutia that audiences will enjoy, too.  All things considered here the smaller details of this set’s episodes prove in the end to be undeniably as important to the episodes (and the set in whole) as the episodes themselves.  They still are not the only important part of this collection, either.  The work of the show’s cast is just as important as the episodes’ stories and the stories’ minor details.

The episodes that are presented within Shout! Factory and Hasbro Studios’ new collection of Pound Puppies DVD present plenty of reason for audiences to add this se to their on home DVD libraries.  That is evident both in each of the episodes’ stories and the smaller details of each story.  While the stories presented in each episode and their minutia do plenty to make the episodes entertaining they are only part of the episodes’ entertainment.  The work of the series’ cast once again proves to be just as important to the show as its other elements.  Case in point Ulanna Ubach’s work on “The Watchdogs.”  Ubach is completely entertaining as she voices Strudel in this episode.  Audiences will love seeing Ubach’s presentation of Strudel’s almost delusional belief that she needs to be out fighting crime is worth its own share of laughs.  On another note, guest voice actor Clancy Brown’s take on former dog star Bert is just as impressive in “Back In Action.”  Audiences will enjoy seeing just how grumpy he makes Bert before Bert finally realizes that he can indeed learn some new tricks.  On a different note, the voices behind the Super Secret Pup Club in “It’s Elementary My Dear Pup Club” are to be commended in their own right.  The pups’ confidence and determination as they look to clear Chucky’s name will keep viewers entertained and engaged.  Thanks to the actors’ work, viewers—especially younger viewers—will believe that even “young pups” can do great things.  It’s just one more way in which the work of the show’s cast proves to be just as important to this collection as its featured episodes, their stories, and the stories’ smaller elements.  Together with those elements, the work of the show’s voice cast rounds out the set’s positives and shows once an fort all why this latest collection is another welcome addition to any family’s home DVD library.

Pound Puppies: Showstopping Pups, the ninth new collection of episodes from Discovery Family’s (formerly Hub) short-lived animated series, is yet another welcome addition to any family’s home DVD library.  It is another collection that will leave audiences *ahem* begging for more.  One can only hope that said begging will eventually lead Shout! Factory Kids and Hasbro Studios to release the series in its own standalone season sets and/or a full series run.  Regardless of if and/or that happens, it can be said of this set that it will still help families and fans pass the time and agree in the end that is one more of this year’s top new family DVDs.  It is available now in stores and online and can be ordered online direct via Shout! Factory’s online store at https://www.shoutfactory.com/kids/kids-animation/pound-puppies-showstopping-pups.  More information on this and other titles from Shout! Factory is available online now at:

 

 

Website: http://www.shoutfactory.com

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Twitter: http://twitter.com/ShoutFactory

 

 

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Shout! Factory Kids, Hasbro Studios Partner For Ninth New Pound Puppies DVD

Courtesy: Shout! Factory/Shout! Factory Kids/Hasbro Studios

Ace, Cookie, Niblet, and the rest of the Pound Puppies return next month with another new collection of episodes.

Shout! Factory Kids will release its latest collection of Pound Puppies episodes next month.  Pound Puppies: Showstopping Pups will be released Tuesday, April 12^th.  It will be available in stores and online exclusively on DVD.  The series’ ninth collection of episodes, it features five more episodes from the animated series.  This time out, Rebound becomes an internet sensation when a video of him goes viral in “The Accidental Pup Star.”  Rebound’s fame leads McLeash to plan use his fame for his own gain.  So it’s up to the Pound Puppies to keep that from happening.  In “It’s Elementary My Dear Pup” the Pound Puppies and the Super Secret Pup Club have quite a mission on their hands…er…paws when a young boy named Chucky (Danny Cooksey – Salute Your Shorts, Tiny Toon Adventures, Diff’rent Strokes) is accused of vandalizing his school.  The episode is lifted from Season Three.  Also featured in this collection is another Season Three episode, “Hot Dawg!”  this episode introduces a casanova Chihuahua named Antonio (Carols Alazraqui—The Fairly Oddparents, Family Guy, Phineas and Ferb) who has quite the effect on both humans and canines alike.  The Pound Puppies are no exception as Cookie and Strudel fall for him and start fighting, forgetting along the way about placing their latest pup, Pupster.  So it’s up to Lucky to deal with the frustrating four-legged friend since Shelter 17 is his last hope to be adopted.  It’s just one more of the adventures featured in this collection.  There are two other episodes for families to enjoy together included in the collection’s single-disc presentation.  The complete episode listing for the collection is noted below.

Episodes

EPISODE	EPISODE TITLE
1	Pound Puppies: The Accidental Pup Star
2	Pound Puppies: It’s Elementary My Dear Pup Club
3	Pound Puppies: Hot Dawg!
4	Pound Puppies: The Watchdogs
5	Pound Puppies: Back In Action

 

Pound Puppies: Showstopping Pups will be available in stores and online on Tuesday, April 12^th.  It will retail for MSRP of $12.99 but can be pre-ordered online now at a discounted price of $11.99 via Shout! Factory’s online store at https://www.shoutfactory.com/kids/kids-animation/pound-puppies-showstopping-pups.  More information on this and other titles from Shout! Factory and Shout! Factory Kids is available online now at:

 

 

Website: http://www.shoutfactory.com

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Twitter: http://twitter.com/ShoutFactory

 

 

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Shout! Factory Kids Gets “Wild” Again Next Month

Courtesy: Shout! Factory/Shout! Factory Kids/Discovery Family

Blythe and her furry friends at the Littlest Pet Shop return next month with another new collection of episodes.

Shout! Factory Kids will release its latest collection of episodes from Discovery Family’s animated series Littlest Pet Shop next month. Littlest Pet Shop: Pet Tales will be released Tuesday, March 8^th in stores and online. The DVD features five more episodes from the hit series, most of which are pulled from the series’ third season. One of its episodes, “So Interesting,” is lifted from the series’ second season. That episode sees Penny Ling come up with a completely outlandish story during a creative session among the pets. It is just one of the fun stories included in this collection of episodes that audiences will enjoy. In “Feud For Thought” things get kind of “wild” when a pair of arguing koalas causes chaos for the pets. And in “”Proud as a…Peacock?” it’s up to the pets to help a shy peacock prepare for its debut at the agricultural gardens. These are just some of the stories presented in this collection. Blythe faces her own challenge in “Fish Out Of Water” when she has to keep Josh Sharp from working for the Biskit twins. The pets even have their own adventure in that episode, too. That and so much more is in this collection. The DVD’s complete episode listing is noted below.

 

 

Episodes

Episode	Episode Title
1	Littlest Pet Shop: So Interesting
2	Littlest Pet Shop: What’s So Scary About the Jungle? Everything!
3	Littlest Pet Shop: Feud For Thought
4	Littlest Pet Shop: Fish Out Of Water
5	Littlest Pet Shop: Proud As A… Peacock?

 

Littlest Pet Shop: Pet Tales will be available in stores and online Tuesday, March 8^th. It will retail for MSRP of $14.93. It can be pre-ordered online now at a discounted price of $13.93 via Shout! Factory’s online store at https://www.shoutfactory.com/kids/kids-animation/littlest-pet-shop-pet-tales. More information on this and other titles from Shout! Factory is available online now at:

Website: http://www.shoutfactory.com

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Twitter: http://twitter.com//ShoutFactory

 

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Shout! Factory Kids’ Latest Rescue Bots DVD Is Another Welcome Collection Of Episodes

Courtesy: Shout! Factory/Shout! Factory Kids

Later this month Shout! Factory Kids and Hasbro Studios will release the latest collection of episodes from Discovery Family’s hit animated series Transformers Rescue Bots. The DVD, Transformers Rescue Bots: Adventures in Time and Space is the series’ ninth collection of episodes to be released. And being that a fourth season of the hit series is on the way it obviously is not the last. Would it be nice to see the series’ current three seasons in their own standalone sets? The answer is yes. It has been overseas but not here stateside. Maybe that will eventually happen for American audiences. But in the meantime this latest collection of episodes is still a good addition to the personal DVD library of any of the series’ fans. The main reason for that is the collection’s featured episodes. The writing presented within each of the featured episodes is just as important to note as the episodes themselves. That is because it reaches audiences of all ages in a number of ways that will be discussed later. Rounding out this collection’s overall presentation is once again the work of the series’ voice cast. The cast’s work is impressive yet again. Though, something intriguing happens in one of the episodes that must be noted here. Even with that notable instance, the cast’s work remains just as enjoyable as in episodes featured in the series’ previous DVD collections. Together with the episodes themselves and the writing therein all three elements collectively make Transformers Rescue Bots: Adventures in Time and Space one more collection that any of this series’ fans should have in their own home DVD libraries.

Transformers Rescue Bots: Adventures in Time and Space, the ninth collection of episodes from Discovery Family’s hit animated series Transformers Rescue Bots, is yet another welcome addition in the home of any of the series’ fans. The main reason for this is its featured episodes. By and large the episodes featured on this disc were lifted from the series’ third season with one episode—”It’s A Bot Time”—coming from the series’ first season. This is important to note because that episode completes Shout! Factory Kids’ presentation of the series’ first season. The remainder of Season One was spread out across the course of six of the series’ previous eight single-disc compilations. The rest of the episodes featured here all come from Season Three. They are not the only season’s episodes to be presented so far either. Five of Season Three’s twenty-eight total episodes were already presented in the series’ 2015 collection Transformers Rescue Bots: Dino Bots. Keeping this in mind and that of Season Two’s twenty-four episodes only ten have been presented so far, it means that Transformers Rescue Bots: Adventures in Time and Space is hardly the series’ last collection of episodes. That is especially with the announcement last year that the series had been re-upped for a fourth season, which apparently has yet to debut at the time of this review. Staying on that note it would be nice to have all of Season One presented in a single collection for American audiences instead of so many separate single-disc collections. And with any luck Shout! Factory Kids will do just that sooner rather than later. But in the meantime fans of the show will appreciate having said collections and yet another part of the series added into their personal DVD libraries with this latest collection. To that extent even though it is yet another single-disc collection of episodes it is still another important piece for any of the show’s fans until such time arrives.

The episodes featured in Shout! Factory Kids and Hasbro Studios’ latest Transformers Rescue Bots DVD are in themselves an important part of the collection’s overall presentation. That is because coupled with the Season Three episodes presented in the 2015 collection Transformers Rescue Bots: Dino Bots they take another proverbial bite out of the series’ third season. Together with the noted collection, nine of Season Three’s twenty-eight total episodes have now been presented on DVD. Fans of the show would likely welcome a standalone, full-season set just as much as this latest collection if not more. So that in mind this collection’s episodes prove to be just as important to the disc’s presentation as anything else in the meantime. As important as the episodes are to the collection’s overall presentation the writing presented within the episodes is just as important as the episodes. This includes both the episodes’ storylines and the smaller elements incorporated into the whole of the stories. “It’s A Bot Time” is the first half of a two-part story arc that closes out Season One. “Bot To The Future” was previously released in a previous TRB (as it will henceforth be known) collection. This portion presents the setup for the story, explaining how Cody and the Rescue Bots ended up in the past and why they had to go back in the first place. Go figure the whole thing was the result of Doc Green’s overly curious mind, not to reveal too much. “Unfinished Business” sees Boulder and Blades head back out into space in order to complete a mission involving an “energy vampire.” Their discovery upon returning to the site of their last encounter with the beast results in quite the outcome. That outcome won’t be revealed here. But it does ultimately leave viewers laughing at least a little bit believe it or not. There’s even a classic body/brain switching storyline in “Switcheroo” that sees the Rescue Bots trading places with their human counterparts after a trip into outer space. It’s an all-too-familiar story line that has been used in countless other sci-fi series animated and otherwise. But even with that familiarity in mind, the writers still manage to keep the story fresh and entertaining here. And even in the Groundhog Day style story “Time After Time” the writers managed to keep that familiar story line fresh in its own right. “The Last Of Morocco” is perhaps the most interesting of the episodes presented in this collection. That is because considering the evil Doctor’s deeds his final fate is not exactly what audiences would expect. It’s one more way in which the stories crafted by the show’s writers show the importance of its writing in regards to the episodes themselves. The writing behind the episodes’ stories is just one important way in which the series’ writing shows its importance in these episodes. The writing within the episodes is just as important as the stories that were crafted for each episode.

The stories that were developed for each of the episodes featured in Transformers Rescue Bots: Adventures in Time and Space show in their own way the importance of the writing in the episodes. While they are important in their own right in exhibiting the importance of the series’ writing, the writing within the stories themselves proves to be just as important as the episodes’ stories. That is evident in “Switcheroo.” When the Rescue Bots and the Burns Family head up into space the first time, the writers pay direct tribute to Stanley Kubrick’s 1968 sci-fi masterpiece 2001: A Space Odyssey as Johann Strauss II’s ‘The Beautiful Blue Danube’ plays in the background. The same song is used in one of the movie’s opening scenes as a space station floats in space. In “The Last Of Morocco” the writers don’t just use Jules Verne as a figure for the story. They actually accent his foresight of technology and his desire to use technology for the greater good. What’s more those responsible for the show’s animation even went so far as to use pictures of Verne for the character in the episode in question. That the writers and designers would collaborate and make that happen in this episode shows a great eye for detail. On a completely different note, “Unfinished Business” presents some interesting writing as it opens with a flashback sequence. The catch is that the writers don’t come out and make clear that the opening sequence is in fact a flashback. Audiences are in fact led to believe that they are watching the series’ real first episode. Of course it isn’t. And that ultimate reveal in itself makes for its own share of enjoyment for viewers. The story that follows is just as entertaining with Boulder and Blades hunting down the Energon vampire from the story that they told Cody. The duo’s showdown with the beast and victory both show some great writing, too. That is because the showdown shows Boulder and Blades having to get innovative in order to defeat the beast since it is just the two of them. The outcome presents a setup that all of the anglers out there will appreciate. It’s one more example of what makes the writing within the episodes so important to the DVD’s overall presentation. Each of the noted examples are in their own right important in showing what makes the episodes’ writing so important. The other episodes not directly analyzed here each have their own examples of what makes their writing just as important. Together with the directly noted episodes, the writing within each of this disc’s episodes show clearly and collectively why their writing is so important in the episodes’ presentation. Keeping this in mind, the disc’s featured episodes and their writing show only in part why Shout! Factory Kids and Hasbro Studios’ new Transformers Rescue Bots DVD is a great addition to the personal DVD library of any of the series’ fans. The work of the series’ cast is just as important to these episodes as the writing within.

The episodes presented in Transformers Rescue Bots: Adventures in Time and Space and their writing are both equally important in their own right to the DVD’s overall presentation. As important as they are to the whole of the DVD, they are not the DVD’s only notable elements. The work of the series’ voice cast is just as important as the other noted elements. For the most part the voice cast’s work is just as impressive throughout these episodes as in the episodes presented in the series’ previous DVDs. There are a couple of interesting notes that have to be made, though. At first in “Switcheroo” the cast avoids the typical trapping of switching voices when their characters switch bodies. However as the episode progresses that seems to wear off as some of the cast ends up falling into that trap and others not. Even with that happening it doesn’t necessarily detract from the episode. But it does leave one raising one’s eyebrow at times. There is another episode in which Cody’s voice seems to be lower than in previous episodes. This could be attributed to voice actor Elan Garfias either being sick or getting older. Though in other episodes Garfias’ voice sounds completely normal. So it leaves one wondering needless to say. Regardless, Garfias’ performance in said episode is still solid from beginning to end. LeVar Burton is just as entertaining in each episode especially as Doc Green takes more of a direct role in each episode. At times he is so spot on in his role that audiences won’t be able but to laugh at Doc Green in his enthusiasm for what he does. That joy and the entertainment brought from the rest of the cast’s work in these episodes combines to show that the cast’s talent has not dwindled in the least even with the noted anomalies. And together with the displayed work of the series’ writers and those that chose the DVD’s episodes, all three elements come together to make this DVD in whole one more welcome addition to the show’s current series of DVDs. And until or unless the series begins to see its seasons in their own standalone season sets it will be just as welcome in the home DVD library of any of the show’s fans.

Transformers Rescue Bots: Adventures in Time and Space is hardly the first collection of episodes to be released from Discovery Family’s hit animated series. And by the looks of things it definitely won’t be the last. From its featured episodes, which feature another chunk of the series’ third season, to the writing incorporated into each episode to the work of the show’s voice cast there is plenty to appreciate about this DVD. Even if the series never receives the full, standalone season sets that it deserves, the elements that went into making this DVD become reality make it a collection that any of the show’s fans will want to add to their home DVD libraries. It will be available in stores and online Tuesday, February 23rd in stores and online and can be pre-ordered online now via Shout! Factory’s online store at https://www.shoutfactory.com/kids/kids-animation/transformers-rescue-bots-adventures-in-time-and-space. More information on this and other titles from Shout! Factory is available online now at:

Website: http://www.shoutfactory.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/shoutfactoryofficial

Twitter: http://twitter.com/ShoutFactory

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SHout! Factory Kids To Release New Transformers Rescue Bots DVD Next Month

Courtesy: Shout! Factory/Shout! Factory Kids

Shout! Factory and Hasbro Studios are teaming up yet again for another collection of episodes from Discovery Family’s hit animated series Transformers Rescue Bots.

Shout! Factory will release the new Transformers Rescue Bots DVD Adventures in Time and Space next month. The single-disc DVD compilation, the series’ ninth collection of episodes, will be released in stores and online on Tuesday, February 23^rd. It features five more episodes lifted from Discovery Family’s hit animated series. Four of the disc’s featured episodes are pulled from the series’ third season and one from its debut season. The episode in question is “It’s A Bot Time.” This episode is the first half of a two part-time travel story arc that is rounded out in the episode “Bot To The Future.” That episode was previously released as part of the Transformers Rescue Bots DVD Return of the Heroes early last year. In regards to the series’ Season Three episodes, the Chase and Boulder have to head back into space to complete a mission involving an Energon Eater in “Unfinished Business.” “Switcheroo” sees a nebula causing the Burns family and the Rescue Bots to switch bodies. Dr. Morocco is back again in this collection, too in “The Last Of Morocco.” And in “Time After Time” Cody finds himself in a time loop that is being cause d by the Mayor Luskey Clock Tower.  The complete episode listing for the DVD is noted below.

 

Episodes

Episode	Episode Title
1	Transformers Rescue Bots: It’s A Bot Time
2	Transformers Rescue Bots: Unfinished Business
3	Transformers Rescue Bots: Switcheroo
4	Transformers Rescue Bots: Time After Time
5	Transformers Rescue Bots: The Last Of Morocco

 

 

Transformers Rescue Bots: Adventures in Time and Space will be available in stores and online on Tuesday, February 23^rd. It will retail for MSRP of $14.93but can be pre-ordered via Shout! Factory’s online store now for a discounted price of $13.93 at https://www.shoutfactory.com/kids/kids-animation/transformers-rescue-bots-adventures-in-time-and-space. More information on this and other titles from Shout! Factory and Shout! Factory Kids is available online now at:

 

Website: http://www.shoutfactory.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/shoutfactoryofficial

Twitter: http://twitter.com/ShoutFactory

 

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.