Every Family Will Enjoy Kate & Mim-Mim’s Latest DVD

Courtesy: Public Media Distribution

Kate and her fuzzy bunny friend Mim-Mim are back on DVD.  A little more than two months after the release of its first American DVD Public Media Distribution has released the Disney Jr. series’ second DVD in the formm of Kate & Mim-Mim: Balloon Buddies.  This latest collection is an interesting new offering from Public Media Disribution.  It has its share of positives.  But it also has one negative in comparison to the series’ previous DVD collection Kate & Mim-Mim: Flight of the Flowers.  That will be discussed later.  Luckily its positives outweigh its negatives making it in the end another collection of episodes that will be welcome in any family’s home DVD library.

Kate & Mim-Mim: Balloon Buddies is officially available today.  The second official American compilation from Disney Jr.’s hit computer animated series, it is another welcome collection in any family’s home DVD library.  The stories that are presented within the collection’s episodes are at the center of the set’s presentation.  On the surface the stories are just fun, turn-off-your-brain pieces for audiences of all ages.  On another level they teach some important lessons.  Those lessons will be discussed later.  For the moment, the focus will be on the stories just as stories.  The set’s title episode presents a fun little story that sees Kate and her friends planning a balloon parade.  There are plenty of laughs for every family throughout the episode.  “Cloud Castle” is the set’s second episode.  This episode sees Kate and her friends create a cloud castle (that looks oddly like a bouncy castle) as Kate and her parents enjoy a day of cloud watching together.  Things aren’t perfect though for Kate and her friends.  That is because the cloud castle ends up floating away with Kate and company inside.  So it’s up to Kate to get everyone back down to the ground safely.  And in “Clean Sweep,” the set’s closer Kate and her friends have to stop Tach’s pile of inventions after thy “escape” from their container.  They “escape” because Tach didn’t properly clean them up.  This leads right into the story’s focus lesson, which will be discussed later.  Each of the stories featured within this set is entertaining in its own right.  That is because each one allows audiences of all ages to just turn off their brains and enjoy.  They also present situations that are relatively realistic for parents with small children.  That ability for audiences to relate to the stories and still be entertained makes the stories collectively one of the set’s most important elements.  While the stories are undeniably important to the overall presentation of Kate & Mim-Mim’s latest DVD it does have at least one con.  That con in question is the set’s episodes.

The stories that are featured in Kate & Mim-Mim’s latest DVD are undeniably important to the DVD’s presentation.  That is thanks to their ability to entertain audiences of all ages while being able to relate to those same audiences with their presented situations.  The stories do plenty to help the DVD’s presentation.  That goes without saying.  However the DVD isn’t perfect.  It does suffer from at least one glaring con.  That con is its featured episodes.  This time out only three episodes have been presented.  That is half of what was presented to audiences in Kate & Mim-Mim: Flight of the Flowers.  Figuring that the series now boasts two seasons worth of episodes, and each full half-hour presentation features two episode each, one can’t help but wonder why this collection only presents three episodes versus six.  It isn’t like there aren’t enough episodes to make up a larger collection.  Keeping that in mind, having only three episodes this time out is in fact a factor that cannot be ignored in this DVD’s presentation.  At least with that reduced number of episodes its price is roughly half that of its predecessor by at least half.  To that end, the reduced number of episodes is still a con.  But it isn’t so bad as to make this collection not worth the watch.  It makes that number a small dent in the DVD’s presentation, and the only dent for that matter.  The lessons that are presented within each episode’s story makes up for that dent.

The stories that are presented in Kate & Mim-Mim’s new DVD Balloon Buddies are plenty of reason for any family to add the DVD to their home DVD libraries.  This is the case even with the number of episodes in this collection being half that of the series’ previous DVD.  Keeping that in mind, the lessons that are presented in each of the stories add even more reason for families to add the collection to their home DVD libraries.  The lessons, much like the stories, easily reach audiences of all ages.  That is because they are lessons that apply in audiences’ everyday life.  The lesson at the heart of the set’s lead episode is one simply of problem solving.  When Kate wanted to make the perfect balloon for Mim-Mim she thought about what would be best for him and then had to figure out how to make said balloon.  The set’s second episode is much simpler in its lesson—using one’s imagination.  That is the lesson at the heart of the episode believe it or not.  It just encourages children to use their imaginations.  Now while this may not see like much on the surface, it is actually far more important than some might realize.   The use of imagination is an important part of every child’s development.  Thus this story’s lesson encourages that growth, again proving its importance.  “Clean Sweep” rounds out the set.  And its lesson is just as important as those presented in the previous episodes.  It teaches the lesson of cleaning up after one’s self and doing so responsibly for that matter.  This lesson is taught as Kate is trying to clean her room but didn’t necessarily do so the right way.  What parents will like here is that Kate’s mom doesn’t get mad at her for it.  Rather she encourages proper cleaning by telling her that she’ll help her and doing so with a positive, gentle tone.  Again, it doesn’t seem like much on the surface.  But in reality it is a hugely important lesson that audiences of all ages will appreciate.  The lesson is pressed home even more as Tach doesn’t properly clean up his inventions, leading them to “escape” their container and wreck havoc on Mimiloo.  Eventually it all explodes everywhere, leading Tach and the rest of Kate’s friends to have to clean things up again.  This time they do it right just like Kate did with her room.  It shows doubly the importance of keeping things clean and not just trying to do so through shortcuts.  Yet again, here is proof of the importance of the lessons featured in the set’s featured stories.  Together with the stories themselves, both elements work together to show once and for all why Balloon Buddies is another welcome Kate & Mim-Mim collection in any family’s home DVD library even with its minimal number of episodes.

Kate & Mim-Mim: Balloon Buddies is, much as with its predecessor, a welcome addition to any family’s home DVD library.  That is thanks in part to the stories that are featured in the set’s episodes.  Audiences of all ages will enjoy the stories because they require so little thought.  They are just fun little turn-off-your-brain stories.  What’s more they are also accessible to said audiences.  That is because of their ability to reach audiences with their situations.  The lessons that are taught in each episode solidify the DVD’s presentation even more.  They work with the stories to keep audiences entertained and engaged.  Both elements do plenty to make this DVD welcome in any family’s home.  This is the case even with the set presenting half the episodes featured in the series’ previous DVD, Flight of the Flowers.  The set’s equally reduced price makes up for that reduced number of episodes.  Keeping that in mind, the collection in whole proves in the end to, again, be another welcome addition to any family’s home DVD library.  It is available now in stores and online.  It can be ordered online direct via PBS’ online store.  More information on Kate & Mim-Mim is available along with games, activities and more at:

 

 

Website: http://www.disneyjunior.disney.com/kate-and-mim-mim

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

 

 

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PBS Distribution Releasing Another New Kate & Mim-Mim DVD Next Month

Courtesy: Public Media Distribution

Disney Junior’s hit series Kate & Mim-Mim will get its second home release of the year next month.

PBS Distribution will release Kate & Mim-Mim: Balloon Buddies on Tuesday, May 24^th.  The DVD, which will feature three more episodes from the hit Disney Junior series, will be available in stores and online.  In the first of the disc’s featured episodes—the disc’s title episode—Kate wants to make a balloon buddy for Mim-Mim.  This is tied in to a big balloon parade in Mimiloo.  When Kate goes to Mimiloo she and her friends find a balloon tree, but all of the tree’s balloons are deflated.  So they have to figure out how to re-inflate them for the parade.

“Cloud Castle” is the disc’s second episode.  Kate’s head is in the clouds both figuratively and literally in this episode.  As she cloud gazes with her parents, Kate tells them that one of the clouds looks like Mim-Mim to her.  But her dad doesn’t see it.  Meanwhile when Kate goes to Mimiloo, she, Mim-Mim, and their friends pull clouds from the sky to make their own bouncy castle.  But their fun is short-lived  as the castle starts to float away

“Clean Sweep” rounds out this collection.  This episode is all about the importance of keeping things clean.  Kate is trying to clean up her room.  But it feels to her like it is taking forever to get it done.  Over in Mimiloo Kate and her friends want to have a picnic.  But their picnic basket is lost in a pile of Tack’s inventions.  Tack tries to clean up his mess, but he takes the quick way, which doesn’t end so well for him.  So unless they can get everything cleaned up it looks like the picnic might get canceled.

Kate & Mim-Mim: Balloon Buddies will be available in stores Tuesday, May 24^th.  It will be available exclusively on DVD and will retail for MSRP of $6.99.  It can be pre-ordered online now via PBS’ online store at http://www.shoppbs.org/product/index.jsp?productId=93347026&cp=&sr=1&kw=kate++mim-mim&origkw=kate+%26amp%3B+Mim-Mim&parentPage=search.  More information on Kate & Mim-Mim is available online now at:

 

Website: http://www.kateandmimmim.com

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

 

More information on this and other titles from PBS is available online now at:

 

Website: http://www.pbs.org/

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

Twitter: http://twitter.com/pbs

 

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PBS Distribution’s New Kate And Mim-Mim DVD Is A Fun New Family Release

Courtesy: Public Media Distribution/Disney Junior

Two years ago Disney Junior launched its new CG-based series Kate & Mim Mim.  The series, which is produced by the rather well-known animation firm Nerd Corps.  In the time since the series launched only four of the series’ episodes had been available domestically in the DVD Kate & Mim-Mim: Balloon Buddies.  That is until earlier this month.  Public Media Distribution released Kate & Mim-Mim: Flight of the Flowers early this month.  The compilation DVD boasts six episodes from the hit CG-based series.  The episodes in question are one of the key elements of the set that is important to note in its presentation.  That will be discussed shortly.  The stories that are contained within the episodes make up another important element of the disc’s presentation.  Last but hardly least of note are the lessons presented within the stories.  They round out the DVD’s presentation and bring everything full circle.  Together with the stories and the episodes themselves all three elements make this latest collection of episodes from Disney Junior’s family friendly series a welcome addition to any family’s home DVD library.

Kate & Mim-Mim’s debut DVD compilation Flight of the Flowers is a good start for the series, which generally runs domestically on Disney Junior.  How Public media Distribution ended up with the distribution rights to the series is anyone’s guess, considering this.  Regardless PMD has, again, done an impressive job with this new collection of episodes from the family friendly CG-based series.  This is evident in part through the episodes that have been culled for the collection.  All six episodes collected for this compilation were pulled from the series’ first season. In all Season one consisted of fifty-one episodes.  That equals roughly twenty five half-hour episodes in whole.  For those that might not be familiar with the series this is one of those series whose episodes consist of two fifteen minute episodes each.  So while this compilation technically only boasts what would be the equivalent of three half-hour episodes, that presentation is still sixty-five minutes that is certain to keep young viewers fully entertained.  Keeping all of this in mind, the episodes that are presented in Kate & Mim-Mim: Flight of the Flowers are still quite important in their own right to the whole of the DVD’s presentation.  They are not the disc’s only important elements.  The stories that are presented within each of the disc’s episodes are just as important to the disc’s presentation as the episodes themselves.

The episodes that are presented within Kate & Mim-Mim’s new episode compilation are important in their own way to the compilation’s overall presentation.  That is because while in the bigger picture they are just a drop in the bucket of Season 1’s roughly twenty-five half-hour episode makeup all three episodes were still lifted from the series’ first season.  It would have been easy for the people at Public Media Distribution to pull both of Season 2’s current episodes just to throw a monkey wrench in the works so to speak.  But they didn’t do that.  They made sure to pull all six episodes from the series’ first season.  Now keeping all of that in mind, the stories that are presented within each of the featured episodes are just as important as the episodes themselves.  Sometimes the stories entertain.  At other times they inform.  At even other times they do both.  The compilation’s title episode is an example of the episodes’ ability to both entertain and inform.  It sees Kate overcoming the difficulty of learning how to ride her bike by going to Mimiloo and helping Mim-Mim learn how to pilot the giant wild flowers.  The two situations parallel one another, and in turn remind her and viewers that nothing worth doing is ever easy.  “Bunch o’ Boomers” is an example of the series’ ability to entertain within itself.  Kate is looking for buttons for Mim-Mim’s sweater.  Over in Mimiloo, Boomer makes a mess of things when he accidentally duplicates himself with Tack’s Copy Zapper.  This is one of those episodes that is meant more to entertain than inform or even entertain and inform.  And entertain it does.  On a different note it could be argued that “Babysitting Squoosh” is an example of one of those episodes that informs more than entertains.  That can be argued in examining the episode closely.  This episode focuses on Kate’s attempt to figure out why no birds are coming to her bird house.  The answer comes indirectly in a trip to Mimiloo.  That it is able to keep young viewers engaged even being focused more on informing than entertaining shows once again the importance of the stories presented within this new DVD from Kate & Mim-Mim.  Any of the set’s other three episodes could be cited just as easily in that argument.  Considering this, the stories presented in all six featured episodes show collectively the important role that they play in the bigger picture of this DVD.  Even with their importance they are still not all that is important to this compilation.  The lessons that are presented within each of the featured stories are just as important to the compilation as the episodes and their stories.

The episodes featured in Kate & Mim-Mim’s debut domestic DVD compilation and their stories are each important elements to note in the bigger picture of this DVD.  That has already been noted.  While both elements provide their own importance to the DVD’s presentation, they are not the disc’s only notable elements.  The lessons that are presented in the featured episodes are just as important as the previously noted elements.  That has already been noted in the discussion on the disc’s lead episode.  It teaches that some things in life are not easy.  But in many cases those things that are not easy are also some of the things that are most worth doing.  One can’t just give up if something seems overwhelming.  It is a lesson that is presented in quite the easily accessible fashion.  “The Need For Seed” teaches a similar lesson.  Its lesson is one of patience that is taught as Kate tries to figure out why her plant is growing like that of her mother.  And in “Small Wonders” Kate explains in the episode’s end that one doesn’t have to be grown up or even a certain size or height to do big things literally or figuratively.  It’s just one more way in which the episodes’ lessons prove themselves another collectively invaluable addition to the compilation.  The disc’s other trio of episodes could also be cited to prove the importance of the episodes’ lessons.  Regardless of which episode(s) audiences choose, it can be said of all six episodes that their lessons collectively make up one more hugely important element of this DVD.  The lessons come together to collectively round out the DVD’s presentation and bring everything full circle.  Keeping this in mind, all three noted elements combine in this presentation to make Kate & Mim-Mim’s new DVD a good first impression from this family friendly Disney Junior series and an equally welcome addition to any family’s home DVD library.

Kate & Mim-Mim: Flight of the Flowers is a good first collection of episodes from Disney Junior’s family friendly CG-based series.  It is just as welcome in any family’s home DVD library.  That is thanks in part to the disc’s episodes, all of which were pulled from the series’ first season.  The stories that were presented in the disc’s featured episodes are just as important as the episodes themselves.  The lessons presented within the stories round out the whole thing.  That is because they serve as the starting point for discussions on a variety of topics.  Each element proves important in its own right to the whole of this DVD.  When they are set against one another, they combine to make this DVD a good new effort from Public Media Distribution especially considering that Kate & Mim-Mim airs on Disney Junior rather than any PBS networks domestically. Kate & Mim-Mim: Flight of the Flowers is available in stores and online and can be ordered online direct via PBS’ online store at http://www.shoppbs.org/product/index.jsp?productId=88167676&cp=&sr=1&kw=kate++mim+mim&origkw=Kate+%26amp%3B+Mim+Mim&parentPage=search.  More information on Kate & Mim-Mimi is available online now along with a number of activities and more at:

 

 

Website: http://www.kateandmimim.com

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

 

 

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Kate & Mim Mim Make Their American DVD Debut Next Month

Courtesy: Public Media Distribution/Disney Junior

Kate & Mim Mim is coming to DVD for the first time ever next month.

Public Media Distribution will release Kate & Mim Mim: Flight of The Flowers on Tuesday, March 1^st. The DVD is the series’ first collection to be released on DVD for American audiences. It will feature six episodes from the series which currently airs on Disney Junior. In the collection’s lead episode Kate learns about not giving up when she and Mim Mim travel to Mimiloo for Lily’s surprise Spring Thing Party. As part of the party Kate and her friends have to learn how to fly giant wind flowers. But Mim Mim has never flown one. So it’s up to Kate to help Mim Mim get up his confidence and try. This helps Kate realize that despite falling down time and again on her bike, she can’t give up now that she has taken off her training wheels. Audiences can check out a clip of the episode online now via YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s63uWvGamnY. It’s just one of the fun stories that will entertain young audiences. “Small Wonders” teaches those young viewers that even little people such as themselves can do big things. And “Butterfly Flowers” teaches an important lesson about independence and balancing said independence with acceptance of help. It’s a deep lesson. But it is presented in a fashion that is easily accessible for young viewers. The complete episode listing for Kate & Mim Mim: Flight of the Flowers is noted below.

 

Kate & Mim Mim: Flight of The Flowers Episode Listing

• Flight of The Flowers
• The Need For Seed
• Butterfly Flowers
• Small Wonders
• Babysitting Squoosh
• Bunch O’Boomers

 

Kate & Mim Mim: Flight of The Flowers will be available in stores and online on Tuesday, March 1^st. It will retail for MSRP of $12.99. It can be ordered online direct via PBS’ online store at http://www.shoppbs.org/product/index.jsp?productId=88167676&cp=&kw=kate++mim+mim&origkw=Kate+%26amp%3B+Mim+Mim&sr=1. More information on Kate & Mim Mim is available online now along with games, news, and more at:

Website: http://www.kateandmimmim.com

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

 

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Transformers Fans Of All Ages Will Enjoy Shout! Factory Kids’ Latest Rescue Bots DVD

Courtesy: Shout! Kids/Shout! Factory

Shout! Factory Kids will release the latest addition to its kid friendly Transformers series Transformers Rescue Bots this Tuesday, February 10th. Transformers Rescue Bots: Jurassic Adventure is the sixth of the series’ collections released by Shout! Factory Kids and Hasbro Studios. Five previous collections having already been released, it is common sense that this DVD is just as worth the watch as the series’ previously released compilations. The central reason that it proves to be just as worth the watch as its predecessors is the collection of episodes chosen for the single-disc presentation. Six more episodes have been culled for the set starting with the series premiere “Family of Heroes.” The set also pulls in a second episode from Season One in the form of “Return of the Dinobot” that presents a Dinobot unlike anything most audiences know of from the Transformers’ previous incarnations. There is also a two-part episode from Season 2 and a pair of stand-alone episodes also from Season 2 to complement. All six episodes together make for plenty of enjoyment for Transformers fans of all ages. The same can be said of the writing behind each episode. Whether in the series premiere, the included two-part episode from Season 2, or for the remaining pair of episode, the writing in these episodes is to thank for their enjoyment. And last but hardly least worth noting of these episodes is work of the series’ all-star cast. Veteran actors LeVar Burton (Star Trek The Next Generation, Reading Rainbow, Captain Planet and the Planeteers), Jason Marsden (The Fairly Oddparents, The Garfield Show, Batman: The Brave and the Bold), and Mauriche LeMarche (The Simpsons, Futurama, Animaniacs) are joined by the likes of Parvesh Cheena (Outsourced, Sean Saves the World, A To Z), Steve Blum (Digimon: Digital Monsters, The Boxtrolls, Cowboy Bebop: The Movie), and Elan Garfias (Handy Manny, Chowder, Ni Hao Kai-Lam) among other names. And the interpretation of the episodes’ scripts rounds out the reasons that these episodes are so enjoyable. Regardless of the cast members’ level of experience, nothing but professionalism was shown in each episode, making easier suspension of disbelief and in turn the overall enjoyment of the episodes. By itself, the work of the cast in each of these episodes makes for its own level of enjoyment among audiences. Together with the work of the series’ writers and those charged with assembling the episodes, all three elements make Transformers Rescue Bots: Jurassic Adventure a great adventure for Transformers fans of all ages.

Transformers Rescue Bots: Jurassic Adventure is not the first collection of episodes that Shout! Factory Kids has released from Discovery Family’s family friendly update on Hasbro’s classic franchise following everyone’s favorite robots in disguise. It is however a fully enjoyable collection of episodes. It is a fully enjoyable collection both for those that are and those that are not so familiar with the series. The central reason for that enjoyment is the collection of episodes pulled for the DVD. Regardless of audiences’ familiarity with the series, every one of the series’ fans finally gets to see how the series started thanks to the inclusion of its premiere episode to open the whole thing. Audiences also get to see the writers’ vision of at least one of the legendary Dinobots as well as other early adventures of the Rescue Bots. The collection in whole offer loads of action and laughs for Transformers fans of all ages. The episodes by themselves offer loads of action and laughs for the whole family. That is thanks to the adventures that make up each episode. Keeping in that vein, the writing behind each of the episodes is to thank for making each episode so enjoyable.

The writing that went into each of the episodes on this DVD is just as noteworthy as the episodes themselves in considering what makes it so enjoyable. One way in which the writing proves so important is in the series’ premiere episode “Family of Heroes.” Audiences will note in this episode that at least one of the Rescue Bots—Heatwave—is not instantly fond of being on Earth. As a matter of fact, he would much rather take a mission on another planet than deal with humans who want to control them. Obviously they aren’t really trying to control the Rescue Bots. And eventually, Heatwave overcomes his mistrust as Cody and his family prove that they can be trusted. Yes, it’s a tried and true story element used in so many other series and movies. But especially in the case of this series, it’s interesting to see that things don’t start out with a full-on “happy-happy-joy-joy” vibe for the Rescue Bots or for the humans in terms of their relationship. It is just one example of why the writing in these episodes makes them so enjoyable. The writing in the two-part episode “What Lies Below”/”What Rises Above” is another good example of why the writing behind the episodes makes them so enjoyable. It could even be argued to be the best example of the disc’s episodes in terms of its writing. That is because of the amount of material that went into the episode in whole. Chief Burns and his brother Woodrow (voiced here by Mark Hamill—Star Wars, Batman: The Animated Series, Codename: Kids Next Door) have to come to terms with the tensions built between them ever since their childhood. At the same time, Heatwave exhibits his own personal growth as the leader of the Rescue Bots as he and Optimus Prime work to get back to the others and get out of the volcano. At the same time, the writers pay tribute to Jules Verne in this episode as a hidden prehistoric world is discovered along the way. Through the whole story, none of the noted elements overpowers the other. The end result is a story that easily keeps viewers fully engaged, wondering what will happen next. The writers’ tackling of myths in “In Search of the Griffin’s Nest” and the classic theme of AI becoming sentient (and dangerously so at that) in “Movers and Shakers” is as enjoyable as any sci-fi story. Whether for the solid work on the DVD’s included two-part episode, the series’ premiere, or even that in “In Search of the Griffin’s Nest,” the writing behind the episodes included on Transformers Rescue Bots: Jurassic Adventure shows time and again why it is so pivotal to the overall enjoyment of the DVD. Together with the episodes selected for the compilation, both elements strengthen even more the argument in favor of this latest addition to the series’ already-released compilations.

The episodes tapped for inclusion on Transformers Rescue Bots: Jurassic Adventure and the writing behind each episode make a strong argument in favor of this new DVD. The work of the series’ voice cast is just as worth mentioning in the overall enjoyment of these episodes. From the series premiere to the episodes that followed, the chemistry and professionalism between the cast is obvious. Considering the cast’s collective years of experience, that should come as no surprise. That’s especially the case with lead stars Jason Marsden and Mauriche LeMarche. Marsden, who voices lead character Kade Burns, and LeMarche, who voices Kade’s father Chief Charlie Burns, breeze through their roles. The same can be said of fellow veteran LeVar Burton as he voices supporting character Doc Greene. Even young Elan Garfias (Cody Burns) impresses in his own right. While Garfias might not have the years of experience as Burton, LaMarche, and Marsden, he still shines as the voice of Cody. He handles his role in every episode with the ease and professionalism of a seasoned veteran. And together with his older, more experienced co-stars–including those not noted here–the group as a whole proves to be the perfect choice for each role. The choices paid off in spades, too with each cast member alone and together keeping viewers just as fully engaged with its work as the stories behind each episode. It is the last part of the DVD’s whole that makes it so enjoyable for Transformers fans of all ages. Together with the work of the show’s writers and those tapped to select the DVD’s episodes, all three elements together show in full why Transformers Rescue Bots: Jurassic Adventure is yet another great collection of episodes from what is one of the greatest incarnations of the Transformers.

Transformers Rescue Bots: Jurassic Adventure will be available tomorrow, February 10th in stores and online. It can be ordered online direct from Shout! Factory Kids’ online store at https://www.shoutfactory.com/kids/kids-animation/transformers-rescue-bots-jurassic-adventure. More information on this and other releases from Shout! Factory and Shout! Factory Kids is available online at:

Website: http://www.shoutfactory.com

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

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Nickelodeon, Shout! Factory Finishing Off Another Classic Nicktoon Next Month

Courtesy: Shout! Factory/Nickelodeon

Shout! Factory and Nickelodeon established a partnership only a few years ago that has seen some of the network’s greatest classic series, called Nicktoons, get full, proper releases. Almost all of those classic Nicktoons has seen releases in separate seasons and complete series box sets. Now what is one of the last of those series sets will be released next month in the form of CatDog: The Complete Series.

CatDog: The Complete Series will be released on DVD Tuesday, October 14^th. The series’ complete four-season, sixty-eight episode run will be released in one complete multi-disc set. It will retail for MSRP of $29.93. After this release, the only full series sets that are left to be released under the companies’ current partnership are The Wild Thornberrys: The Complete Series and Hey Dude: The Complete Series. Audiences can keep up with the latest on all of these releases online at:

Website: http://www.shoutfactory.com

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

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.

Denver The Last Dinosaur Is Extinct No More

Courtesy: Cinedigm/VCI Entertainment

Denver The Last Dinosaur is extinct no more!

Courtesy: Cinedigm/VCI Entertainment

Cinedigm and VCI Entertainment will release Denver The Last Dinosaur: The Complete Series on Tuesday, September 16^th. The series ran a total of fifty-two episodes from 1988 to 1990. It follows the adventures of Denver—a Corythosaurus—and his human friends who discovered him after he unexpectedly hatches from a fossilized egg. The series received a recommendation from the National Education Association for its engaging and nonviolent story lines. The series features the talents of some of today’s most well-known voice talents including: Tress MacNeille (The Simpsons, Futurama, Hey Arnold!), Frank Welker (The Real Ghostbusters, Curious George, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse), Kath Soucie (Dexter’s Lab, The Real Ghostbusters, Tiny Toon Adventures), June Foray (The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Garfield & Friends), Brian Cummings (Duck Tales, Garfield & Friends, Adventures of the Gummi Bears) and three of the voice talents from the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated series in Cam Clarke, Townsend Coleman, and Rob Paulsen among so many others.

The upcoming box set will contain not only the series’ complete fifty-two episode run but also a handful of bonus materials, too. Those bonus materials include interviews with the series’ Creative Director Jeremy Corray, image galleries, and even a glimpse at other classic cartoons including the likes of Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs. The six-disc set will retail for SRP of $59.99. More information on this and other releases from Cinedigm is available online at http://www.facebook.com/Cinedigm, http://twitter.com/cinedigm and

http://www.cinedigm.com. 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.

Babar Update Series Compilation Is Wild Fun For Families

Courtesy: eOne/Nelvana

eOne and Nelvana recently released the first compilation of episodes from Disney Jr.’s children’s series Babar and the Adventures of Badou.  Gone Wild is the first compilation of episodes from Disney Jr.’s continuation of the classic Babar animated series.  And as a first impression, this collection of episodes is a good first impression for those that might perhaps have not even known about this series.  The primary reason that it is such a good first impression is the writing of the included episodes.  Another reason that audiences will appreciate this new DVD is the lessons taught in each of the episodes, which ties directly in to the episodes’ writing.  And last to consider in the overall success of these episodes is their “animation” style.  All three factors put alongside one another reveal why both children and their parents will appreciate this latest incarnation of the classic Babar franchise even if they don’t get Disney Junior on their channel lineup.

The primary reason that audiences of all ages will appreciate Babar and the Adventures of Badou: Gone Wild is the writing incorporated into each of the collection’s eight episodes.  Anyone that has any knowledge of the original Babar series will recall that in the original Babar series, that series’ episodes would consist mainly of stories told by Babar to his children.  They would be in reference to his own childhood.  In the case of this latest series, which originally aired in 2010 on YTV in Canada and on ABC2 in Australia, Babar is there.  But he generally takes a back seat to his 8-year old grandson Badou.  From time to time, the now much older Babar would offer some insight to Badou.  So the show’s creators made sure to not completely stray from the original source material for this series.  Older audiences will appreciate this factor.  Younger audiences will appreciate the fact that the series focuses more on younger figures whereas the younger figures in the original Babar series were merely part of recollections told by Babar.  That balance of the old and new alongside Badou’s own family friendly adventures in the kingdom of Celesteville with his friends shows just how much care the show’s writers took with the series despite its short run.  That result is eight solid episodes whose writing is reason enough by itself to check out this new DVD.

The writing by itself serves as plenty of reason for families to check out this new DVD from eOne and Nelvana.  It pays homage to the original Babar franchise while also advancing the story without losing anything in the process.  On a similar note, parents and children alike will appreciate that some of the episodes in this compilation also include invaluable life lessons.  One example of those lessons comes in the episode “Copy Cat.”  Young zebra Zawadi learns an important lesson about accepting one’s own self for who one is, rather than trying to change one’s own self just to be different from the masses.  On a similar note, “Monkey Camp” teaches young viewers about the differences between people and how those differences make everybody special in their own way.  One last example of those lessons comes in the DVD’s second episode, “Operation Secret Suitcase.”  This episode deals with a very common issue among younger viewers.  It deals with the issue of children losing friends due to moving away.  It’s definitely something to which audiences of all ages can relate.  It also teaches young viewers about jumping to conclusions without all the information on a given subject within the course of the episode.  So, that one is actually a dual hit.

The writing and the themes tied into said writing for the episodes included on this disc are both key factors to its overall enjoyment.  Together, they prove the episodes presented here to have a certain amount of heart and substance.  There is still one factor left to examine in the overall enjoyment and success of Babar and the Adventures of Badou: Gone Wild.  That final factor is the show’s “animation.”  Given, each episode is computer generated rather than hand drawn.  That is the trend in the current era of animation.  In the case of this series though, the computer generated graphics actually stand out if only a little bit from all of the cookie cutter CG-based children’s shows currently filling the television spectrum.  The closest comparisons that can be made here are perhaps to the graphics used in The Garfield Show and Jungle Junction, which is another show currently on Disney Junior’s schedule .  And that is being generous.  That is not meant in a negative connotation, either.  It is simply nice to see that while this incarnation of Babar has long since ended its short run, it is one of few shows out there for kids today that has at least some individuality and originality in its “animation” style.  Together with the themes incorporated into each episode’s script and the writing itself, the show’s graphics are collectively the final piece in the overall presentation of the DVD that makes it worth a watch by viewers of any age.

Babar and the Adventures of Badou: Gone Wild is available now in stores and online.  It can be ordered via Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/Babar-Adventures-Badou-Gone-Wild/dp/B00K2OBZZ8/ref=sr_1_2?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1407546469&sr=1-2&keywords=babar+and+the+adventures+of+badou+-+gone+wild.  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.

Every Family Will Love The Latest DVD From Disney Junior’s Hit Series

Courtesy: Entertainment One

Entertainment One’s Guess How Much I Love You: The Adventures of Little Nutbrown Hare is a wonderful series for viewers of all ages.  And now thanks to Entertainment One, fans of the series can get their hands on yet another compilation DVD containing seven more shorts from the hit series.  Friendship Adventures, the latest compilation from the series offers audiences seven more episodes packed with family friendly stories.  Each of the stories boasts valuable life lessons that parents will appreciate and original animation that kids will love. Right from the compilation’s opening episode ‘Favorite Thing’, audiences are treated to not one, not two, but three valuable lessons. ‘I Promise’ is an invaluable addition to the set as it teaches its own important lesson.  This short teaches a lesson about keeping one’s word.  And ‘New Friend’ viewers are taught a lesson about making friends with new people.  These three episodes make up only part of what audiences will enjoy in this release.  There are four other episodes that along with these episodes make this latest release one that every family will enjoy.

‘Favorite Thing’ is a wonderful opener for this second brand new home release from Disney Junior’s family favorite series.  This episode is an important addition to this DVD because of its many lessons.  It teaches not one, not two, but three different valuable lessons.  The first of those lessons is an important lesson about sharing.  The show’s writers incorporate this lesson into the episode by having Little Nutbrown Hare ask Little Field Mouse if he could borrow her flower to show to Big Nutbrown Hare.  Little Field Mouse wasn’t sure at first because she said it was her “favorite thing.”  Despite this, Little Field Mouse agrees to share and let Little Nutbrown Hare show it to Big Nutbrown Hare.  When Little Nutbrown Hare accidentally loses the flower, he has to be honest about it with Little Field Mouse.  This lesson about being honest with people is the second lesson taught in this episode.  In being honest with Little Field Mouse, Little Field Mouse tells him that it’s okay and that they could look for it together.  She goes on to say that her other favorite thing was being friends with him.  It was Little Nutbrown Hare’s way of trying to make things right, which is the episode’s third lesson; if one makes a mistake, one should try to make things right, especially if friendship is on the line.  All three of the lessons shared in this short are equally important to the whole piece.  The fact that the show’s writers were able to incorporate each lesson without one stepping on the other makes the short all the more enjoyable.  In turn, it becomes that much more an invaluable addition to this new DVD compilation.

‘Favorite Things’ teaches an invaluable lesson about being honest and keeping one’s word with others as part of its whole.  In the same vein, ‘I Promise’ teaches a similar lesson as Little Nutbrown Hare ends up promising to spend time with both Little Field Mouse and Little Red Wood Fox.  The problem is that he promised to spend time with both of them at the same time.  So this leaves him in a predicament of sorts.  When Little Nutbrown Hare admits to his error, the trio works things out so that they all can all have fun together.  So not only are young audiences taught the lesson of keeping one’s word and being honest, but as with ‘Favorite Things’ it teaches yet again that people should try to make things right when they know they have erred.  It’s one more aspect of this short that makes it one more invaluable addition to the DVD as a whole.

The lessons about manners taught through the previously noted shorts are equally important for any family.  They both teach similar lessons.  The DVD’s penultimate short, ‘New Friend’, teaches an equally important lesson. It teaches a lesson about friendship’s ups and downs.  When Little Spotted Deer comes to the forest for the first time and makes friends with the other animals of the forest, Little Nutbrown Hare thinks he’ll be friends with Little Spotted Deer forever, only to discover that Little Spotted Deer has to go away.  This upsets her new friends at first.  But in learning that she would be back the following winter, it makes seeing her leave less painful.  In the process it gave them something to look forward to and appreciate one another even more.  Once more, audiences are given an episode that is well worth the watch not just once but any time.  Along with the previously noted episodes and those not noted, it is one more part of the whole that makes this single DVD well worth purchasing now that it is available in stores and online.

More information on Guess How Much I Love You:  The Adventures of Little Nutbrown Hare is available online at http://www.disney.com.au/disneyjunior/guess-how-much-i-love-you/.  Families can also print out pages to color, watch videos and play a special game at that website. 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.