Care Bears create the funniest puns in their titles. Care Bears: Bearied Treasure is just too cute as a title and the best one so far. The story is about the bears finding a treasure map, so they each want to keep the treasure for themselves.
They go on an adventure by jumping aboard a ship and sailing the sea to Starshine Parade, and looking for treasures. While they are sailing, they help a lost baby star andhave other delightful and innocent adventures.
But there is a lesson, and this time the Care Bears work together to find buried pirate treasure for each of them, but they find that the real treasure is their special friendship, which is such a good message for preschoolers.
The pirate jargon from the Care Bears is entertaining, and the animation is top-notch. I recommend it.
Delivery Dash at the Docks is the newest installment in the adventurous Chuggington DVD collection. The DVD holds six episodes from the fifth season of the Disney Junior series. The disc even has bonus features like Badge Quest Episodes: Buddy Badge and Follow the Leader, and Coloring Pages. Kids should enjoy the bonus features as a special treat. We even meet two new characters, Daley and Skipper Stu. Mothers know this preschool storyline is even fun to watch with their kids.
We follow Koko, and he is thrilled to be spending the day training with Chuggington’s new express delivery engine, Daley. Together they pick up and deliver important packages all around Chuggington, frequenting the bustling docks where Skipper Stu, Chuggington’s new Dock Master, is loading and unloading the ship. All of them go on adventures that any child will enjoy and learn the importance of patience, paying careful attention to detail and teamwork.
Of course, all the delightful engines will entertain and inspire youngsters again and again. They will be able to visit with Brewster, Koko, and Wilson, along with the other engines in Chuggington, on these grand adventures.
I believe kids, young and old, will like the new Power Rangers series. It is cool how they get their powers from gems, called Energems. There is even a Power Ranger who is a caveman. He is still alive and looks young because the gems stop the aging process of any Individual who holds it. Each ranger uses a gem and is ageless. Each ranger also brings a unique talent to the team. There is a new evil villain named Sledge, and he has minions that the Rangers go against
Watching the new episodes (1 – 4), I saw the fledgling rangers work together and grow as a team. Fighting together, they became familiar with each other while at the same time working together at the Dino Café. Dino Charge can easily be a favorite among Power Ranger fans, as its story is unique and different from the others.
Sledge is an intergalactic bounty hunter, and he wants to get his hands on the Energems, which the Rangers unearthed and use for their own powerful dinosaur spirit. The rangers use Dino-fueled weapons and new Mega Zords, too. Together, they must protect these gems at all costs from Sledge’s monster minions while keeping the whole universe safe.
Directed by Xu Kerr, Hatched is billed as an animated adventure featuring the voices of Jeff Foxworthy (The Smurfs) and Sean Astin (TheLord of the Rings). The movie is about farmyard animals that are crazy and silly for kids to enjoy. I have to say, the characters are out-of-this-world, and take a look at their names.
Hatched has many chickens in the movie, so the DVD can be popped into the player for Easter or Spring Break. The film is part of a planned trilogy with playfully named characters like Cluck Norris, voiced by Astin, and Charlie Horse, voiced by Foxworthy.
We follow Cluck Norris as he handles mishaps with young chicks destined to learn how to fly. Chickpea, Tiny SchwarzHENegger, Meryl Cheep and Angelina Poultrie are the crazy farmyard animals that help get the youngsters flying.
Everyone sees that the chickens really can fly, but when their tiny alien pal, Magic, is in danger, the young chicks join the efforts of their animal neighbors to save their home and their friend from the villains. The villains aren’t scary, so the kids shouldn’t get too scared while watching this silly animated movie. The chicks become heroes and learn the meaning of friendship.
All in all, let the kids watch the movie because the parents might get bored with all the silly farm animals’ quirky situations. The clever names based on current movie stars will go over the kids’ heads, but at least the parents can chuckle or two when they hear them.
Directed by Kevan Peterson, Wiener Dog Internationals is the sequel to Wiener Dog Nationals and is a fun movie for kids. We meet up again with John Shelly, the U.S. wiener dog racing champion, who, with the Jack family kids, takes on the adventure of a lifetime by going to the Wiener Dog Internationals. I must admit there is plenty to bark about because the movie received the Dove Foundation seal of approval. That means it is safe for kids of all ages to watch.
The movie stars Golden Globe nominee Morgan Fairchild, who is best known for starring in another canine movie called Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2. Bryan Batt and Jason London also star in the wholesome movie.
The DVD also contains four episodic movies called “Minuscule” as a bonus for the purchase.
The Jack family and their wiener dog, Shelly, are at it again and are entering the International World of Wiener Dog Racing. But this time, it is the kids sneaking off to enter Shelly in the Internationals. Yet, they find themselves caught in a sneaky plot orchestrated by Miss Merryweather, played by Fairchild, which could hinder all wiener dog races for quite some time.
All in all, the sequel is better than the original movie. I will not spoil the movie by telling you the end. Still, the movie is fun to watch. We get to follow the kids and Shelly to see if they stop Miss Merryweather, and if Shelly wins another championship.
The second season of Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal 5D’s covers episodes 27 to 64, with some season 3 and 5 episodes added, and is titled Earthbound Immortals for English-language viewers, though my DVD has the original title. The story spins around the waging war between the United Signers and the evil Dark Signers. The box set is very similar to the season 1 box set.
You open the box and see four individual DVD cases, each with two discs. By combining the Season 1 and Season 2 box sets, you will have the complete series of Yusei and Jack. You might be sad to know this is the last DVD release for Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s because there are 3 seasons in total. The third season is estimated at only 30 episodes, none of which are dubbed. For that reason, the set will not be released. No telling if that is a final decision.
With all that packaging of the series out of the way, the second season of this anime adventure takes place much like the first season. Some episodes are not well dubbed. For example, the time Jack goes to Nazca, where he receives his Red Nova Dragon, and Team 5Ds face another opponent during the WRGP tournament. Other episodes with questionable dubbing are the Divine Temple and Ark Cradle Arc.
The anime is filled with many monsters going against other monsters, like in Duel Runner Tournament, Duels for Fun, and Plot Build. As I wrote earlier, you will be surprised to see some of Season 3 and 5 in the set.
All in all, the set looks and seems perfect for any anime fan, but with the added episodes from the preceding seasons and some dubbing flaws, it feels haphazardly put together. But I don’t think it is a reason not to purchase or view the episodes. Being an Amine fan or fanatic is all the reason to own this set.
Directed by Prapas Cholsaranont, The Giant King is a pretty simple and easy story for kids to follow. RAM is the creator of all robots and thus controls them. Pinky, voiced by Bella Thorne, is sent by RAM to terminate the giant robot Zork, voiced by Russell Peters, given that he is broken. Zork doesn’t want to fight, so when Pinky seizes Zork, a huge explosion occurs and buries them both for many years, until a junk robot, voiced by Nathan Barnatt, unearths them.
A robot battle happens, and a thousand years later, the two sworn enemies, Zork and Pinky, wake up chained together with no recollection of who they are or how they wound up together. They decide to search for answers and begin wandering the barren wasteland. They are in search of RAM, the creator of all robots, making new friends and a few enemies along the way. But when their memories are restored, and they discover they are true enemies and your RAM really is, their newfound friendship is tested by the deep-rooted battle of long ago. RAM shows up and decides to destroy them both, but their wacky friends decide to help them stop RAM.
The Giant King is a truly wonderful animated movie, with its charm and silly characters. The robots teach worthwhile lessons about helping your friends, never forsaking your dreams, never backing down to peer pressure, and never buckling under adversity.
The movie originated from Thailand, where it received seven nominations, and was translated for American distribution with English voice casting. It is a wholesome, family movie.
My Little Pony: Equestrian Girls: Friendship Games is a full-length adventure movie. The ponies come to life and share the magic of friendship with silly humor that kids can enjoy. There is a storyline, too, adding a little drama when the girls magically gain pony-like ears, tails, and wings.
Directed by Jayson Thiessen and Ishi Rudell, the story begins with Twilight Sparkle because she can only go from the human world to the pony world. It has been quite some time since she was in contact with any of her human friends. When she comes in contact, it isn’t the Twilight they know. Simultaneously, all six human friends are getting better control of their hidden magic powers. This is good because they must learn to control their powers for the Friendship Games at Canterlot High School—an athletic and academic competition between rival schools.
What is fun about this movie is that it reinforces the idea of developing a positive reputation for My Little Pony Friendship. The storyline keeps the characters in exciting circumstances, with twists and turns, while conveying essential messages, such as that when help arrives, it is best to accept it.
The animation looks very doable in 2-D. Sen and Rudell took a creative turn, including 3-D camera shots. The voice talent for the characters works well. Tara Strong is the voice of Twilight Sparkle, who really sparkles, while one can pity her flaws and intolerable behavior.
An impressive scene that comes to mind is where they are on a dirt bike course, and the two main characters compete with the enemy high school. It includes Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy. The race starts well, but Twilight Sparkle inadvertently casts a strange magic spell, and the entire race goes whacky.
Following the TV show will help you understand the characters, but it is not truly necessary. The first movie, My Little Pony: Equestrian Girls, is quite popular, and you should watch that one first to help you understand the overall story.
People told me about this film when it was shown at the New York International Children’s Film Festival, and they were blown away. They described the movie as one of the most beautiful animated cinema experiences in storytelling. Zarafa captures suffering at the hands of slave traders. Human beings are treated as property to the edge of monstrous fixation.
Sincerely, I enjoyed this movie and hope everyone sees it as a work of art.
Directed by Rémi Bezançon and Jean-Christophe Lie, Zarafa is a charming animated adventure story with French and English subtitles. We meet an orphaned African boy who sets out on a journey to find his place in the world. His other purpose for the journey is to protect a young giraffe that he considers himself responsible for.
The movie is packed with cute and hilarious moments with offbeat and curious characters, while the boy visits many exotic global locations. It is also exciting, with narrow escapes, rescues, and the threat of capture. The movie’s tear-jerking moments might be tough for some kids to watch. The moments include the deaths of beloved characters that the audience has grown to love.
The movie has its highs and lows and several scary, suspenseful scenes. For example, the two children find themselves in danger with a ferocious dog and an evil villain. The villain is a slave trader who pursues them relentlessly. He even holds a dear little girl in chains while he attacks the boy with the intent to shoot and kill. Another tragedy is when parents of a young child are captured, and their village is burned to the ground.
The movie is fine for older kids, who understand the difference between imaginary and real violence and can put up with the English subtitles.
20 Holiday Adventures – Scholastic Storybook Treasuresis the fourth release under the Scholastic Classics label, with loads of content to entertain kids while they learn family values such as right and wrong, truthfulness, and doing unto others. As the title says, the DVD contains 20 holiday stories. My favorites are The Night Before Christmas, Little Drummer Boy, Max’s Christmas (from Max and Ruby, currently airing on Nick Jr.), and Noah’s Ark.
Classic storybooks come to life and draw kids’ attention, making a wonderful way to introduce kids to reading. Other stories on the disc include Merry Christmas, Splat, Morris’s Disappearing Bag, Merry Christmas, Space Case, Bear Snores On, Too Many Tamales, Lemonade in Winter, The Snowy Day, Fletcher and the Snowflake Christmas, In the Month of Kislev, Seven Candles for Kwanzaa, Great Joy!, Antarctic Antics, Giving Thanks, Bear Has a Story to Tell, The Clown of God, and Brave Irene.
The next Scholastic Collection is narrated by Oscar winners Kathy Bates and Paul Giamatti, and B.D. Wong from Law & Order. 20 Fairy Tales – Scholastic Storybook Treasuresfeatures twenty classic tales on a single DVD. My favorites are Cinderella, Goldilocksand the Three Bears, Hansel and Gretel, and The Boy Who Cried Wolf.
The classic fairy tales are so much fun for the kids to watch while learning family values and the importance of reading. You can even place your storybook in the room with them while they watch the classic stories on the screen. The rest of the classic titles on the DVD are Doctor De Soto, Each Peach Pear Plum, Extra Yarn, Harold’s Fairy Tale, Lon Po Po: A Red Riding Hood Story from China, Princess Furball, Rapunzel, Red Riding Hood, Three Billy Goats Gruff, The Elves and the Shoemaker, The Little Match Girl, The Red Shoes, The Three Little Pigs, The True Story of The Three Little Pigs!, The Ugly Duckling and The Emperor’s New Clothes.
Care Bears create the funniest puns in their titles. Care Bears: Bearied Treasure is just too cute as a title and the best one so far. The story is about the bears finding a treasure map, so they each want to keep the treasure for themselves.
