Tag Archives: children

Zarafa

animation, children, DVD, movies, , , ,

zarafaPeople 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 animation, cinema experience in storytelling. Zarafa captures suffering at the hands of slave traders. Human beings treated as a property to the edge of monstrous fixation. Sincerely, I enjoyed this movie and hope everyone sees it as work of art.

Directed by both Rémi Bezançon and Jean-Christophe Lie, Zarafa is full of adventure as a charming animated story in French and English subtitles. We meet an orphaned African boy who starts a journey to find his place in the world. His other purpose for the journey is to protect a young giraffe that he deems himself responsible.

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 threat of capture.  The tear-jerking moments in the movie might be tough for some kids to watch.  The moments include deaths of fond characters that the audience grows 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 down 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.

 

 

Scholastic Storybook Treasures

animation, children, classics, DVD, education, popular, ,

20holidayadvent20 Holiday Adventures – Scholastic Storybook Treasures is the fourth release under the Scholastic Classics label with loads of content for kids to be entertained while learning family values such as right and wrong, be truthful, and do unto others. Just like the title says, the DVD holds twenty stories celebrating the holidays. 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.

The classic storybooks come to life and draw the kid’s attention, making a wonderful way to introduce reading books to kids.  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.

20FairyTalesThe 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 Treasures features twenty classic tales on a single DVD. My favorites are Cinderella, Goldilocks and 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.

Chuggington: The Big Freeze

animation, children, DVD, education, series, television, , , , , ,

chuggbigfreezeThe weather is still not cold enough, but freezing high-speed adventure is on the way. My preschoolers were treated to the newest Chuggington DVD called Chuggington: The Big Freeze.

The latest popular DVD collection from the United Kingdom is entertaining with six episodes. There are adventures for preschoolers while teaching lessons about right and wrong and sharing.  It is no wonder this is a highly rated show distributed by Disney.

One episode is a holiday special called The Big Freeze. The chuggers perform one heroic rescue after another. The kids learn from these shows by watching the characters solve situations that are presented to them. Like, when icy temperatures cause the town to run out of fuel and all diesel engines are grounded. They solve the problem as Chief Jackman and his team of brave Chug Patrollers work together to find a way to the frozen docks to retrieve fuel and get the town of Chuggington moving once again.  It also teaches preschoolers important lessons about safety, responsibility and teamwork as they watch Wilson, Koko, Brewster, and Asher.

Another episode includes one where Fletch tries to repair the lighthouse, and Calley tests to become a first responder. Another is where the kids get to watch Brewster get closer to being a Chuggineer. The lessons taught in these shows are so helpful.  The series has great characters for kids to watch and get to know.

Peppa Pig School Bus Trip

animation, children, education, series, television, , , ,

peppa schoolbusPeppa Pig is a clever television show for kids. The British accents add to its hilarity, and then there is the character’s staunch ability to fall over and laugh at the end of each episode. It can’t go unnoticed by all. My kids love seeing them jump in muddy puddles or feed the insatiable ducks. It is so funny.

Still, the show is realistic, showing family life as animals. Each different animal depicts the diversity of people in real life. This concept comes through to the kids. We all need to get along with each other no matter how different we are as animals. Peppa Pig School Bus Trip includes ten episodes to keep the kids busy.

Anyone who knows the show appreciates the fact it shows kids getting ready for school. Nothing like a little encouragement with that topic is what I always say.  Anyone who is a fan of the show or who has never seen Peppa will enjoy this DVD in their collection. The set includes a Mini Book, too.

Power Rangers Super Megaforce: The Legendary Battle

children, series, television, , , , ,

powerlegacyThe Legendary Battle picks up exactly where the last episode of Power Rangers ended. The citizens of Harwood are in a hopeless situation and in need of help. Carter and Dana, Red and Pink as Lightspeed Rescue Rangers show up and help. You might be surprise to see them returning as cameos in the series. That is what this series is all about, returning Power Rangers.  It is one of the best cameo returns for this series because Carter and Dana are still rescue workers.  It is great to see these two performing in their ideal environment.  Some of the other legendary Rangers fair pretty well, but Carter and Dana stand out strong.

Other legendary Power Rangers return to help the citizens as well.  Cassie, TJ and Leo save people and animals alike. They do functions that are not similar to their original nature, which makes the comebacks more interesting.  Most fans will smile seeing them not just back but in magnificent HD.

Then, the other Rangers wake up and truly see how bad everything has become. The Power Ranger team reunites with Gosei still the awful adviser, who absolutely does nothing to help the team. The story is strong at this point where the actors are stellar.  The pain on their faces shows the concern they have for helping the world. Andrew Gray turns a strong performance as well.

I don’t want to give the whole story away, but I hope I gave an idea of what to expect from the DVD set. The final episode has the extended 10-minutes longer version than the original TV version, which is a real treat. You will be able to see the realistic defeat of Emperor Mavro.

Another extra is add, a 10-minute Legacy documentary that features clips from the Shout Factory Power Ranger interviews.  This is the finale of the legacy that is well worth the effort and time to watch.

https://youtu.be/Wl02_MWW2ng