Treat your children to quality. Kids stuff does not have to be frivolous or just for wasting time.
This is a productive time for kiddie DVDs, especially in animation. At the top end, there are new releases from Nickelodeon superstars SpongeBob SquarePants, Dora the Explorer and Diego. For adults nostalgic about their childhood favourites, there is another set of wacky Woody Woodpecker cartoons from the Walter Lantz Archive.
There is also garbage, too. So we survey what to watch, and avoid, among new releases. Unless noted, all are available now.
The Woody Woodpecker and Friends Classic Cartoon Collection: Volume 2: On these discs, Woody stars in 45 tunes from 1955-1958. The friends tunes include Andy Panda and Chilly Willy, along with Swing Symphonies and Cartune Classics from Lantz's early years. An historical twist is the group of Oswald the Lucky Rabbit cartoons from the 1930s, after Walt Disney lost his pre-Mickey creation. Overall, due to changing tastes and cultural sensitivities, old cartoons are not all suitable today. Parents should preview them.
Dora the Explorer: Dora Saves the Mermaids: Our empowered heroine not only leads the way on recycling, she enters a mythical world to save a mermaid colony from pollution. This extended episode is one of three on the disc.
Go Diego Go!: The Great Jaguar Rescue! Like Dora, Diego is an eco-warrior. He teaches children about rainforest animals. As in Dora, there is music, and Spanish words, woven in. The scientifically sound jaguar story is one of four strong episodes here. Also new to DVD are Go Diego Go!: Moonlight Rescue, with three stories, and Go Diego Go!: Underwater Mystery, with four more.
Little Princess: It's Spring: This British cartoon looks watercolour cute but the five stories are awkward, even stupid. This is a terrible DVD.
Dennis the Menace: Trouble, Trouble Everywhere: Another awful clunker. Dennis wreaks havoc internationally in poorly executed travelogues.
Wonder Pets!: Save the Beetles. Three baby animals -- duck, turtle and guinea pig -- use teamwork to save other animals from peril. In the title episode, one of four, they help The Beetles free their yellow submarine so they can rock out at the Octopussy's Garden. It's a clever romp made with an unusual "cut-out" animation technique. It debuts Tuesday.
SpongeBob SquarePants: SpongeBob's Pest of the West: In one of four episodes, Spongie learns about his heroic ancestor of the Old West. In 1882, SpongeBuck strides down main street for a high noon showdown with Dead-Eye Plankton. An absolutely loopy satire.
Davie & Golimyr: Adapted freely from the Biblical David and Goliath, this innovative puppet animation is fantastical in design. While the faith-based storyline lacks subtlety, the film is still a dazzling entertainment that sustains itself through 45 minutes.
Tractor Tom: Cool for Trucks & Other Stories: Set in the British countryside and done in colourful digital animation, this is the farmyard equivalent to Bob the Builder. That means five good stories, good lessons and entertaining toys that come to life.
Pucca: Kung Fu Kisses/Pucca: Ninjas Love Noodles: To be honest, I don't have a clue what to make of these strange but energetic, intense, pop culture oddities. With their obsessive interest in martial arts, Asian food and puppy love, the two DVDs certainly demand attention.
It's A Big Big World: Everybody's Different/It's a Big Big World: Be Healthy And Happy! The five stories on each DVD revolve around a sociable sloth in a rainforest tree. The puppetry and the vivid settings are lovely. These are winners for preschoolers.
