"HIGGLYTOWN HEROES: TO THE RESCUE & HEROES ON THE MOVE"
DVD Review
by Kevin Carr
| MOVIE: *** (out of 5 stars)
DVD EXPERIENCE: ** (out of 5 stars) Studio: Disney Back to DVD Review Home |  |
Back when computer animation became a viable means of special effects, the CGI environment was seen practically everywhere on television and movies. The preschool programming schedule was no exception. Even when I was a child, I remember that most of the everyday preschool programming was pretty low budget. Now, with the aid of computers, low budget programming has been brought to a whole new level.
The CGI process hasn’t made the animation any more sophisticated. It’s just given it a new tool instead of pencils, ink and paint. However, like any good children’s program, the quality of the animation is secondary to the content.
As I am in the middle of raising my kids, I have become an expert on children’s programming. I know the complete line-up of Noggin, Nick Jr. and Playhouse Disney. Some shows I like; others I don’t. Still others, like “Blues Clues,” I can see the value in them but I just can’t stand the repetition.
One of the more appealing shows that bridges the gap between kids and adults is “Higglytown Heroes.” Often paired with Playhouse Disney’s other main event, “JoJo’s Circus,” this show tells the story of a group of nesting dolls that live in Higglytown. Each episode features a challenge the dolls – or Higglies, you might assume – must overcome.
Instead of calling upon superheroes and magical creatures, the Higglies call upon regular people who are heroes in their own world. Some of the everyday Higglytown heroes featured on the newly released DVD include firemen, police and taxi drivers.
These new DVDs each run about an hour and also include a bonus episode of “JoJo’s Circus.” The “To the Rescue” DVD deals with rescue professionals, and “Heroes on the Move” deal with people who drive vehicles from boats to buses.
“Higglytown Heroes” is really a cute show. It’s animation isn’t all that sophisticated, but neither is that of “The Backyardigans,” and that’s one of the most appealing shows out there for kids and parents. In fact, with a theme song performed by They Might Be Giants, “Higglytown Heroes” joins “The Backyardigans” as one of the more hipper shows for the preschool audience.
Like “JoJo’s Circus,” “Higglytown Heroes” offers an opportunity for the characters to do different things each episode. It’s not so much the learning by repetition model, but rather the learning by example model. My kids love the show, and that’s probably the greatest recommendation I could give.
Specifications: Full screen aspect ration (1.33:1).
