December 2001
Penguins, pirates, planes and purple puffy puffin' lilies
By John Kremmer
Entertainment is changing. Children today want the newest animation, not the old hand-drawn cartoons. Fortunately, Christian video producers have step-ped up to the plate and are creating some excellent work; achieving recognition not only in Christian circles but in the mainstream entertainment scene as well. Major production studios are taking notice and picking up the better productions, while other video characters are heading for the big screen.
Here are a few recent releases to consider as Christmas gifts:
Jay Jay the Jet Plane's newest adventure, Taking Care of You is a collection of three short stories designed to show children the importance of taking care of their bodies.
In 'Wing Wigglin' Jay Jay, thinking he looks silly, tries to hide his morning exercises from his friends. He learns that hiding what God wants us to do, taking care of our bodies, is nothing to be embarrassed about.
In 'Jay Jay's New Wheels,' he refuses to turn in the old wheels he loves for new ones. After trouble on the runway and the inability to do tricks his friends with new wheels are doing, Jay Jay soon learns that taking care of ourselves helps us do our very best.
Finally, in 'Dough-Nutty,' Herky the Helicopter learns the importance of self-control. After eating too many doughnuts he is unable to fly and needs help from his friends to finish his delivery route. They teach him that too much of even something that tastes great may not be good for you.
This video targets children aged two to seven and adults will want to leave it for them.
Two sets of Jay Jay videos are being produced. One series is presented by Focus on the Family for Christian families, while a second set is been made by Paramount Pictures, which teaches children science-based information. So if you would prefer Christian story lines, look for a bar on the bottom of the cover that clearly states: 'Special episodes for Christian Families.'
Another video geared to younger children is the next installment of threads -- Things That Go Puff in the Dark. Even though I wasn't able to get songs like 'Pig in a Pond' and 'We've Got Cake' out of my head for weeks after watching their first video, I was slightly disappointed in this production. The story lines do not seem as interesting and the songs don't grab you like the previous one. But their targeted audience, children two to five, seem to like it. In the first story, Bobbin finds himself separated from his friends, alone in the forest and a little scared. Startled by two little lost Muckachuck Scouts, the three set out together to find their way out of the forest. Along the way they learn that trusting in God is the best way to ease your fears. Children will enjoy the song 'The Muckachuckie Boogie' but watch out for 'Purple Puffy Puffin' Lilies!'
In the second story, Pobertanian Bean Wars, Bobbin receives a pair of Pobertanian Flamenco Dancing Beans in the mail. However, the beans are not in the mood to dance. The Threads gang must uncover the reason why the bean brothers are so angry at each other, and teach them how important it is to forgive one another.
Leave this one for the kids as well; adults may find that it induces drowsiness.
If you want to watch with your child, the animators at Big Idea are still tops. Whether it's penguins, vegetables or silly songs, these videos can squeeze laughs out of all ages.
In their second 321 Penguins release, The Cheating Scales of Bullamanka, the wacky space travellers Zidgel, Midgel, Fidgel and Kevin are at it again, but this time its Michelle's turn. After cheating against her brother to win a game, Michelle is whisked away to space-base Bullamanka.
Once there, she learns that the conniving Lizard King has just defeated the kind Bandicoot King in a game called 'Squid Tac-Toad' and is about to send him to his doom down the gurgler. Michelle believes her only chance to save him, the Red-Naped Ibs, the yellow-Capped Whopper Dingys, herself and her penguin friends is to defeat the Lizard King at his own game.
Almost defeated, she saves everyone by learning that God likes it when we play by the rules and don't cheat.
Also watch for the newest 321 Penguins, just released in November, called The Amazing Carnival of Complaining.
Then there's Lyle, the softhearted Viking that likes to give things back. In the newest Veggie Tales -- Lyle the Kindly Viking; Bob, Larry, Junior and the gang are back. And Archibald, determined to present something classy, hosts the show assisted by the French Peas. After a disastrous version of Shakespeare's Hamlet (meant to be or not meant to be Omelet) and another silly song by Larry, Archibald still believes he can save the integrity of his show by presenting what he believes to be Gilbert and Sullivan's 'lost musical' -- 'Lyle, the Kindly Viking!' What he gets, however, is a wacky twisted tale about a Viking who likes to make and give away teapot holders, all the while taking back loot other Vikings have stolen. With the help of his monk friends (Pa Grape and the Peas), Junior Asparagus teaches his Viking comrades that sharing -- instead of taking -- can get more of what you really want, friends!
Finally comes the long awaited release of the video complete with warning label: This tape contains high doses of extreme silliness! The Ultimate Silly Song Countdown is a collection of the top 10 silly songs from past Veggietale videos voted on by you, the fans. For the past several months, Big Idea productions has been collecting email and snailmail votes for the favourite silly song of all time.
Veggietale connoisseurs should watch for a change in the 'Love my lips' flash cards, -- what happened to Sonny? Hosted by the "Pirates who don't do anything," this video has no moral teachings or story. It's just plain and silly fun. The winner is . . . you'll have to see the video.
Parents get ready for the "please,please, please can we go!" -- before Jaws, before Free Willy, before 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea there was Jonah! Holy mackerel. It's a Veggie-tale movie! Coming to theatres in 2002!
