KIDS FIRST! News

Join Angie and friends as they deal with everything from a remote control dance outfit to gravity to moon rocks and more! Hoping to get on a dance show, Von Bolt wears a remote-control dance outfit. But if he lets someone else dance for him, is he really a winner? Next, the Secret Lab Kids are ready to demo their new science song for web entrepreneur, Mook Zookerboom, when he learns that a satellite is coming down out of orbit, panics and heads for the airport. So the team must gather some data on gravity to convince him to return. Then, when Von Bolt accidentally destroys the museum’s new moon rock, the Secret Lab Kids must find a way to replace it. Guided by fun-loving Edison, Angie and friends will show kids just how fun science can be! KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Rohan F. comments, “This is a very educational show. It’s bright, colorful characters and high-level facts make it attractive to most ages.  It manages to be both informative and entertaining.” Talia J. adds, “I am happily surprised by this DVD. I was expecting these episodes to be very child-like and not very humorous. I was very wrong! The episodes kept me interested the entire time.” Damon F. wraps it up with, “

Thomas Edison’s Secret Lab: Rock It to the Moon
By Rohan Foxe, KIDSFIRST! Film Critic, age 12

This is a very educational show. It’s bright, colorful characters and high-level facts make it attractive to most ages.  It manages to be both informative and entertaining.

The DVD has eight episodes that follow Angie, Kent, JD and Nicky as they go on adventures using science. The episodes include Dancing Machine, Murphy’s law of Gravity, Rock it to the Moon, Act Your Stone Age, Von Drop-Out, Freaky Furry, The Monster Not Under the Bed and Nanobots Byte. In each episode the Secret Lab Kids, as they’re called, use their hologram projector to visit a scientist from the past. The scientist tells them a bit about his most famous discovery, which gives them a hint to solve the major problem of the episode. I like their decision to use some lesser known scientists such as Thales, instead of just the most famous scientists like Albert Einstein. However, they could have been more diverse in who they chose. Other than the kids, there are no female scientists in the entire episode set.

My favorite episode is Von Drop-Out. Von Bolt is my favorite character on this show. I like him because he is funny and interesting. In this episode, he feels underappreciated and quits. He gets a new job as a rescue robot and the Secret Lab Kids try to find him so they can get him to come back. I like this episode because its explanation on the science of proportion and measurement is easy to understand and is used in the most practical way that could be used by anyone in the real world. Von Bolt is voiced by Dan Russell. I really enjoyed this voice. He manages to show emotion but still keep the voice robotic.

I like how educational this series is. It teaches science, history, technology, math, vocabulary and much more. This isn’t the only thing children might take from these episodes. The educational values are almost over-shadowed by the wacky, unexplained, convenient items the Secret Lab Kids have.

The music on this show is almost better than the show itself. After each episode, there is a song. These songs teach more science than the stories, teach it faster, are equally entertaining and are amazingly well produced. They are, by far, my favorite part of this DVD and the show as a whole. Overall I give this DVD 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 3 through 14.

Thomas Edison’s Secret Lab: Rock it to the Moon
By Talia J., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 15

Thomas Edison’s Secret Lab: Rock it to the Moon is an entertaining DVD gives everyone a better understanding of science.

Thomas Edison’s Secret Lab: Rock it to the Moon is an animated series of science themed episodes. The show is about a group of friends who find the famous scientist Thomas Edison’s secret lab. Thomas Edison has made a secret lab where he creates a virtual version of himself and a robot named Van Bolt. The friends embark on fun adventures with one another while at the same time learning valuable scientific knowledge of the world around them.

I am happily surprised by this DVD. I was expecting these episodes to be very child-like and not very humorous. I was very wrong! The episodes kept me interested the entire time. The episodes are rather short which I think is fantastic because it keeps the audience attention the whole time. The episodes are silly, but in a way that got me laughing. These episodes are definitely aimed for much younger audiences. Since I am not in that age range, I did not think I was going to appreciate the humor like a little child would. My expectations were definitely wrong. I absolutely love the little jokes and funny characters. The humor gives these episodes character.

These episodes are perfect for anyone interested in science. What surprised me the most about this DVD is that I didn’t even know most of the science related topics. Some of the topics the episodes discuss are Murphy’s Law of Gravity, fossils, and many more. It is very important for children shows to be both informative and entertaining. Thomas Edison’s Secret Lab: Rock it to the Moon definitely incorporates these two ideas beautifully. Each episode helps teach kids that science is actually fun. Perhaps one day it can inspire the next generation of scientists.

I absolutely adore the music in this DVD. There are a total of eight episodes in the DVD. At the end of each episode there is a music video about science. The music is written and produced by Stefanie and Ron Fair. I must say that I am still caught humming some of the tunes. The music is very catchy, and the music videos are entertaining to watch. In the music videos there are always five robots that are doing something crazy. In one episode they float around space and orbit the Earth. The five robots give the music videos a unique touch.

This DVD is a perfect way to introduce children to science. Each episode adds humor and silliness while including a valuable science lesson. I recommend this DVD for anyone between the age of 4 and 9 and give this DVD 5 out of 5 stars. This DVD is out now so go check it out!

Thomas Edison’s Secret Lab – Rock It to the Moon
Damon F., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 10

Thomas Edison’s Secret Lab – Rock It to the Moon is a DVD full of episodes about a group of kid scientists who work together on adventures in Thomas Edison’s secret lab. The series is about the group finding problems around their town and solving them by using scientific facts. I always enjoy these episode packs because I like science and they teach us a lot about chemicals and discoveries I didn’t know about before. After every episode there is a song (written by Stefanie and Ron Fair) about the episode that is sung by dancing robots. The songs are very repetitive and younger kids would like that.

The four kid scientists are, Angie (Phillipa Alexander) a modern female version of Thomas Edison, JD (Adam Long), Angie’s brother who  thinks well under pressure, Kent (Shash Hira), who has all kinds of phobias and loves all applications of science,  Nicky,  a scientific genius who is secretly jealous of Angie, and of course Thomas Edison (Livingston Taylor), a hologram of the scientist who is the kids’ inspiring mentor who  doesn’t solve their problems for them, but instead offers advice and guidance.  In the lab they have Edison’s projector which makes his hologram and a virtual reality machine which opens a portal that each episode sends them to a different scientist from the past who teaches them something that will help them solve their current problem. These lessons teach real life facts which I like. This episode pack is about a few of their problems that they solve using all they know about science.

Episodes on this DVD include, Dancing Machines, Murphy’s Law of Gravity, Rock it to the Moon, Act your Stone Age, Von Drop-Out, Freaky Furry, The Monster Not Under the Bed, and Nanobots Byte. My favorite episode is Freaky Furry which is about when Angie accidently switches brains with her dog during a test. The group must find out what happened and switch the brains back. I like this because it is the only one about the human body which I find fascinating and because I like dogs. My favorite character is Von Bolts, the robot lab assistant, because he is a funny, indestructible machine who features in all the episodes.

The message of this show is that if you work together, you can do anything. I recommend this DVD for ages 4 through 10 because it is funny and very educational but easy to understand. I rate this DVD 4 out of 5 stars because I like to hear facts and some parts are funny. This DVD/Blu-ray is available now so go check it out. This series has its own website called, edisonsecretlab.com which you should also look at because it has a lot of added features.

Dive into adventure with your favorite underwater explorers, the Octonauts! Join brave Captain Barnacles, daredevil ex-pirate, Kwazii, and medic Peso Penguin, along with the other Octonauts as they explore the world’s oceans, rescue the creatures who live there and protect their habitats – above and below the waves! On this exciting DVD, join the Octonauts as they journey to the Everglades to help Tweak’s dad, Ranger Marsh, track down several invasive species – including a Burmese Python and her babies! The adventures continue with six more exciting underwater missions! KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Arjun N. comments, “The voice acting and plots bring a unique feel unlike other animated work. This is sure to be a hit with kids who love animation.” Sahiba K. adds, “Octonauts: The Great Swamp Search is like Mission: Impossible for younger audiences! There is danger and action at every corner and unique adventures.” See their full reviews below.

Octonauts: The Great Swamp Search
By Arjun N., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 16

This is a fun, educational, adventure-filled DVD with animals. The voice acting and plots bring a unique feel unlike other animated work. This is sure to be a hit with kids who love animation.

The story follows the adventures of an underwater exploring crew, the Octonauts which includes Captain Barnacles (Simon Greenall), Lieutenant Kwazii (Rob Rackstraw), Medic Peso (Wayne Greyson), Biologist Shellington (Keith Wickham), and Founder Grimpoteuthis (Keith Wickham). They are enticed by many adventures including the likes of returning animals to their homes, rescuing baby animals and finding the right turf for a group of hippos. Meanwhile, they discover new information about all the animals they are investigating.

Simon Greenall, as Barnicles, presents a commanding presence in leading the Octonauts, especially when choosing what is a priority. He is my favorite character because of this. Rob Rackstrawis, as Kwazii, is a fun member of the team who loves to help the animals and learn more about them. It is also interesting to see her reunion with her father who plays a big part in the first adventure. Wayne Greyson, as Peso, is an incredibly smart medic who wants to use his skills to save lives. Keith Wickham, as Shellington and Grimpteuthis, portrays two different characters who are of great importance to the team.

Darragh O’Connell directs this show with a Star Trek-esque tone of discovery. My favorite scene is the chase from the hippos because of the creative ways in which the Octonauts flee. It also feels like an extremely urgent scene. My only problem with the show is that, at times, the episodes are repetitive such as when they use the same plots with different animals.

The message of the show is to protect all animals and the ecosystem. Despite being treated unfairly by the animals, the Octonauts work around that to help them. They even give food to the hungry carnivores who threaten the ecosystem, while protecting the other animals. I give this film 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 6 to 12. This DVD is available now so be sure to check it out.

Octonauts: The Great Swamp Search
By Sahiba K., KIDSFIRST! Film Critic, Age 15

Octonauts: The Great Swamp Search is like Mission: Impossible for younger audiences! There is danger and action at every corner and unique adventures. The music is engaging and made my heart race, adding to the thrilling effect. Along with the gripping stories, each episode cleverly incorporates interesting fun facts casually into the Octonauts’ conversations.

The story follows the Octonauts – Captain Barnacles, Kwazii, Peso Penguin, Dashi Dog, Shellington, Tweak and Tunip who always come to the rescue. Each episode follows an entertaining and fresh storyline where the Octonauts face peril and must use teamwork and problem solving to save the day. They help a myriad of animals and learn much from their adventures.

Every species has a distinctive voice and accent. This adds to the element of diversity and uniqueness. Simon Greenall as Captain Barnacles makes it obvious through his authoritative voice that he is the captain. Kwazii (Rob Rackstraw) is a pirate and incorporates an interesting accent to enhance his character and add humor.

The animation is quite realistic, particularly the water, shadows, clouds and colors during different times of the day. The water moves so smoothly that I felt I could reach into their world and touch it. Throughout many scenes, reflections can be seen in the water and are extremely naturalistic. The clouds move subtly across different shots and the movement is memorable. Shadows of the trees, animals and the Octonauts are beautifully portrayed. In the shadows, underwater and during different times of day, the colors change intensity which boosts the sublime qualities of the animation.

The animated cinematography is special. There are many wide shots that show the Octonauts from afar and then zoom in, allowing the viewer a chance to enjoy the scenery, light and depth of the animation. The 3D effects create a world that doesn’t seem so far from reality even though it is. It immersed me in the experience while learning about all the different species.

My favorite part is how fun facts are blended into the conversations. Even though it doesn’t feel as you are leaning something, you learn many different things about hippos, crawfish and a multitude of other animals. The messages of this show is about teamwork, putting others before yourself and being kind to everyone. I give this DVD 4.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 2 to 12. It is available on DVD now so, be sure to check it out. It’s great stealth learning.