KIDS FIRST! News

Princess Emmy is a young girl with a secret gift – she is the only one in the Kingdom of Kandis who can speak to horses. Up until now, life for Emmy has been wonderful: exploring and hanging out with her best friends (a stable full of horses), spending time with her family at the castle, and not having a care in the world. But when her jealous, scheming cousin Gizana appears and Emmy must undergo the ultimate test to earn the right to keep her gift, she’ll have to stand strong and stay the course in this wonderful, spirited film about courage, perseverance and friendship. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Nathalia J. comments, “Welcome to Emmy’s world. Magical, playful, discovering, and your real-life wonderland. This 78-minute fantasy DVD will take you on an adventure through princess Emmy’s cup of tea with a secret-gift.” Leire G. added, “I really enjoyed the film Princess Emmy, due to its coverage of many important themes and role models for today’s girls. I also enjoyed the creativity of the movie, in both the story-telling and animation. The use of animals in the film is one of my favorite aspects, because it creates a very loving environment for the kids watching.” See their full reviews below.

Princess Emmy
By Nathalia J. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 11

Welcome to Emmy’s world. Magical, playful, discovering, and your real-life wonderland. This 78-minute fantasy DVD will take you on an adventure through princess Emmy’s cup of tea with a secret-gift.

Written by Sergio Casci and directed by Piet De Rycker, the story follows Emmy and her friendly and trustworthy stable of horses. Princess Emmy is a young, adventurous girl with a secret, a secret gift that is. Emmy is the only person in the Kingdom of Kandis who can communicate to horses. Life for Emmy has been wonderful; exploring and hanging out with her pals. That is until her jealous and rude cousin Gizana appears and Emmy must experience the ultimate challenge to earn the right to keep her gift. She has to stand strong. Emmy must go through a series of confusing test to find out if her secret is worth to keep.

The lead characters in this DVD are Princess Emmy, voiced by Ruby Barnhill, Princess Gizana , voiced by Bella Ramsey, David, voiced by Nathan Mack, Ceasar,voiced by Joel Fry and many more enjoyable cast.

My favorite character is Princess Emmy, because she is brave, daring, and not like any other Princess. Princess Emmy likes to get messy sometimes, as well as getting wild, dress the way she feels comfortable in. My favorite part in the film would be when Princess Emmy is in the stables and she is quietly reading. She noticed a bright light and a smell that tied up her nostrils. She heads down to the basement, discreetly following the smell and light when she is being circled by the light and is frightened at first but then exclaims “let’s take an adventure!” to her horses. This part is my favorite because it proves how brave and adventurous Princess Emmy is.

I really enjoyed the film Princess Emmy, due to its coverage of many important themes and role models for today’s girls. I also enjoyed the creativity of the movie, in both the storytelling and animation. The use of animals in the film is one of my favorite aspects, because it creates a very loving environment for the kids watching.

The animation and vocal performances are very well chosen. The film is set in a very ordinary atmosphere on a modern-day Kingdom. I admire the art department for creating such a vibrant and imaginative aspect of this DVD. The colors on the pony stall, to the way the castles design and colors shined at the top of a mountain was simply beautiful. The music in this film provided me with different emotions and had a sense of freedom. 

This DVD shares many important messages, such as Emmy being a strong princess, working hard and helping those around her. Just simply being yourself and Emmy work towards her goal of proving her self-worth. This DVD has no false language or any dangerous activity’s that younger kids might try to imitate.

I give this film 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 4 – 11, but adults might enjoy it as well. Princess Emmy is available now on DVD, make sure to get yours!

Princess Emmy 
By Leire G., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 15

I really enjoyed the film Princess Emmy, due to its coverage of many important themes and role models for today’s girls. I also enjoyed the creativity of the movie, in both the story-telling and animation. The use of animals in the film is one of my favorite aspects, because it creates a very loving environment for the kids watching. 

Princess Emmy tells the story of a young princess, living in the Kingdom of Kandis, who has a secret — she is the only girl who can talk and understand horses. She lives in a palace where she gets to explore and play with her friends – a stable full of amazing horses. Her life has been perfect until the arrival of her cousin Gizana who challenges and competes with Emmy, putting at risk her chances of becoming an officially princess. The film traces the ups and downs Emmy faces and the challenges she must overcome in order to earn the right to keep her gift. 

Written by Sergio Casci and directed by Piet De Rycker, the film is set in a very natural environment on a modern day kingdom. This is important to the plot because Emmy’s home is a beautiful castle at the top of a mountain, where she runs and explores freely with her horses. This setting helps create a feeling of freedom and easiness as well as providing the animals in the film with a lot of liberty. The music in this film is very well chosen, as it intensifies the magical aspect of the movie by adding the sounds of sparkles or fairy dust. 

Princess Emmy has a very beautiful ending which leaves the audience valuing the importance of friendship. This film explores the seriousness of being nice to one another, despite the challenges you are facing. Princess Emmy provides a great example for little girls because it presents Emmy as a strong princess who works hard to help those around her, while working towards her goal of proving her self worth. 

I give this film 4 out of 5 stars because of its creativity and well-presented theme.  I recommend this film for ages 4 to 12, but adults might enjoy it also. Princess Emmy is available now on DVD, make sure to get yours! 

Nate is a just a regular boy struggling to be above average at school. One day when he receives the Yo-kai Watch, he gets the chance to see and communicate with these mischievous Yo-kai. With the Yo-kai Watch on his wrist, Nate starts to form friendships with them and learn of the things that make life so complicated. There’s just one problem… they’re everywhere and they love to cause mischief! KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Ethan P. comments, “I like this DVD because this animation kind of looks like Pokemon.  This show is a combination of anime cartoons and Pokemon like characters, except that a watch is used instead of the red, white and black ball. And instead of Pokemon, the creatures (or spirits in this case) are named Yo-kai.” Jordan M. comments, ” I really like how the show balances an adventurous aspect with humor. Throughout the show, both the mischievous Yo-kai and the main characters are constantly saying and doing funny things that will keep audiences laughing. “Elizabeth T. adds, “The show offers examples of kindness and consideration of others, particularly when dealing with clashing personalities, and there are legitimate examples of love shown, particularly for those closest to young people such as their parents, siblings, and friends.” See their full reviews below.

Yo-Kai Watch, Season 1, Volume 2
By Ethan P., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 11

I like this DVD because this animation kind of looks like Pokemon.  This show is a combination of anime cartoons and Pokemon like characters, except that a watch is used instead of the red, white and black ball. And instead of Pokemon, the creatures (or spirits in this case) are named Yo-kai.

The Yo-kai Watch DVD includes two disks of Season 1, Volume 2, episodes.  Each disk is approximately 145 minutes long, for a total of 290 minutes.  That’s a lot of cartoons!  Each disk has a variety of different episodes, that are not necessarily in order. For example, disk 1 has episodes 3, 4, 5, 6, 2, 3 and 4, which was a little confusing to me. 

The storyline on this DVD is about a kid named Nate, who is an average boy that struggles to be popular at school.  His parents are somewhat fun, but to him they are also rather weird.  He has a special watch with different Yo-Kai’s, which are invisible spirit-like entities responsible for annoying situations that make Nate’s life to not be the same.  One particular Yo-kai is his best friend. His name is Whisper and he teaches Nate about all the different types of Yo-kai  and what they are capable of doing.

The theme song is catchy and appropriate for this show.  The animation is very neat; the colors are bright and the background is colorful and well drawn.  The episodes are kind of confusing because they don’t follow a sequence.  It’s a mix of different situations. There are also two other story lines. One is about the great (Dog) escape, the other is about two Yo-Kai brothers in the city trying to learn how to live in the city.

My favorite episode of all is Spring Break Present. This episode is about a package that Whispers gives Nate as a Spring Break present.  Inside the package is a card for Nate to use as a Yo-Kai repellent, so he can take a break from all the trouble that these spirits are causing him. The whole episode is really funny; that’s why it’s my favorite.  

I give this DVD 3 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 15.  The Yo-Kai Watch DVD is available now.  If you are an anime fan, you might really enjoy this DVD, so look for it!

Yo-Kai Watch: Season 1, Volume 2
By Jordan Millar, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 13

The hilarious and clever show Yo-Kai Watch, directed by Mark Risley, is incredibly animated and whimsical. It is filled with a variety of different characters that kids really get to know.

The episodes follow the wild adventures of a young boy named Nate (Johnny Yong Bosch) who receives the mysterious Yo-kai watch from the ghostly Yo-kai named Whisper, who is Nate’s butler and best friend. This means that Nate is granted the power to see the Yo-kai, which are mischievous invisible beings from another dimension, that cause problems everyday.

In this volume, it is up to Nate and Whisper to summon the Yo-kai they have befriended to defeat the troublesome ones and save the day. There are tons of new Yo-kai to be stopped, such as Dazzabel, who makes people become obsessed with being fashionable, and Babblong, who makes people tell long and boring stories. This volume is filled with fun characters that everyone will love.

I really like how the show balances an adventurous aspect with humor. Throughout the show, both the mischievous Yo-kai and the main characters are constantly saying and doing funny things that will keep audiences laughing.

My favorite character is Whisper because he’s endearing and clever and is knowledgeable about all things Yo-kai, plus he is the trusted sidekick that everyone wants to have. Also, I enjoy how in each episode, there is a new Yo-kai to be defeated, each with its own personality and appearance, which keeps the show very entertaining and unique. You never know what is going to happen next. Visually, the show is very detailed with vivid anime style animation and has great character development, which really contributes to the episodes. Fans of anime will love the look of this show.

Yo-kai Watch: Season 1, Volume 2 has many quirky, funny and imaginative elements that make it enjoyable. It has great entertainment value.

I rate this DVD 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 12, but it is also perfect for the entire family. You can find it on digital DVD now so look for it.  

Yo-Kai Watch, Season 1, Volume 2
By Jennifer V, KIDS FIRST! Reviewer

The Yo-kai are invisible spirit-like entities that take many forms and are liable for your daily troubles. Nathan Adams (Nate), is a normal boy who one day receives the Yo-kai watch and is able to see the Yo-kai. These mischievous entities show up unexpectedly and you never know what is going to happen. This series has good production quality and the story lines flow well. It captures the audience’s attention with catchy music, bright colors and true-to-life adventure mixed with imaginative themes.

The series highlights the ability to problem-solve as Nate and his Yo-kai have to discover a way out of silly and chaotic situations. Some of the jokes are more grown up and the story lines are more suited for more mature kids. For example, the Yo-kai talk about being hot, as in attractive. An older child would enjoy this series due to its catchy theme songs and familiar story lines. The story-lines flow well, are easy to follow and draw you in. When Nate is overcome by handsomeness, his classmates respond as normal teenagers would and tell him that he is creeping them out. The material is accurate and is suitable for its target audience. The series uses vocabulary that is more suitable for teens with words such as narcissist and sketchy. It’s visually appealing with lots of bright colors, the music is catchy. The DVD cover design is appealing, showcasing the main characters and listing several of the episodes. The series is high in entertainment value and does invite the viewer to question, probe and problem-solve. For example, in The Legend of Dandoodle, Nate is overcome by handsomeness and his Yo-kai must find a way to help.

The message is to be careful what you wish for. Although the Yo-kai Watch allows you to see the Yo-kai, once they are in your life, things can be chaotic.  Yo-Kai Watch Season 1, Volume 2 is a highly entertaining DVD series, totaling 290 minutes of fantastical adventure. The menu offers the option to play all episodes or watch them individually. Each episode has a run time of 20-22 minutes of non-stop action. I recommend it for ages 12 to 18 and give it 4.5 out of 5 stars. This available now so, check it out.

Enjoy the second volume of the third season of The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That! The award-winning television show follows the adventures of 6-year-old best friends, Sally and Nick, as they’re whisked off on amazing voyages of scientific discovery with The Cat in the Hat. Thanks to the Thinga-ma-jigger and our friends, exploring has never been more exciting! In this volume set, kids will learn about their five senses, what it’s like to walk on clouds, why keeping it simple is sometimes the best solution, how to make things more aerodynamic, and much more! KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Katherine S. comments, “There are so many things to learn in The Cat in The Hat Knows a Lot About That! Season 3, Volume 2, like walking on clouds, staying balanced, being creative and more! All of the made-up words are so imaginative, like thingamajiger, jigamawhizzer, pedalmadoodle and dipsey-doodler. Martin Short has the perfect voice to play The Cat. My favorite episode is Enough is Enough because it shows how to be a helpful friend.” Selene W. adds, “I love The Cat in the Hat, because he always makes me laugh with his weird made-up jokes and words.  He also tries to fix things, but always ends up ruining things and creating more problems.” Beatrice N. wraps it up with, “The theme song is fun and catchy and tells about all the adventures they will have! The Cat in The Hat is voiced by the hilarious comedic actor Martin Short. The Cat in the Hat is always up for an adventure and can’t stop himself from making silly jokes.” See their full reviews below.

The Cat in The Hat Knows a Lot About That! Season 3, Volume 2
By Katherine Schell, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 11

The Cat in The Hat sure does know a lot about that.  I absolutely love The Cat in The Hat Knows a Lot About That! Season 3, Volume 2. It has such cute and adorable characters and really vibrant animation.

The Cat in The Hat Knows a Lot About That! Season 3, Volume 2 is about two best friends named Sally and Nick going on exciting adventures with the Cat in The Hat, Fish and, of course, Thing 1 and Thing 2.  There are 20 episodes covering nearly four hours and include Curious Minds, Bubble Trouble, Batteries Not Included and Cause and Effect. 

There are so many things to learn in The Cat in The Hat Knows a Lot About That! Season 3, Volume 2, like walking on clouds, staying balanced, being creative and more! All of the made-up words are so imaginative, like thingamajiger, jigamawhizzer, pedalmadoodle and dipsey-doodler. Martin Short has the perfect voice to play The Cat. My favorite episode is Enough is Enough because it shows how to be a helpful friend.

There are many positive messages throughout the DVD including teaching kids to be curious, the value of friendship, and that learning is fun. The Cat in The Hat Knows a Lot About That! Season 3, Volume 2 has no bad language and treats everyone appropriately.

I give this DVD 5 out of 5 stars.  I recommend this DVD for ages 3 to 8 and adults might also enjoy watching this with their kids. This DVD is currently available so look for it.

The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That! Season 3 Volume 2
By Selene W., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 11

Let’s go, go, go on an adventure with The Cat in the Hat  and friends!  Season 3, Volume 2 DVD which includes 20 episodes and almost 4 hours of learning and entertainment.  I love The Cat in the Hat, because he always makes me laugh with his weird made-up jokes and words.  He also tries to fix things, but always ends up ruining things and creating more problems.

This series focuses on scientific discovery and kids have so much fun watching the shows that they forget they are really learning a great deal about the world around us.  Stories include:  Snow Difference, Bubble Trouble, Good Vibrations and Curious Minds, which reflect the messages of the series.  My favorite episode is All Sorts of Things, which teaches that there are different ways to sort and categorize the things that belong to Nick, Sally and The Cat in the Hat. 

The Cat in the Hat Season 3, Volume 2 has many great actors and stars the one and only Martin Short who plays the role of the Cat, Alexa Torrington who voices Sally and Jacob Ewaniuk who plays the role of Nick. The animation, as always, are wacky and colorful under the guidance of Art Director Kay Pluto and I especially enjoyed the scenes in Bubble Trouble.  The original theme song by David Schweitzer is catchy and memorable.  You may watch this in both English and Spanish.

The message of this DVD is about problem solving in different ways and it promotes creativity and curious minds. I rate this DVD 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for kids ages 4 to 10. It is available now, so look for it.

The Cat in The Hat Knows a Lot About That! Season 3, Volume 2
By Beatrice N., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 9

It’s the Cat in the Hat! All of your favorite adventures start like that! Dr. Seuss’ most loveable Cat is back with his two friends, Sally and Nick. These two friends are only six years old, so of course they have many questions that only the Cat can answer by taking them to his imaginative worlds. And that’s just what he does in this new DVD, which has 20 exciting episodes, The Cat in the Hat Knows a lot About That! Season 3, Volume 2.

At the beginning of each episode Sally and Nick are playing with their friend Fish when they run into a problem. Whenever things look their bleakest the Cat pops up and tells them about a place they can visit that will help them solve their problem. You’re probably thinking the Cat can’t possibly help these two kids out of these tricky situations all on his own. You’re absolutely correct. In fact, he has two helpers: Thing One and Thing Two. Thing One and Thing Two are twin brothers and, even though they are silly and crazy, they are always a big help to the Cat. The Cat in the Hat Knows a lot About That is an educational show that teaches you something, while the Cat is trying to help Sally and Nick solve their problem, in each new episode.

The episodes always begin in Sally and Nick’s backyard, but once the Cat shows up in his plane, The Thingamajigger, who knows the places they will go! The theme song is fun and catchy and tells about all the adventures they will have! The Cat in The Hat is voiced by the hilarious comedic actor Martin Short. Sally is played by Alexa Torrington. Nick is played by Jacob Ewaniuk. The Fish is played by Rob Tinkler. The Cat in the Hat is always up for an adventure and can’t stop himself from making silly jokes. Fish is way too smart and sassy for his own good, and Sally is a little girl who is always ready to go as long as she has her BFF Nick, a fun-loving and witty boy, along for the ride.

The message of this show is to always use your imagination and it will get you out of any tricky situation. Be a child while you still can, always have fun and be ready for any adventure!

I give this DVD 4 out of 5 stars and recommended it for ages 2 to 9 years old. It is available on DVD now.

Get ready for the wildest ride of your life! Maurice may look like a penguin – but he’s a real tiger inside! Raised by a tigress, he’s the clumsiest Kung-Fu master ever. Along with his friends, The Jungle Bunch, he intends to maintain order and justice in the jungle, as his mother did before him. But when Igor, an evil koala, decides to destroy the jungle once and for all with the help of his army of silly baboons, Maurice faces his biggest challenge yet! Your family will go bananas for The Jungle Bunch, a fresh and funny adventure that’s full of laughs and memorable characters! KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Will C. comments, “The Jungle Bunch is a wacky animated movie with talking animals that doesn’t make a lot of sense, but still entertains. Based on a popular French kids’ series, this film has lots of action and some laughs. My favorite part of the movie is when an exploding mushroom captures the entire Jungle Bunch. In order to get out, they throw a pebble which starts a chain reaction to set them free.” Ivey H. adds, “This is a cute film about a group of animals, called the Jungle Bunch, that protect and watch out for the jungle. They put out forest fires, fight bad guys, save animals and help the community. I really enjoyed the bright colors and scenes from the jungle.” Elle S. wraps it up with, “The film draws me in for many reasons. It’s nice to see how each animal is portrayed by voice over, characteristics and challenges. Igor, the wicked koala, is small but forceful with throwing mushroom grenades that burst into big, bright fireworks exploding across the screen. I appreciate the teamwork between the animals.” See their full reviews below.

The Jungle Bunch
By Will C., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 10

The Jungle Bunch is a wacky animated movie with talking animals that doesn’t make a lot of sense, but still entertains. Based on a popular French kids’ series, this film has lots of action and some laughs.

The Jungle Bunch begins by introducing us to a civilized nation of animals where an evil koala tries to throw mushroom bombs at everyone. The Champs are saviors of the jungle –  a tiger, sloth, rhino and porcupine. The tiger raises a penguin as her own, which in turn raises a fish as his own child. Maurice the tiger-penguin joins up with a gorilla and a bat, among others, to save everyone from Igor the koala mastermind.

While the animation isn’t quite the level viewers are used to from Disney and Pixar, it’s still quite colorful and interesting to watch. The jungle setting is especially well done with convincingly animated tropical plants. The writers probably tried to squeeze too much plot into this film by including the origin story, but I was still able to follow it well enough. My favorite part of the movie is when an exploding mushroom captures the entire Jungle Bunch. In order to get out, they throw a pebble which starts a chain reaction to set them free.

The message of this film is that you should be kind and brave. I don’t want to give any spoilers, but there’s a sad ending for one character that might be upsetting for little kids. Parents should also know that there’s quite a bit of action with explosions and cartoon violence.

I rate this film 3 out of 5 stars and recommend it for children ages 5 to 8. It’s available now on DVD so, look for it.

The Jungle Bunch
By Ivey H., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 13

This is a cute film about a group of animals, called the Jungle Bunch, that protect and watch out for the jungle. They put out forest fires, fight bad guys, save animals and help the community. I really enjoyed the bright colors and scenes from the jungle.

The jungle bunch includes a penguin named Maurice, a gorilla named Miguel, Gilbert the Tarsier, Bat Batricia and a few other odd creatures. In this story, Maurice is the hero and leader of Jungle Bunch. He is a penguin that was raised by a tigress. He struggles with being the leader and trying to live up to the standards of his mother. The characters are well developed and funny. They make lot of contraptions and inventions to help save the jungle, including a butt cream for a bird’s bottom, which really cracked me up.

The villain in the story is the koala Igor. He wants to destroy the jungle, because he feels excluded from the bunch. He wants to take over and become the leader. The Jungle Bunch thinks he is too controlling. He plans to use mushrooms as explosives to blow up the jungle for revenge and payback. The Jungle Bunch must stop him from destroying their homes. Igor has a clock that is a crab as his alarm clock. He hits his crab’s claws together to make a tick tock sound.  This is a really funny part of the movie.

My favorite part is when they play the song “Eye of the Tiger” when Maurice is feeling down. This helps raise Maurice’s spirit to become confident and put his “tiger stripes” back on.  It is really cute when the fish and penguin want to be tigers and they paint themselves with stripes.

Maurice is voiced by Philippe Bozo. I like his voice and attitude. It’s perfect! The Gorilla is voiced by Pascal Casanova, who also portrays his character quite well. In fact, I’m quite fond of all the voice-over work in this film. I give director David Alaux credit for putting together such a terrific cast.

The moral of the story addresses the unlikely friendships between different species in the jungle who work together as a team and stick with each other during hard times, helping their community save their homes.

I give this DVD 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 3 to 15 as well as adults. It is available on DVD now, so look for it.

The Jungle Bunch
By Elle S., KIDS FIRST! Adult Juror

The Jungle Bunch is a movie of champions. “You don’t have to wear stripes in order to be strong like a tiger.” We follow the lives of different creatures, both heroic and evil, to see how they respond when devastation hits their habitat.

The battle is on between Natasha, the tiger and former leader of the champs. She stands for justice and equality and won’t stop protecting and serving her home. Igor, a wicked koala, wants revenge and power. He’s relentless when it comes to commanding all the animals of the jungle for his own benefit. They fight for the future of the jungle and who is in control is tested at ultimate lengths. Natacha has rescued and raised Maurice, a strong willed penguin with a tiger spirit. He follows in the footsteps of his mother as he teams with a group of animals to protect and serve.

This film offers positive outlooks when it comes to equality, problem solving and finding hope during hopeless situations. The overall production quality is great. The imagery and sound quality is sure to keep children engaged. Only a couple of scenes go on a little longer than needed. For the most part, the film maintains a positive flow.

Children that love animals, fireworks explosions, monkey butt jokes and rescue missions will absolutely enjoy this. It is recommended that you enjoy the film in its entirety as there is a special bonus clip that is sure to please. There are multiple scenes using freeze framing, bold bright animation and music that fit well with the flow of the film. The film takes place in a jungle, so I loved hearing the birds squawking, animals hooting and other sounds of nature.

The film draws me in for many reasons. It’s nice to see how each animal is portrayed by voice over, characteristics and challenges. Igor, the wicked koala, is small but forceful with throwing mushroom grenades that burst into big, bright fireworks exploding across the screen. I appreciate the teamwork between the animals.

There is a menu that offers the film to be played in its entirety or to select certain scenes. A trailer clip, audio, and subtitles are also available to select. The most impactful message I got from the film promotes equality and justice. I really enjoyed that Natasha, the tiger, loved and raised Maurice, a penguin like her own. That equality and unconditional love is passed down to Maurice when he raises his goldfish, Jr. The moral and love for the community doesn’t change regardless of the animal or upbringing. This is a positive message for audiences. The message is that you don’t have to have stripes in order to have the tiger spirit.

I rate this film 4 out of 5 stars for its wildness, comedy, production and impactful socially-positive messages throughout. I recommend it for ages 5 to 12. The content is appropriate and user friendly with its jokes and imagery. Reviewed by Elle S., KIDS FIRST! Juror.

Animated series based on the books by Vicki Wong and Michael C. Murphy. 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! KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Will C. comments, “The Octonauts Season 3 DVD Gift Set is a great choice for the preschooler in your life. Not only do you get almost 300 minutes of educational animated adventures on two discs, you also get some awesome toys so you can play along with the Octonauts. Little kids will love this set, and as a bonus, they will learn a lot while they watch and play.” Katherine S. adds, “The cool thing about Octonauts: Season 3 Gift Set is that it not only comes with the DVDs, it also comes with two small toy speeders. My favorite episode is The Harbor Seal because the harbor seal is such a fun character and he really helps out other animals.” Selene W. wraps it up with, “The storyline of each episode really brings these adventures to life thanks to the talented team of writers behind this series.  In addition, there is a creative team that brings the art and the storylines together to make each episode a learning adventure as well. The message of this series is to explore life and to rescue and protect the world around us and the things in it.  As we learn about different creatures and different environments we should be aware of how we interact and impact each other.” See their full reviews below.

The Octonauts: Season 3 Gift Set
By Will C., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 10

The Octonauts Season 3 DVD Gift Set is a great choice for the preschooler in your life. Not only do you get almost 300 minutes of educational animated adventures on two discs, you also get some awesome toys so you can play along with the Octonauts. Little kids will love this set, and as a bonus, they will learn a lot while they watch and play.

The Octonauts are back for a third season, ready to dive in and learn about creatures in the world’s oceans. They also help protect the animals’ habitats and rescue sea creatures when they need help. All your favorite characters return, like Captain Barnacles and Peso Penguin. They head out from their home base, the Octopod, to carry out their missions all around the globe. At the end of each episode, they sing a “creature report” song to summarize what they’ve learned.

You’ll learn about some common animals in Season 3, such as pelicans and seals, but also some more unusual creatures like water bears, also known as tardigrades. The Octonauts stick to singing “water bear” though, maybe because it’s hard to find a good rhyme for tardigrade! The animation and voice acting is just right to appeal to the target age range and I could definitely see my little cousins watching this over and over.

The message of this series is that you should be curious and bring your own unique skills to work together as a team. Preschoolers will take away not only lots of positive messages but also tons of new information.

I rate this series 4.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for children ages 2 to 5. The Octonauts: Season 3 is available on DVD August 6, 2019.

Octonauts: Season 3 Gift Set
By Katherine S., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 11

This DVD is so enjoyable! It has the cutest animation and best underwater adventures. If you’re a fan of the Octonauts, Season 3 will not disappoint you.  It has 23 awesome episodes.

The Octonauts are a group of animals that explore, rescue and protect.  They encounter a wide variety of animals, from sea pigs to barracudas.  They travel to different parts of the world including the Amazon River and the Mariana Trench.  Episodes include, The Water Bears, The Loggerhead Sea Turtles, The Duck-Billed Platypus, The Pelicans and many more.  The run time is almost 5 hours, so children will be entertained for a long time.

The cool thing about Octonauts: Season 3 Gift Set is that it not only comes with the DVDs, it also comes with two small toy speeders. My favorite episode is The Harbor Seal because the harbor seal is such a fun character and he really helps out other animals.

There are many positive messages throughout the episodes, including being kind to animals, always try to help and the importance of friendship. Octonauts: Season 3 has no bad language and it has no bad behavior. Everyone treats each other kindly. The only dangerous thing that kids might try to do is swim in the deepest part of the ocean.

I give this DVD 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 3 to 8. Adults will also think the DVD is fun and probably learn as much about different animals as their kids will. This DVD is available now, so look for it.

The Octonauts: Season 3
By Selene Weiss, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 11

“Let’s Do This!” The Octonauts is an incredibly fun and engaging show which teaches us about the world’s oceans and aquatic life.  The Octonauts team rescues sea creatures and protects the ocean and the life within.  The marine life that the team encounters are based on real animals and habitats around the world.  The Octonauts Season 3 has 23 exciting adventures filled with interesting creatures and underwater fun. 

The Octonauts team is made up of eight diverse characters led by Captain Barnacles whose motto is explore, rescue and protect.  My favorite episode is The Immortal Jellyfish because I love how he is able to transform from an old jellyfish to a new jellyfish over and over.  Who wouldn’t want an immortal life or the chance to relive an adventure?  Octonauts: Season 3 includes fun episodes such as The Artificial Reef, The Sea Skaters and The Urchin Invasion so come aboard with The Octonauts this season and explore.  

The storyline of each episode really brings these adventures to life thanks to the talented team of writers behind this series.  In addition, there is a creative team that brings the art and the storylines together to make each episode a learning adventure as well. The message of this series is to explore life and to rescue and protect the world around us and the things in it.  As we learn about different creatures and different environments we should be aware of how we interact and impact each other. 

I rate this series 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 4 to 7.  The DVD releases August 6, 2019 soon so look for it.