KIDS FIRST! News

Loki: Season 2 picks up in the aftermath of the shocking season finale when Loki finds himself in a battle for the soul of the Time Variance Authority. Along with Mobius, Hunter B-15 and a team of new and returning characters, Loki navigates an ever-expanding and increasingly dangerous multiverse in search of Sylvie, Judge Renslayer, Miss Minutes and the truth of what it means to possess free will and glorious purpose. 

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Eshaan M. comments, “Episode 5 of Loki: Season 2 is a unique, thrilling portrait of Loki rocketing through the multiverse, paying for his past mistakes; it offsets Marvel’s other tedious TV projects with action and vivacity. It didn’t disappoint my expectations, and I’m sure it won’t let down ardent Marvel fans, those binging the show, or others looking for an episode to catch on Disney+.” Tiana S. adds, “Loki: Season 2, Episode 3, 1893 is the climax episode that will keep viewers entertained. Filled with action, time travel, plot twists and dramatic irony, this is one of the most engaging episodes. Gavin S. wraps it up with, “I really enjoyed the new season of Loki because of the CGI, the acting, the time manipulation in the show and the messages in the show. This series is kid-friendly with some moderate violence and could also be of interest to adults as well.” See his full review below.

Loki, Season 2 Episode 5
By Eshaan M., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 17

Episode 5 of Loki: Season 2 is a unique, thrilling portrait of Loki rocketing through the multiverse, paying for his past mistakes; it offsets Marvel’s other tedious TV projects with action and vivacity. It didn’t disappoint my expectations, and I’m sure it won’t let down ardent Marvel fans, those binging the show, or others looking for an episode to catch on Disney+.

Loki: Season 2 picks up with Loki  (Tom Hiddleston) searching for the soul of the Time Variance Authority, an authority dedicated to preserving the Sacred Timeline. In Episode 5, he’s focused on using his almost-funny time-slipping abilities to get to all the people who were at the Time Variance Authority when wires were crossed. None of them recognize him, and Loki can’t stop slipping into new times and locations. For example, he sees Mobius (Owen Wilson) selling jet skis as a middle-aged dad in Cleveland, Ohio, in 2022. The God of Mischief assembles a team and tries to earn their trust. Perhaps it’s because I was entering this episode blind, but the plot seems extremely complex for the first half of the episode as I pieced things together; luckily, things were much easier to understand after establishing some context.

In Season 2, the stakes are elevated, and the writing is super strong; I was glued to the screen throughout the 45-minute Episode 5. The visual effects are very realistic, as are the practical sets — the color-correction across timelines differs, but it adds to the aesthetic of each character whom Loki is trying to find. The cinematography is wonderful, with lots of close-ups and medium shots to capture Tom Hiddleston’s emotions, along with those of the other characters. Mentioning the cast, all skillfully carry the complex plot, which could have become overwhelming. Tom Hiddleston is one of my favorite actors – the lovable yet full-of-himself Norse god Loki. Ke Huy Quan as OB, the techie trying to help Loki, is another favorite I didn’t expect; his earnest effort to help and bumbling personality go together wonderfully. Owen Wilson as Mobius adds a wonderful comedic tint to the episode, with physical comedy (miming that he’ll call the police on Loki when he first arrives), zingers, and more subtle lines (He remarks with a bewildered expression that when Loki time-slips, “it looks like you’re being born, or dying – or both at the same time.”). Overall, a wonderful package.

This episode of the show promotes teamwork and taking responsibility to solve problems when they arise. Loki may be the God of Mischief, but he takes a remarkable amount of accountability to restore the TVA and works with every character across timelines. Loki’s time-slipping can feel a little bit like a jump scare, with his face and body contorting and some demonic noises accompanying it, so parents with young children might want to tell them to brace themselves.

Loki: Season 2, Episode 5 gets 5 out of 5 stars and I recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. Loki Season 2 is playing exclusively on Disney+ now, with new episodes weekly.

Loki: Season 2, Episode 3, 1893
By Tiana S., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 13

Loki: Season 2, Episode 3, 1893 is the climax episode that will keep viewers entertained. Filled with action, time travel, plot twists and dramatic irony, this is one of the most engaging episodes.

This episode continues Loki’s (Tom Hiddleston) journey at the TVA with Mobius (Owen Wilson), but it travels back in time to visit another variant of “He Who Remains,” named Victor Timely (Jonathan Majors) in 1893, who, after being given a TVA notebook by Ravonna (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) and the rouge cartoon clock, Miss Minutes (Tara Strong), proceeds to work on various invention prototypes. This leads to a feud between the many teams in a battle of their wants and needs from this new “He Who Remains” variant. You’ll have to watch to see how the story unfolds.

I love seeing Jonathan Majors as the “He Who Remains” variant. His character’s stutter is realistic, adds depth to his role while he gives an incredible performance. It is hard for me to even believe it’s him. The costumes are also amazing. When the present-day characters travel to 1893 their outfits change to reflect the new era.

The special effects of characters like Miss Minutes’ and Loki’s powers are mind-blowing. Keep in mind this episode is pretty lengthy, but it doesn’t feel like it, at all. It’s incredible how the writers can stray from a typical Loki storyline and still make it engaging and entertaining. Music also plays a big part in this show, especially in relation to the different time periods and the action scenes. And keeping with the time travel, even the regular Marvel intro is updated with the sounds of classic piano tunes, which is really creative!

This episode touches on believing in yourself, finding where you belong, and trusting in others. This episode shows many examples of these messages from Victor Timely presenting all his new ideas to the times when evil strikes and betrayal occurs. The only scene that is somewhat inappropriate is one where Miss Minutes tries to flirt with Mr. Timely.

Loki: Season 2, Episode 3,1893 gets 5 out of 5 stars from me and I recommend it for ages 12 to 18. You can watch it on Disney+ now and new episodes release every Thursday.

Loki Season 2, Episode 4
By Gavin S., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 12

Loki Season 2, Episode 4 is a new fun, adventurous and action-packed experience for those who have already seen the first season as well as those who are just beginning to watch the show. I really enjoyed the new season of Loki because of the CGI, the acting, the time manipulation in the show and the messages in the show. This series is kid-friendly with some moderate violence and could also be of interest to adults as well.

The storyline follows the mercurial villain, Loki (Tom Hiddleston). Along with Mobius (Owen Wilson), Sylvie (Sophia Di Martino) and a team of new and returning characters, Loki tries to stop the temporal loom from exploding and destroying not only the TVA (Time Variance Authority), but also a big fraction of the quantum realm with it. Throughout his journey he makes new friends and meets new enemies. Once he and his team begin their mission to prevent the explosion of the temporal loom, something horrible happens, something so horrible that it would change their lives forever.

This new episode is phenomenal, and I enjoyed it a lot, primarily because of the CGI. The CGI makes everything like space debris and the particles flying around in the quantum realm look so realistic. Another thing I really enjoyed about this episode is the acting. The cast play their roles so well and put on terrific performances. Additionally, the time manipulation is absolutely mind blowing. In one scene we see Loki talking to Sylvie, and when Sylvie goes to the next floor, she sees present day Loki zapping another Loki from a different timeframe. This scene is the icing on the cake for me. I like how this show is kid-friendly but can easily interest some adults as well. 

Although there are many messages this series portrays, the one that I really like and rings very true to life is that the most valuable thing a person can spend is time, whether it’s time with family, time at work, or time alone. Be forewarned that it does contain moderate violence, some cursing, and some alcohol use.

Loki Season 2, Episode 4 gets 5 out of 5 stars and I recommend it for ages 8 to 18, plus adults. It is available now on Disney+ so be sure to check it out. See ya!

In his larger-than-life curio cabinet, the Seeker is convinced that there exists a hidden, invisible world – a place where the craziest ideas and the grandest dreams lie waiting. A collection of otherworldly characters suddenly steps into his makeshift mechanical world. When the outlandish, benevolent characters turn his world upside down with a touch of poetry and humor in an attempt to ignite the Seeker’s imagination, his curios jump to life one by one before his very eyes. What if by engaging our imagination and opening our minds we could unlock the door to a world of wonders?

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Ava C. comments, “This is no ordinary circus! I really like how engaging the performers are with the audience… The show reminds me of a stage play where the characters tell a story, but it’s done through acrobatic movements.” See her full review below.

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Cirque Du Soleil Kurios
By Ava C., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 13

This is no ordinary circus! I had a wonderful time at Cirque du Soleil Kurios! I really like how engaging the performers are with the audience and that there are no live animals in the show. The show reminds me of a stage play where the characters tell a story, but it’s done through acrobatic movements.

The storyline of the show follows an inventor called the Seeker who believes there is an invisible world and invents machines that travel through time and space, allowing characters from other worlds to interact with him. Throughout the show, there are many strange, but unique characters that appear.

Cirque du Soleil Kurios is unique, entertaining and full of jaw-dropping moments. I love how the performers tell a story using little or no words. There are times when it’s difficult to follow exactly what is going on, but the performers always maintain their character. At one point, there was what appeared to be a technical malfunction with one of the acts, but it was barely noticeable. Otherwise, the show is amazing; unlike anything I have ever seen. The costumes and acts are mind-blowing. You can tell that the performers have spent plenty of hours training and practicing for this show. Their performances are all excellent; they definitely give their all.

The show is just 100 minutes long (with a 25 minute intermission) and the performers maintain their high energy for the entire show. The sound system is great; it carries throughout the whole tent. One thing I did notice is that it seems that the performers tend to favor the audience to the left and center of stage; therefore, the audiences sitting on the right side of the tent see mostly the performers’ backs or sides. However, that does not detract from this excellent production.

The message of show is about how powerful science and the imagination is. If you can think, you can achieve it.

I give Cirque Du Soleil Kurios 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to18, plus adults. You can find it in Atlanta from Oct 6 through Dec 24, 2022. For more information visit https://www.cirquedusoleil.com/kurios

Children’s and Family Entertainment mega-hit maker and producer Kenn Viselman, known for some of the most ground-breaking and successful children’s TV series of all time (Thomas the Tank Engine, Teletubbies & more), is mad as hell and can’t take it anymore. Now he needs YOUR help, through a new GoFundME campaign, to establish The Most Comprehensive Climate Education Initiative EVER in the US, with plans to extend around the world.

Whether or not you personally believe in Climate Change, our children are gravely concerned about it. According to a recent study by Bath University, 84% of kids worldwide are “worried” to “extremely worried” about climate change and fear that the world will not be here when they grow up.

Viselman is executive producing the incredibly timely and imperative new children’s series, MeteoHeroes, the definitive series about Climate Education, already airing in 145 countries. 

The MeteoHeroes are a group of pint-sized superheroes, each of whom represents the seven continents and different natural elements. Working in tandem to fight climate change disasters, our fearless heroes go to battle using their unique superhuman abilities to save our planet. With humor and respect for its audience, the MeteoHeroes make the viewer part of the solution to the devastation they are seeing around them.

Even with the award-winning MeteoHeroes’ Special airing on PBS stations and record-breaking ratings around the globe Viselman has been unable to get anyone in government to act on the issue of climate education, no matter how loudly he yelled from the rooftops… “Our kids are freaking out… Our kids are freaking out!” FED UP WITH GOVERNMENT INACTION THEY LAUNCH A GOFUNDME CAMPAIGN

WHY START THIS GOFUNDME?

This Climate Education Initiative helps children feel hopeful and realize that they have the power to change the world… with a global message to kids – “you don’t need to wear a cape to be a superhero.”  Because EVERY child in America and around the world is entitled to climate education.

Knowing that Governor Newsom was a huge supporter of climate education for America’s youth, Viselman’s team arranged with officials in San Bernardino for funding to be included in the most recent California fiscal budget and was devastated to learn that the line item had been secretly and anonymously eliminated by someone who he believes is in Newsom’s administration and was either to undermine the governor or because they were clandestinely a climate denier.

Knowing the urgency of the situation as children are continuing to suffer and that it could take as much as another year to get the line item reinstated, Viselman felt he had no choice but to act now.

WHAT DOES THIS INITIATIVE INCLUDE?

This initiative, the largest of its kind, will include in-school, age graded educational materials for children 4 to10 years old, onscreen education with online educational materials for children and their families, plus broad community outreach and more.

WHAT COMPANIES ARE COMMITTED TO THE INITIATIVE?

Frustrated as “heck,” Viselman had enough and recruited Coalition for Quality Children’s Media / KIDS FIRST! to be the fiduciary of the GoFundMe campaign. Along with KIDS FIRST! The following companies have already committed to bringing this climate education initiative to all corners of the earth.

The itsy bitsy Entertainment Company’s producing partner, Mondo TV Studios S.A., one of the largest producers of animation in Europe, and Luigi Latini’s Meteo Experts, a global team of renowned meteorologists who have been studying the climate since 1995, together with Adventure 2 Learning, the educational platform created and curated to support active learning in pre-K through 8th grade, will put this climate education initiative into 30,000 schools across the country with an age-graded curriculum for kids ages 4 to 10. This alone will impact 15,000,000+ US students and millions more in at least the twenty other countries A2L services across the globe.  

KVIE PBS will be the “presenting station” and is working with many PBS stations across the country for them to broadcast and/or stream MeteoHeroes in conjunction with an original companion series, Real Superheroes Don’t Wear Capes, to be produced in cooperation with KIDS FIRST! The initiative will implement both on-screen and online educational materials, and create opportunities for PBS stations to be active partners in their communities.

Wherever MeteoHeroes is watched, Viselman and Mondo TV Studios S.A. will offer elements of this education initiative. The age-graded curriculum will be available to any media partner of the series, to be shared with their audiences, both broadcast and on-line.

THE TIMELINE FOR THE INITIATIVE

The team behind this initiative are committed to starting work on the various elements as soon as funding becomes available. The campaign will start immediately and initial funds will be used for the development of age-graded curriculum materials and other production costs. The plan is for Adventure 2 Learning to have access to distribute MeteoHeroes in the 2022-23 school years.

WHERE DO THE DONATIONS GO?

The campaign goal is to raise 10 million dollars. All donations, whether $10 or $10,000 go to KIDS FIRST!, are tax deductible and extremely meaningful.  And for every donation, regardless of the amount, MeteoHeroes will plant a tree in honor of the donation in one of the MeteoHeroes’ forest across the globe.

Viselman’s hope is to use the power of storytelling to change the world… with your help that dream will become reality.  If we don’t help our children…  who will? Learn more directly from Kenn Viselman https://youtu.be/Qg9vinKDNBI

KIDS FIRST! – KIDS FIRST! is a project of the 31-year-old non-profit (501-c-3) Coalition for Quality Children’s Media that evaluates, rates and endorses children’s feature films, digital media, audio recordings and television shows. KIDS FIRST!’s goal is to empower children to make wise media choices and to promote quality media products that enrich their lives. The KIDS FIRST! stamp of approval assures you the programming contains no gratuitous violence, no inappropriate sexual behavior, and no bias in terms of race, gender, culture or religion. For more information, please visit: www.kidsfirst.org

About Adventure 2 Learning – Adventure 2 Learning believes that every meaningful learning experience is an adventure. The educational platform offers a rich selection of video-centered resources, specially created and curated to support active learning in pre-kindergarten through 8th grade. Adventure 2 Learning’s programs are used in over 30,000 schools, providing educational experiences that are engaging, impactful, and fun. For more information, visit https://www.adventure2learning.com/.

About Mondo TV Studios – Mondo TV Studios is part of the Mondo TV Group, a leading European company in the production and distribution of audio-visual content. Mondo TV Studios operates in Spain, Italy, Portugal, Latin America and the Spanish-speaking markets of the United States. Mondo TV Studios’ animation services range from animation for children and fiction for adolescents, families and adults, to forays into new segments such as video games.  Mondo TV Studios is a company that has been listed on the BME Growth Market since 2016 under the ticker MONI. For information: www.mondotvstudios.com

About The itsy bitsy Entertainment Company – With over 25 Billion dollars in commercial success, Kenn Viselman’s itsy bitsy Entertainment, is one of the world’s most successful and admired independent children’s entertainment companies. Committed to changing the world through storytelling, his brands have become wildly efficacious both on and off the screen including award winning television series as well as top-selling toys, books, videos, clothing and numerous other ancillary products. TibECo is committed to engaging, entertaining, enlightening wonderfilled family entertainment both on and off the screen which emphasize the message of empathy and LOVE. itsy bitsy Entertainment… works for Families! ™

Recently KIDS FIRST! Film Critics had the opportunity to chat with the team at Air Bud Entertainment to learn more about the Air Bud Entertainment Collectible NFTs. As long time fans of the Air Bud Entertainment films, we were excited to learn more about this expansion into the word of NFTs.

When interviewing Air Bud Entertainment’s Robert Vince (CEO), Eric Vince (VP Business Development) and Anna McRoberts (President) we learned that the focus of these collectibles is to give the owner exclusive access to the Air Bud a community and how each one features a package of unique and exclusive content, including limited-edition video content, interactive games and physical merchandise.   Most importantly, the content and characters celebrate important themes such as friendship, teamwork and family, and, as part of the Air Bud community, members are connected to a group of like-minded parents and kids who share these values — and who want to collect and engage with Air Bud Entertainment content together.

Take a look at the interviews below by our KIDS FIRST! Film Critics with Air Bud’s C-Suite executives who talked about things you are probably curious about as well. And, just because our KIDS FIRST! Followers are so awesome, ABE is offering our followers $5 off on their first purchase. Use this code for the discount: ABKids5. The offer ends July 1, 2022.

Eshaan M., Samantha P. and Zoe C. interview Robert and Eric Vince about Air Bud Entertainment’s NFT launch. Questions include:

• What am I really getting when I get an NFT?
• How does the process of building a collection of NFT’s work?
• What’s the connection between NFTs and cryptocurrency?

Ashleigh C., Katie F. and Calee N. interview Robert and Eric Vince about Air Bud Entertainment’s NFT launch. Questions include:

• Can you explain what an NFT is?
• What was the beginning thought process of creating an Air Bud NFT?
• Are NFTs the future of art and collectables?

What comes first? The initial NFT comes from the immersive new Genesis collection and features a collectible coin from ABE’s newest series Super PupZ, plus a Zeta video. For a limited time, this NFT includes a free air drop of one of the Super PupZ trading cards. Super PupZ is streaming now on Netflix. More information at: https://nft.airbud.com

Let’s look at two more interviews by our
KIDS FIRST! Film Critics.

Heather S. and Ethan P. interview Anna McRoberts & Eric Vince about Air Bud Entertainment’s NFT launch. Questions include:

• NFTs have become so popular; even younger kids know about them. What advice do you have for future young collectors?

• When will the Air Bud NFTs be available for the public?
• How has your life been different after collecting NFTs yourself?

Enjoy Tiana S., Dominic D. and Keila V’s. interview with Anna McRoberts and Eric Vince about Air Bud Entertainment’s NFT launch. Questions include:

• Why did you choose to promote this show using NFT’s?
• I want to be able to learn as much as possible about this technology. Will there be ways for us to communicate and share ideas catered to our interests regarding the Air Bud NFTs?
• Why did you pick NFTs as a way to turn your fan base into a more interactive and connected community and how will Air Bud Entertainment look at the success of this NFT project after the upcoming launch?

Some things to know:

• When you join the ABE Collectibles community, you will receive the original NFT token, free NFTs and more. It’s an ongoing community where collecting is made easy as there is no requirement to own cryptocurrency.
• You do not need to use cryptocurrency for ABE Collectibles. They have partnered with Shopify where you can purchase a membership and NFTs using the most conventional payment methods like credit cards, Apple Pay, and similar.
• NFTs are assets that you own. You can keep, trade or sell them on the ABE Collectibles website with other community members all around the globe. The secondary trading will begin in 90 days.
• The Air Bud Entertainment (ABE) community is a closed, safe, exclusive community. This means the community website is the only place where you can view and purchase their exclusive content. When you log onto NFT.AirBud.com, you are guaranteed not to be redirected to any other website.
• New NFTs will be dropped weekly from the extensive ABE library of 22 movies and four series with hundreds of unique characters. A new portal will be opened every 60 to 90 days — the first from the new family Netflix series Super PupZ followed by Pup Academy. Each portal will have its own unique world offerings of branded content to own. The ABE community can keep or trade on NFT.AirBud.com.

Our last two groups might touch on some questions that you haven’t had answered yet. Take a look:

Enjoy Nathalia J., Mars R. and Sariah R.’s interview with Anna McRoberts & Eric Vince about Air Bud Entertainment’s NFT launch. Questions include:

• What are the hopes you have with introducing kids to the world of Non-Transferable Tokens (NFTs)?
• How did your team come up with the design for the NFTs and who designed it? 
• For fans of the Super Buddies and Super PupZ, what can we expect to see in the future from Air Bud Entertainment and how will that be reflected in future releases of NFTs?

Benjamin P., Anna Clara B. and Carlee S. interview Anna McRoberts & Eric Vince about Air Bud Entertainment’s NFTs.

• So you think these NFTs can be enjoyed by the whole family?
• Why do NFTs feel right for Air Bud?
• Can you talk about the different Key Pillars of Air Bud Entertainment collectibles and why you chose them?

As you know, KIDS FIRST! Film Festival co-hosts film festival with a group of wonderful venues and organizations nation- and worldwide. Next up is an exciting, first time festival in partnership with the DADvocacy Consulting group– the first annual KIDS FIRST! Daddying Film Festival. This festival offers a celebration of films that honor a child’s relationship with their father or father figure.

Featured are a collection of student films from elementary through university students with the theme: “A Letter to My Father/Father Figure.” Additionally there is a collection of outstanding films from independent and foreign filmmakers. These short films illustrate how being a dad or father figure is not just who you are, it’s what you do.

Remember to Vote – Audience Voting Determine Our Final Winners!

This year’s festival will be entirely virtual, taking place online at: https://kidsfirstdaddyingff.eventive.org/welcome

All the films that have been accepted will be shown at the festival, but there will be a competition for the winners in five different categories: best elementary student film, best middle school student film, best high school student film, best university student film, best independent film. The finalists in each of those categories will be highlighted and the audience vote will determine the winners.

Announcing the 2022 KFDFF Award Finalists

Finalists in all five categories have been selected by a panel of professionals from the entertainment industry, arts and academia. The 36 films featured at the festival have been submitted by filmmakers from 17 countries including Iceland, India, Israel, Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, Singapore, Taiwan, Argentina and the United States.

The Finalists Are!

Elementary School (grades 1 through 4) student

• My Dad Anthony Fleg by Shandíín E Fleg, age 7
• Wicked Witch by Virginia Adams, 10

Middle School (grades 5 through 8) students

• A Letter to My Dad by Brock Brenner, age 11
• I Scream by Marino, 13, San Domenico School Film program
• P.S. I Love You by Kaari Sholeen Tabor, 13
• He Teaches Me by Bah’Hozhooni N. Fleg, 11
• The Good Dad by Felice, 14, San Domenico School Film program

High School (grades 9 through 12) students

• Hey Dad, It’s Me by Leela Malladi, age 18
• Walk With Me by Yohan Hong, 17, and Joaquin Foster, 16, San Domenico School Film program
• Delhi Days by Eshaan Mani, 16

College Undergraduate students

• PATER et FILIO by Pablo De Estrada, age 28
• My Father’s Son by Kyle Davison, 24

Independent/Non-Student Filmmakers (eligible for “Best Film” and “Best Short Film” Awards)

• Red Balloon by Avi Federgreen, Canada
• My Other Son (Mi Otro Hijo) by Gustavo Alonso, Argentina
• Dad for Hire by Aaron Scully, Australia
• Jack and the Treehouse by Jim Schneider, USA
• Mara Poppa Superhero (My Father Superhero) by Darshan Ashwin Trivedi, India
• How the Titanic Became My Lifeboat by Bjarney Ludviksdottir, Iceland
• Rainbow Stories – Peter, Mark, James and Einstein by Adam Bailey, United Kingdom
• Make It Count by Romeo Jennison, USA
• Christmas Summer by Ignacio Borderes, Argentina

Tickets are Free!

Reserve your all festival pass here: https://kidsfirstdaddyingff.eventive.org/welcome

View complete list of selected films here: https://kidsfirstdaddyingff.eventive.org/films