Granny Ranny's Coming Attractions

PBS KIDS and The Jim Henson Company today announced the release of the DINOSAUR TRAIN Eggspress App on the App Store, its newest educational game for the iPhone and iPod touch.  Based on the hit TV series DINOSAUR TRAIN, one of the top ten shows for kids ages 2 to 5, DINOSAUR TRAIN Eggspress guides preschool-age children through three prehistoric eras while promoting science and math skills through various exciting games.  DINOSAUR TRAIN Eggspress joins PBS KIDS’ suite of high-quality, innovative and educational apps, including SUPER WHY! and MARTHA SPEAKS Dog Party.

According to a recent Joan Ganz Cooney Center study, high quality, developmentally appropriate and engaging apps can have significant educational benefits for children, especially as more and more kids become familiar with mobile devices.  “This is our eighth PBS KIDS app for iOS devices, and each one combines entertainment to keep kids engaged with the educational value parents expect from us,” said Jason Seiken, senior vice president, Interactive, Product Development, and Innovation, PBS.

The DINOSAUR TRAIN Eggspress App is available from the App Store on iPhone and iPod touch or at www.itunes.com/appstore.

PBS also recently launched PBS for iPad, a free iPad® app for adults that features more than 300 videos, including full-length episodes, segments and previews, with new content updated daily.

About the DINOSAUR TRAIN Eggspress App

Based on the TV series Dinosaur Train featuring Buddy, an adorable preschool age Tyrannosaurus Rex, and his adoptive Pteranodon family, DINOSAUR TRAIN Eggspress challenges players to find, sort and match dinosaur eggs and then reunite dinosaur families while progressing through three different time periods. Players will discover real flora and fauna from the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous eras. Along the way, there will be learning moments as the app reveals mystery dinosaur hatchlings, real dinosaur facts and an adorable Dinosaur Baby Book.  The app is available on the App Store (http://to.pbs.org/dinoeggs) for the iPhone and iPod touch. For more information about PBS KIDS apps, visit PBSKIDS.org/mobile.

A DINOSAUR TRAIN Eggspress demo video can be found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvuSvMyqtLE and images can be found on PBS PressRoom.

The animated half-hour special The Gruffalo will make its US debut on ABC Family on Thursday, December 9, at 7:00 p.m. ET/PT as part of the network’s annual 25 Days of Christmas programming event. Based on Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s best selling children’s picture book, The Gruffalo features an all-star voice cast including Robbie Coltrane (Harry Potter film series) as the Gruffalo, Helena Bonham Carter (Alice in Wonderland) as the narrator, Rob Brydon (TV’s “Gavin & Stacey”) as the Snake, James Corden (TV’s “Gavin & Stacey”) as the Mouse, John Hurt (V for Vendetta) as the Owl, and Tom Wilkinson (Michael Clayton) as the Fox. Published in the US by Penguin Books®, The Gruffalo celebrated its tenth anniversary last year and has been translated into 40 different languages selling over 4 million copies worldwide.

The Gruffalo tells the magical tale of a mouse who takes a walk though the woods in search of a nut. Encountering three predators – all of whom wish to eat him – a fox, an owl and a snake – the plucky mouse has to use his wits to survive.  He announces that he is meeting a monster with terrible features, a ‘Gruffalo’, and the three predators are each panicked into running away.   The mouse is now increasingly confident that there is nothing that can touch him, or so he thinks. When he rounds a corner and comes face to face with the terrible creature of his imagination, the Gruffalo itself, the mouse has to dig deep to escape the danger and ultimately restore peace to the woods.

Produced by Magic Light Pictures, the 30-minute animation was completed in 2009 and premiered in the UK on BBC1 on Christmas Day. Axel Scheffler’s classic artwork is brought to life with a unique mixture of model and CGI animation. Michael Rose (Wallace & Gromit, Chicken Run) and Martin Pope (The Heart of Me, Lawless Heart) have produced through Magic Light Pictures. The film is directed by Jakob Schuh and Max Lang and was animated at the award winning Studio Soi in Ludwigsburg, Germany.  Sold and broadcast internationally, The Gruffalo was nominated for a BAFTA and has won numerous awards including the Prix Jeunesse and the Crystal for Best TV Special at Annecy Animation Festival.

Sam Connan, 12-year-old KIDS FIRST! Film Critic had this to say about the film:

I think that The Search for Santa Paws is a really wonderful Christmas movie; it really got me in the Christmas spirit. When you see the commercials you think, ‘oh, it’s a little kid movie,’ and the first few minutes would say that you’re right. However if you  get past those first few minutes you will see that a complex and touching plot unfolds before you that all ages could enjoy.

In The Search for Santa Paws, Paws the dog (voiced by Zachary Gordon) is a gift to Santa (Richard Riehle) from the recently deceased Mr. Hucklebuckle. Paws and Santa travel to New York City on a routine errand to visit all of the ambassadors to the North Pole just before Christmas. Little do they know that things are about to go horribly awry. Another main character is a little girl named Quinn (Kaitlyn Maher, recently seen on America’s Got Talent). Quinn was recently orphaned and is plunged into a situation that’s a lot like Orphan Annie with a Christmas theme. As can be expected of a Disney film there is a part where all seems lost, but don’t worry.

The first  musical number is very cheesy and I’d be embarrassed to sing it, but the rest of the music was very well done, especially a sweet little song that Quinn sings. The cinematography was pretty average, but the interior of the Hucklebuckle Toy Store was very well done; it looked very inviting and cozy. The special effects were superb; it really looked like the dogs and reindeer were talking. When the reindeer pulled the sleigh golden sparks burst from their hooves, and it really looked like the reindeer were pulling, not just gliding along. I liked both of these.

I rate this movie an eight out of ten stars, for comedy, and special effects. The only reason that I take away the two stars is because it wasn’t the most amazing movie. It’s not that it’s lacking anything, it’s just I don’t think it quite deserves a ten. My suggestion is go and buy it, rent it, borrow it from a friend, just get your hands on that movie by Christmas!   

Credit: Sam Connan, Age 12, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic

Walt Disney’s new animated feature Tangled takes the story of Rapunzel and gives her a proper make-over.  When Princess Rapulzel (Mandy Moore) is born with a head full of magical golden hair, an evil old  woman, Mother Gothel (Donna Murphy), steals the baby and locks her safely away in a hidden tower.  For 18 years, she raises the girl as her own, using the powers of Rapunzel’s magic hair as her personal fountain-of-youth.  Enter the handsome rogue, Flynn Ryder (Zachary Levi).  Fresh from stealing the crown jewels, he’s chased into the woods where he stumbles upon the fabled Tower and encounters the stir-crazy and persuasive Rapunzel and her impossibly long locks.  What follows is an adventure-filled trek where the unlikely couple must evade the law, the bad guys and Mother Gothel if they are going to discover romance, redemption and truth.

Tangled covers comfortable territory for Walt Disney Animation –  A beautiful, long-lost princess; a handsome young thief redeemed by love; a conniving, self-centered Mother figure; a family reunion and wedding…stop me if you’ve heard this one before.  But while the formula may leave you with that deja-vu feeling, the movie leaves you thoroughly entertained.  Complete with catchy tunes by the immensely talented Alan Menken, a laugh-out-loud funny script by Dan Fogelman (Cars; Bolt), and engaging performances by the vocal cast, there is a lot to enjoy here.  Particularly fun are the animal characters – a horse who thinks he’s a dog and a chameleon side-kick with a wicked tongue – and the gang of baddies turned goodies dubbed the Pub Thugs who, down deep, are just sensitive, frustrated artists.

The film is rated PG for sequences of cartoon violence – Rapunzel’s weapon of choice is a cast-iron frying pan which she uses with authority to protect herself.   Very young children might find Mother Gothel to be a slightly frightening character, especially when she meets her demise.  Otherwise, the film is suitable for all ages.  (My husband who generally dislikes musicals and my twin 7th graders – boys – all loved it, if that’s any indication!)  Reviewed for KIDS FIRST! by Cyndi Menegaz 
Tangled will be released in Disney 3D Digital on November 24.

Avatar. This almost three-hour epic is considered by many as the most beautiful movie ever produced thanks to its groundbreaking 3-D and graphics technology. Set in the far future, Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), travels to Pandora, a lush, jungle-covered extraterrestrial moon and home to a sentient humanoid race, the Na’vi. The 10-foot tall, blue-skinned Na’vi fight when a human corporation attempts to remove the indigenous people from their native lands. Human scientists create genetically-bred human-Na’vi hybrids known as Avatars to infiltrate the locals and discover their secrets. Jake participates in this program and encounters many dangers and beauties on Pandora as he scouts around. DVD. 162 min.; Ages 12-18. Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.

 Disney’s A Christmas Carol. When three ghosts take penny-pinching Scrooge on an eye-opening journey, he discovers the true meaning of Christmas – but he must act on it before it’s too late. Complete with spirited bonus features, this exhilarating and touching Disney classic is destined to be part of a family holiday tradition, adding sparkle and heart to all Christmases yet to come. DVD. 96 min.; Ages 5-12. Disney.

Wow! Wow! Wubbzy: Wubbzy: Fly Us to the Moon. Join Wubbzy as he blasts off on the ultimate outer space adventure! What happens when Wubbzy thinks aliens are coming to Wuzzleburg? Why is Widget building a huge television with 30 different screen? How far will friends go to wake up the Man In The Moon? It’s an all-new collection of way-out Wubbzy favorites featuring spacemen, superheroes, rocket racers and even a visit from the Tooth Fairy! DVD. 70 min.; Ages 2-5. Anchor Bay Entertainment.

Thomas & Friends™: Adventure Pack 4-DVD Set. Full steam ahead for friendship and fun with Thomas and his engine pals! This full series set has exclusive, heartwarming tales on the tracks filled with more adventures, and more lessons than ever before. Capture the spirit of Thomas as he learns to share his workload and experience exciting festivals and surprises in these episodes, including never before seen on TV footage exclusive to the DVDs. Hop on board and put on your conductor’s hat for this thrilling all-in-one-set with Thomas & Friends. DVD. 178 min.; Ages 2-5. Lionsgate Home Entertainment.

Toy Story 3 welcomes Woody (voice of Tom Hanks), Buzz (voice of Tim Allen) and gang back as Andy prepares to depart for college and his loyal toys find themselves in… day care! These untamed tots with their sticky little fingers do not play nice, so it’s all for one and one for all as plans for the great escape get underway. More than a few new faces—some plastic, some plush—join the adventure, including iconic swinging bachelor and Barbie’s counterpart Ken (voice of Michael Keaton), a thespian hedgehog named Mr. Pricklepants (voice of Timothy Dalton) and a pink, strawberry-scented teddy bear called Lots-o’-Huggin’ Bear (voice of Ned Beatty). Directed by Lee Unkrich (co-director of Toy Story 2 and Finding Nemo), produced by Pixar veteran Darla K. Anderson (Cars, Monsters, Inc.) and written by Academy Award®-winning screenwriter Michael Arndt (Little Miss Sunshine), Toy Story 3 is a comical new adventure! DVD. 103 min.; Ages 8-18. Disney Home Entertainment.

The Sound of Music 45th Anniversary Edition. Starring Oscar winner Julie Andrews in one of her most memorable roles, the film adaptation of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s musical follows Maria, a spirited young woman who leaves a convent and becomes a governess to seven unruly children. Her charm and songs soon win the hearts of the children and their father but when Nazi Germany unites with Austria, Maria is forced to attempt a daring escape with her new family. DVD. 175 min.; $34.99; Ages 5-18. Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls start your engines. You’re about to take an incredible ride with one of the most wonderful family films of all time! Now celebrating its 30th anniversary, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang has never looked or sounded better. Dick Van Dyke stars as eccentric inventor Caractacus Potts, who creates an extraordinary car called Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. It not only drives but also flies and floats as it leads him, his two children and his beautiful lady friend, Truly Scrumptious (Sally Ann Howes), into a magical world of pirates, castles and endless adventure. DVD. 145 min.; Ages 5-18. Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.

The Goonies (25th Anniversary Collector’s Edition). From the imagination of Steven Spielberg, The Goonies plunges a band of small heroes into a swashbuckling surprise-around-every corner quest beyond their wildest dreams! Following a mysterious treasure map into a spectacular underground realm of twisting passages, outrageous booby-traps and a long-lost pirate ship full of golden doubloons, the kids race to stay one step ahead of a family of bumbling bad guys…and a mild mannered monster with a face only a mother could love. Blu-ray. 114 min.; Ages 8-12. Warner Home Entertainment.

White Christmas (Two-Disc Holiday Edition). Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye are song-and-dance men who hook up, romantically and professionally, with a “sister” act (Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen) to put on a Big Show to benefit the struggling ski-resort lodge run by the beloved old retired general (Dean Jagger) of their WWII Army outfit. DVD. 120 min.; Ages 8-12. Paramount Home Video.

The Happy Elf. Based on the Grammy-winner Harry, Jr.’s original song, The Happy Elf will be sure to ring in the season with loads of holiday laughter. This delightful animated adventure is the story of Eubie, one of Santa’s helpers whose overly optimistic outlook is put to the test when he decides to bring Christmas joy to a sad little town called Bluesville. Will Eubie’s unbridled enthusiasm be too much for the town’s austere authority? Featuring the voice and brand-new holiday songs of Harry Connick, Jr. and the voice talents of Carol Kane, Lewis Black, Rob Paulsen and Mickey Rooney. Adult Juror Comments: Very encouraging. Happy Elf breaks the rules in order to do what is right for the townspeople, but it’s the only way to accomplish his goal. Good ending, especially when we learn that Bluesville changes its name. 45 min.; DVD. 45min.;Ages 5-12. Anchor Bay.

Families of Afghanistan. Meet Zamora, 13, who lives in the country with her parents, three sisters, two brothers and two uncles. An early riser, Zamora has chores to complete before breakfast, including tending to the cows and chickens.  She shows us how the homes in her village are built around a common courtyard to help protect them and their vegetable gardens from the elements.  At meals, she often helps feed her uncle, who lost his arms and eyesight to a land mine. She attends religion class, where she studies the Koran, and performs her daily prayers (five times a day). Twelve-year-old Madina lives in Kabul with her parents, two sisters, uncle and cousin. Unlike Zamora, who attends school in the afternoon, Madina’s classes are in the morning and include studies in math, science, language, history and sports. She also tutors another student twice a week in computers. After school and the midday meal she shares with her family, Madina helps with household chores like vacuuming and ironing, then enjoys an afternoon snowball fight before doing her homework, eating supper and playing games. DVD. 30 min.; Ages 5-12. Master Communications.