Bratz The Video – Starrin’ & Stylin’
Picture: C+
Sound: B- Extras: C+ Main Program: C+
There has been a running joke in the world of programming
for females about fashion obsessees being obnoxious, shallow, and
dead-ended. As a tie-in to the dolls
line, Bratz the toy series becomes the animated Bratz The Video. With the subtitle Starrin’ & Stylin’
(2004), it sounds like the first in a series of potential titles. Jade, Sashe, Yasman and Chloe are the name
of the quintet focused on and for a tie-in, it is nothing great, but surprises
by making the girls younger and much less abrasive than those fashion victims
of the animated Daria or the recent live-action Mean Girls.
It also makes them a bit smarter and nicer, thus, the toys
will be more appealing. All four are
Hip Hip/Funk fans, but the music is not hardcore or layed on so heavily as to
make this unwatchable. Some of it is
more Pop/Rock than anything else. As a
matter of fact, the reason it is kept to a minimum is because the creators again
do not want to distract from selling toys.
The “fashion four” have an assignment to do videos about themselves so
their teacher can learn more about them.
Though not great, this is not vulgar or harmless, so parents who want to
get this for their young ladies don’t have to worry much, but I would expect
the intended audience would get would get quickly bored. Starrin’ & Stylin’ is for fans
and preferably those who want or are getting the toys.
The image quality of the full screen, color animation is a
bit soft, but it not awful. Color range
is limited somewhat, but the 1.33 X 1 composition seems 16 X 9 widescreen TV
safe, though no anamorphically enhanced version of the 61-minutes-long show is
available. The Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
has some Pro Logic surrounds and is the best feature of the disc, though our
copy’s DVD case comes in a purse-like holder.
Other extras include a deleted scene from some other animated show they
are in, a Music Video, eight Karaoke/Jukebox selections, “bloopers” of some
sort, a Fashion Mall game, a Trivia Game, a “Love Horoscope” section, and a TV
spot that sells the toys as much as this entire DVD. It is pretty blatantly commercial DVD production, but Bratz
The Video - Starrin’ & Stylin’ is harmless for the most part, so you
know what you are getting.
- Nicholas Sheffo
