Hi-5 – Volumes 1 – 3 (Children/Educational)
Picture: C+
Sound: C+ Extras: C- Episodes: B-
A recent show that tries to cross being physically active
with learning is Hi-5, offering five singing stars (Jenn, Kimee, Curtis,
Karla and Shaun) who wear headsets as they launch each show and cover a
different topic. For the first three
DVD volumes, we have:
Color Craze covering Animals, Nature,
Favorites & Feelings
Music Magic covers Instruments, Styles,
Music & Movement
Game Time covers Outside, Rainy Day,
Fantasy
Though we have seen this kind of thing done better on the
classic New Zoo Revue (reviewed elsewhere on this site), this attempt to
do a hip variant is not unsuccessful, though the music is not as memorable as
the best programming in its category.
However, it is at least trying to reach it children with something
valuable and good, something about 90% of programming for the same audience
could care less about these days. The
five performers deserve credit for doing things that would be otherwise
embarrassing for most to do.
The show is shot on 1.33 x 1 videotape and has snippets of
animation, but most of the shows are on sets and occasionally with puppets
among its many props. Though we
recommend this show, it is to a limited, and very young audience, so parents
who have an optional section to go to in the DVD menu to see how they can use
this series as a teaching tool. The
Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo has no surrounds whatsoever.
Other extras on all three DVDs include alternate ways to
reach the three main programs with three pieces with each star, three “story
time” segments, then legitimate sing along and karaoke section. There are also previews for the other two
volumes on each DVD and seven additional previews on each for other MGM Kids-label
titles, including Hamilton Mattress, Stellaluna, Miss Spider’s
Sunny Patch Kids, and Hello Kitty (also reviewed on this site). So though they remind me too much of the
recently fallen boy bands, the performers of Hi-5 are ambitious enough
that they offer something productive enough to justify trying out any single
volume. If you like it, get the others,
if not, move on.
- Nicholas Sheffo
