| ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. | |
| PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. | |
| OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. | |
| NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Parents need to know that this cheerful, engaging special based on the popular Wonder Pets show on Nick Jr. teaches young kids about teamwork in a catchy operetta format. Classroom pets band together with pluck, humor, and imagination to save an imperiled baby blowfish. Soon after the Wonder Pets themselves are in danger, but it's never too scary for even the smallest viewers.
In SAVE THE WONDER PETS, a musical special based on the TV show, Linny the guinea pig (voiced by Sofie Zamchick), Tuck the turtle (Teala Dunn), and Ming-Ming the chick (Danica Lee) respond to a call to save a baby blowfish in distress. Soon they themselves are in peril, as a gently gliding whale inhales them along with the rest of his food. Along the way, they demonstrate their trademark good cheer and a belief that teamwork can overcome anything.
Wonder Pets is surely the first TV show for preschoolers that is performed entirely in operetta, where the music is recorded with a live orchestra and much of the dialogue is sung. Very sensitive children might be alarmed by the situation that the Wonder Pets find themselves in, but the episode is handled so lightly and optimistically that they might not even notice. It's sweet to see the mini-trio of marine fans who help the self-rescue along.
Two- to 4-year-olds are sure to find the story, the rich and textured animation, and the singing captivating. The action moves along at a nice pace and the songs are sweet but not cloying -- bearable for parents who will be asked to play the DVD over and over again.
Families can talk about how the Wonder Pets work together to save their animal friends. What did each friend contribute to the rescue?
Parents can also talk about the pets that children may have in their
preschool classrooms or at home. If these animals had superpowers, what do you think they would be? If they could sing, what do you think they would sound like?
What did
Linny, Tuck, and Ming-Ming find out when they worried that the animals
they had saved in the past might forget them?
| Studio: | Nick Jr. |
| Director: | Jennifer Oxley |
| Cast: | Danica Lee, Sofie Zamchick, Teala Dunn |
| Genre: | Family and Kids |
| Run time: | 98 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | April 19, 2007 |
| DVD release date: | April 19, 2007 |
| MPAA rating: | NR |