The 2006 Walt Disney World’s Playhouse Disney in Concert series introduced me to the Imagination Movers, an up and coming band. The four men dancing around the stage singing about the joys of picking up toys to keep their rooms clean brought to mind visions of what could’ve happened if the Monkees were teamed with Mister Rogers. The Movers themselves, a group of dad from New Orleans describe the act as the answer to what would happen if the Beastie Boys met Mister Rogers.
Their energy was infectious and the comedic play off each other was an additional delight so I was thrilled to learn they would be regularly featured on Playhouse Disney and have now released four episode DVD. Each episode features Rich, Scott, Dave and Smitty in Idea Warehouse as they solve “idea emergencies” and offers several new songs with each story.
Along with their friends the bubbly Nina and adorable sidekick Warehouse Mouse the Movers illustrate the value of the imagination as they brainstorm various ways to solve the problem, test out these ideas and ultimately work together to successfully solve the idea emergency. With songs such as “Do It By Myself”, “Where Am I Now?”, and “Fix it Up”, The Imagination Movers invite you to dance and sing along as they “Reach high, think big, work hard and have fun!”
Although geared towards the preschool set, I enjoy the fun and music of the Movers among my favorite tunes are their swing-inspired “Brainstorming” that plays whenever the Movers put their heads together for a solution. And its hard to stay still during the episodes’ closing song celebrating another successful remedy.
Fans of the Movers should be aware that the storyline descriptions on the DVD case are inaccurate as this collection does not include the episodes “Bad Hair Day,” “The Un-Party” or “Hiccups.” The four episodes featured on Imagination Movers Warehouse Mouse Edition DVD are “Bucket of Trouble” where the Movers help Rich who get stuck in a bucket, “The Tooth Hurts” where the Movers encourage Warehouse Mouse to visit the dentist when he gets a toothache, “Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Mouse?” where the Movers help their TV repairman overcome his fear of Warehouse Mouse and “Finders Keypers” where the Movers help their neighbor Knit Knots find his lost keys.
The DVD also includes a bonus sneak peek at Disney’s Special Agent Oso featuring the voice talent of Sean Astin. In “Goldfeather” Oso must create a birdfeeder before winter sets in and learn how to use a zip line and in “Live and Let Ride” Oso must put in the computer code for a rocket launch and help Emma find the bus stop so she won’t be late for school.
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse comes to DVD with MICKEY MOUSE CLUBHOUSE: MICKEY’S BIG SPLASH featuring four episodes of the top ranked kids program* as well as an additional feature starring the show’s “Sensational Six” – Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Pluto, Donald and Daisy.
The fun begins when you join Mickey in calling out the magic words “Meeska Mooska Mickey Mouse” that bring the magical clubhouse into view. In each episode Mickey and his friends complete a series of tasks with the assistance of Toodles who provides the group with helpful mouseketools. Once the problems have been solved everyone is invited to sing and dance along with Mickey and the Gang to the celebration song “Hot Dog” written by They Might Be Giants who also wrote the show’s main theme.
MICKEY MOUSE CLUBHOUSE: MICKEY’S BIG SPLASH includes previously televised episodes Pluto’s Bubble Bath, Mickey Goes Fishing, and Pete’s Beach Blanket Luau as well as the all-new Donald’s Ducks. In Donald’s Ducks – Donald and the gang help a group of 8 ducks make their way to the warm beach to avoid the cold of winter. Throughout the adventure Mickey and friends viewers will count to 8, help Donald feed the ducks through pantomime, learn various shapes as Donald and Mickey encourage the 8 ducks to fly formation and even learn some basic subtraction as a few of the ducks briefly go missing.
Donald’s Ducks held my 4-month old’s attention long enough to let me file his nails, always a challenge for a new mom [Ed Note: Click here to view a click from Donald’s Duck]. He was entranced by the show’s bright primary colors, the music and various sounds found throughout this episode. It’s great to have new Mickey Mouse shows to share with him when he gets older.
MICKEY MOUSE CLUBHOUSE: MICKEY’S BIG SPLASH also features a Luau Party Planner dvd game. Using the dvd remote viewers can participate in three simple games aimed at the preschool audience of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. You can select the shape, eyes and mouth of your very own tiki like those that decorate Pete’s hut or you can help identify the items Donald doesn’t need for the beach luau and in the third game you use the remote to identify the item from the colder environment.
* #1 cable series with kids 2-5 in February 2009.
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