Animating Life: The Art, Science, and Wonder of LAIKA Exhibit at The Portland Art Museum is Not to Be Missed!

Since October 14th of last year The Portland Art Museum has been showcasing the awe inspiring art of stop-motion animation in their Animating Life: The Art, Science, and Wonder of LAIKA exhibit. This exhibit will close on the 20th of May and, in my opinion, should not be missed.

LAIKA Studios is an animation studio that has become a local fixture of Portland Oregon since 2005. They are not just any animation studio, however. They use stop-motion animation, a technique where the animator has to physically manipulate the object so it appears to move on its own. You might have seen one of their 4 award-winning films: Coraline (2009), ParaNorman (2012), The BoxTrolls (2014), or Kubo and the Two Strings (2016). Just by watching you don't feel of the real scope of these movies, but the characters are brought to life by animators painstakingly moving them 24 times for every second of screen time. The Animating Life: The Art, Science, and Wonder of LAIKA exhibit gives you an up close and first hand look at the meticulous artistry that goes into each one of their films. Visitors to this exhibit are immersed in LAIKA's wonderful imaginative world. Museum-goers get to explore production design, sets, props, puppets, costumes, and world-building that have become the studio’s hallmarks.

Here is a sneak peek at what is in store for you if you go...


My son, Jaedan, and I went to the Portland Art Museum on April 27th. We started the day out at Voodoo Doughnut. I had a Mango Tango and my son had an Apple Fritter. Then we went out to lunch at some of the food trucks in the Pearl District. Jaedan had seafood curry noodles and I had a Gyro. We just couldn't visit Portland and not partake in these delectable treats. Going to Voodoo Doughnut and eating from food carts is part of the experience of the of the City of Roses.

Eating Voodoo Doughnuts and Food Cart Food are a must while in Portland.

After our meals we headed towards the Portland Art Museum (PAM). As we had never been there before we tried to partake of what all the museum had to offer before diving into the LAIKA exhibit. We looked around first at the art that was part of the permanent and private collections. Of the Museum’s collection of 42,000 objects, we saw only a representative few, of which my favorites were: Isa Genzken's Two Orchids, Claude Monet Nymphéas (Waterlilies), Nude in Sunlit Wood by Childe Hassam, Joseph M. Raphael's Cottage Garden, Uccle, Belgium; Gabriele Münter's In The Village Chamonix, Frank Stella's Newell's Hawaiian Shearwater (Exotic Bird), Sonya Clark's Penny Loafers, and Dale Chihuly's L'arbre rouge.

Just some of the lovely art we saw at the PAM.

Then we headed to the exhibit we had been anticipating all day. When you go through the doors to the Animating Life: The Art, Science, and Wonder of LAIKA exhibit you are automatically drawn to a towering skeleton puppet looming over the room. This was used for the film Kubo and the Two Strings. This piece is over 18 feet tall and the largest stop-motion puppet ever made. It is jaw dropping with its impressive lighting and glowing eyes to make it look even more menacing. It was fun to learn that LAIKA's studio is too small to house this giant beast all put together and they had to film it in two pieces: legs and torso, for Kubo. For this exhibit it is the first time this puppet has been in one piece.

Skeleton puppet used in Kubo and the Two Strings.

Beside this massive creature you can see the puppets of Beetle, Monkey, Kubo, and the Origami Samurai Warrior for reference of size. On the far wall you can see the "Wall of Faces", which features the rapid-prototype face replacement 3-D printing that LAIKA won a scientific and engineering Oscar in 2016 for. This technology, used first in ParaNorman, is astounding to me because each tiny expression and movement of the face is captured in individual faces that LAIKA snaps off and on the puppets to make them seem far more lifelike than other stop-motion animations.

Jaedan looking at Coraline's "Other World" House.

Next we migrated to a room with Coraline's "Other World" House in it. We saw first hand how LAIKA animators could go behind it so they could manipulate the puppets. This was a piece of the actual set! It was like a large doll house and it was intricately designed...all the way down to tiny plants hanging from the porch and lights that actually glow. The attention to detail is mind-boggling!

Back into the skeleton room and through a corridor of Asian art we come to the main LAIKA exhibit. Before you enter it warns, "This exhibition contains a zoetrope that produces a strobing effect and may trigger visitors with photosensitivity or epilepsy. Staff are happy to direct you to another entrance or answer questions." The room has a darker ambience and there is so much to take in and see. We saw many LAIKA artifacts, including: original sketches, small models called maquettes, puppets, sets, costumes, rigging, storyboards, etc.

Some of the LAIKA sets we saw at the exhibit.

The sets are amazing! As you go in you can see the set of Kubo's childhood home to the left with Beetle and Monkey inside. We saw some of the sets for The BoxTrolls: one scene of the verminator puppets chasing down Eggs and some BoxTrolls in the hill top town of Cheesebridge, Norvenia and another set of the ballroom dance scene. Coraline's Garden set took up almost a whole room by itself and when seen from above you can clearly see Coraline's face in the garden itself. There were also some neat sets from ParaNorman.

Jaedan looking at the Kubo and the Two Strings Giant Eye Monster.

There are also things you can touch and manipulate too! Inside there is a 11 foot Giant Eye Monster from Kubo and the Two Strings that you could go behind to see the robotic framework and then move with the same bowling ball trackball interface that they used to create the underwater scene in Kubo. We also got to manipulate the ocean waves in Kubo which were made out of paper and seemed to topple over each other like a string of dominoes.

Everything had remarkable detail. There are so many teeny-tiny handstitched outfits and props to go with the sets and puppets. These must have taken them so much time and effort to make! All of it is just so intricate and ornate and ultimately makes the films feel even more lifelike.

Snapped a photo of the Animating Life: The Art, Science, and Wonder of LAIKA exhibit banner as we left.

I wish we could have taken more time to explore the Animating Life: The Art, Science, and Wonder of LAIKA exhibit. We enjoyed it all so very much! We had a fabulous time visiting the Portland Art Museum and hope that LAIKA decides to come back there again at some point. I highly recommend to go see the LAIKA exhibit if you can. The last day is the 20th of May!

This exhibit is organized by the Portland Art Museum and the Northwest Film Center in collaboration with LAIKA.

Follow LAIKA on Social Media:

• Website: https://www.laika.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laikastudios
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/laikastudios
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBnyjFhOn23xjsqOUW4j6OQ
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laikastudios
  

Follow Portland Art Museum on Social Media:

• Website: https://portlandartmuseum.org
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/portlandartmuseum
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/PDXArtMuseum
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/PortlandArtMuseum
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/portlandartmuseum

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any compensation for doing this review.

THE STAR is Coming to DVD & Blu-ray #TheStarMovie #FlyBy

For Promoting this movie I will be receiving either a THE STAR DVD or Soundtrack free. Affiliate links may be in this posting. Thanks for supporting my blog.

THE STAR movie is coming to DVD, Blu-Ray, and Digital! Available on Digital February 6 and
On Blu-ray + DVD + Digital on February 20. This 86 minute animated movie gives an interesting perspective of the first Christmas from a lowly donkey. The voices of some of the characters are none other than: Steven Yeun, Gina Rodriquez, Zachary Levi, Keegan-Michael Key, Kelly Clarkson, Anthony Anderson, Aidy Bryant, Ving Rhames, Gabriel Iglesias, Patricia Heaton, Kristin Chenoweth, Christopher Plummer, Tracy Morgan, Tyler Perry and Oprah Winfrey. The Star: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack features Mariah Carey singing the theme song "The Star" and many other artists. The DVD or Blu-ray includes bonuses: Dance Along, “How-to” Crafts Video and Much More. The animation looks amazing and it looks like a lot of fun. I think everyone of all ages will like this PG film.

Here is a little about it...
"In Sony Pictures Animation's The Star, a small but brave donkey named Bo yearns for a life beyond his daily grind at the village mill. One day he finds the courage to break free, and finally goes on the adventure of his dreams. On his journey, he teams up with Ruth, a lovable sheep who has lost her flock and Dave, a dove with lofty aspirations. Along with three wisecracking camels and some eccentric stable animals, Bo and his new friends follow the Star and become unlikely heroes in the greatest story ever told - the first Christmas."

Here is the Trailer...


Check out some of the online interactive activities...

• Interactive Animated Coloring Book
• Activities
• Meet the Characters
• Live Guided Bible Study w/ Devon Franklin

BUY IT
Get the DVD on Amazon for  $17.96, on Blu-ray for $19.96 or on Amazon digital for $14.99.



Buy it other places here: http://sites.sonypictures.com/thestar/discanddigital/?hs308=TSR084D

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I was provided this promotion information to share with my readers. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. For Promoting this I will be receiving either a DVD or Soundtrack free. Affiliate links may be in this posting. Thanks for supporting my blog.

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Around the Clubhouse World DVD Review

We received this product free from Disney to facilitate this review. Affiliate links may be in this post. Thank you for supporting this blog.

Mickey, Minnie, Donald Duck, Goofy and the gang go on a trip of a lifetime in MICKEY MOUSE CLUBHOUSE: AROUND THE CLUBHOUSE WORLD on DVD May 20th! Explore France, Italy, China and Egypt in one of their greatest global adventures featuring over two hours of song-filled fun. The DVD is value packed with four additional episodes and a FREE passport activity book for any young explorer!

The DVD run time is is 126 minutes with a main feature and four other fun filled additional episodes:

1. Full-Length Feature: Around The Clubhouse World- A Global Adventure (25 minute adventure)
2. Donald and the Beanstalk
3. Goofy on Mars
4. Mickey's Handy Helpers
5. Pluto's Dinosaur Romp

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Around the Clubhouse World DVD is a wonderful DVD that will have your preschooler problem solving and learning right along with Mickey Mouse and his gang. With your child's help and the right Mouseketools the Clubhouse gang will help your preschooler learn many things like: patterns, counting, numbers, shapes, colors, simple directions and position, sounds, sequence, sorting, comparing, etc. These musical adventures are always great fun.

My girls loved this new DVD! The first episode is great because they learn some culture from different places. They also learned briefly about a main landmark in each place. The DVD comes with a passport for your preschooler to learn interactively along with the DVD. It is filled with fun stickers and activities for them to do. My girls had fun filling this out and applying the stickers. They loved this hands-on activity. They also loved the songs and danced to their favorite, the"hotdog song", at the end of each episode. They also loved that they were asked to participate by the characters. As a parent of a preschooler I love the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse because it teaches wonderful things and makes learning fun.

BUY IT
 


Suggested Retail Prices: $19.99 U.S./$24.99 Canada. Right now you can save $6 here.

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I received this product for free to facilitate my review. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review. This post contains affiliate links which means I may receive a commission if you click a link and make a purchase.

Win the Ultimate My Little Pony Prize Pack

 I entered the following giveaway and thought you, my readers would also like to as well.

Two great (and reasonably priced) DVDs are available now from Shout! Factory Kids and are the perfect Easter basket stuffer. Get your readers in the Easter mood with these activity and recipe sheets from Noah's Ark and My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic – A Dash of Awesome, both available at retailers nationwide!

Shout! Factory Kids is giving away The Ultimate My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Prize Pack! 5 lucky winners will receive a Framed Animation Cel and a copy of A Dash of Awesome! win the Ultimate My Little Pony Prize Pack Shout! To Enter: "Like" the Shout! Kids Facebook Page and comment with either your favorite pony or episode!

Sneak Peak of "My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic: A Dash of Awesome"


DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I received this information by email and entered the giveaway myself. I wanted to share this with you, my readers. I did not receive anything in return for posting this.

The Little Mermaid II & Ariel's Beginning DVD and Blu-ray Combo Pack Review

We received this product free to facilitate this review.

For a limited time only join Ariel in two underwater adventures in the 2 Movie Collection of The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning and The Little Mermaid II: Return To The Sea as it dives for the first time on Disney Blu-ray Combo Pack November 19th!

THE LITTLE MERMAID: ARIEL’S BEGINNING
A time long before Ariel walked on land and into Prince Eric's heart, she was the youngest of seven daughter's to the mighty King Triton. After Triton's beloved wife dies he bans music from the underwater kingdom of Atlantica. With his deepening sadness, Triton forgets how to be happy. Torn between family duty and her love of music, Ariel must make the most difficult choice of her life. With the help of her friends, Sebastian and Flounder, and her six amusing sisters, will the young mermaid be able to restore music, friendship, happiness and love to the Kingdom?

I love this story of how a daughter's love for her mother and father shine and how she desperately wants everyone in the kingdom to be happy once more, especially her father. We get to see how flounder and Ariel meet. My daughter's favorite part of the movie was where the eels were being tied into a knot. They started giggling and couldn't stop. I loved the music box in the movie. It was so beautiful and a wonderful symbol of Triton's undying love for his wife. This was a great story about how sadness and depression can be overcome.

THE LITTLE MERMAID II: RETURN TO THE SEA (Blu-ray & DVD)
In this the sequel to to wonderful The Little Mermaid, Ariel and Eric have forbidden Melody, their daughter, to go near the sea and have hidden her true mermaid heritage and a threat, Ursula's revengeful sibling Morgana from her to try to keep her safe. Melody's curiosity about her roots get the best of her. Melody is a headstrong girl that yearns to go into the sea as her mother had yearned to be on land. She sets out into the sea against her parents' wishes. There she meets new friends, and in her dream to be a mermaid becomes a pawn in Morgana's plot to gain control of the Seven Seas. Ariel must reunite with her childhood friends, Sebastian, Flounder, and Scuttle, rescue her daughter, and restore harmony to her family.

This movie is very predictable as it follows a very similar plot as the first movie. Their are some new characters as well as some old favorites. I do think that as the original was far better than this sequel, but it still has its good points. I loved the song For One Moment and how it went into a duet with Melody and Ariel. I also love the moral...don't keep secrets from those you love. All in all I still enjoyed this movie and my kids did too.


Bonus Features:

THE LITTLE MERMAID: ARIEL’S BEGINNING

• Splashdance: A Dancer's Adventures Under The Sea 
• Deleted Scenes with intros by Director Peggy Holmes 
• Music & More 
• Sing Along With The Movie 
• The Little Mermaid: Under the Sea and Behind the Scenes on Broadway (DVD only) 
• Mermaid Discovery Vanity Game (DVD only)

THE LITTLE MERMAID II: RETURN TO THE SEA (Blu-ray & DVD)

• "The Little Mermaid II" Storybook 
• Deleted Song "Gonna Get My Wish"  
• Classic Animated Short “Merbabies”                 

Ratings: G (both films)
Feature Run Time:  The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning: 77 minutes. The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea: 75 minutes.

BUY IT:
You can purchase The Little Mermaid II & Ariel's Beginning DVD and Blu-ray Combo Pack for $26.99 on Amazon.com.

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I received product for free to facilitate my review. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review.

Merry Christmas, Splat ...and More Winter Stories: Scholastic Storybook Treasures DVD Review

I received this DVD for free to facilitate this review.

I love Scholastic Storybook Treasures! They take story books and bring them to life through animation. You can collect them all and even read along with the story on screen if you choose to.

Merry Christmas, Splat ...and More Winter Stories is a wonderful collection of 4 snowy stories that will be sure to warm your heart.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, SPLAT (Written and illustrated by Rob Scotton, narrated by John Keating) This is an adorable story of a cat named Splat who tries a little too hard to be good before Santa’s arrival so he can get what he wishes for most on Christmas day. Anyone who has ever been a child waiting for Christmas morning knows how much the excitement and anticipation sometimes get the best of us. This is a great story that is purrfect for all ages.

FLETCHER AND THE SNOWFLAKE CHRISTMAS (By Julia Rawlinson, illustrated by Tiphanie Beeke, narrated by Katherine Kellgren) It’s Christmas Eve and Fletcher the fox wonders how Santa will find the rabbits' new burrow because they have moved. His big heart will touch yours. I love the beautiful illustrations and gorgeous layout of words that this has.

SNOWFLAKE BENTLEY (By Jacqueline Briggs Martin, illustrated by Mary Azarian, narrated by Sean Astin) This is the story of Willie Bentley, who was a pioneering scientist who loved and learned all about snowflakes. I loved learning about this inquisitive boy who loved everything about the snow and wanted the world to see how beautiful snowflakes were. He was the first to capture snowflakes as photographs. This story makes you realize how big the world is in retrospect and how you need to slow down and take a closer look at it.

OWL MOON (Written and narrated by Jane Yolen, illustrated by John Schoenherr) This story is a wonderful story about a girl and her father as they search the moonlit woods for a Great Horned Owl. This being the girls first trip she is excited to say the least, but she remembers her fathers words that she should not make a sound while owling. This is a sweet bond of father and daughter relationships and a nature walk in the snowy night that will not soon be forgotten.

Bonus Features Behind-the-Scenes Look at Creating the Animation for Fletcher and the Snowflake Christmas; Read-Along. This DVD is Approx. 36 minutes + extras. Recommended for ages 3-7.

Download some fun free printables on PDF to go along with this DVD!

BUY IT
You can purchase the Scholastic Storybook Treasures Merry Christmas, Splat DVD on New Kideo for $14.95 as of this posting.

For more information on this title or any other Scholastic Storybook Treasures release, visit www.newkideo.com. Also, visit New Kideo, the online home for the DVD line, at their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/NewKideo

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I received product for free to facilitate my review. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review. 

Planes DVD Blu-ray Combo Pack Review

We received product free to facilitate this review.

From above the world of Cars Disney and Pixar brings us Planes, an animated comedy about a crop dusting plane named Dusty who has high flying dreams of a life of racing. He meets all sorts of characters when he enters the Wings Across the Globe race. Will Dusty qualify for the race even though he is afraid of heights and not built for speed? You should watch Planes to find out!

My family and I loved Planes! It is a wonderful story where you'll be rooting for Dusty, the underdog that has a big heart. The plot is very good even though it takes some twists and turns that one might expect with the hero and villain scenario. We loved seeing all the different planes and how, even with the personification, they were detailed fairly authentically. In one of the bonus features, Klay's Flight Plan, they told how they completely changed how the wings were in one of the scenes just because they wanted to get the authenticity correct. That's some dedication. My favorite characters besides Dusty were Franz and his alter ego, and El Chupacabra.

BONUS FEATURES: (Blu-ray, DVD and Select Digital Retailers)

• Exclusive Franz’s Song (approx. 1:40) - Blu-ray & Select Digital Retailers - Produced exclusively for Blu-ray and HD Digital, this never-before-seen completely finished animated song features the German mini-car, Franz Fliegenhosen, who encourages Dusty on his flight.
• Klay’s Flight Plan (approx. 15:00) Blu-ray, DVD & Select Digital Retailers -Follow Director Klay Hall’s personal journey during the making of “Planes” and discover why his family connection to aviation made “Planes” his perfect project. Fly along with Klay as he lands on a working aircraft carrier to get first-hand experience on the flight deck.
• Deleted Scenes (approx.. 3:46) Blu-ray & Select Digital Retailers - Director Klay Hall and Producer Traci Balthazor-Flynn introduce deleted scenes from the movie. 1. Training Montage (approx. 2:38) 2. Taj Mahal (approx. 1:08)
• Meet the Racers (approx.. 5:50) Blu-ray, DVD & Select Digital Retailers - Featurettes introducing racers El Chupacabra (1:15), Ripslinger (1:15), Dusty (:90), and Ishani (:90).
• Top 10 Flyers (approx. 8:00) Blu-ray & Select Digital Retailers - ESPN’s Colin Cowherd hosts a fun, fast-paced countdown of the greatest aviators in history.

The bonus features were good on this combo pack. I liked the bonus feature of Franz's Song the most! It was very cute and witty. Klay's Flight Plan was a great addition that had the director and his boys looking at the making of the movie a bit and having a father son bonding experience. Both of the deleted scenes were partially in the movie, but some of their content was cut because it wasn't really needed to get the same feeling across. Meet the Racers are short clips about some of the main characters, building on their personalities a bit more. The Top 10 Flyers bonus feature was very educational and great for a homeschool mini lesson on flyers in history.

Here is the bonus feature, Franz's Song :)


My kids enjoyed the slapstick humor and fun animation in Planes. I enjoyed the morals the movie was teaching: go after your dreams and make them a reality, conquer your fears, be kind and giving, and make and keep good friends. Even thought the plot was fairly predictable my family very much enjoyed watching Planes. This is definitely a great animated movie for airplane lovers young and old!

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I received product for free to to facilitate this review. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review.

Guess How Much I Love You Hidden Treasure DVD Review and Giveaway

We received product free from eone (Entertainment One) to facilitate this review and the opportunity below to giveaway 3. Affiliate links may be in this posting. Thanks for supporting my blog.

Inspired by the best-selling books written by Sam McBratney and Illustrated by Anita Jeram,  Guess How Much I Love You: Hidden Treasure follows the adventures of Little Nutbrown Hare and his father, Big Nutbrown Hare, reminding us that there is no greater love or bond between a parent and child. These 7 episodes were part of the Disney Junior series which aired on TV. In these stories, Little Nutbrown Hare goes about exploring the meadow and playing with his friends, all the while learning valuable life lessons such as the importance of friendship, learning from mistakes, embracing differences in one another, and much more.

Little Nutbrown Hare Iceskating

I loved reading the books of this series when I was little and love to see them come to life in animation on DVD. These are so adorable and charming. My kids and I enjoyed them very much and each episode has a sweet message. The animation is really well done and I love all the forest characters. They remind me of the TV series: Little Bear, Franklin & Friends, or Winnie the Pooh.

Still from Slip, Slop, Slide

Episodes

• Hidden Treasure - Little Nutbrown Hare and his friends go looking for sparkly treasure and learn the valuable lessons: everything's special in its own way, nothing is ordinary, something that looks ordinary could be extraordinary, friends are treasure, there is treasure all around us, something that looks ordinary on the outside could be beautiful on the inside, sometimes things are much more than what they seem.
• Finder's Keepers - Little Redwood Fox finds a pile of spotted acorns unattended and takes them as his own, he soon finds out that they belong to Little Gray Squirrel and has to choose whether to keep and eat them or give them back. This episode teaches about doing the right thing and that sharing is better.
• It's Okay - Little Nutbrown Hare learns to forgive and that accidents sometimes happen.
• Slip, Slop, Slide - Little Nutbrown Hare learns that everyone is different and learns at different speeds. He also learns that practice makes perfect.
• Inside Day - Little Nutbrown Hare learns that some animals aren't meant to hibernate and that all winter is far too long to stay inside.
• Where's Little Redwood Fox? - Little Nutbrown Hare and his friends make up a new game and have a fun game of wits.
• Snowflake - Little Nutbrown Hare learns about reasons to love snow as he and his friends try to bring a snowflake to his father. He also learns that snowflakes are beautiful and everyone of them is unique.

Follow Entertainment One on Twitter: http://twitter.com/eOneHomeVideo for the most up-to-date information on this and other releases.

BUY IT
You can purchase Guess How Much I Love You Hidden Treasure DVD on Amazon.com for $10.73 at the time of this posting.

WIN IT
Prize: Guess How Much I Love You Hidden Treasure DVD. 3 Winners!! US Only!

I am trying out Rafflecopter on my blog. Please click on this post link if you do not see the script for it below. Also, if there is anything that is wrong with it let me know by emailing me: finamoon AT gmail DOT com I will try my best at fixing it. Thanks for being awesome readers!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I received product for free to facilitate my review and the opportunity to give another 3 away to my readers. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review. Affiliate links may be in this posting. Thanks for supporting my blog.

The Little Mermaid Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack Diamond Edition Review

We received this product free to facilitate this review.

For a limited time only The Little Mermaid has been brought once again out of the vault to be transformed to Blu-ray & digital copy on October 1st, 2013 for the very first time since the epic making of the movie in 1989. The film has been digitally restored and it now has high definition sound. Now a whole new generation will find their voice with this wonderful film. This Diamond Edition also has over 3 hours of bonus features. You can watch the digital copy on a number of different platforms: smart phone, tablet, TV and computer.

We are big fans of Disney's The Little Mermaid, but since we sold all our VHS videos we didn't own a copy anymore. I was so glad to get the chance to review the Diamond Edition DVD which also includes Blu-ray and digital copy. My daughters were especially excited to see it because it was their first time. My favorite part is the Chef in the castle singing "Les Poissons". My boys were singing the lyrics with him.

 This edition also includes extras:

• Music Video: Carly Rae Jepsen - "Part of Your World"
• Disney Intermission - Press Pause and See What Happens
• Crab-E-OKE - Sing along
• Disneyanimation - Go Behind The Scenes With Today's Top Disney Animators
• Deleted Scenes: "Fathoms Below" Alternate Version, Fight With Ursula/Alternate Ending
• Never-Before-Seen Deleted Character - Harold The Merman
• Part of Her World: Jodi Benson's  Voyage to New Fantasyland
• Howard's Lecture - Music in Movies
• Under the Scene
• Plus More!!

This classic Disney movie is based on the story by Hans Christian Andersen. It portrays a young strong willed mermaid that falls in love with a sailor, but not any sailor, a prince. She trades in her tail for legs to try to win his love. This trade comes with a price and a deadline from a wicked sea witch named Ursula. What is the price and will she get what she needs in time? Watch the movie to find out!

BUY IT:
You can purchase The Little Mermaid Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack Diamond Edition for $26.98 on Amazon.com.

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I received product for free to facilitate my review. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review.

Monsters University Movie Review

On Monday June 17th my family and I went to an advance screening of Disney and Pixar's new movie, Monsters University (the prequel to Monsters Inc.), in Disney Digital 3D for free to facilitate this review. We also got free movie posters and stickers for the kids.

We went to the beautiful Regal Bridgeport 18 theater in Tigard Oregon to see the movie on the big screen. They have a gorgeous layout inside Bridgeport Village, an outdoor shopping and restaurant complex, complete with a fountain, play structure and gazebo. The theater there features state of the art surround sound and comfortable stadium seating. We were excited to go to see Monsters University there because we absolutely love that particular theater!

We got to the theater and situated ourselves just in time for everything to start. The theater had booster seats, that fastened to the theater seats with Velcro, for my two smallest so they could see the movie better. We were given complementary 3D glasses to watch the film with and I was very happy to see them in two sizes, child and adult, instead of just the "one size fits all" ones we had seen before.  My family enjoyed every moment of this animated film. The 3D was awesome and even though we were up close to the screen as soon as we put on our 3D glasses we could enjoy everything in clear definition.

It was fun watching my youngest, Zari, (she's 2) who was sitting right next to me, try to grab the stuff popping out at her while she was wearing the 3D glasses. Her reactions to the things going on in the films were priceless. She hadn't ever seen a 3D movie before and she did very well at keeping the glasses on.

Before the feature film there was a theatrical short called The Blue Umbrella. This was also done by Pixar and featured new techniques in photo-realistic: lighting, shading and compositing. We loved The Blue Umbrella. It was very cute to see the inanimate objects in the New York like city come to life to help two umbrellas come together in a windy rainstorm.

Monsters University was fantastic! The animation is superb! For the university campus Pixar visited Cal (UC Berkeley), Harvard and MIT for inspiration and research and then spun monster flare into the design. The monsters, architecture and landscaping have crazy detail.

Pixar captures college life perfectly! Besides the awesome MU campus you really get a snapshot of campus life. From the different social groups to college gags and team spirit to the awesome marching band music, this is a movie that will have you reminiscing about your college days.

You also get to see characters Mike, Sulley, and Randall evolve into what they become in Monsters Inc. We see Mike Wazowski as a little boy and how Mike and Sulley's friendship started. You also get to see why Randall becomes enemies with both of them.

There are a lot of feel good morals in this movie. We see friendship, teamwork, cooperation, honesty, determination, motivation, inspiration, passion, following your dreams, believing in yourself, helping others to believe in themselves, having a positive attitude, consequences of actions, etc. These themes are intertwined throughout and are the essence of the movie.

We all loved the movie and my kids now want to get it on DVD when it comes out. My boys told me that their favorite part was when Terri and Terry Perry, the two headed monster from Oozma Kappa, told the girls from PNK good luck in the Scare Games. Teela's favorite part was the library scene in the Scare games. Zari's favorite part was where Sulley and Mike were trying to capture the Fear Tech mascot, Archie.

After the movie was over my husband, Brian, took our pictures by the Monsters University theater display. My boys were pretending to be a two headed monster in this shot, LOL! Then as we were heading out the door the person that checked us in as VIPs stopped us to give us some movie posters and stickers for our kids as souvenirs. He had us pose with the memorabilia and with his camera he took our picture saying that Disney loves seeing their happy fans. I then gave him my camera to also take a similar shot. (So...who knows...Disney might have gotten a picture of my family emailed to them...and it might show up somewhere someday.)

On June 21st, My husband's birthday, Monsters University will officially hit theaters for the general public. If you haven't seen them, look up the trailers to the movie to see a preview of how great the movie will be. This movie did not disappoint and I highly recommend you seeing it on the big screen in 3D if you can.

About Monsters University...
Opening Date: Friday, June 21st
Rating: G
Running Time: 103 Minutes

Synopsis: Mike Wazowski and James P. Sullivan are an inseparable pair, but that wasn’t always the case. From the moment these two mismatched monsters met they couldn't stand each other. "Monsters University" unlocks the door to how Mike and Sulley overcame their differences and became the best of friends.

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I received complementary movie tickets to go to this movie for free with my family to facilitate my review. We also got free movie posters and stickers for the kids. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review.

Bink & Gollie and More Stories About Friendship: Scholastic Storybook Treasures DVD Review

I received this DVD for free to facilitate this review.

I love Scholastic Storybook Treasures! They take story books and bring them to life through animation. This DVD is a collection of stories is all about friendship and is called Bink & Gollie and More Stories About Friendship. This new DVD is perfect for kids as they wind down the school year, get ready for summer activities and look forward to spending time with friends. This also has the option of the DVD reading along with subtitles below. These stories teach friendship, tolerance and respect.

First up in this collection of stories is Bink & Gollie. These adorable stories are by the talented and award-winning author, Kate DiCamillo of "Because of Winn Dixie" and "Tale of Despereaux". These are also by Alison McGhee, Illustrated by Tony Fucile and narrated by Kate Micucci and Riki Lindhome. These are stories of two very different girls who don't always agree on everything, but their friendship lends to compromises that help them stay friends. "Bink & Gollie" actually have 3 stories of the girls' adventures: Don't You Need a New Pair of Socks?, P.S. I'll be Back Soon, and Give a Fish a Home. I found each of these to be wonderful and my girls loved them. Gotta love Bink's wild hair and taste in socks :) Gollie's vocabulary is outstanding and these stories give fun new words to my daughters' repertoire.

Next is "A Sick Day for Amos McGee" by Philip C. Stead, illustrated by Erin E. Stead and narrated by David de Vries. This is a story about a zookeeper who after falling ill with the sniffles and sneezes gets a visit from some unexpected guests. This is a charming story about taking time out of your day to help out a friend when they become sick.

"The Other Side" by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by E.B. Lewis and narrated by Toshi Widoff-Woodson is about a friendship that develops between two kids from opposite sides of a segregated town. It teaches a little about segregation and racial discrimination, but more about acceptance and friendship even though someone is different. I am glad that my children live in a age where this doesn't happen, although sadly I still hear about racism happening. I made this story into a learning experience with my kids and taught them more about the Civil Rights Movement that changed the prejudices that separated blacks and whites.

Last, but certainly not least is "Cat and Canary", written and illustrated by Michael Foreman. It is a story about two most unlikely friends as they embark on an adventure when their master is away at work. I always wonder what my pets do while we are away. This story is fun and imaginative and captures the New York City Skyline perfectly.

BUY IT
You can purchase the Scholastic Storybook Treasures Bink & Gollie DVD on Amazon.com for $12.99 as of this posting.

This DVD is Approx. 36 minutes and has extras (Interview with Bink & Gollie illustrator Tony Fucile, Interview with A Sick Day for Amos McGee author Philip Stead and illustrator Erin Stead, Interview with The Other Side author Jacqueline Woodson) + Read Along version. Recommended for ages 4-9.

For more information on this title or any other Scholastic Storybook Treasures release, visit www.newkideo.com. Also, visit New Kideo, the online home for the DVD line, at their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/NewKideo

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I received product for free to facilitate my review. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review.

Car's Life 3: The Royal Heist DVD Review and Giveaway

 I received this DVD for free to facilitate this review. This post has affiliate links.

"Sparky, the high-spirited sports car, is back and ready for his biggest adventure ever… Queen Limousine is coming to town to attend a charity drag race, and everyone’s caught royal fever, even Sparky. But the excitement turns to dread when the queen’s jewels go missing, and every car becomes a suspect. In CARS LIFE 3: THE ROYAL HEIST, join the world’s favorite little red sports car on a turbocharged who-dun-it adventure that packs more hairpin turns than an Alpine speedway – and a shocking final twist that no one sees coming!"

This is a film by Engine 15 Media Group and eone (Entertainment One). It is Dove Foundation "Family Approved". Featuring voices of: Corinne Orr (Speed Racer) and Sean Schemmel (Dragon Ball Z, Pokemon). It teaches younger children lessons about teamwork, cooperation, honesty, persistence, problem solving and loyalty. 85 minutes long.

At first I thought that I might not enjoy it because of the low budget of the film and copycat nature. I was, however; wrong at my first assessment. This DVD is a cute movie that keeps everyone guessing and on their toes. The storyline was more original than I had thought it would be and the car characters were fun even with their over the top accents and personifications. My younger children enjoyed this movie better than my older kids, but it really engaged everyone near the end when the mystery of the plot thickens. My kids all had their own theories about who had been the thief. My kids enjoyed being sleuths and really got into trying to solve the crime along with Sparky.

Follow Entertainment One on Twitter to get the latest news and updates on Car’s Life 3: Royal Heist and other releases.

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You can purchase Car’s Life 3: The Royal Heist DVD on Amazon.com for $7.99 at the time of this posting. WIN IT
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DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I received product for free to facilitate my review and the opportunity to give another 3 away to my readers. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review.

The Magic School Bus All About Earth DVD Review and Giveaway

To celebrate Earth Day I received The Magic School Bus All About Earth DVD for free to facilitate this review and the opportunity to also give one away.

I homeschool my kids and so I seek out educational programing on TV, Netflix, etc. for my children to watch and learn from. I grew up watching The Magic School Bus, a long-running Emmy® Award-winning animated science adventure series, on TV when I was younger and so I remember enjoying learning along with the show. When I got older and had children of my own I incorporated The Magic School Bus in my kids' education at home because they are so much fun. We have collected many of The Magic School Bus series of books that the series is based off of too over the years. All my kids love both the series and the books and so do I.

From Ms. Frizzle's outrageous wardrobe to her anthropomorphic school bus that takes her students on field trips to impossible locations, The Magic School Bus series takes you on great adventures all in the name of science. The classroom pet Liz, a lizard, that accompanies them on most of the excursions. These present scientific fact with situations where fantastic things happen with humor thrown in to make learning fun.

In The Magic School Bus All About Earth DVD you get 3 all new, never before released episodes: The Magic School Bus Goes to Seed, The Magic School Bus Blows its Top, The Magic School Bus Goes on Air AND a bonus episode, The Magic School Bus All Dried Up. This DVD also has both Spanish and English language options. These are fabulous for getting inside the Earth like never before. Celebrate Earth Day with pizazz.

In The Magic School Bus Goes to Seed we get a bugs eye view of plants, flowers and bugs. In this episode we learn about plant nectar, pollen, and seeds. The class' garden is going to be featured on the cover of Plant It! Magazine, but Phoebe's garden plot is extremely empty...can they fill it in time for the magazine photo? We loved this episode and my daughters loved learning the parts of the flowers and about the bug's proboscis.

In The Magic School Bus Blows its Top we rock out with Ms. Frizzle and her class as we help them discover a new island. In this episode we learn a little about the formation of islands, Earth's crust, underwater volcanoes, magma, and lava. We loved this episode and my girls loved learning about heat buildup in volcanoes and what they form when they erupt.

In The Magic School Bus Goes on Air we see Ms. Frizzle and her class under a lot of pressure to get a class project done for the Walkerville Space Capsule. In this episode we learn about air pressure. We loved this episode and my girls loved learning about what air pressure can do.

In The Magic School Bus All Dried Up we try to beat the heat with Ms. Frizzle and her class as they go to the desert. In this episode we learn about how animals adapt for survival in such a hot seemingly arid place. We loved this episode and my girls loved learning about the desert and some of its flora and fauna.

We will definitely treasure this DVD and I know my kids will love watching these episodes again and again. I love the educational content. This is a great DVD for Earth Day or any day!

For more information on this title or any other Scholastic Storybook Treasures release, visit www.newkideo.com. Also, visit New Kideo, the online home for the DVD line, at their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/pages/New-Kideo/169330949777241

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Purchase The Magic School Bus All About Earth DVD from New Kideo for $12.95

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I am trying out Rafflecopter on my blog. Please click on this post link if you do not see the script for it below. Also, if there is anything that is wrong with it let me know by emailing me: finamoon AT gmail DOT com I will try my best at fixing it. Thanks for being awesome readers!

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DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I received product for free to facilitate my review and the opportunity to give another away to my readers. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review.

Celebrate Earth Day with Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood!

Do you remember as a child watching Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood? I sure do and it was one of my favorite TV shows as a child and now for my children. Now The Fred Rogers Company has created a very cute TV series called Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood that is based on the Neighborhood of Make-Believe from Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. An all new, extra special episode premieres on April 22 (check local listings) for Earth Day – just in time to help young viewers learn the importance of cleaning up, picking up and recycling.

The new show features two adorable stories. In Neighborhood Clean Up, a wind storm blows through town making a mess of the Neighborhood playground and no one can play. King Friday proclaims that it is “Clean Up Day” and everyone helps restore the playground by throwing out and recycling the trash. The Neighborhood children – along with young viewers at home – learn that, by working together, the playground can be ready for play again in no time! And in Clean Up Time, Daniel and his best friend O the Owl are playing “farm” at Daniel’s house. They are having a lot of fun, but are also making quite a mess! After losing his watch in a messy room, Daniel realizes that cleaning up and putting his toys away will help him find it. And the great clean-up begins!

Inspired by Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood and the upcoming special Earth Day-themed episode, here are some simple and fun ideas for celebrating the special day (and Mother Earth) together with your toddler/preschooler:

• Proclaim your own “Clean Up Day”! Tidy up your yard, and clean out the winter clutter. While you’re at it, find out what kind of trees, plants and wildlife are “at home” in your backyard and neighborhood, too! 
• Plant a garden! Pick out the kinds of vegetables you’d like to grow or design a flower bed together – kids love to get their hands dirty! If you live in an apartment, you can create a beautiful flower or herb garden right on your terrace or windowsill. 
• Help beautify a park or playground! Get a group of parents and preschoolers together and visit a local park to help make sure that it’s trash free and ready for playtime! 
• Recycle together! Invite your children to get in on the act of recycling! Have them assist you in tying up those newspapers and magazines, collecting the cans and bottles, crunching the cardboard boxes – and making sure that everything goes in its proper bin. 

Here is a short clip of one of the episodes:

Earth Day from GC on Vimeo.

And don’t forget to tune-in to the brand-new Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood Earth Day episode together. It’s another perfect way for families to make Earth Day a special day in their neighborhood! If you miss these episodes make sure to check your local listings and you can catch the show at another time.

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: PBS Kids and Grand Communications provided this information to me to share with you. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any compensation for posting this information.

Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! Best of Walden DVD Review and Giveaway

I received a copy of the Best of Walden for free to facilitate this review and the opportunity to also give one away.

My kids and I have had the great opportunity to review many titles from Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! and so when we were asked to watch and review their Best of Walden DVD we didn't pass it up. We love Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! Wubbzy! It is so cute.

This DVD was different from the others we have gotten to review. It was all about Wubbzy's pal Walden. Walden knows all about science, books and art. Walden is very busy in these 7 episodes. Walden bakes a marshmallow lasagna for Wubbzy in “Perfecto Party,” plays his “hoopty horn” in “Goo Goo Grief,” and collects figgety-fig leaves with his best pals in “The Last Leaf!” I love what this DVD teaches.

Perfecto Party teaches:

• all you really need for a perfecto party are friends
• friends do nice things for each other
• to make the best with what you've got

Mr. Cool teaches:

• to not try to change your friends
• to not be who you're not
• to be yourself and you'll be cool

Walden on the Beach teaches:

• don't try to hide your fears from your friends, if they are true friends they will help you over come them and understand
• go one step at a time
• take small steps when you try something new
• you don't have to be scared
• be prepared
• take your time
• start small

Woozy Walden teaches:

• listen to your friends and help them with what they actually need not what you think they need
• just because you don't know about something you shouldn't be scared of it

Goo Goo Grief teaches:

• home is where the heart is
• follow your heart
• if you are lost try to find someone to help you
• home is home sweet home

The Last Leaf teaches:

• safety first (life jackets while boating)
• take it slow
• good things always come to those who wait

Bonus Episode: Come Spy with Me teaches:

• don't spy on your friends
• good friends should know that their friends only have good things in store for them
• trust your friends
• have faith in your friends

There are so many great morals and lessons woven into this series.

This DVD has bonus features:
Coloring & Activity Sheets
Bonus Episode
Music Videos

70 minutes long.

BUY IT:
You can purchase the Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! Best of Walden DVD through Amazon.com at $9.65.

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I am trying out Rafflecopter on my blog. Please click on this post link if you do not see the script for it below. Also, if there is anything that is wrong with it let me know by emailing me: finamoon AT gmail DOT com I will try my best at fixing it. Thanks for being awesome readers!

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DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I received product to facilitate my review and the opportunity to giveaway the same product for free. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review.

The Adventures of Scooter The Penguin DVD Review and Giveaway

Teaching lessons of acceptance, honesty, teamwork and understanding, this family friendly animated movie is about a unique blue penguin named Scooter that is from a lost colony of penguins known for their amazing speed and strength. He was abandoned before he was even hatched and is taken in by a family of silver penguins that encourage his talents. Still, Scooter doesn't feel like he belongs. He finally learns the lessons of love and self-worth and returns to his village to save the day.

This movie was low budget and the events seem to drag on too long throughout the movie. It is OK for younger kids, but didn't hold my little ones' attention and my older kids were extremely bored because the events were too predictable and there was very little eye candy or real detail to the animation. It was, however; a good storyline and message so I believe the whole thing could have been presented better.

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You can purchase The Adventures of Scooter The Penguin on Amazon for $9.59.

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I am trying out Rafflecopter on my blog. Please click on this post link if you do not see the script for it below. Also, if there is anything that is wrong with it let me know by emailing me: finamoon AT gmail DOT com I will try my best at fixing it. Thanks for being awesome readers!

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: Thanks to Entertainment One for sending me product for free to review and 3 to giveaway. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review.

Mia and the Migoo Review and Giveaway

From GKIDS, the theatrical distributors of The Secret of Kells and A Cat in Paris, Mia and the Migoo is a heartwarming story about a young girl who sets off on a journey to find her father. Little does she know what she will also see, meet and find along her way. She is fearless, a little bossy at times, and very independent. In this fable-like quest she must also overcome her fears and help innocent, bumbling forest spirits called the Migoo save the ancient Tree of Life that is being threatened by money hungry developers.

I love this film! It has a beautiful eco-friendly message of hope, healing and change for the better. This film took 6 years to make. Created from an astonishing 500,000 hand-painted frames of animation, the gorgeous second feature from award winning French director Jacques-Rémy Girerd and animation studio Folimage is a work of art, breathtaking to behold. Its rich backgrounds and colors are reminiscent of famous paintings in watercolors and pastel. It has won best animated feature in the European Film Awards and the HSBC Environmental Film Award.

This English version features voices of Whoopi Goldberg, Matthew Modine, James Woods and Wallace Shawn. Bonus features include “Making of” Featurette & an Interview with the Director. Total movie run time is 91 minutes long. It is rated PG for thematic elements, some peril and brief mild language so you may want to screen it before having your children watch just in case.

My children, especially the youngest were entranced by this film and thought the Migoo were funny and strange. Zari, my very youngest loved it every time a jungle critter would appear. I thought the bus scene was great! My boys loved the meteorite shower scene because they love looking at the stars themselves and it reminded them of the meteorite showers we will have on August 11th and October 20th.

Here is the Meteorite Shower Scene:



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Purchase Mia and the Migoo on Amazon for $14.99.

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DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: Thanks to Entertainment One and GKIDS for sending me product for free to review and letting me giveaway 3 for free also. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review.

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