It's Magical

The magic school bus is a show that most of us know and love. The show was created in 1994 based on the educational books of the same name. It became a hit series and was considered a fun way for kids to learn about science. The magic school bus can be seen as entertainment with education. The show was very humorous and instructive in its presentation. The series aired its last episode on December 6, 1997, when the series finally ended. The show involved the adventures of one class of children and their teacher in an elementary school. Ms. Frizzle, the teacher, would teach children different scientific concepts and then they would use the Magic School Bus to explore these concepts gaining firsthand experience. This school bus defied all laws of science which, in a sense, seems ironic, but was able to go anywhere and transform into anything possible. The Magic School Bus allowed the class to explore space, the human body, the arctic, etc. and allowed them to view the science of things personally.

Gotta Catch Em All

Pokémon is a Japanese animated series that became very popular in the western world during the late nineties. The show is based on the popular series of video games of the same name and is part of the massive Pokémon franchise. Similar to other popular shows, it has been made into multiple series. These series are “Pokémon: Advanced Generation”, “Pokémon Chronicles” and “Pokémon Diamond and Pearl.” There have also been many movies based on the series. The main character, Ash Ketchum is on a quest to become a Pokémon Master as soon as possible. Joining him on this journey are his two friends, Brock and Misty and his first Pokémon. There is a hinted love interest between Ash and Misty throughout the series. Their main enemies in the how consist of three members from Team Rocket, an evil organization trying to take over the world. These three members are Jesse, James and Meowth, the only talking Pokémon in the show. Ash’s journey is filled with many adventures and new friends and enemies are constantly being made on his quest to become a Pokémon Master.

Polka Dot, Polka Dot, Polka Dot Shorts

I’m surprised when I asked around, not many people remembered Polka Dot Shorts. It’s a classic really. A tall green character that resembled a kangaroo, played with his friends Humpty, Dumpty, Marigold and Bear. Each episode had one or more of the characters experiencing a problem, and having to learn from it. There was always one point in the show where one or more of the characters would find a large pair of polka dot shorts and say the popular phrase,

“Polka Dot Shorts, a great big pair. How on earth did they get there?”

Each day's episode had a particular theme. For instance, Monday was "Treasure Day", Tuesday was "Dress-Up Day", Wednesday was "Animal Day", Thursday was "Imagination Day", and Friday was "Finding Out Day".

Feeling in the mood to reminisce on your childhood days? Click the link to an episode of Polka Dot Shorts:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEuqeaHrBbc

Are You Ready to Clown Around?

I think almost every little girl had a Molly doll from The Big Comfy Couch, or at least I did. My mom said this was one of my absolute favourite shows to watch after kindergarten. The show revolved around main character Loonette the Clown, who slept with her doll Molly on The Big Comfy Couch. Each episode has a different adventure, but what is interesting is that a daily receptive routine occurs. For instance, Loonette always did the “Clock Rug Stretch” at the beginning of an episode. She then travelled to Granny Garbanzo’s garden to visit, where Granny would offer advice or teach Loonette life lessons. The local mail-delivery clown, Major Bedhead, always arrived at the same time on his unicycle to give Loonette a letter from her Auntie Macassar or Uncle Chester, and each episode ended with the “Ten-Second Tidy.”

The Big Comfy Couch allowed for imaginative play. Children travel with Loonette to visit “Clowntown” or Granny Garbanzo’s “Cabbage Club Cooking School” and help Lunette with whatever obstacles she faces. Some of my favourite moments are reading time with Molly on the couch or “The Foley Family” which is a doll family that became a family of regular sized clowns in Loonette’s imagination. A popular part of the show is the dust bunnies that live under The Big Comfy Couch where Loonette and Molly sit. They often explore everything the bottom of the couch has to offer. The Big Comfy Couch is one show packed with events allowing kids to use their imagination beyond anything, and teach them simple things like following routines, cleaning up after you make a mess, manners, and making friends. All in all, a wonderful show.

Sugar, Spice, and Everything Nice

These were the ingredients chosen
To create the perfect little girls
But Professor Utonium accidentally
Added an extra ingredients to the concoction--
Chemical X
Thus, The Powerpuff Girls were born
Using their ultra-super powers
Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup
Have dedicated their lives to fighting crime
And the forces of evil.

This was one of my favourite Saturday morning cartoons. When you think about it, three kindergarten girls who have super powers seems like the most unlikely situation to ever happen. Then again, anything is possible with cartoons. The Powerpuff Girls revolve around the adventures of Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup. Professor Utonium had wanted to make “the perfect little girl” by using “super, spice, and everything nice.” However, the accidental addition of Chemical X into the mixture created these three girls instead, each having superpowers such as flight, super strength, super speed, limited invulnerability, x-ray vision, super senses, heat vision, and energy projection. The Powerpuff girls use their powers to defend the city of Townsville from villains and giant monsters. In my opinion, these three characters are extremely cute for their oval- shaped heads, abnormally large eyes, short arms and legs, and no noses, ears, fingers, and flat feet with toes. They’re mostly seen with black stripes that match the colours of their eyes, white pantyhose, and black Mary Janes.

Each Powerpuff Girl contributes a different quality to the group. Blossom is the commander and the leader, and is known as “the smart one.” Her signature colour is pink, and she has long red hair with a red bow. She is often seen as the most mature, but can be fussy and too vain at times. She is known as the leader because she tends to be the parent for both Bubbles and Buttercup, and tries to maintain peace within the group. Bubbles, is the joy and the laughter. She is known as “the cute one.” Her signature colour is light blue, and she has short blonde hair in two pigtails. She is often seen as the baby of the group for having a stuffed octopus doll for a best friend, loving and cuddling all animals, and finds insects to be gross. She loves to colour, draw, and sing. This cutie is awfully shy but displays affection greatly. Buttercup is the toughest fighter. Her signature colour is green, and she has short black hair. She is known as “the tomboy” and has a very short temper. She is seen as mean and stubborn. But don’t be fooled by her personality, because she is protective when it comes to her sisters. She hates baths and loves getting dirty.

These three girls are all the city of Townsville has. The mayor often calls the girls on their classic big red phone when villains like the popular monkey Mojo Jojo are threatening the well-being of Townsville. Most days, they save the day and get home just in time to say goodnight to Professor Utonium. It isn’t always easy working together because arguments arise, but Blossom always tries to do the right thing. Aside from saving their town, the girls do go to Pokey Oaks school, and act just like a regular group of kindergarten friends. They all have struggles like any normal kindergarten child. These range from bed wetting or comfort toys at night. But all in a day’s work, each day has a new moral lesson in the way the girls overcome the challenges of a day of crime fighting. The Powerpuff girls will always be saving the world, before bedtime.

It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood

Looking back, it must have been uncomfortable to watch an old man enter his home and change into his sneakers and zippered cardigan sweater, while singing,

“It's a beautiful day in this neighbourhood,
A beautiful day for a neighbour,
Would you be mine?
Could you be mine?”

Mister Rogers Neighbourhood ranked among the longest- lasting and beloved shows. It was the longest running series in PBS history with the host Fred Rogers, commonly known to us as Mr. Rogers. I always enjoyed those afternoons after school listening to his reassuring voice or taking in his manners directed to us children. He loved taking his viewers on various trips in order to let them see people who were just like them, performing activities. In his home, Mr. Rogers had a toy trolley. This trolley was like no other because it could go through a tunnel to arrive at the Neighbourhood of Make-Believe. This neighbourhood was ruled by King Friday Xlll and his puppet helpers. They often helped play out a scenario with a moral ending. Mr. Rogers definitely had a way of communicating with his audience.

If we take a look back, his topics centered on nearly every issue we faced as children. Things like going to sleep, getting a needle, disappointment about not getting your way, or losing a loved one to death, and physical handicaps. Whatever the case, you could count on Mr. Rogers to teach you in simple song. While doing my research, I came across some videos that had been uploaded of Mister Rogers Neighbourhood. I really had forgotten how serious this show was. Not only was it influential and healthy for children to watch, but it taught children to learn and have fun while doing it. As well, as teaching them to cope with issues in the world around them like divorce, death, or war. Not many shows today teach you to have respect for those people who might be your “neighbour.” But Mr. Rogers definitely did not keep away from touchy subjects just because his audience was young. Instead, he embraced it and taught us we can all, no matter what age, learn something new.

Here is a link to the popular theme song. See if you can sing along!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxO1o6y5ahI

Hello Kitty

Hello Kitty was introduced by the Japanese company Sanrio as a marketing ploy. It was first used in 1974 in Japan on a purse. Brought to the United States in 1976, it soon became a phenomenon worldwide as it was given its own show. The television series first aired in 1991. The first series was about two young twin kittens named Kitty and Mimi. There have been many sequels to this show such as Hello Kitty and Friends.

Today, it is still a huge hit as Hello Kitty is shown on purses, necklaces, binders and much more. This kitty who went on adventures inspires many from children to teens.

Go, Go, Power Rangers!

Ideally, it would be correct to say that majority of boys loved this show. Wrong. It wasn’t necessarily my favourite, but it was incredibly enjoyable to watch. The Power Rangers was a live action children’s show that featured five teenage Rangers. There was the red, black, blue, yellow, and the pink Ranger. This show was based on a moral understanding of good and evil. Every episode had the Rangers fighting crime and promoting peace within the community. The Rangers were not to use their power for personal gain, or for creating a fight. They were just there to serve the public in the best means possible.

In my understanding, this show was a huge success because it influenced children’s imaginations. It seemed almost every boy wanted to be a Power Ranger for Halloween or just for make believe. The Rangers generally wore battle suits and helmets depicting their specific colour. One major rule the Rangers had, was to retain from revealing their natural form underneath their suits, or they would lose the power of being a Ranger. The Power Rangers were known for their superhuman strength, durability, super speed, and invisibility. Each has a particular weapon, and vehicle assigned to them.

Today, The Power Rangers has escalated into many different versions. From Power Rangers: Ninja Storm, to Power Rangers: Dino Thunder, multiple collections have been released. The sixteenth sequel of the show aired in March 2009 called Power Rangers: RPM. Although this action packed show may not be as popular as it once was, it still continues to get hits and maybe in a few years, it will be the next big thing again.

Pingu, Pingu!

How many shows do we know of, that speak a made up language? None? Good guess. Looking back on my childhood days, who would have ever thought that a penguin speaking Penguiniese, would actually be amusing? If you haven't guessed by now, I'm referring to the claymation character Pingu. If you've been given the opportunity to look into his world, there is so much to explore. I mean, how many kids these days get to shape themselves into a ball, or increase their neck size by two metres?

This claymated television series takes place in Antarctica where the penguin families live and work in igloos. We follow the main character Pingu who seeks his parent's attention very much. This is shown in his well know piercing honking cry. By having no dialogue, the show is open to all linguistic backgrounds to follow the story.

Like any child, Pingu is always trying to get more of life by being mischievous. At times, he can be stubborn as ever by refusing to eat his mother's fish porridge or vegetables, and stealing the candy and popcorn out of the cupboards instead. Simple daily rountines are transformed into unexpected events with him around. There seems to always be some sort of trouble with Pingu written all over it. But at the end of the day, he isn't all that bad. If you get to understand the story, you'll see that Pingu is very full of energy, life and love, and wants those around him to share his passion.

Click the link below to an episode. Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTWv63RyLP8