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Category Archives: Pixar
DVD Review: MICKEY MOUSE CLUBHOUSE: I ♥ MINNIE
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: I ♥ Minnie
A new home video from Walt Disney Studios releases this Tuesday, February 7, 2012. Featuring five fun-filled episodes and one special bonus feature that underline the themes of friendship, teamwork, sharing and problem solving, MICKEY MOUSE CLUBHOUSE: I ♥ MINNIE was a sure hit with my little girl and is bound to become a favorite in your home too.
- Mickey Mouse and his Clubhouse friends are planning a surprise party for Minnie’s Birthday. My daughter was truly worried they wouldn’t be able to keep Minnie occupied while they got ready. She worried along with Minnie too, who thought her friends had forgotten her special day, but a happy ending brought a smile back to her face.
- When Daisy discovers her shoe is broken, the Clubhouse friends get creative. My daughter felt like she was really helping with her suggestions on how to fix it, and she had a great time learning the steps to Daisy’s Dance.
- The Pet Parade is almost here, and everyone has a pet to pamper except Daisy. My daughter, who recently got her very own puppy, absolutely loved this episode, because Daisy ends up keeping not just one but three adorable critters for Daisy’s Pet Project.
- Minnie and her friends follow the colorful rainbow that has appeared over the clubhouse and encounter a mischievous leprechaun along the way. At first, my daughter was irritated by the leprechaun, because he kept thwarting their plans, but in the end she and the Clubhouse gang were pleasantly surprised by the special treasure waiting at the end of Minnie’s Rainbow.
- The flower festival is fast approaching, but Minnie’s and Daisy’s flowers won’t bloom. My daughter wanted to run to the store and buy them a bouquet! But in this all new, never-before-seen episode, the two friends are able to coax the clouds to rain on Minnie & Daisy’s Flower Shower.
The bonus episode makes it personal. You’re Invited to Minnie’s Birthday Party lets your children join the celebration. My daughter really enjoyed using Toodles’ Mouseketools to RSVP to the invitation, choose the perfect gift for Minnie and decorate a party hat. She made a pink hat with lots of colorful polka dots and oodles of sparkly glitter. She thought Minnie would approve and wished Minnie could see her through the television. The episode ties in to Minnie’s Birthday, wishing the Guest of Honor special birthday wishes.
We were excited to see the bonus sneak peeks at the upcoming Disney Studios All Access offers, Lady and the Tramp and Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp’s Adventure DVD/Blu-ray releases, Lion King 1-1/2 and Lion King 2 combo pack DVD release, and Cinderella DVD/Blu-ray diamond edition, as well as a look at some brand new features that are in the works: Brave (coming to theaters Summer 2012 from Disney-Pixar), Planes (coming to theaters Spring 2013 from Disney-Pixar), and Tinker Bell Secret of the Wings (coming soon to DVD). A Digital Copy is also included for computer download, so we can watch our favorite episodes on the go, but my daughter was most excited about the two complimentary Best Friend necklaces that are packaged with MICKEY MOUSE CLUBHOUSE: I ♥ MINNIE, providing a keepsake memento to share with her BFF.
Don’t let the party start without you!
For more information on MICKEY MOUSE CLUBHOUSE: I ♥ MINNIE, see press release.
iPad Review: Toy Story Showtime app!
In the next series of iPad apps that I’m reviewing, today I’m going to share with you my impressions of Disney Publishing Worldwide Applications app “Toy Story Showtime“, which is available for $4.99 at the iTunes Store. Similar to Pooh’s Birthday Surprise, which I recently reviewed, the Toy Story app is an interactive storybook app, designed to help early readers develop some good reading skills while having fun at the same time! The plot behind the story revolves around all of your favorite Toy Story characters, who are excited because Dolly declares that they should put on a Talent Show! This excites everyone — except Buzz — who tries to think of all sorts of ways that he can impress Jessie.
What will Buzz do for the talent show?
In the scene above, a spotlight shines, and your child (or you, if you prefer) can move the spotlight around to the other characters, and when it lands on them, you’ll see what they are practicing for the show!
Look at Woody and Bullseye go!
As Buzz checks out what all the others are doing, and comes up with ideas similar to what they are doing (but with him in the scene instead of them), the talent show time gets closer and closer. Finally, the time has arrived! However, as soon as the music is turned on, a funny thing starts to happen to Buzz. He starts to dance!
Fortunately for Buzz, Jessie is there to encourage him, and he relaxes and starts dancing to the music!
Buzz takes a bow!
Being interactive, there are several scenes where you can do things with the characters in the book. Anytime you see golden circles by a character, as illustrated in the image below, you can tap on one of the characters, and they will do a special move.
Touch the circles to see a special action take place.
At the end of the story, you are given a chance to play some special games. In one of the games, you are told what move Buzz needs to make, and you tap the appropriate move on the screen, as you can see below in this screen shot.
Can you match up the correct dance move for Buzz?
In this next game, you are able to pick moves that you want to see Buzz perform, and then at the end, you press the play button to make Buzz perform your dance steps!
What Dance is Buzz going to perform for Jessie -- you pick the moves!
As with Pooh’s Birthday Surprise, this interactive storybook is for a younger reader, but it should provide plenty of interactive fun for them!
Related articles
- It’s Toy Story Showtime! New Disney Storybook App (chipandco.com)
The Top 10 Disney Movies – #1
Episodes & Reels is delivering our monthly Top 10 List a little differently this time around. We have posted one entry in the countdown each night from Jan 23 – Feb 3 on Chip and Co and now it’s time to finally reveal #1! Here is our choice for the #1 animated Disney film of all-time:
Toy Story, 1995
#1 - TOY STORY (1995)
Stars: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen
Director: John Lasseter
Rating: G
To put it simply – this one changed the animation game forever. Disney/Pixar now has 12 feature films on their resume, with 2 more on the horizon (Brave and Monsters University). With each of their releases, Pixar seems to elevate the digital animation bar even higher constantly topping themselves (and everyone else in the industry). Much like our #3 entry (Snow White) changed the traditional hand-drawn, brush-stroked animation forever thrusting us into over 75 years of wonderful cartoons and animated films, Toy Story has done the same with digital or computer-generated animation. As I already mentioned on this list, I had to limit myself from including more than 3 Pixar films, because if not they would have dominated this countdown. I would say that at least 5 or 6 of their productions could’ve easily made my top 10 animated films of all-time – they are just that innovative and simply put, good. Not only is Toy Story a trendsetter and mentor to anything that exists in digital animation today, but it is also a family friendly story of friendship that can easily be enjoyed by any generation. As a kid, who didn’t talk to their dolls or toys, even if just to have a simple tea-party? Well, what if those toys came to life at night or when we were gone? I’m sure every child’s imagination has run in that direction, and with Toy Story we saw it come to life like never before. With celebrity voices like Tim Allen (Buzz) and the legendary Tom Hanks (Woody) on board, as well as two sequels that are just as good (some may say even better) as the original, this animated giant is destined to remain one of the greatest animated franchises ever created.
We hope you enjoyed our Top 10 Countdown of Disney’s best movies. Need a re-cap? Just click HERE to view the entire Top 10 List at Episodes & Reels, and if you’re up for it “Like” us on facebook.
The Top 10 Disney Movies – #5
Episodes & Reels is delivering our monthly Top 10 List a little differently this time around. We will post one entry in the countdown each night from Jan 23 – Feb 3 on Chip and Co until we finally reveal #1! Now back to the countdown with our #5 animated Disney film of all-time:
Monsters Inc, 2001
#5 - MONSTERS INC. (2001)
Stars: John Goodman, Billy Crystal
Directors: Pete Docter, David Silverman
Rating: PG
By 2001, Disney/Pixar already had six years of pitch-perfect animated storyboards under their belt featuring the Toy Story franchise and A Bug’s Life (1998). But, this was the year that it all got kicked up a notch with their instant-classic, Monsters Inc. Did your kids (or you) ever get scared at the thought of monsters under the bed or in the closet? Did you ever hear that the “boogie man” was going to get you? Well, the genius minds over at Pixar thought up the brilliant faux world of “Monstropolis,” where these monsters are actually more afraid of humans, in particular young children, than we ever were of them. It acts as not only a triumphant and hilarious Disney film, but also a lesson for kids that they don’t have to be afraid. Somehow they got the animation even better as this was their most crisp and colorful yet. Disney once again implored celebrities to voice the main characters, led by John Goodman and Billy Crystal. With the announcement of a “pre-quel” that is being released in 2013 (Monsters University), this movie franchise will prove to be so-good-it’s-scary.
Check back tomorrow night for our #4 entry, and check us out on facebook.
The Top 10 Disney Movies – #9
Episodes & Reels is delivering our monthly Top 10 List a little differently this time around. We will post one entry in the countdown each night from Jan 23 – Feb 3 on Chip and Co until we finally reveal #1! Now, on to our #9 animated Disney film of all-time:
The Incredibles, 2004
#9 – THE INCREDIBLES (2004)
Stars: Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter
Director: Brad Bird
Rating: PG
Ok, I had to limit myself to just three Disney/Pixar films for the top 10, of which The Incredibles is the first. Down the line, I will make a top 10 of solely Pixar movies, but for now I wanted to be fair to the rest of the world of Disney animation and hold back. Disney/Pixar have been trend-setters and innovators since the early 1990s thanks to basically creating digital animation (at least on a broad media scale). In 2004 they merged the world of digital animation with the world of comic book/superhero lore. What we got was one of the most exciting, funny, heart-felt and triumphant movies in Disney’s illustrious catalog. The Incredibles features a family of superheroes who are trying to live everyday lives with the rest of the commoners. However, when “Mr. Incredible” (voiced by Craig T. Nelson) becomes restless and begins to miss his crime-fighting days, hilarity and adventure take over and the family must come together like never before. The animation is stellar and among one of the best of all-time. This movie was also named #3 on my top 10 superhero movies (read the full top 10 Superhero here).
Check back tomorrow night for our #8 entry, and check us out on facebook.