Tried and Tested for Christmas: Timmy Time, Chuggington, Waybuloo
Timmy Time
Snapshot Timmy
£12.71
Successful spin-off from Shaun the Sheep, Timmy Time is another gem from Bristol based Aardman Animation.
Little lamb Timmy is off to nursery where in true Aardman style, humorous mishaps, strong characterisation and good story lines make these stories entertaining for toddlers right up to adults.
The Snapshot Timmy DVD contains eight excellent episodes following the tots and teachers as they learn, play and desperately try to take a school photograph. It’s funny, gentle and full of life’s little trials which we can all relate to.
Played to a group of pre-schoolers and parents, Timmy Time was a total hit. All were quickly laughing at the little lamb’s antics and singing the theme tune with gusto. The animated facial expressions on the animals conveyed more with simple raised eyebrows than a shouty ten minutes of invading American animation plaguing most aspects of children’s viewing habits.
DVD extras include two games.
A Christmas stocking must.
Enter our Timmy Time competition to be in with a chance to win the DVD
Chuggington
Action Stations
£12.71
Chuggington is Thomas the Tank Engine for children who need a bit more wham bam excitement.
Following young trainees Koko, Wilson and Brewster, strong messages about teamwork, friendship, and responsibility are central to each episode. Stories are told in flawless 3d animation, with plenty of colourful characters.
When viewed by pre-schoolers and parents, Chuggington was popular with the boys who enjoyed the more unlikely technological capabilities of the trains, including their flying ability. Entertaining and the kids enjoyed it, but to a generation of parents who grew up on the ever reliable Rev W. Awdry’s simple tales of steam engines it is a leap too far.
DVD extras include a memory game and sing-a-long
Waybuloo
Meet the Piplings
£12.71
Five episodes of this pre-school favourite come on the Meet the Piplings DVD. Waybuloo is a curiosity of a series. Soft and gentle, this animation focuses on children and their feelings in a philosophical way. Through love, wisdom, happiness and harmony, children can attempt to achieve “Waybuloo”.
In the magical land of Nara, live the Piplings. These creatures embody positive emotion and float when they are happy. The Piplings practice Yogo, a form of exercise similar to yoga. In each episode, six children visit Nara to play with the Piplings. This is to show that children are capable of finding their own positive place, not just the animated creatures.
Our group of pre-schoolers and parent viewers found Waybuloo a unique and curious programme. With its mystical blend of symbols, Yogo and enlightened state of Waybuloo, this was more a hit with the girls than the boys, who were inclined to get up and join in with the movement and positions.
Waybuloo is a gentle philosophical curiosity ideal for the warming down stretch prior to bedtime.
Extras include a nap mode, character profiles and the Floating Game.