KIDS FIRST! News

From the mind of Gwen Stefani comes the world of Kuu Kuu Harajuku! Say hello to HJ5! A super cool band made of five super cool girls! Love, Angel, Music, Baby and their inspirational leader G love to sing, dance and sport the latest kawaii fashions (Kawaii is “cute ” in Harajuku speak)! With help from their loveably incompetent manager Rudie, HJ5 travels all over to put on shows for their fans! Although they are totally talented, every time they start a gig, something wild and crazy happens before they finish the first bar! I mean, it’s not easy performing while you are being attacked by space aliens, adorable (and ravenous) monster pets OR hunger (you don’t want to mess with Baby when she’s hangry). No matter what challenges come their way, they always work together to save the day! KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Morgan B. comments, “The perfect animation colors and style make this concoction a work of art that is pure genius. This is an adorable fun world full of fashion, original songs and five smart girls with problem solving skills and teamwork.” Kamryn B. adds, “Kuu Kuu Harajuku is a jamming new TV series that is now available on DVD. This show is filled with humor and adventurous episodes. The vibrant colors make the show even more “Kawaii,” the Japanese term for cute.” KIDS FIRST! Juror Rachael V. wraps it up with, “This program was ​co-​created by Gwen Stephani (No Doubt) and you can really tell. It’s extremely girly and stylistic and the music is fantastic.” See their full reviews below. 

Kuu Kuu Harajuku: Music Baby
By Morgan B., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 12

The adventures on this DVD are crazy and humorous! The perfect animation colors and style make this concoction a work of art that is pure genius. This is an adorable fun world full of fashion, original songs and five smart girls with problem solving skills and teamwork.

I adore the likable, optimistic characters including G (Maggie Chretien), the leader of the band HJ5 who is ready for a challenge at all times. She believes nothing is impossible. This is why she is my favorite character. Fun fact: G is supposed to be represent Gwen Stefani in encouraging young girls to become themselves and to have faith in each other as well. Baby (Charlotte Nicdao) loves everything and just wants to give everyone a hug and talk things out. Love (Daisy Masterman) is the brainiac. She knows her technology and her brain is big and chocked full of knowledge. She is one smart cookie. Music (Sally Taylor-Isherwood) is the sarcastic, sassy one who knows what to do and when to do it. Angle (Emma Taylor-Isherwood) is the girl to call on when you need an outfit for an event. She loves fashion and shopping. They all want the best for each other while they try to make it as a girl band. They are true to themselves and believe every problem has a solution.

The voice-over talent is fantastic. They know how to bring out the perfect tones for each character. Gwen Stefani is the executive producer and along with her, many other wonderful actresses are a part of this crew. Lessons to be learned from the show are inspirational and helpful. HJ5 helps kids learn to be themselves and accept who they are. That is what makes this show so special. People are all different and have a unique quality about them. The world would be boring if everyone was the same. We should accept each other’s differences. It is okay to be different. Embrace our differences and have fun with it. That is what makes you who you are and what makes you special and unique.

Phony ponies is the cutest episode. It reminds me of the Kentucky Derby because of the hats that they wear, like the actual Kentucky Derby. My mom and I always wear crazy hats and watch the horse races. Team work is a great theme for this show. The music is originally and catchy. It makes you feel good and you want to sing along. The animation is perfect as are the colors and style. All the colors are eye catching and fun. On the other hand, the style is perfect. I love the complex shapes and details and the way that they make it all work together.

I recommend this funtastic DVD for ages 4 to 12. For kids who love music, fashion and adorableness,  this fabulous DVD will be a hit. I give it 5 out of 5 “Kawaii” (Japanese for cute) singing stars. This DVD comes out on June 13, 2017 so, keep your eye out for it.

Kuu Kuu Harajuku: Music Baby
By Kamryn B., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 15

Kuu Kuu Harajuku is a jamming new TV series that is now available on DVD. This show is filled with humor and adventurous episodes. The vibrant colors make the show even more “Kawaii,” the Japanese term for cute. The characters Music, Baby, Love, Angel and G experience different puzzling situations together as they sing to their accumulating fan base. Their unorganized manager Rudie and General No Fun are always trying to ruin the band’s plans.

This show was created by Gwen Stephanie based on her Harajuku Lovers brand. Steve Aranguren, Gillian Carr and Madellaine Paxson are credited as co-developers. The cast includes Charlotte Nicdao as Baby, Emma Taylor-Isherwood as Angel, Daisy Masterman as Love, Danny Smith as Rudie and Sally Taylor-Isherwood as Music. I commend the voice actors for the way they make the characters’ emotions seem real.

The animation is quite unique, compared to other animated shows. The show has multiple shades of purple and pink that would make any girl squeal. The characters are all quite unique and well defined. G, the leader of the band, helps the group focus on the task at hand. Whenever General No Fun gets in the way of fun, she helps figure out a way to have fun despite his intentions. Since their manager Rudie isn’t much help, G has an important role to play. Baby is childish and knows what’s cute and what isn’t. Love has all the smarts to create a formula of success. Angel is the fashionista who wears all the newest looks and styles.  And Music is my favorite character because of her sense of humor and a hint of sass.

My favorite scene involved Music in one of the episodes when she suspects something fishy is going on that would negatively affect the band. Music does her best to protect her friends. The different episodes evoke a different message. One that I resonate with is the idea of teamwork and working together as a group. It also emphasizes that people should not be ashamed of  who they are or what they love to do.

I give this DVD 4 out of 5 stars. The animation is great, the characters are lovable and enjoyable. I recommend this DVd to kids age 5 to 10. This DVD comes out on June 13, 2017 so, be sure to check it out.

Kuu Kuu Harajuku: Music Baby
Reviewed by Rachael Vickers, KIDS FIRST! Adult Juror.

This program was ​co-​created by Gwen Stephani (No Doubt) and you can really tell. It’s extremely girly and stylistic and the music is fantastic. It’s about a band called HJ5​. It has a real cutesy Spice Girls meets My Little Pony feel to it. The girls are always running into problems while trying to do a gig. Nothing seems to go their way, but because they are such great friends they always find a way to salvage the day. There is an adorable episode called Baby’s Birthday. Baby is on the girls in the band and it’s fun watching the other members scrambling to make this day worthwhile for Baby. This is definitely not a program that I ​think​ boys would ​particularly enjoy. There are ​no action moments​. It is all heavily focused towards girls​,​ which is fine.​ The music is great and ​it ​has a fun pop sound. The animation is ​quite ​good and ​the storyline flows well. I ​recommend this for ages 4 through 11 and give it 5 out 5 stars for really teaching girls to be tough and stay positive!

 Alisa Knows What to Do! is based on the extremely popular Russian science-fiction novels by famous Russian author Kir Bulychiov about a young girl from the future, Alisa Salazar. This animated series weaves a tale about the adventures of a group of teenagers living at the end of the 21st century. The world has changed yet the burning questions that occupied people at the beginning of the century are still pertinent today. Alisa and her friends not only battle evil and injustice but they are also concerned with global problems like the natural balance, both on the planet and in space. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Lucia F. comments, “I like the animation because the special effects are very cool. Young children will enjoy this because it is filled with adventure and action.” Gerry O. adds, “There are not many animated kid shows that can teach important life lessons, entertain and spark the viewer’s imagination. Alisa Knows What to Do: Season One accomplishes all of this and more.” Calista B. wraps it up with, “This series is really enjoyable. I was honestly surprised by how much I was invested in the story and the characters. It is surprisingly solid.” See their full reviews below.

Alisa Knows What To Do! Season One
By Lucia Funaro, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 18

What I find appealing is that Alisa is everyone’s boss and, as the title says, she obviously knows what to do. I like the animation because the special effects are very cool. Young children will enjoy this because it is filled with adventure and action. One part I don’t care for is how strict the  teacher is. I wish he was nicer to the young teens. At first I was bothered by the audio which is not in sync with the mouth movements and then I realized that the original language is Russian and this version is dubbed in English.

This DVD is a compilation of episodes from the TV show. Based on a popular Russian science fiction novel by Kir Bulychiov, the show follows a group of teens in the future who learn to solve problems with help from their leader Alisa. Alisa and her friends face many difficulties and they have to figure out how to fight the villains that are trying to defeat them. They are also concerned about the environment and how the earth will survive. They live near the end of the 21st century, so there is lots of advanced technology included in this show.

There are two messages in this show – every problem has a solution and teamwork is the key.  I love that the person who usually comes up with the right answer is a girl. I also love how everyone helps each other out in complicated situations.

What really stands in this show is that each episode is self-contained. It has a beginning, middle and end. The animation and audio quality are also amazing. It took me a while to realize that this show takes place at the end of the 21st Century. Most episodes start out showing the kids at school doing class work or something funny. Then someone tells Alisa about a problem and she usually finds the situation. Her friends are her sidekicks so they help her when she needs them. Alisa and her friends are very concerned about the earth, the environment and how to protect it. They are constantly trying to save the universe. Everyone will want to root for Alisa and her friends!

I recommend this show to ages 5 to 10 and give it 5 out of 5 stars. I believe children will enjoy the action, adventure and problem-solving. It is fun and also educational. It is available June 13, 2019 on DVD so, go check it out.

Alisa Knows What to Do: Season One
By Gerry O., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 15

There are not many animated kid shows that can teach important life lessons, entertain and spark the viewer’s imagination. Alisa Knows What to Do: Season One accomplishes all of this and more. Even though it is meant for kids, this animated series is perfect for the entire family.

The show has a core of a futuristic adventure with many different elements for viewers to enjoy. Throughout the episodes, viewers will find plenty of comedy that makes everyone laugh. It also includes quite a few of child-friendly action sequences and even some slight young romance between the characters.

Even though each episode has a different plot, the series follows the story of five teenagers living in the year 2090, where there are aliens, robots, spaceships and many advanced pieces of technology. Alisa is always there to save the day with her skills and quick wit to stop evil monsters and evil scientists, rescue her friends and preserve endangered inter-galactical animals.

Overall, this DVD offers a very entertaining collection of episodes with unique stories that always have surprise endings. I also love the interesting perspective of the future. It feels possible but still makes you dream about endless possibilities. The animation itself is a quite different style than what is generally seen on TV, due to being produced in Moscow.  One small issue that is very apparent throughout the show is the dubbing. Due to being converted from Russian to English, there are many times when the characters’ lips do not match the audio perfectly. The problem isn’t too noticeable most of the time, but there are scenes where it is distracting.

My favorite episode is Games without Rules. In this episode, a new museum about the history of the galaxy opens on Pluto. The top scientists, including Alisa’s father, attend the opening. Disaster strikes when an eclipse by a Pluto moon causes the release of “Zye” waves, which turns people into statues.  Luckily Alisa and her friend find out about this and destroy a crystal to rescue the people. The animation of the museum and the dwarf planet is beautiful and the plot has unexpected and entertaining twists.

The show is meant for kids, but there are some darker aspects of some episodes. For that reason, I recommend it for ages 10 to 18. I give the DVD 4.5 out of 5 stars because there of the small issue with the dubbing, but other than that, the show is entertaining, has strong messages and is perfect for the whole family.

Alisa Knows What To Do! Season One
By Calista B., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 13

This series is really enjoyable. I was honestly surprised by how much I was invested in the story and the characters. It is surprisingly solid. This is a show based on the popular series of Russian books by Kir Bulychlov. The story is about a young girl named Alisa and her friends who live in the future, in the year 2093. They go on adventures throughout the galaxy fighting crime and protecting the environment.

First, I want to talk about the main group of kids. To be honest, Alisa takes center stage a lot. But this isn’t a bad thing, because they switch the spotlight to the other kids every once in a while. And they try to develop the characters of the other kids, which I like. In terms of personality, the characters are pretty stereotyped. There’s The Jock, The Nerd, The Girly Girl who only cares about her looks and similar. As much as I disapprove of stereotyping in general, these are probably some of the best stereotypes I’ve seen. However, I will say that I found the girls way more likeable than the boys.

The most important aspect in any sci-fi story is how you use the futuristic setting to your advantage. The world you create has to be as impactful as the story and characters. And the sci-fi world in this series is really super cool! The other planets and environments the creators made up are really creative. The city where they live is very well designed as are the gadgets they use. This is one of the best instances of edutainment that I’ve ever seen.

In terms of the animation, it’s actually quite good. It is definitely clear that the creators put a lot of effort into the visuals. However, the close-up shots of the characters are a bit weird looking. It makes them look like weirdly made plastic dolls.

The voice-overs are also well done. IMDB only lists Laurie Hymes who voices Alisa and Alyson Leigh Rosenfeld who voices Natalie. Both of them are excellent in their voice-over roles.

I give this DVD 3 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 12. I can see some older kids enjoying this show as well. It is great for future environmentalists and scientists. This DVD is available now so, go check it out.

Welcome to Enchanted Island, an island covered with a mysterious enchanted forest, which is home to every form of magical creature you could ever imagine – fairies, mischievous boy sprites, unicorns, sirens, ancient tree spirits and magic wishing wells. Visitors to Enchanted Isle must beware for nothing is ever quite what it seems, and dreams and reality quickly become one. At the center of the forest is the palace of the capricious Fairy Queen, who is in a constant temper due to being turned into a frog by a talented young fairy who overdid herself and, in an attempt to grant the ultimate favor to the queen by making her even more pretty, she cast a spell that gave her the head of a frog! Unfortunately, that talented young fairy is our friend, Twinkle. Twinkle has great potential as a fairy but she must learn to master her wand and its magic. Join Twinkle along with her Super 4 friends as they band together to fight villains and save their worlds from chaos. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Alejandra G. comments, “I love that this DVD is filled with creativity and fantasy, factors that truly draw children’s attention. Each story has witches, fairies, enchanted worlds and many other fanciful things.” See her full review below.

Super 4: Welcome to Enchanted Island
By Alejandra Garcia, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 15

I love that this DVD is filled with creativity and fantasy, factors that truly draw children’s attention. Each story has witches, fairies, enchanted worlds and many other fanciful things. Since young children have big imaginations and tend to be extremely creative, they are automatically drawn to the show since they can relate to the fantasies in each episode. Their open imagination allows them to dream about these unique and special creatures. I understand why kids love the series so much.

In this show, the characters go on adventure after adventure to help their friends solve problems or situations they are in on the Enchanted Island. They get into very funny and odd situations that children will relate to as something that is actually possible. Of course, using magic to help them adds to the intrigue.

My favorite scene from this collection is when the queen’s head turns into a frog as she attempts to make herself more beautiful. She wants to try, but fails and has to deal with the consequences. This scene demonstrates how the shows’ makers incorporate things that children will easily be drawn into. It’s typical of young children dream of and imagine. Also, it is quite funny to see how they manage to make this funny scene part of the story.

The episodes truly excels at entertaining children and making them have a great time while watching. It offers positive role models and a theme of friendship. The Super 4 friends band together to fight villains and save their worlds from chaos. I can honestly commend the makers of this show on their smart and intelligent writing. While at first look, it appears as a length infomercial for Playmobil toys, it is more than that. The stories are unique and special and geared appropriate for its young audience. It’s highly entertaining and fun. I wish the females were more engaging. I rate this DVD 3 out of 5 and recommend it for ages 3 to 8.

Super 4: Welcome to Enchanted Island
By Morgan B., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 12

Super 4: Welcome To Enchanted Island is eye catching and entertaining. The lessons are perfect for kids       and the animation is terrific. Kids will love this DVD for so many reasons and they will talk about for years to come. The animation in this DVD is one of my favorite things about it. I adore it. The characters all look like toys from a Playmobil toy set and, that is one of my favorite things about this series. Everything that is in this imaginary world is built with Playmobil blocks. Also the animation is very colorful and joyous and makes me fell all giddy whenever I watch it. 

The morals and life lessons in this DVD are terrific and can be very valuable for everyone. Some of the lessons included are be courteous to everyone no matter who they are or what they have done to you, use everyone’s talents not just your own, look to the future and not the past, and look before you leap.

The characters are all quirky and energetic. I like Alex (Damien Farrette) who is the knight in shining armor to call when you need help. He is also always there for you and ready to lead a helping hand. Rudy (Laetitia Lefebvre) is another goodhearted, but mischievous character for she is a pirate at heart. Even though she is trying to get rid of some of her flaws, she stills has a few. Gene (Frank Lorrair) is a sci-fi futuristic kind of guy who likes to use gadgets, which some might say are magical because of how stupendous they are. He also loves to use logic to solve all kinds of problems, such as how to wrestle with a troll and so many more life lessons. I know I will use them in the future. My favorite character is Twinkle (Sara Natochenny). I love her for her kind heart and her shyness. She wants to make things right by turning the fairy queen back from a frog into a fairy so she can make amends. Also, she wants to do no wrong even though she needs to learn how to use her wand correctly since she accidentally turned the fairy queen into a frog in the first place. Twinkle always looks to the future and always has a good attitude unless her fairy friends are sad. When the furious elf turns all the colors into black and white and makes the fairies all sad and unhappy, Twinkle is there to help them out and look to the future. Twinkle is a fairy full of determination!

I recommend this DVD for ages 6 to 12. Kids will love the quirky characters, fun learning experiences with Twinkle, Alex, Rudy and Gene. They will also love the factor that it is inspired by Playmobil and brings all kinds of worlds together into one big, huge, wondrous universe.  I give this magical DVD 5 out of 5 Golden Wands. This DVD is in stores now so, if you want fun adventure and excitement in your home, go check it out.

Dive into adventure with your favorite underwater explorers, the Octonauts! Join brave Captain Barnacles, daredevil ex-pirate, Kwazii and medic Peso Penguin, along with the other Octonauts as they explore the world’s oceans, rescue the creatures who live there and protect their habitats – above and below the waves! On this exciting DVD, join the Octonauts as they embark on not one, not two, but 12 rescue missions! From attempting to dive deep into the abyssal zone to encountering a school of toothy barracudas to Barnacles seeking guidance from a mysterious sea turtle. It’s time to sound the Octo-alert! KIDS FIRST! Juror Eli B. comments, “This show helps children look at the world around them and realize that there are other forms of life that may need our help.” KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Ella L. adds, “The writing is intelligent and the amount of information supplied to the audience is plentiful. The show makes learning a fun, yet understandable experience for young kids.” See their full reviews below.

Octonauts: 12 Rescue Missions
By Eli B., KIDS FIRST! Juror

This is a great DVD! The collection not only features a new sea creature every episode, but includes facts about the ocean in general. This show helps children look at the world around them and realize that there are other forms of life that may need our help.

The songs are fun and catchy. The characters present many facts about interesting sea life, problems facing our environment and marine life and offer ways in which we can do our part to spread the word and be proactive about positive change. Show this to children to boost their interest in marine life, sea creatures, pollution, global warming, endangered underwater species and much more.

The option to choose individual episodes gives you the control to present as much or as little info as you like. Hopefully, kids will use fun and informative media to learn about important issues that we face today and use it to be the change our future depends on.

This DVD includes a collection of twelve episodes that teaches lessons about teamwork, diversity, rules, seal life and protecting the planet. It has a main menu that includes Play All Episodes, Play episodes individually and Creature Reports which is an in depth look at the creatures and main songs from individual episodes. The DVD has great visual appeal! The cover is colorful and has a shiny, raised surface. The characters are fun and cute with unique personalities. The production quality is clear, concise and really fun to watch. There are catchy and informative songs that help you retain the information from the episode and will surely stick in your head for the day! The characters’ voices are calm and your child is never prompted to yell, scream or shout out answers. In fact, the characters don’t talk directly to you. They speak to each other about teamwork, determination, learning and helping other creatures and the environment.

The characters are great social models for children. They show diversity in behaviors and personalities and also use teamwork to solve problems together. The interactions are done respectfully and characters with certain stronger skills step in and help out those who could use guidance and support.

There are important issues approached in each episode, such as pollution, but they’re presented in a way that children are comfortable moving forward with questions and exploring. This show debuted on TV in 2010, so it has perfected its structure and style. It has a clear beginning and end that is easy for children to understand. Each episode averages between 10 to 14 minutes, so it is perfect for short viewings and discussion afterwards. The only unappealing factor in this collection is that there is no female character that actually lead adventures. All the proactive protagonists are male. The two female characters, Tweak and Dashi are generally left behind on the base while the three main male characters take an active role. Unfortunately, it’s missed opportunities via media such as this that could encourage girls to pursue an interest in science.

Children will enjoy this because of the relatable characters, fun songs, information about sea creatures and grand adventures! I give it 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 2 to 10. 

Octonauts: 12 Rescue Missions
By Ella L., KIDS FIRST! Film Critics, 13

Octonauts: 12 Rescue Missions is an entertaining educational film for young kids. The writing is intelligent and the amount of information supplied to the audience is plentiful. The show makes learning a fun, yet understandable experience for young kids. For the most part, this film succeeds in doing exactly that! However, I have some issues with the pace of the show.

Octonauts: 12 Rescue Mission is about a group of aquatic animal explorers named Kwazii, Captain Barnacles, Peso, Professor Inklings, Dr. Shellington, Tweak, Dashi and Turnip the Vegimal. Throughout the film, the Octonauts excavate the ocean, visit locations such as the Mariana Trench and see animals such as barracudas and harbor seals. This DVD is a collection of episodes from their TV show Octonauts.

One thing I really admire about this show is its colorful animation. The quality of the art really draws you in. I was also impressed with the humor that is written into the script. They make certain jokes that kids will find funny and the voice actors execute these quite well.

The DVD educates its viewers on topics such as urchins, yeti crabs, kelp forests and lion’s mane jellyfish. It tells us where these animals live, what they prey on and who their predators are. It also touches on survival mechanisms such as camouflage. All of these are important for kids to know, even at such a young age. I have an issue with the pace of the show. It feels too fast for me and I had a difficult time keeping up with the information presented.

Overall, this is an entertaining DVD for kids. The animation is aesthetically pleasing and the voice acting is very well done. I rate this film 3 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 2 to 6. This DVD is cinematically stimulating and chocked full of educational information. It comes out on DVD  May 9, 2017 so, be sure to check it out.

This collection features two episodes: Overloaded where the Autobots must split their forces to battle two different, but both dangerous, Decepticons. While Optimus takes his team to the Artic Circle to face off against Polarclaw, Bumblee and his team must battle against Overload, an ancient Decepticon who has a grudge against Optimus. Second episode is Decepticon Island where the Autobot teams are reunited, but all is not well as they discover that Steeljaw is leading a Decepticon guerilla army. Though outnumbered, the Autobots will have to defeat Steeljaw’s army if they want to keep the world safe. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Jolleen comments, “This movie has great animations! The battle scenes are very detailed and it is pleasing to see that there are diverse types of conflict. In this film, the conflict isn’t always good vs. bad.” Arjun N. adds, “Transformers Robots in Disguise is a great double-feature package. The animation and voice acting are really good. Transformers fans will rejoice at this movie.” See their full reviews below.

Transformers Robots In Disguise Collection: Overloaded & Deception Island
By Jolleen Mejia, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 12

This movie has great animations! The battle scenes are very detailed and it is pleasing to see that there are diverse types of conflict. In this film, the conflict isn’t always good vs. bad. Sometimes it is conflict within the team itself. The plotline is awesome as well. It really held my interest.

This is a film where the autobots (Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Strongarm, Sideswipe, Fixit) fight against the Decepticons. The goal of the Decepticons is to take over Earth and inhabit the planet for themselves. The autobots protect the humans and try to prevent any damage that the Decepticons might make.

Bumblebee (Will Friedle) is the leader of the autobots. Will Friedle’s voice sounds strong and makes you think that he knows what he’s doing. Optimus Prime (Peter Cullen) is the mentor of Bumblebee and was the leader before Bumblebee. Peter Cullen’s voice sounds old, making Optimus Prime seem wise and experienced. The casting director really found great voice talent for these roles!

The animation is spot on. All the movements are easy to follow, the quality of the movie is great and the backdrops are nicely done as well. Everything is very detailed and looks quite realistic. My favorite part is when the whole autobot team works together and comes up with a strategy to defeat the polar bear Decepticon. It is amazing to see them planning and then actually following through with their plan until it works out in the end. I loved seeing the autobots accomplish something together.

The message of this film is to stay strong, focused and remember that teamwork is important. Bumblebee and Optimus prime fight over something so small, but it almost tears apart their friendship. It almost costs the lives of their comrades. But they stay focused, work together and are successful in their mission. The autobots are very moral characters who fight for the greater good. The film tries to influence people to be like the autobots and teaches people how to react in times of trouble.

This film is well thought out. I give it 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for the ages 5 to 12. It has a positive message that everyone should hear. I recommend that parents watch it with together with their child. This is available on DVD May 30, 2017 so, go check it out.

Transformers Robots In Disguise Collection: Overloaded & Deception Island
By Arjun Nair, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 15

Transformers Robots in Disguise is a great double-feature package. The animation and voice acting are really good. Transformers fans will rejoice at this movie.

The double-feature follows two stories. In the first one, “Overloaded,” Optimus Prime (Peter Cullen) is powered down and splits the team in two with Bumblebee in defense of the junkyard. Bumblebee (Will Friedle) runs into Overload (Dave Fennoy), a Decepticon, while the rest of the team runs into Polarclaw. In the second one, “Decepticon Island,” Bumblebee, in lead of the team, discovers information which leads to Decepticon Island where the Mini-Bots are held captive. The team attempt to free the Mini-Bots. However, the plan fails when Steeljaw (Troy Baker) captures the team.

Peter Cullen as Optimus Prime steals the show with a voice of iron. His portrayal of leadership works well, too and he is my favorite character. Will Friedle as Bumblebee presents an immature attitude to Optimus especially when he disagrees with Optimus. Dave Fennoy as Overload is funny with his finesse of theater. Troy Baker as Steeljaw is deceptive with his use of tricks to climb the power ladder of the Decepticon. Darren Criss as Sideswipe displays a constant, competitive banter with Strongarm, who is another Autobot. Constance Zimmer as Strongarm portrays her banter with Sideswipe quite well.  Khary Payton as Grimlock, a Dinobot transformer, provides excellent comedic relief. Mitchell Whitfield as Fixit,  is a Mini-Bot who expresses his care to his fellow captured Mini-Bots.

From the emotions portrayed in the characters’ faces to the fluid action, the animation by Amrish Sharma is impressive. His handling of the characters’ emotions between Optimus Prime and Bumblebee in the second feature, “Decepticon Island,” is an example. My favorite scene is when Steeljaw corners the Autobots due to his impressive character introduction. My only problem with this double-feature is the lack of introduction of the characters and the lack of history about the different types of robotic characters.

The movie’s message is all about the importance of teamwork. Despite Optimus Prime’s weakness, the team works together to complete the mission with tremendous success. I give this movie 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 6 to 12 because the action scenes between the two robot factions appeal to the younger audiences. This DVD collection releases on May 30th, so check it out if you want to see some impressive animation.