Schoolhouse Rock: Earth (2009)
Schoolhouse Rock! DVDs

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"Schoolhouse Rock!' makes its return just in time for Earth Day (on April 22nd) and educating children on recycling, protecting the Earth via the ocean, the rainforest and more! "Schoolhouse Rock! Earth" makes a wonderful educational tool for parents or teachers wanting to educate their children through music about taking care of the planet.

Back in the early 70's, an animated series known as "Schoolhouse Rock!" captured the attention of young Americans as it was seen on television but it became very instrumental in helping people learn about mathematics, grammar and science.

The animation was from an idea based by David McCall who knew his son was having problems with multiplication tables, but his son was able to know the lyrics to the popular songs of that time. So, what if children remembered the lyrics to songs that were educational. McCall eventually created animated versions of the songs and they were sold to ABC for their Saturday morning lineup and for 12 years the animation was shown on television. With the regular broadcasts ending in 2001.

There have been a few new songs dealing with money and politics, especially for the release of the 30th Anniversary DVD collection of "School House Rock". And in March 2009, children will get to learn the latest "Schoolhouse Rock!" music as this time, the theme goes Green with the release of "Schoolhouse Rock! Earth" to celebrate Earth Day (April 22nd).

The creators of the original series have created new songs bringing back characters such as Interplanet Janet and Mr. Morton.

The DVD features eleven original songs with new contemporary animation which helps children learn about global warming from a polar bear's point of view, carbon footprints from an animated Sasquatch, the importance of tropical rain forests, benefits of solar and wind power and other important "green" concepts.

The songs featured on this DVD are:

* Report from the North Pole
* The Little Things We Do
* The Trash Can Band
* You Oughta Be Savin' Water
* The Rainforest
* Save the Ocean
* FatCat Blue: The Clean Rivers Song
* A Tiny Urban Zoo
* Solar Power to the People
* Windy and the Windmills
* Don't Be a Carbon Sasquatch

The DVD also contains an extra video titled "The Three R's" by "Hannah Montana" star Mitchell Musso and the original classic version of "The Energy Blues".

VIDEO & AUDIO:

The video is presented in widescreen with an aspect ratio of 1:66:1 (enhanced for 16×9 televisions) and features hand drawn animations. Simple and similar style to the classic "Schoolhouse Rock!" animations from the past. Animation that are line drawings with no major shading or detail. Simplified animation.

As for the audio, audio is presented in English via Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound and a French language track. The music comes clear via your front channel speakers and no problems with audio.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

Unfortunately, there are no special features.

JUDGMENT CALL:

The main drive for the "Schoolhouse Rock!" animations is to help educate children and help them remember songs and hopefully they will do well in their homework. I can tell you that growing up with "Schoolhouse Rock!", songs such as "Conjunction Junction", "Naughty Number Nine", "Electricity, Electricity", "I'm Just a Bill" and "The Preamble" were big songs and actually did help me in quizzes for school because I remembered these songs and stuck in my head.

Now as an adult, I watched these videos with my 6-year-old son and there are songs that really stuck in our heads such as "Save the Ocean". In fact, I've caught him singing the song and many other songs featured on the DVD and thus I know the intention of children being educated through music and learning about ecology and protecting the Earth does work with their viewing of "SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK! EARTH".

With Earth Day coming up on April 22nd, it's definitely good timing for the release of this DVD and I can see parents and teachers utilizing the DVD to help educate children about protecting the ocean, the rainforest and learning about recycling, solar power and windpower as well.

For parents and those of us who grew up with the original, this newer DVD keeps the original feeling intact, especially since the creators of the original are involved in the making of this version. Also, a similar style of singing (well, of course, a bit modernized as some parts have a bit of rapping) as the original. But the music is catchy, stays in your mind and you'll find yourself singing along with your children.

"SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK! EARTH" is a very good educational tool for children and safe songs for children and their families to learn and sing along to.