Gradually degenerating into ignorance and complacency.

Friday, November 17, 2006

Scholastic books on DVD

I watched the Slightly Scary Stories for Halloween. What's Under My Bed by James Stevenson was quite enjoyable. It was a demystifying tale. What was heard and seen always had a rational explanation as discerned by the children themselves. While the animation was choppy and the art lacking, the voices and work was good. It had a small element of thought in that the lamp held to walk through halls (obviously inappropriate for 20th century, but still intersting) cast light on the walls but almost nothing forward and back -- unlike many children's cartoons.

Teeny-Tiny and the Witch-Woman by Barbara Walker was a "scarier" story with a happy ending. The art here reminded me of Canadian/Toronto Broadcasting of the 70s and 80s. The animation was still a little choppy, but the characters were very well drawn -- all things considered. The concept of staying in a stranger's house not being a bad idea, was missed a little bit. Clearly, the cannibalistic witch was scary enough -- in that staying in strangers' houses is unwise, but I think the point was missed.

The videos were old, but freshly put on DVD, so the sound was weak and in mono.

By the Light of the Halloween Moon by Caroline Stutson is a book I remember in school. It was a progressive story, but not improved with lackluster animation. The story is clearly better read and not animated.

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