v4 issue 33: Media Mania

This week we have selected some DVD programs and movies that are fun and educational.
PLUS: An interview with the founder and president of Little Airplane Productions.


Cover by Kelly Smith








1 With a "worry less and play more" attitude, Braincandy feeds the minds of little ones with the information needed to explore the world around them. By enticing minds into exploration and interaction, Braincandy media educates children socially, developmentally, & physically.

2 The Jim Henson Company & HIT Entertainment join forces to bring Russell Hoban's "Frances" books to DVD. A copy of the original 1960's storybook Bedtime for Frances, three complete episodes, & oodles of bonus features are included in each "Bedtime for Frances" DVD & Book Collection.

3 Introduce children to the land, language, and culture of China. Walker and his friend Ping Ping lead you through the landscapes of China to explore a Chinese market and the Great Wall. Educational and fun!

4 The Wonder Pets "Join the Circus" and faithfully save the day! Music, silliness, & education are joyfully combined to create three ring fun for the whole family. Be sure to check out the interview with the creator of The Wonder Pets in this month's issue.

5 Come along with Billy Blue Hair and his trusty dog Doogie as they fetch some fascinating facts on animals in "Why Do Giraffes Have Long Necks?" The excursion leads children on a global quest where they gather interesting facts on animals of all sorts. Grrreat!

6 Join Barney & Friends, along with their new friend Jingles, on a quest to find the best fairy tale in the land. In this sweet new DVD, called Once Upon a Dino Tale, children listen to renditions of classic fairy tales while traveling to enchanted lands.

7 See what all the buzz is about. Princess Katie & Racer Steve are a husband & wife duo, backed by a full band. The live DVD, Revved Up and Ready to Rock, transitions between live footage and cartoon images of the band playing their highly acclaimed musical hits.

8 Bob the Builder is on site with his crew. They're building skyscrapers and they want your little one to join in on the fun. The On Site : Skyscrapers DVD is where you'll find them...and you can pick it up for only $11.98 @ amazon.com


This weeks mom tips
Green Tip: Wash clothes in cold water…Using cold water saves a significant amount of energy. Clothes last longer and colors stay brighter. Line drying clothes saves even more energy.

Cleaning Tip: Found magic marker on the couch? Try Hair spray to remove magic marker from surfaces.

Organizing Tip: This sounds very simple, but not many moms hang up their keys…lost time by searching for keys (not to mention the frustration!) could be spent playing with your kids or organizing the junk drawer. Find a stylish hook to hang near the door and save the last minute frantic run around.

Time Saving Tip: Plan your meals in advance! By planning your meals for the week you will save time and money at the grocery store. Not to mention the stress of coming up with a meal on the spot. Also save time by avoiding the grocery store during peak shopping times (11a-1p and 5-7p). You may want to even consider grocery delivery, it’s not as expensive as you think when you consider gas expense.


Interview with founder and president of Little Airplane Productions


We recently interviewed Josh Selig the founder and president of Little Airplane Productions. Josh is a writer, producer, and filmmaker. We were thrilled to talk to Josh about one of our favorite shows that he writes and produces, “The Wonder Pets!” and the release of the newest adventure, “Wonder Pets Join the Circus !”. The Wonder Pets follows the adventures of three classroom pets that travel around the globe rescuing animals in need of help.



TTW: How did you come up with the idea of “The Wonder Pets!”?

JS: I always wanted to make a show about superheroes who had no actual superpowers. The only power that Linny, Tuck and Ming-Ming have is teamwork, but when they use it they can do extraordinary things!

TTW: Where does the inspiration for the adventures come from?

JS: We are always thinking about new animals that the Wonder Pets can save. I was just reading in National Geographic about a type of goat in Africa that can climb trees to get to a particular kind of tasty fruit. Now I want the Wonder Pets to save one of those goats!

TTW: Has “The Wonder Pets!” gone through any major changes from the very first episode in 1999?

JS: Actually, my company, Little Airplane Productions, began in 1999, but “The Wonder Pets!” has only been around since 2003. Our biggest change is that at first we made some short episodes that only starred Linny the Guinea Pig. About a year later we added Tuck and Ming-Ming. And then a few years later, we added Ollie as one of their friends!

TTW: My all time favorite adventure is “The Wonder Pets! Save the Puppy!” Do you have a favorite adventure?

JS: For me, the greatest adventure is the actual making of the different episodes. We learn so much on each show and we always meet new actors, new composers and new artists. Making the show is easily as exciting as the show itself!

TTW: What is the process for “The Wonder Pets!” animation?

JS: It’s an original process that we call “Photo-Puppetry Animation.” It was created at Little Airplane by our brilliant Creative Director, Jennifer Oxley. It involves taking real photographs and turning them into paper doll-like digital puppets that can be manipulated in the computer.

TTW: What is the typical amount of time you/your team put into creating a new episode?

JS: It takes about 9 months to make one episode of “The Wonder Pets!” We start out with writing and we finish with animation and there are lots of steps in between. Each step is very important and my team at Little Airplane Productions works very hard to make sure we get each part just right. By the time an episode is finished we have probably seen it about 30 times in various stages of its development.

TTW: How did you come across this fresh yet original concept for “The Wonder Pets! Join the Circus!”

JS: I used to be a juggler, unicyclist and fire-eater so I’ve always been fascinated by the circus. I also wanted to write an episode in which the Wonder Pets split up for awhile. At the circus, they each get to perform their very own circus acts. They have a great time but, in the end, they miss each other and they also miss teamwork!

For more information about his company and their projects, visit www.littleairplane.com