Fans can travel across the multi-verse with the epic release of the Rick and Morty: The Complete Seasons 1-7 boxed set available now on DVD. Get Schwifty while you binge on one of cable’s most-watched comedies that follows the sci-fi misadventures of genius scientist Rick and his family. Rick and Morty: The Complete Seasons 1-7 includes all 71 episodes from seven seasons of the award-winning series, copious special features, audio commentary, deleted scenes, “Inside the Episode” segments, numerous featurettes, animatic sketches, and more.
Rick and Morty is the critically acclaimed, half-hour animated hit comedy series on Adult Swim that follows a sociopathic genius scientist who drags his inherently timid grandson on insanely dangerous adventures across the universe. Rick Sanchez is living with his daughter Beth’s family and constantly bringing her, his son-in-law Jerry, granddaughter Summer, and grandson Morty into intergalactic escapades.
Debuting in 112 countries in 38 languages, Rick and Morty has captured substantial international viewership. The series has ranked as one of the top series for Max, both domestically and globally. Lifetime to date, Rick and Morty has been viewed over 10 billion times globally, across linear, digital, and streaming.
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Who is your favorite Looney Tunes character? Bugs Bunny...Daffy Duck...Porky Pig? Mine is the Tasmanian Devil. Probably because like me he is a wild and crazy guy who isn't always the most articulate person in the room. I've been a fan of TAZ way back to when able to remember first watching Saturday morning cartoons as a kid.
TAZ: QUEST FOR BURGER is a new, original movie from Warner Bros Animation that will be focused on the Tasmanian Devil. Get ready for the comedic and touching adventure that proves every misfit can be a hero, with Taz: Quest For Burger, which is having a straight to digital media release on June 6, 2023. This movie meant for family audiences has a run time of 72 minutes and will be available from Amazon Prime Video, AppleTV, Google Play, Vudu and more.
After an outlaw abducts her father and steals their town's food supply, a feisty adolescent Bandicoot named Quinn recruits The Tasmanian Devil to help her find the thief. Taz may be an ill-tempered rogue with a fearsome reputation, but he and Quinn will have to work together to track the criminal through the wilds of Tasmania and save her community.
My kids grew up watching the animated show Mickey Mouse Clubhouse on the Disney Channel. Hot Diggity Dog! They loved the show's Hot Dog song and dance segments as preschoolers so much that I still catch them now they are teenagers being Goofy dancing around singing the song. Talking to them the other day, I realized that beyond knowing about Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Pluto and Goofy from that cable tv show, they weren't familiar with earlier Disney works that crafted these characters into the beloved pop cult icons we know today. So, I was geeked to learn that as part of Disney's 100 Year Celebration, many of the original short films that introduces these characters to the world are being re-released on Digital and Blu-ray.
Arriving April 4 on Digital and June 27th on Blu-ray/DVD is MICKEY & FRIENDS 10 CLASSIC SHORTS: VOLUME 2. This home entertainment video release includes a brand-new animated interstitials introduction featuring Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald, Goofy and Pluto, as the beloved Disney characters gather together to watch a slideshow on some of their hilarious past adventures. Then viewers can enjoy the hijinks of Mickey and his friends in ten classic animated shorts.
Celebrate 100 magical years of Disney with this collectible compilation of animated shorts! Join Mickey and his friends in these 10 hilarious, madcap adventures which have entertained generations of children and adults alike. Highlights include The Band Concert, where Maestro Mickey and his friends face wild challenges while performing outdoors. Then see what happens when Goofy is in the driver’s seat pulling Mickey’s Trailer. In Pluto’s Sweater, Pluto gets hot under the collar when Minnie knits him a warm turtleneck, and in Pluto and the Gopher, Pluto stops to smell the flowers, but finds himself outwitted by a mischievous rodent. And there’s no stopping Donald’s nephews from coming between their uncle and the lovely Daisy Duck when Mr. Duck Steps Out. Five more charming, funny stories complete this legacy collection that’s sure to delight.
The ten included shows within MICKEY & FRIENDS 10 CLASSIC SHORTS: VOLUME 2 are:
I'm looking forward to some quality family time sharing with my son and daughter the origins of Mickey Mouse and the fun situations he and his friends were involved in before their Mickey Mouse Clubhouse years. Hot Dog!
Thanks Warners Bros Home Entertainment for sending my family a free DVD of the new original animated movie TOM AND JERRY: SNOWMAN'S LAND which is available now on DVD and Digital video formats. This holiday themed film is filled with 72 minutes of toe-tapping tunes and hilarious hijinks featuring the cat and mouse duo plus bonus content for the home video release that includes three classic Tom & Jerry television episodes (Snowbrawl / Ho Ho Horrors / The Plight Before Christmas).
In TOM AND JERRY: SNOWMAN'S LAND, it is time to chase down holiday spirit with Tom and Jerry. Magic is in the air as Jerry and his nephew Tuffy make a snow mouse that miraculously comes to life! To keep their new friend, Larry the Snow Mouse, from melting, Tuffy and Jerry must race him to the fabled Snowman's Village. In hot pursuit, Tom and devious Dr. Doublevay have their own plans for Larry's magic. A dashing Tom & Jerry adventure filled with songs, snow, thrills, laughs and holiday magic.
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The stories of three best friends who band together to tackle life's most daunting challenge -- puberty. Through they have the same first name and live on the same cul-de-sac in the suburbs, the three youths have very different personalities, which contribute to the confusion, contradiction and just plain awkwardness that defines growing up.
What happens when a child outgrows his trusty Imaginary Friend, the pal that stuck with him through all of the highs and lows of growing up? Well, these creations pack up and head to Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends! Foster's is a one-of-a-kind Victorian mansion filled with hundreds of unique characters from all over the world, thought up by completely different children for completely different reasons. These creatures all live together in this vast, sprawling home with more room than you could ever dream possible! Mac, a clever but somewhat shy 8-year-old boy, discovers Foster's when his mom tells him he is too old for his Imaginary Friend Blooregard. Not ready to part with his trouble making best buddy, Mac takes Bloo to Foster's with the hope of giving him a safe place to live while still being able to visit every day.
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No trick I'm treating one lucky ageekdaddy.com reader to a free DVD of The Smurfs: Season 1, Volume 2 courtesy of Nickelodeon and Paramount Home Entertainment. This DVD contains the 9 episodes of the second half of the first season of this year's The Smurfs run on the Nickelodeon cable network. Just complete the rafflecopter entries below before 11:59pm October 22, 2022 for a chance to be the lucky entrant to receive the DVD. Must be a United States resident over 18 years old to participate in the giveaway. Paramount Home Entertainment is responsible for fulfillment and delivery of The Smurfs DVD.a Rafflecopter giveaway
The Smurfs have a new home on Nickelodeon! Join these beloved blue gnomes as they go on all new adventures full of the charm, absurdity and humor of the original television cartoons to even greater heights. La la La la La welcome back to the enchanted forest of The Smurfs!
The Smurfs adventures continue in these animated Nickelodeon adventures as Blossom and Brainy are transported to an alternate universe. Papa Smurf holds a vote to see who will act as Rescue Smurf, Gargamel tries to transform into a Smurf, Dreamer becomes a knight, and so much more! This Smurfy collection of stories contains episodes 10 - 18 of Season One of Nickelodeon's The Smurfs.
Crashing Gargamel's Party/The Curse of the Smurfs' Treasure
Storm Loses her Mojo / Pop Out
Knight Smurfalot / Forget Me What?
Thank you to Paramount Home Entertainment for providing a DVD for my family to enjoy plus one to giveaway. The Smurfs: Season 1, Volume 2 is available now at most major retailers where videos are sold.
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There is a new LEGO Star Wars cartoon special coming to the Disney+ streaming service on August 5 that is all about summer fun! “LEGO Star Wars Summer Vacation,” which is set shortly after the events of “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker,” features the voices of “Weird Al” Yankovic, Yvette Nicole Brown, Kelly Marie Tran, Anthony Daniels, Billy Dee Williams, and returning cast members from previous “LEGO Star Wars” specials, and includes the new original song Scarif Beach Party performed by “Weird Al” Yankovic.Looking for a much-needed break from stormtroopers and TIE fighters, Finn arranges a surprise vacation for his friends Rey, Poe, Rose, Chewie, BB-8, R2-D2, and C-3PO, aboard the ultra-luxurious Galactic Starcruiser, the Halcyon. But Finn’s plan to have one last hurrah together quickly goes awry when he’s separated from the group. While searching for his friends, he encounters three Force ghosts: Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, and Leia Organa, who each share their own unexpected stories of vacations gone wrong, helping him to understand that holidays are about more than just having fun.
“LEGO Star Wars Summer Vacation” features the voices of: “Weird Al” Yankovic as Vic Vankoh; Yvette Nicole Brown as Colvett Valeria; Thomas Lennon as Wick Cooper; Paul F. Tompkins as Rad; Dee Bradley Baker as Boba Fett; Ashly Burch as the Tour Droid; Kyliegh Curran as Sidero; Anthony Daniels as C-3PO; Trevor Devall as Emperor Palpatine; Allie Feder as Sy Snootles; Jake Green as Poe Dameron; Matt Lanter as Anakin Skywalker; Ross Marquand as Han Solo; Omar Miller as Finn; Kevin Michael Richardson as Jabba the Hutt; Matt Sloan as Darth Vader; James Arnold Taylor as Obi-Wan Kenobi; Kelly Marie Tran as Rose; Helen Sadler as Rey Skywalker; Billy Dee Williams as Lando (Holovid); Matthew Wood as Ben Solo; and Shelby Young as Leia Organa.
LEGO Star Wars cartoons are always goofy fun shows to watch. I'm geeked about seeing "LEGO Star Wars Summer Vacation" just as the season is heating up. Looking forward to a lazy summer day cranking up the A/C and turning on the big screen to be transported back to a galaxy far, far away thanks to Disney+ and its lineup of Star Wars tv series and movies.
Coming soon to Netflix → the cartoon series DEAD END: PARANORMAL PARK. This supernatural themed horror-comedy show about a boy and his demon possessed dog debuts on June 16, 2022. The show is rated TV-Y7 so it is aimed for elementary school aged kids and anyone older who appreciates goofy humor. The series promises a special musical episode with songs written by Patrick Stump in its first season. Stump has performed and written music for a variety of television and movie soundtracks including Family Guy, Gnome Alone, The LEGO Batman Movie and Big Hero 6.
Based on Hamish Steele’s horror-comedy graphic novels DeadEndia and web short Dead End, Dead End: Paranormal Park follows the adventures of Barney, Norma and magical-talking-dog Pugsley, as they balance their summer jobs at the local theme park haunted house while battling the totally real supernatural forces that dwell within it. Together with their guide to the underworld multiplane, a sardonic thousand-year-old demon named Courtney, they'll face zombie mascots, demonic game show hosts, sleep-sucking witches and the scariest thing of all: their first crushes!
My family loves dinosaur adventures! I mean who doesn't geek out about dinosaurs? But we've gone out of our way to learn about and interact with these amazing prehistoric creatures from trekking around Pittsburgh to exploring the historic Field Museum in Chicago to watching dinosaurs stomp around downtown Detroit we've had a lot of fun experiences.
Unfortunately, like many families, we've been staying close to home lately due to the pandemic. So we've been having our dinosaur adventures by streaming the CAMP CRETACEOUS animated tv series on Netflix. This is a cartoon spin-off of the live action Jurassic World movie follows six teenagers chosen for a once-in-a-lifetime experience at Camp Cretaceous, a new adventure camp on the opposite side of Isla Nublar, who must work together to survive when dinosaurs wreak havoc across the island.
Netflix has released two seasons of episodes of this series produced by DreamWorks Animation, Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment that have been an entertaining way to enjoy some escapism from being held captive from normal day to day activities by the coronavirus. Now a third story arc is beginning on May 21 and we are looking forward to a continuation of this exciting dinosaur adventure.
Season 3 of CAMP CRETACEOUS on Netflix will consist of 10 exciting new 22-minute long episodes that will be available to start viewing on May 21, 2021. Still stranded on the island, the campers uncover more details of Dr. Wu’s secret research, and must quickly take their fate into their own hands with a dangerous plan to leave Isla Nublar behind for good. But when a tropical storm delays their departure, a lethal new threat quickly closes in on the campers, placing their escape, as well as their lives, in extreme peril.
We are roaring to go back to Jurassic World and counting down the days to Season 3 of CAMP CRETACEOUS! With quality animation and story telling that makes this series interesting for all ages of the family Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous absolutely gets a Geek Daddy nod of approval. We'll be tuning in for sure on May 21 to see how this dinosaur adventure continues!
Thanks to Jakks Pacific for sending us a box full of THE LAST KIDS ON EARTH toys to play around with while my son binge watches the new episodes of the Netflix cartoon that are debuting on Friday, April 17, 2020. The Netflix series is adapted from the books by Max Brallier that are aimed for middle grade readers. The books and cartoons are very popular with my son and the boys in his 5th Grade class. He himself is a really big fan of THE LAST KIDS ON EARTH!
THE LAST KIDS ON EARTH finds 13-year-old Jack Sullivan and a band of suburban middle schoolers abandoned in a cartoonish end-of-the-world apocalypse where most of the people of their hometown of Wakefield, Indiana have been turned into zombies and a variety of strange monsters have begun to roam around. The four kids continue on with their lives bunkering up in a decked-out tree house and trying to hold out hope that help will arrive. While this show may seem horrific it is actually a goofy comedy full of humorous moments and madcap situations meant to appeal to tweens in the 8 to 12 year old age range.
There are six THE LAST KIDS ON EARTH books that have been published so far with the most recent one "June's Wild Flight" having just been released on April 7. Season One of the television series that arrived on Netflix last year revolved around the scenarios that took place in Book One. The new episodes of the Netflix series premiering on April 17 will now move on to delve into Book 2. I have to say that while the cartoons on Netflix are meant for tweens and teens, I've found myself sitting down and totally enjoying the show with my son.
Fans of THE LAST KIDS ON EARTH books + cartoons can also imagine their own monster and zombie fighting adventures playing with toys from Jakks Pacific. Designed in 2.5" scale there are an assortment of action figures highlighting the four middle school heroes and a variety of zombies. There are also a number of playsets including the TREE FORTRESS OF AWESOMNESS and a number of giant monsters including SMASHIN' DOZER, BITIN' WRETCH and CHOMPIN BLARG.
Plus they have nine inch plush zombies meant for hugging while watching the cartoons or reading the books. Watch out though because if you snuggle a zombie too hard you'll see one of its eyes pop out! A goofy design meant to capture the light-hearted jocular spirit of THE LAST KIDS ON EARTH.
There are four action figure packs so there is one for each of main heroes. Each hero pack includes either Jack Sullivan, Quint Baker, Dirk Savage or June Del Toro along with an assortment of zombies. The packs also include disc shooters decorated to look like machines the kids could have built from scavenging materials around town. Knock down zombies and monsters by shooting them with the discs. Also included are some background dioramas showing places around Wakefield during this monster infestation.
House your action figures in the Tree Fortress of Awesomeness playset. Attach a disc launcher to its roof to defend the place from approaching hoards of zombies or encroaching monsters like Smashin' Dozer, Bitin' Wretch and Chompin Blarg. Beware though because if your attackers hit the tree house in just the right spot with a disc shooter it will split the place apart causing the Tree Fortress of Awesomeness to collapse to the ground! There is also a zip line for acting out action scenes. A fun way to re-enact favorite scenes from the books and cartoons or to imagine new adventures.
Bring the humongous Chompin Blarg to life with the toy from Jakks Pacific. The most feared monster from book one and season one, Blarg hunts and follows Jack Sullivan and his friends around Wakefield. At nine inches tall it towers over the 2.5' action figures in THE LAST KIDS ON EARTH Jakks toy collection.
It has a number of really cool features that make playing with Chompin Blarg extra fun. Push on Blarg's spikes to open its mouth and make it chomp. Push an action button to have Blarg's hand grab a hero or zombie and raise it up into the air. Hit the monster in the belly with a disc launcher and watch it fall to the ground in defeat!
Watch Netflix and chill with new episodes of THE LAST KIDS ON EARTH. Add some more excitement to watching the cartoons by engaging in imaginative play with Jakks Pacific toys after you've binged watched the Book 2 episodes on Netflix. Books, cartoons, toys there is a lot of fun to be had enjoying the adventures of THE LAST KIDS ON EARTH! This dad blogger gives Max Brallier a Geek Daddy nod of approval for all the awesomeness.
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment provided this movie to ageekdaddy.com for free
Marvel Comics have been receiving a lot of fanfare of late for their superhero movies but did you know that DC Comics has also created a dynamic cinematic universe featuring their characters? No I'm not talking about the live action Batman vs Superman or Justice League movies! But rather the animated motion pictures in the DC Movie Universe.
I think these DC film's are just as good as the Marvel ones yet haven't gotten as much attention because they are animated instead of live action and straight to home video releases. In my opinion though Warner Bros. Animation has created a spectacular DC Movie Universe that aren't run of the mill cartoons for young kids but rather combine stories full of depth with great imagery so as to be appealing for more mature audiences. These movies have ratings from PG to R making some family friendly viewing and others more suitable just for moms and dads to watch. So it is important for parents to check the MPAA ratings on these movies. A new addition to the DC Movie Universe, which is one I'm comfortable letting my tweens watch, is WONDER WOMAN: BLOODLINES. It is now available on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, DVD and Digital.
WONDER WOMAN: BLOODLINES tells the origin story of this iconic DC Comics heroine. In this animated movie, Amazon princess Diana of Themyscira chooses to save fighter pilot Steve Trevor who has crash landed on her hidden island and return him to his home in America. Fulfilling the role of both ambassador as well as protector, Diana soon earns the name Wonder Woman. Equally strong in body, heart and will, she makes it her mission to help a troubled young girl enlisted by a deadly organization known as Villainy, Inc., whose criminal members have their sights set on invading Diana’s paradise home of Themyscira. If you haven't seen a DC Movie Universe presentation yet, WONDER WOMAN: BLOODLINES is a great jumping in point to start viewing this series of films.
WONDER WOMAN: BLOODLINES is rated PG-13 for sequences of fantasy action and violence and some bloody images. It has a runtime of 83 minutes. The movie features a great cast of vocal talents. Rosario Dawson (Jane the Virgin, Rent, Luke Cage) returns as the voice of Wonder Woman for the sixth time in the DC Movie Universe, leading a sensational WONDER WOMAN: BLOODLINES cast voicing characters that includes Jeffrey Donovan (Fargo, Burn Notice) as Steve Trevor, Marie Avgeropoulos (The 100) as Silver Swan, Adrienne C. Moore (Orange Is the New Black) as Etta Candy, Kimberly Brooks (DC Super Hero Girls, Mass Effect, Winx Club) as The Cheetah & Giganta, Courtenay Taylor (Regular Show, Fallout 4) as Dr. Poison, Constance Zimmer (Entourage, House of Cards, Unreal) as Veronica Cale, Nia Vardalos (My Big Fat Greek Wedding) as Julia Kapatelis, Michael Dorn (Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Arrow) as Ferdinand, Cree Summer (Batman Beyond, Rugrats) as Hippolyta, Mozhan Marno (The Blacklist, House of Cards) as Dr. Cyber, and Ray Chase (Justice League Dark) as Lead Bandit.
In addition to viewing the movie, you'll want to watch the bonus content that comes along with it. Included with the 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo packs as well as Digital purchases are the following extras:
DC Showcase: Death (Animated Short) – Inspired by Neil Gaiman’s “The Sandman,” Death is produced & directed by Sam Liu (Justice League vs. The Fatal Five) and written by J.M. DeMatteis (Batman: Bad Blood). In the story, Vincent, an artist with unresolved inner demons, meets a mysterious girl who helps him come to terms with his creative legacy … and eventual death. Leonard Nam (Westworld) provides the voice of Vincent, and Jamie Chung (The Gifted, Big Hero 6) is the voice of Death. The voice cast includes Darin De Paul, Keith Szarabajka and Kari Wahlgren.
The Cheetah: Ferocious Archenemy (New Featurette) – Ferocious. Clever. Deadly. It’s the thrill of the hunt and the prey is Wonder Woman. This is the story of The Cheetah, Diana’s greatest enemy.
A Sneak Peek at the next DC Universe Movie, Superman: Red Son – An advanced look at the next animated film in the popular DC Universe Movies collection.
Pick up WONDER WOMAN: BLOODLINES on 4K Ultra HD or Blu-ray from Best Buy. If you make a purchase using the links above this dad blogger receives a small commission from Best Buy at no additional charge to you. Thanks for your support of ageekdaddy.com!
It's no joke that Warner Brothers and DC Entertainment are releasing this summer an animated movie meant specifically for an adult audience. BATMAN: THE KILLING JOKE is an R-rated cartoon based on the acclaimed graphic novel of the same name which takes a journey into the dark psyche of the Clown Prince of Crime -- from his humble beginnings as a struggling comedian to his fateful encounter with Batman that changes both of their lives forever. Years later, and now escaped from Arkham Asylum, The Joker devises a plan to prove that one bad day can make anyone as insane as he is.
Following a gripping prologue introducing Barbara Gordon's heroic adventures alongside Batman as Batgirl, BATMAN: THE KILLING JOKE stays true to the authentic tale that has held fans' imaginations for nearly three decades -- spotlighting the birth of a Super-Villain, the fortitude of a Super Hero and the punchline that will leave you speechless. BATMAN: THE KILLING JOKE reunites the foundation of the popular "Batman: The Animated Series" television show with Bruce Timm returning as executive producer and actors Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill reprising their roles voicing Batman and The Joker respectively. Slated for a direct to home video release, BATMAN: THE KILLING JOKE will get a one night premiere showing on the big screen at cinemas across the United States thanks to Fathom Events partnering with Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, Warner Bros. Animation and DC Entertainment.
Fathom Entertainment brings the acclaimed graphic novel-turned-film to select movie theaters across the United States providing BATMAN: THE KILLING JOKE the big-screen treatment on Monday, July 25, 2016 at 7:30pm and 10:00pm local time. In addition to the showing of the animated movie, audience members will be welcomed by a special introduction from Mark Hamill plus see a never-before-seen documentary about how Hamill was cast in this project and what the role means to him as an actor and a fan. The event will conclude with a special behind-the-scenes look at how the Joker's memorable, yet disturbing song and dance number was recreated from the print pages of a comic book to be portrayed in the animated movie.
Tickets for BATMAN: THE KILLING JOKE can be purchased online beginning Friday, June 17 at FanthomEvents.com or at participating theater box offices. Fathom Events will be listing participating movie theaters on the BATMAN: THE KILLING JOKE section of its website.
During the 1980's, Hasbro entertained children and promoted the toy manufacturer's products through several popular television cartoon and comic book series. Paramount Pictures and Hasbro are going to try and bring back some of that magic from the 80's through the creation of an interconnected movie universe featuring popular toy brands from that era including G.I. JOE, M.A.S.K. (Mobile Armored Strike Kommand), Micronauts, ROM and the Visionaries. I grew up watching the cartoons and reading the comic books tied to these toy lines, so it was exciting news that filled me with nostalgia when Paramount Pictures and Hasbro announced they've created a writers room of top Hollywood talent who will be focused on making these films a reality.
This group includes Academy Award Winner Akiva Goldsman (A Beautiful Mind), who will be responsible for overseeing the writers room as well as serving as Executive Producer on all the films within this cinematic universe, along with Lindsey Beer (Wizard of Oz / Kingkiller Chronicle ), Pulitzer Prize Winner Michael Chabon (The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay ), Cheo Coker (Luke Cage, Ray Donovan), Joe Robert Cole (Black Panther, People vs OJ ), Nicole Perlman (Guardians of the Galaxy, Captain Marvel), Jeff Pinker (Lost, the Dark Tower), Nicole Riegel (Soldier Girls), Geneva Robertson (Atlantis, Tomb Raider) and Brian K Vaughan (Under the Dome, Lost). Allspark Pictures, Hasbro's film label, plans to produce the films based upon the cross-property universe. Hasbro also plans on bringing in an unprecedented number of top artists and designers to assist Goldsman and the writing team with visualizing this all-new cinematic universe. I love movie concept art so am especially looking forward to seeing what emerges from these artists as they help the writers script these films.
Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014)
Paramount and Hasbro's movie partnership has had mixed results since it began in 2007 with the release of the first TRANSFORMERS movie. That film franchise directed by Michael Bay has earned more than $3.8 billion to date and its movies are amongst the highest grossing movies of all time. Unfortunately, on the other hand the G.I. JOE movies the Hasbro / Paramount partnership created have squandered the popularity and goodwill that brand had developed with consumers. While the G.I. JOE movies have earned $675 million worldwide each has been lackluster. From someone who has such wonderful childhood memories of playing with G.I. JOE toys in my backyard, watching the cartoons every day after school and waiting in anticipation each month for a new issue of their comic book to arrive at the news stand, I just have to say it is a shame how immemorable the movies Paramount and Hasbro have produced for this franchise are. Hopefully this new cross-over cinematic universe will not only reboot G.I. JOE with a film that will wow people but also mimic Disney's efforts with Marvel creating something special through a series of movies that the adults who enjoyed these characters as kids can now share and enjoy with their own children.
G.I. JOE - RETALIATION (2013)
I am optimistic that these new films featuring G.I. JOE, Micronauts, M.A.S.K. and ROM will be exciting and enjoyable to watch because Hasbro and Paramount are investing the resources and talent to make them extraordinary. I wasn't into the Visionaries as a kid and they were a bit of a flop back then so not so sure how that is going to fit into the mix with these other franchises which seem a little easier to interconnect with each other but we'll give them the benefit of the doubt and hopefully will be positively surprised with the outcome. Hasbro and Paramount have made some incredible movies featuring the Transformers so we know with the right amount of effort and leadership they can do it again with this new cinematic universe. So I'll be eagerly keeping an eye out for news and information about how this project is progressing. Stay tuned for future updates from A Geek Daddy!
Thanks to our friends at Fox Home Entertainment we have a fun coloring page to share and a dvd giveaway to promote the newest Strawberry Shortcake adventure to come to home video. My daughter is always thrilled whenever a new animated Strawberry Shortcake video comes out and will the excited that this adventure features stories revolving around cute little puppies. STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE: BERRY BEST IN SHOW will be released on dvd and for digital download on May 12, 2015. For a limited time, consumers will receive a copy of the “Perfect Puppy
Digital Story Book Download” by Cupcake Digital, Inc. with their
purchase. Hurry, supplies are limited!
Strawberry Shortcake: Berry Best in Show features Strawberry Shortcake and some new furry friends in delightful
“tails” about being yourself and encouraging others to do the same.
During his road trip to find homes for his orphan puppies, Huckleberry
Pie and his four-legged crew get stranded in Berry Bitty City. Luckily,
Strawberry and her berry best pals decide to help out with the strays in
“A Boy and His Dogs.” Blueberry Muffin and Huck become “Partners in
Crime” when they try to write a mystery story together…with surprising
results. And the fur is sure to fly when the girls try to help Huck
start a dog shelter in “The Mystery of the Disappearing Dog Show.” It’s a
howling good time with sweet doggy delights for everyone!
One lucky A GEEK DADDY blog reader will have the chance to win a free
DVD/Digital movie prize pack courtesy of our friends at Fox Home
Entertainment. For a chance to win Strawberry Shortcake: Berry Best In Show you must be a
US or Canadian resident over 18 years old and submit one or all of the
following
entry methods to earn up to 3 entries prior to 11:59 pm EST on Sunday May 10, 2015:
UPDATE: Congratulations to Laura from Clawson, Michigan who won the dvd/digital download.
E-mail thegeekdaddy [at] yahoo [dot] com your name and mailing address. Email subject line should be BERRY BEST. (1 Entry)
All valid entries will be assigned a number in the order they are
received and one number will be selected to determine the winner using
random.org. E-mails will only be used to
contact the winner and deleted following the selection of a winner.
While you are waiting for Strawberry Shortcake: Berry Best In Show to arrive, have some fun with with this coloring page that highlights Strawberry playing with her new furry friends.
DISCLAIMER:A Geek Daddy Blog will be responsible
for selecting the winner of this contest, but Fox Home Entertainment is
responsible for fulfillment and delivery of the prize.
By participating in this contest you waive any liability towards A Geek
Daddy Blog or its publisher that may arise from your involvement with
this promotion. If you win this prize on another blog, you will not be
eligible to win again. Winner is
subject to eligibility verification. Prize will be delivered by UPS or
FedEx so no P.O. Boxes are allowed as mailing addresses. A Geek Daddy
Blog did not receive any financial compensation but did receive
a review DVD for the blog and the prize that is being awarded to one of
our readers for this
contest. A Geek Daddy Blog is hosting this contest as a benefit to our
readers. Any opinions in this post are my own.
Nickelodeon's popular Dora the Explorer franchise is getting a reboot this summer with the debut of a new television series titled DORA & FRIENDS: INTO THE CITY! Coming in August, Dora & Friends has a more grown up version of the character moving from the jungle to the city. This new tween Dora is ditching her trusted backpack for a smartphone with a map app and abandoning her monkey pal Boots for a new group of kid friends from school. Dora and Friends will air during the Nickelodeon preschool block of programming on the cable channel's week day schedule.
Nickelodeon promises new city, new friends, new adventures in its synopsis of this new series:
Together, all for one! Get ready for big adventures with Dora and Friends: Into the City! Dora's moved to a beautiful pan-Latino metropolis by the sea called Playa Verde, entered a diverse new school, and is busies than ever.
She's also found a new group of friends - Alana, Emma, Naiya, Kate, and Pablo - with a shared passion for learning and exploring who join her on new pop/rock-infused adventures in the city. But this is no ordinary city. Down side streets, in the park, even under the school there are portals to magical worlds filled with surprises, obstacles and villains waiting to test our friends with curricular challenges and exciting emotional stakes!
Armed with an ancient magical charm bracelet, a trusted Mapp App, and the strength that comes from working with bright, funny and loving friends, Dora invites preschoolers to join her in saving the day, solving problems, speaking Spanish, and giving back to the community.
This show at first glance seems like a nice effort to refresh a popular brand that has become somewhat dated and tired after a 14 year run. Now I admit not having seen the show yet and it may be that I'm just being a grumpy old troll but this new series does irk me a little bit. Children grow up fast enough as it is, do we really need to be infusing tween elements into stories aimed at preschoolers. This series looks like a nice step-up to keep Dora's fans tuned in through kindergarten and elementary school (7 - 11 years old) but should it really be marketed to a 3-7 year old preschool audience. In that vein maybe the next brand revamp could have Elmo reach out to preschoolers in a Sesame Street spin-off from a Monster High School.
Preschool now is what kindergarten was when I was a child. Kindergarten used to be a half day adventure that included a snack, playground time and a nap while learning your numbers and letters. Now children come out of full day session knowing reading and math skills. It just seems to me that this new Dora show continues a societal trend that pushes kids to act older and more mature at younger and younger ages.
Dora the Explorer has been a big part of my children's preschool years. Our house has been littered with DVDs, toys, and books featuring Dora's adventures with her friends Boots the Monkey, Tico the Squirrel, Isa the Iguana, Benny the Bull, and Swiper the Fox. Learning basic skills with a map and a backpack reinforced the elementary nature of learning. Now Boots, along with his animal buddies and the map and backpack, are getting the boot. They are being replaced with fashionable children with smart phones living in the city. Along with the valuable messages this franchise provides to children (value learning, imagination, multi-culturism) it appears it will also be throwing in themes involving fashion, shopping and make-overs that you have to ask are they really appropriate for an audience of 3-7 year old children?
Dora isn't the first cartoon character aimed at young children to get a modern tween make-over. Recently, Strawberry Shortcake did the same thing with characters who have a focus on being popular, being fashion conscious and always chatting on a cell phone....what some parents have called a "berry disturbing make-over." While as parents we may not be able to control what media and toy companies produce, we do have the power to control what we allow our children to watch and play with. To be fair, I will probably screen Dora & Friends for my kids to get a better appraisal of the show and my initial reaction to it, but as of right now I'm leaning toward having the TV turned off to this program for my 5 year old twins until they are a little bit older. Sorry Dora, but it looks like you are going to join SpongeBob Squarepants on the blocked list.
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