Hi-5: High Energy (2003)

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General		Extras
Category	Family	Main Menu Introduction Main Menu Audio & Animation Music Highlights-Songs of the week - 3 Karaoke-3 Storybook-Sharing Stories Trailer-Previews of other Hi-5 DVD's and videos
Rating
Year Of Production	2003
Running Time	51:49
RSDL / Flipper	No/No	Cast & Crew
Start Up	Menu
Region Coding	4	Directed By	Ian Munro
Studio Distributor	Roadshow Home Entertainment	Starring	Kathleen De Leon Nathan Foley Tim Harding Kellie Hoggart Charli Robinson
Case	?
RPI	$29.95	Music	Chris Harriott

Video		Audio
Pan & Scan/Full Frame	None	English Dolby Digital 2.0 (320Kb/s)
Widescreen Aspect Ratio	1.85:1
16x9 Enhancement
Video Format	576i (PAL)/480i (NTSC)
Original Aspect Ratio	1.85:1	Miscellaneous
Jacket Pictures	No
Subtitles	English for the Hearing Impaired English Song Lyrics	Smoking	No
		Annoying Product Placement	No
		Action In or After Credits	No

    Hi-5 Hi-Energy is the latest Hi-5 DVD packed with plenty of stories, singing, dancing, and games for kids.

    Loaded with plenty of new songs, themed around energy, the DVD includes games, such as simple skipping and ball games, as well as some new dances. Kellie teaches kids the Can Can and the Twist, while Nathan enjoys some Square Dancing. Featured songs include Energy, One Step Forward, and Move It.

    As I wrote in a previous review, "Hi-5 is a well-paced and entertaining Australian children's television program that debuted in 1999 . . . The programs are filled with singing, dancing, movement, stories and some Play School style artistic activities. While not so obvious about its educational value as say Sesame Street, like the Wiggles, Hi-5 stimulate children's minds while thoroughly entertaining them. The five Hi5 team members all posses a great child-like enthusiasm, and they are well supported by a cast of fun puppets and happy children".

    According to their web site, Hi-5 was created and produced by Helena Harris and Posie Graeme-Evans, who are committed to giving the show a solid educational basis. "The aim of Hi-5 is to cater for a wide range of young children, acknowledging the span of cognitive abilities and learning styles. The program presents material with the understanding that children will respond in different ways and be more open to a particular mode of integrating ideas." They recognise that young children learn holistically, therefore the program includes a number of segments, each of which focuses on a different area of learning. For more details, their website can be accessed here.

Video

    Like their last DVD release, Surfing Safari, this DVD is presented with a widescreen transfer! Once again we have the wonder and beauty of digital television to thank for a widescreen transfer. I notice many kid's programs are now broadcast in digital widescreen, and as more digital set-top-boxes are sold, some of the recalcitrants, like the Wiggles, will have to get with it.

    This is the second widescreen Hi-5 release, and the transfer is presented in an aspect ratio of 1.85:1. It is 16x9 enhanced.

    The sharpness and shadow detail of the image are good, and fairly representative of digital broadcast television.

    As with all Hi-5 transfers, the image features plenty of bright primary colours. The flesh tones are accurate.

    As with some other Hi-5 transfers, MPEG artefacts are present, and occasionally the image suffers from macro-blocking, such as at 4:24 and 16:08. Film-to-video artefacts are present in the form of a very mild shimmer on some objects. Film artefacts were not a problem.

    English for the Hearing Impaired and song lyric subtitles are provided. They are accurate.

    This is a single-sided, single-layered disc.

Video Ratings Summary

Sharpness
Shadow Detail
Colour
Grain/Pixelization
Film-To-Video Artefacts
Film Artefacts
Overall

Audio

    As a children's television broadcast, there is only one audio option; English Dolby Digital 2.0 (320Kb/s).

    The dialogue quality and audio sync are excellent, and the lyrics are always clear.

    The upbeat and fun music is performed by Hi-5, and composed by Chris Harriott. The music was clear and exhibited a good dynamic range. I particularly enjoyed the Wham-like Move It, the S Club 7 flavoured One Step Forward, and the catchy, Sid Vicious (yes Sid Vicious) inspired Funky Punky Rocker.

    There is no surround presence or subwoofer activity.

Audio Ratings Summary

Dialogue
Audio Sync
Clicks/Pops/Dropouts
Surround Channel Use
Subwoofer
Overall

    The extras are slim.

Menu

    A simple "child friendly" menu.

Karaoke

    Three songs, Energy, One Step Forward, and Move It can be played with or without the vocals, as subtitles display the lyrics.

Previews

    Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.33:1, with Dolby Digital stereo audio, short trailers for other Hi-5 DVD/Video releases: Music Machine, Star Dreaming, Playing Cool, 5 Alive, Animal Adventures, Let's Celebrate, Magical Treasure, Move Your Body/Summer Rainbow, and Surfing Safari.

    This title does not appear to have been released on DVD in Region 1.

    Hi-5 Hi-Energy sticks to the Hi-5 fast-paced winning formula, and delivers another fun DVD for the kiddies.

    The video quality is let down with MPEG problems, but the young ones won't notice.

    The audio quality is good.

    The extras are really not worth mentioning.

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall