Hi-5: Star Dreaming (2001) |
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General | Extras | ||
Category | Childrens |
Main Menu Audio & Animation Audio Commentary Karaoke-3 Trailer-Hi-5:Five Alive;Hi-5:Animal Adventures;Hi-5:Summer Rainbows Trailer-Hi-5:Move Your Body; Cushion Kids:Meet The Kids |
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Rating | |||
Year Of Production | 2001 | ||
Running Time | 50:24 | ||
RSDL / Flipper | No/No | Cast & Crew | |
Start Up | Menu | ||
Region Coding | 4 | Directed By | Ian Munro |
Studio
Distributor |
Roadshow Home Entertainment |
Starring | Hi-5 |
Case | Amaray-Transparent | ||
RPI | $29.95 | Music | Chris Harriot |
Video | Audio | ||
Pan & Scan/Full Frame | Full Frame |
English Dolby Digital 2.0 (320Kb/s) English Audio Commentary Dolby Digital 2.0 (320Kb/s) Isolated Music Score Dolby Digital 2.0 (320Kb/s) |
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Widescreen Aspect Ratio | None | ||
16x9 Enhancement | No | ||
Video Format | 576i (PAL) | ||
Original Aspect Ratio | 1.33:1 | Miscellaneous | |
Jacket Pictures | No | ||
Subtitles |
English for the Hearing Impaired English Song Lyrics |
Smoking | No |
Annoying Product Placement | No | ||
Action In or After Credits | Yes |
Hi-5 is a well-paced and entertaining Australian children's television program that debuted in 1999. My two-year-old son took to the two DVDs that I got to review immediately, and he now excitedly wakes me up each morning with a gentle shake and the words 'Hi-5 please?!' 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 stimulates children's minds while thoroughly entertaining them. The five Hi5 team members all possess a great child-like enthusiasm, and they are well supported by a cast of fun puppets and happy children. Every episode has a different theme, and the theme for this episode is stars and space.
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.
This transfer is taken from a recent broadcast television source, and it is problem-free. The transfer is presented in an aspect ratio of 1.33:1, full frame.
The sharpness, black level, and shadow detail are all good. There is no low level noise.
As one might expect with a children's program, the image is flooded with bright primary colours. The colour is brilliant, and the fleshtones are accurate.
There are no MPEG artefacts, and while film-to-video artefacts are not really a problem, there is some very slight aliasing on certain objects, such as the shimmer on the keyboard at 23:57. There are no film artefacts.
There are two sets of subtitles (which include the song lyrics). The English subtitles are accurate.
This is a single sided and single layered disc, which is acceptable considering the program's length and content.
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There are three audio tracks on this DVD. Apart from the English Dolby 2.0 track, there is also an isolated music score, and an audio commentary (both Dolby 2.0 tracks).
The dialogue quality and audio sync are excellent. The presenters all speak and sing with great clarity.
The music is credited to Chris Harriot, and it consists of a number of simple but mostly upbeat songs. While the songs aren't as catchy as the Wiggles' toe-tapping numbers, the quality of the singing by all of the presenters is very good.
As a Dolby Digital 2.0 audio track, there is no surround presence and activity, and no subwoofer action.
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Overall |
There are a few fun extras.
An animated menu, presented in an aspect ratio of 1.33:1, with Dolby Digital 2.0 audio.
Audio Commentary
One of the program's co-creators, Helena Harris, and an Early Childhood Adviser, Helen Martin, provide a very interesting commentary about the program. While some of it is merely narrating what is happening on-screen, there are a number of insights into the educational value of the various segments.
Karaoke
Fairly self-explanatory, this extra allows kids (of all ages) to sing along to their favourite Hi-5 numbers.
Theatrical Trailers
Previews for a few other Hi-5 titles are provided, and one extended preview of Cushion Kids.
NOTE: To view non-R4 releases, your equipment needs to be multi-zone compatible and usually also NTSC compatible.
As one might expect, this Aussie title has not been released in Region 1, so they're missing out.
This is a very good DVD for children. My son and I have watched it together countless times. He's even managed to get me off the couch a few times to join in the dancing and movement. If your kids like the Wiggles, then I would unreservedly recommend any of the Hi-5 DVDs.
The video quality is faultless.
The audio quality is faultless.
The extras are fun.
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Review Equipment | |
DVD | Pioneer DV-535, using S-Video output |
Display | Grundig Elegance 82-2101 (82cm, 16x9). Calibrated with Video Essentials. This display device is 16x9 capable. |
Audio Decoder | Built in to amplifier/receiver. Calibrated with Video Essentials. |
Amplification | Sony STR DE-545 |
Speakers | Sony SS-V315 x5; Sony SA-WMS315 subwoofer |