Hi-5: Music Machine (2001)

This review is sponsored by

BUY IT

General		Extras
Category	Childrens	Menu Animation & Audio Audio Commentary Karaoke-Robot Number 1; Mirror Mirror; Feel The Beat Trailer-Hi-5: Five Alive;Hi-5: Star Dreaming;Hi-5: Animal Adventures Trailer-Hi-5: Move Your Body; Cushion Kids: Meet The Kids
Rating
Year Of Production	2001
Running Time	54:21
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

    This review will be virtually identical to my earlier review of Hi-5 Star Dreaming, as both the format for this program, and the quality of the content and transfer are identical.

   As I wrote in my last review, '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 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'. Every episode has a different theme, and the theme for this episode is music and machines.

    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

    The transfer is taken from a recent broadcast television source, and it is problem-free. It 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 flesh tones are accurate.

    There are no MPEG artefacts. While film-to-video artefacts are not really a problem, there is some very slight aliasing on certain objects, such as the shimmer on Kellie's outfit at 5:07. There are no film artefacts.

    There are two sets of subtitles (one of which is 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.

Video Ratings Summary

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

Audio

    There are three audio tracks on this DVD. Apart from the default English Dolby Digital 2.0 track, there is also an isolated music score and an audio commentary (both Dolby Digital 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. I thought that the songs in this edition were better than in Star Dreaming, but they still aren't as catchy as the Wiggles' toe-tapping numbers. Again, 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.

Audio Ratings Summary

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

    There are a few fun extras.

Menu

   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

    These are the same trailers as on Star Dreaming. Again they are a few previews for a few other Hi-5 titles, and one extended preview of Cushion Kids.

    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. As with Star Dreaming, my son and I have watched it together countless times. Again, he's managed to get me off the couch a few times to join in the dancing and movement. I personally preferred this title to Star Dreaming as I enjoyed the songs more. 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.

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall