Kidvid keeps growing … and learning

Drug Store News, March 16, 1998

MGM has a highly recognizable property in its "Hello Kitty" fairy-tale video line. Two new titles reach stores this month: "Wizard of Paws" and "Kitty & The Beast."

Another new kidvid entry is Santa Monica, Calif.-based Real Entertainment's line of Fuzzy Huggable Videos wrapped in plush hand puppets. The first four Animal Crackups videos in the series feature real-life animal footage, motion-capture animation and sing-along songs for children ages three and up ($14.99), including "Funniest Animal Families" (wrapped in a tiger puppet), "Animals and Their People Friends" (wrapped in a koala puppet), "Monkeys, Monkeys, Monkeys" (with a monkey puppet) and "Weird, Wet and Wild" (with a seal puppet). Two additional titles, "Best Friends" and "Animal TV," packaged with a cheetah and a gopher puppet, respectively, will be released in the future.

Animals are a hot ticket for home entertainment. Hallmark Home Video (distributed by LIVE) will release a new live-action version of "Moby Dick" in May. Also coming up in May is "A Rat's Tale," featuring marionettes and special effects, from Warner.

But what about moms who shop in drug stores and want to avoid getting a headache from too much toddler video?

Lyrick offers an antidote in its upcoming release, "Shelley Duvall's Mother Goose Rock 'n' Rhyme," featuring Shelley Duvall as Mother Goose, with characters played by Pia Zadora, Art Garfunkel, Paul Simon, Cheech and Cindy Lauper. "It's definitely children's video, but it's so funny, moms can enjoy it, too," Slotnick said.

Kidvid isn't just for kids

Kidvid isn't just for the youngest viewers; a lot of children's video is really for children of all ages and for the child in everyone.

This month, Disney's animated classic about the boy who never grew up came out of the vault. After its "Peter Pan" re-release in March, Buena Vista Home Video has a big lineup of Disney children's and family video for spring, including the re-release of "The Little Mermaid" at the end of the month, which will be promoted with a tie in with Energizer batteries. "Mermaid" will be followed in April with "Mummies Alive! The Legend Begins," based on the popular television series.

Next comes another Disney film for kids of all ages: "Flubber," where Robin Williams shares laughs with wild special-effects goo. This release has a $5 mail-in rebate with eligible Lever 2000 products.

In May, Disney's made-for-video "Brave Little Toaster Goes to Mars," featuring the voice talents of Farrah Fawcett, Wayne Knight and Carol Channing, hits the shelves, followed in June by Disney's 10th animated movie, "Melody Time," available on video for the first time. "Melody Time" features Donald Duck in a musical collection that includes the classic folk tales of Johnny Appleseed and Pecos Bill, and includes "Bumble Boogie," a jazz interpretation of "Flight of the Bumble Bee."

When it's time for summer vacation, Disney will release "The Spirit of Mickey" (June), a nostalgic collection of best-loved Mickey Mouse short features: In July, Disney will release two titles in its sing-along line to tie in with the theatrical release of its 36th frill-length animated feature, "Mulan," the legendary story of a courageous Chinese girl who becomes a warrior to honor her father. In August, Disney will release a new made-for-video animated title, "Pocahontas: Journey to a New World."