v 2 issue 17: Media Mania

This week we have selected some DVD programs and movies that are fun and educational.
PLUS: An interview with the founder and president of Little Airplane Productions.


Cover by Kim Weiss








1 Shaun the Sheep is a TTW & KTW favorite due to its humorous antics. Watch these crazy animals scheme to make their own hot tub with ‘Back in the BA-A-Ath’. $11 at amazon.com.

2 If you missed Marley and Me at the theaters, don't miss out on this loving and laughable movie any longer. Starring Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson, this movie will have you in hysterical laughter as these two take on Marley...an adorable Labrador pup who flunks obedience school and quickly turns his new home into a disaster area. Pre-order your copy today at amazon.com

3 Get fun-ergized with Trevor Romain and his series of self-help books and DVD series which use humorous adventures to teach real life lessons for kids. ‘If You Don’t Take Care of Your Body Where Else Are You Going to Live?’ will get your kids moving and thinking about junk food in a whole new way. Look to the Trevor Romain series to assist your child with tough situations and life’s road blocks such as bullies, cliques at school, divorce, and death.

4 Head out on a Critter Quest and explore the creatures in your own back yard. The Smithsonian Channel’s Critter Quest takes you on a backyard safari to discover the critters right outside your door. Your child will learn fun facts about all the creatures in your yard and show you what their day to day existence is like.

5 For your inquisitive child that loves to know how things work and how things are built the DVD series How’d They Build That by Marvelous Machines is a great gift. Just $9 for each DVD (and free shipping!) Your child can learn how they build fire trucks, garbage trucks, concrete trucks and school buses.

6 Head out on a wild adventure with Animalia: Welcome to the Kingdom, based on the children’s alphabet books by Graeme Base. Your 6-9 year old will love the action, the animals ability to talk and the graphics are amazing in this movie, just as they were in the book.

7 Introduce children to the land, language, and culture of China. Walker and his friend Ping Ping lead you through the landscapes of China to explore a Chinese market and the Great Wall. Educational and fun!

8 Come along with Billy Blue Hair and his trusty dog Doogie as they fetch some fascinating facts on animals in "Why Do Giraffes Have Long Necks?" The excursion leads children on a global quest where they gather interesting facts on animals of all sorts. Grrreat!


This weeks mom tips:
Green Tip: Wash clothes in cold water…Using cold water saves a significant amount of energy. Clothes last longer and colors stay brighter. Line drying clothes saves even more energy.

Cleaning Tip: Found magic marker on the couch? Try Hair spray to remove magic marker from surfaces.

Organizing Tip: This sounds very simple, but not many moms hang up their keys…lost time by searching for keys (not to mention the frustration!) could be spent playing with your kids or organizing the junk drawer. Find a stylish hook to hang near the door and save the last minute frantic run around.

Time Saving Tip: Plan your meals in advance! By planning your meals for the week you will save time and money at the grocery store. Not to mention the stress of coming up with a meal on the spot. Also save time by avoiding the grocery store during peak shopping times (11a-1p and 5-7p). You may want to even consider grocery delivery, it’s not as expensive as you think when you consider gas expense.


Interview with founder and president of Little Airplane Productions


We recently interviewed Josh Selig the founder and president of Little Airplane Productions. Josh is a writer, producer, and filmmaker. We were thrilled to talk to Josh about one of our favorite shows that he writes and produces, “The Wonder Pets!” and the release of the newest adventure, “Wonder Pets Join the Circus !”. The Wonder Pets follows the adventures of three classroom pets that travel around the globe rescuing animals in need of help.


TTW: How did you come up with the idea of “The Wonder Pets!”?

JS: I always wanted to make a show about superheroes who had no actual superpowers. The only power that Linny, Tuck and Ming-Ming have is teamwork, but when they use it they can do extraordinary things!

TTW: Where does the inspiration for the adventures come from?

JS: We are always thinking about new animals that the Wonder Pets can save. I was just reading in National Geographic about a type of goat in Africa that can climb trees to get to a particular kind of tasty fruit. Now I want the Wonder Pets to save one of those goats!

TTW: Has “The Wonder Pets!” gone through any major changes from the very first episode in 1999?

JS: Actually, my company, Little Airplane Productions, began in 1999, but “The Wonder Pets!” has only been around since 2003. Our biggest change is that at first we made some short episodes that only starred Linny the Guinea Pig. About a year later we added Tuck and Ming-Ming. And then a few years later, we added Ollie as one of their friends!

TTW: My all time favorite adventure is “The Wonder Pets! Save the Puppy!” Do you have a favorite adventure?

JS: For me, the greatest adventure is the actual making of the different episodes. We learn so much on each show and we always meet new actors, new composers and new artists. Making the show is easily as exciting as the show itself!

TTW: What is the process for “The Wonder Pets!” animation?

JS: It’s an original process that we call “Photo-Puppetry Animation.” It was created at Little Airplane by our brilliant Creative Director, Jennifer Oxley. It involves taking real photographs and turning them into paper doll-like digital puppets that can be manipulated in the computer.

TTW: What is the typical amount of time you/your team put into creating a new episode?

JS: It takes about 9 months to make one episode of “The Wonder Pets!” We start out with writing and we finish with animation and there are lots of steps in between. Each step is very important and my team at Little Airplane Productions works very hard to make sure we get each part just right. By the time an episode is finished we have probably seen it about 30 times in various stages of its development.

TTW: How did you come across this fresh yet original concept for “The Wonder Pets! Join the Circus!”

JS: I used to be a juggler, unicyclist and fire-eater so I’ve always been fascinated by the circus. I also wanted to write an episode in which the Wonder Pets split up for awhile. At the circus, they each get to perform their very own circus acts. They have a great time but, in the end, they miss each other and they also miss teamwork!

For more information about his company and their projects, visit www.littleairplane.com