For Booksneeze, I received a set of 3 Hermie & Friends DVDs. In return, I will review them without having to give a good review. Here’s what I’ve decided. In order for CG animation to be great, a few things are necessary:
1) keep it simple. Veggie tales pulls it off because there are no moving limbs. Hermie does not because it’s about centipedes, catipillars, spiders, and other multi-legged bugs.
2) keep it entertaining. Parent’s will be much more apt to watch a show that is at least mildly appealing to them (a la Shrek). Again, Hermie falls short. Don’t get me wrong, Buzz Bee’s singing gets stuck in your head like an icepick gets stuck in an eye socket.
3) have a decent message, but don’t try to get overly biblical when you’re message isn’t. Again, Hermie falls short. Recognize that most kids don’t need a lesson in sanctification, and so you don’t need to exposit Romans in cartoon form. Sometimes, good messages can be learned without the Bible.
4) Max Lucado is really funny. Show more of him interacting with the critters because that part fulfills all the above requirements, and is your strongest suit.
That being said, this dvd set teaches decent lessons. The colors are nice. The animation is simplistic and unmotivating. Very basic computer animation makes the set seem cheap, probably because there was no budget to make it good. Will it work as a temporary baby sitter? yes. Is it decent quality? yes. Would I recommend it as a curriculum or to friends? Not unless it’s free.
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