Wednesday • June 19, 2013
Giovanni's Blu-ray Review: WALLACE & GROMIT'S WORLD OF INVENTION
From Aardman Animations, see beloved British inventor Wallace and his loyal friend Gromit in their return to the television screen as Lionsgate releases the complete Wallace & Gromit’s World of Invention six-part series on Blu-ray Disc and DVD.
The Series
When I was growing up, television shows like Bill Nye the Science Guy and The Magic School Bus taught me scientific schoolhouse subject matter that was both fun and educational. I felt engaged in a way that made learning exciting and cool. That’s the feeling behind Wallace and Gromit’s World of Invention, a 6-episode educational series presented by Aardman Studios’ lovable claymation duo. Their normal cartoons center around Wallace’s obsession with invention, so it makes a lot of sense to put the character in front of a science show, offering a fun angle that makes learning enticing.
The series is successful in many ways, mainly by offering fascinating science even from an adult perspective. Rather than offering kids simplified, basic science, the show investigates more unorthodox studies that makes the show fun. But the animation side is a bit squandered here, with Wallace and Gromit merely introducing segments through the episode. It’s not quite the right balance needed to keep children interested in the science, but also entertained by the charming characters. It’s nice to see a series like this seeking to spark imaginative thinking, but it's just a bit too heavy on the classroom angle.
Special Features Breakdown
Your World of Invention - There are six vignettes included on the disc that give step by step instructions for kids to make household inventions. This is the kind of fun engagement that’s missing from the actual show. These are fun, easy projects for kids to try out that require creativity and imagination.
From Aardman Animations, see beloved British inventor Wallace and his loyal friend Gromit in their return to the television screen as Lionsgate releases the complete Wallace & Gromit’s World of Invention six-part series on Blu-ray Disc and DVD in March. The title contains the complete six-part BBC1 TV series, and features Wallace & Gromit as hosts introducing viewers to a number of amazing, real-world contraptions. Available for the first time in the U.S., the title is the first new Wallace & Gromit animation since the Academy Award® nominated animated short film, A Matter of Loaf & Death (2009). Own WALLACE & GROMIT'S WORLD OF INVENTION on Blu-ray and DVD March 13, 2012.
Wallace & Gromit's World of Invention sees world-renowned inventor Wallace and his faithful sidekick (turned camera dog) Gromit turn their hand to presenting for the very first time, hosting a six-part series from the basement of 62 West Wallaby Street. They take an enthusiastic look at some real life cracking contraptions, from gadgets that help around the home to the mind-boggling world of space travel and much more in between.
