Blu-ray Review “The Cat Returns”

Actors: Anne Hathaway, Cary Elwes, Elliott Gould, Peter Boyle, Tim Curry
Directors: Hiroyuki Morita
Rated: G (General Audience)
Studio: Walt Disney Studios
Release Date: June 16, 2015
Run Time: 75 minutes

Film: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2.5 out of 5 stars

“The Cat Returns” is a 2002 spin-off of the Studio Ghibli film “Whisper of the Heart”, which is one of my favorites.The film featured a fantastic US voice cast including Anne Hathaway, Cary Elwes, Tim Curry, and Elliott Gould. This film followed in the path of “Spirited Away” but didn’t catch on like the Oscar winner. This film is quite magically though and really is very entertaining. I have a feeling that my 3 year old is really going to like this film as well, so I can’t wait to introduce her to this. If you are looking for a sweet fantasy tale, this is a good one.

Official Premise: “The Cat Returns” is a spectacular animated journey to a world of magic and adventure. Haru, a schoolgirl bored by her ordinary routine, saves the life of an unusual cat, and suddenly her world is transformed beyond anything she ever imagined. The Cat King rewards her good deed with a flurry of presents, including a very shocking proposal of marriage to his son! Haru embarks on an unexpected journey to the Kingdom of Cats where her eyes are opened to a whole other world and her destiny is uncertain. To change her fate she’ll need to learn to believe in herself and, in the process, she will learn to appreciate her everyday life.

Disney released this film as a combo pack with a Blu-ray and DVD included. I would have lvoed to see a digital copy but Studio Ghibli films have been yet to be released digitally. The 1080p transfer is solid though and the animation looks fantastic. The colors are crisp and the line detail is well done. There are two audio options, the original Japanese and English dub, both with DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround tracks.

The special features are decent but not amazing though inline with most of the past Ghibli Blu-rays. There are the Original Japanese Storyboards and Original Japanese Trailers included, as well as TV Spots. There is also “The Making of The Cat Returns” looking into the production, a little short. Lastly, there is “Behind The Microphone”, which features the US voice cast discussing about their respective roles.

DVD Reviews “The Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About That!” New Releases

Every few months NCircle Entertainment has been releasing a new DVD for one of my daughters (and daddy’s) favorite shows. “The Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About That!” is not only fun, it is also extremely education. Kids watching it learn without even knowing that they are learning. Top that off with the outstanding voice work of Martin Short, who really brings the Cat in the Hat to life, this show is a winner!

Over the past four months, they are released three two DVDs. The first and in my opinion the best is “Explore &; Imagine with the Cat in the Hat”. This release is not your typical themed release with 3-5 episodes, this is actually Volume 1 of Season 1 including 20 episodes! This is a huge and very important release for the show. Especially if you are a fan of the series.

“Explore & Imagine with the Cat in the Hat: Season 1 Volume 1”: The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That! follows the adventures of 6-year-old best friends, Sally and Nick, as they are whisked off on extraordinary voyages of scientific discovery with the Cat in the Hat. In the Cat’s quintessentially Seussian vehicle, the Thinga-ma-jigger, they fly, float, rocket, and even shrink down to the size of a bee, to explore natural wonders from the bottom of the ocean to the treetops of the rain forest. Along for the ride are the Cat’s zany helpers, Thing One and Thing Two, and one very nervous Fish. In this first volume with the Cat, Nick and Sally, learn about how honey is made, why birds migrate, how whales communicate and so much more! So hop on the Thinga-ma-jigger and let’s explore!

Here are first 20 episodes from Season 1 included: “Show Me the Honey”; “Migration Vacation”; “I Love the Nightlife”; “Oh Give Me A Home!”; “Many Ants Make Light Work”; “Nest Best Thing”; ” Plan for Sand”; “Whale Music”; “Flower Power”; “Snowman’s Land”; “Dress Up Day”; “Bath Time”; “Tress Company”; “Now You See Me”; “Rain Game”; “No SSSweater is Better”; “A Tale About Tails”; “Sticky Situation”; “Night Lights”; “Go Snails Go!”

Next up is “Fun Feathered Friends”: There are actually 9 episodes included on this DVD with an approximate running time of 90 minutes. Usually these DVDs releases are 60 minutes, so this a nice bonus. The episode included are “Fast”; “Fabulous Feathers”; “Biggest Bird”; “Bounce”; “Timmy Tippy Toe”; “Cotton Patch”; “Paper Chase”, “Little Lemmings” and “Polar Adventure”. These are obviously themed focused around animals and teach a great deal about them as well. After watching this DVD and then bringing my daughter to the zoo, she say a peacock and connected it to this show, “Daddy, it’s the peacock from Cat in the Hat”. Mission accomplished.

“Fun Feathered Friends”: Let’s journey with Sally and Nick and the Cat To make feathery friends, imagine that! First, meet the fastest creature in the world! Who is it, you ask? It s Perry the Peregrine Falcon. Watch as he flies up to 150 mph, even when diving for food! Then play dress-up with Sally. Her favorite hat has lost all of its feathers where can she find more? It s time for a trip to Feathery Flats to meet Puranjay the Peacock! He has plenty of feathers and can teach us all about them. Birds are only the start of this trip with the Cat Take a look at what s inside, and hold onto your hat!

The last recent release is “Oh, the Skin We Are in!” or as my daughter called it “The Bones Cat in the Hat” (see the cover above if you are curious why). There are the typical 5 episodes on this DVD, running about 60 minutes. The episodes included are “The Skin I’m In”; “Jiggle Bones”; “Rumbly Tumbly”; “Keep the Beat and Sneezy Riders”. My daughter has really taken to this DVD and has since learned a lot about her body. She hit her elbow after watching it and said “Mommy, I hit my funny bone” and when we asked were she heard that, she said “Cat in the Hat, mommy”. So another score for this show.

“Oh, the Skin We Are in!”: It s time to explore with the Cat in the Hat! What shall we discover today? Ahhh-choo! Why, bless you! Nick can’t seem to stop sneezing. Why is that? Well, let’s find out with the Cat in the Hat! Hop on the Thinga-ma-jigger with Sally and Nick and learn all about the skin we re in the bones we own our beating hearts why our tummies rumble what causes sneezing, and how we can stop it It s a fantastic collection of natural science adventures, deep inside the bodies we live in!

Season 1, Volume 2 is set for a May 5th release date and is titled “Discover & Investigate With Cat in the Hat”. I am really glad that NCircle is releasing this show now in a seasons format. I look forward to that release for sure and also to future themed releases throughout 2015.

Celebrate National Cat Day on October 29th with Cat Paw – The Friendly Yet Feisty Toy

Cat Paws (#CatPaw) from Wicked Cool Toys are wildly fun and purrrfect for everyone! Creep out co-workers, amuse cat lovers and STUPEFY cats themselves with the amazing, bizarre, wonderful and super fun CAT PAW! Cat Paw features four different cat styles to choose from which includes a Orange Shorthair Cat Paw, a White Persian Cat Paw, a Maine Coon Cat Paw and a Black Cat Paw. Each Cat Paw includes two realistic sounds (friendly and feisty) and an awesome clawing action! Simply pull on the trigger to activate sound and movement – a light pull for the friendly sound and a firm grip and hold for the feisty sound!
Once you see one, you have to have them all!

Cat Paws are fur sure to be the life of any party, fill an ordinary with extraordinary moments, strike up conversations with just about anyone, and bring endless joy to everyone, even your beloved four-legged family members! Cat Paws are available at Kmart, Toys “R” Us and toysrus.com. Ages 2-100 Price: $9.99

Check out the Catchy Cat Paw Jingle – It’s Pawesome –

 

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DVD Review “The Cat In The Hat Knows A Lot About That!: Let’s Go on an Adventure!

Actors: Martin Short
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: NCircle Entertainment
DVD Release Date: July 1, 2014
Run Time: 60 minutes

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

When you are a parent, you cannot stop your kids from watching TV. I mean, first of all just the look on my daughter’s face when she is really taken in by a show is just so cute. So the best thing you can do is hope that what they are watching isn’t going to fry their brains (yes, this is coming from the guy that cannot stop watching “Adventure Time”) and be somewhat educational. Well PBS’ animated series “The Cat In The Hat Knows A Lot About That!” is definitely one of those shows. Plus Martin Short is just a blast as The Cat in the Hat.

The following episodes are includes in this DVD release: “Maps!”, “Incredible Journey”, “I See Seeds”, “Sniff and Seek”, “Go Snails Go!”. Nick and Sally follow the Cat in the Hat on some amazing journey’s while pretending to be pirates, meet a fish named Salmon Sam, find out about how trees send seeds flying through the air, floating on water, and hitching rides on animals to avoid overcrowding, play sniff and seek with Whiffy the skunk and explore the forest of Slippity-Goo and learn about snails.

Since discovering this show, it has quickly become one of my two year old’s favorites on TV. The show is not only fun but also extremely educationally. Even for mommy and daddy, when the music comes on in each episode, I think we are singing just as loud as our daughter. “Go, go, go, go on an adventure.” I do not think a day goes by without us singing those words. There is plenty of fun to be had here and the title “Let’s Go on an Adventure!” definitely gets lived up to. I just hope my daughter doesn’t wear out this DVD before then.

DVD Review “The Cat In The Hat Knows A Lot About That!: Ocean Commotion”

Actors: Martin Short
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: NCircle Entertainment
Release Date: June 5, 2012
Run Time: 60 minutes

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

“Hey? What! Come over here The Cat in the Hat is about to appear He’s coming over to whisk you away On a fabulous journey today.” Who can help but love that amazing theme song. PBS’ animated series “The Cat In The Hat Knows A Lot About That!” is one of my two year old’s favorite shows on TV. The show is not only fun but also extremely educationally.

Official Premise: A brand new adventure, underwater we’ll go, with the Cat and his friends in the ocean below! Swim with baby seahorses; cool down with some ice, learn tricks from sea creatures, now won’t that be nice? And go deep deep down in the ocean so blue, Where the Cat and his friends are waiting for you!

The episodes included in “Ocean Commotion” are: “Reef Magic”, which looks into coral reefs; “Digging the Deep”, which takes us exploring the ocean floor; “King Cecil the Seahorse”, which introduces us to sea creatures; “Ice in Nice”, in which we visit the arctic and “Help with Kelp”, which teaches us about seaweed.

Whenever there is a new “The Cat In The Hat Knows A Lot About That!” DVD released, we will be first in line to pick it up singing along “Here we GO GO GO GO…on an adventure”. The animation is not only fantastic and extremely colorful, Martin Short nails the embodiment of The Cat in the Hat. He is funny and very witty. I am actually proud to say that this show will not only entertain and educate kids, but also parents as well.

Product Review “Necomimi: Brainwave Controlled Cat Ears”

If you are wondering what the heck is Necomimi, well that was what I was also asking myself. Necomimi are cat ears that are honestly controlled by your brainwaves. When you are focused, your ears perk up. When youy are in the zone, the ears wiggle up and down. When you are relaxed, the ears drop down. These are super cool and very easy to Use. I have knew that there was this type of cutting-edge technology available. But the Necomimi is even research-graded and trusted by over 400 universities. The are totally safe, with only two light-touch sensors on your forehead and ear. So if you are looking to impress your friends pick up a pain and be one of the first to communicate with brainwaves! The only downfall that I see about these picking up as a trend is the steep $99.99 initial price. But I guess you can expect to get an item that is brain controlled for pennies.

So if you are looking for a fun, quirky addition to either a parties, heading the conventions with cosplay, or just to impress your friends and family.  You might want to wear Necomimi! It is hard to believe that you can now express yourself without even talking.  The good things about these ears are also that they are changeable. EVen though Halloween just past, they offered the change to purchase Devilish Horns, which were priced at $24.95. There are also many other choices of ears, including Obsidian Black, Minky Brown, Jungle Leopard, as well as the signature white cat ears. Find the custom ears on the website at www.necomimi.com.

Here is some info about the company behind Necomimi: 
NeuroSky, Inc., a bioelectronics company, is the leader in Brain-Computer Interface technology for consumer product application. Founded in 2004 and headquartered in San Jose, CA, NeuroSky works with industry partners, developers, as well as academic and research institutions to provide innovative products and solutions across a wide range of industries. Grounded in more than 60 years of research, NeuroSky’s precision-grade technology has taken proven research EEG (electroencephalograph) technology and evolved it for application to the mass consumer market by making it more user-friendly and cost-effective.

 

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