The best new children’s DVDs for 2013

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Published on Thursday, 07 February 2013 09:00

Last Updated on 07 February 2013

Monica Costa

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Check out London Mums favourite selection of new children’s DVDs for 2013.

Is this the year of the monsters? Well, maybe not but there are a few new movies with monsters as the stars …. Surprised?

HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA

On Blu-ray™ 3D, Blu-ray™ and DVD with UltraViolet™ 4 February 2013 from Sony Pictures Animation and Director Genndy Tartakovsky featuring the Voices of Adam Sandler, Andy Samberg, Selena Gomez, Kevin James and Steve Buscemi.
We did not know what to expect from this movie at the screening at the National Geographic Shop (Knightsbridge) recently, but we were positively surprised as HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA can be enjoyed by both parents and children (which is quite unusual as kids’ movies are not always interesting for adults). I would dare say that the humour in this movie can be read on two different levels. The kids would laugh about the funny monsters while the adults are charmed about some subtle lines such as Dracula’s daughter Mavis about to become 118 and she tells her dad: ‘Don’t treat me like a baby, I am not 83 any more!’. Most kids were fascinated by the Invisible Man and all his jokes (interesting! as he was invisible). The film tells about their life inside a remote hotel that caters to monsters of all kinds.

Dracula wants to throw a party strictly for monsters for his daughter Mavis’ 118 birthday. Frankenstein, the Mummy, the Invisible Man and the rest of the gang when Jonathan, a pesky human, stumbles onto the hotel grounds threatening the success of the event. Dracula and the hotel staff move into action, determined to protect Mavis, as well as the lavish resort sanctuary where monsters can holiday in safety far away from humans.

HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA marks the feature directorial debut of Genndy Tartavosky (TV’s “Dexter’s Laboratory”). Produced by Michelle Murdocca, the screenplay is by Peter Baynham (Arthur Christmas) and Robert Smigel (TV’s “SNL”) with a story by Todd Durham and Dan & Kevin Hagerman.

MADAGASCAR 3: EUROPE’S MOST WANTED

Packed with non-stop laughs, zany action and wildly comedic adventure, DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc.’s hilariously funny global smash MADAGASCAR 3: EUROPE’S MOST WANTED swings into the spotlight on Blu-ray Triple Play (Blu-ray, DVD and Digital Copy), Blu-ray 3D™ (Blu-ray, 3D Blu-ray, DVD and Digital Copy) and DVD on 11 Feburary 2013.
Not sure what makes us love the Madagascar series but we are always very pleased when a new sequel is launched. All characters are hilarious in their own right. This sequel is particularly funny because it sees the animals travel across Europe. We love to see them meet a lot of European people including a tough French police woman, funny Italian policemen etc.

All of your favorite zoosters are back as Marty, Alex, Gloria and Melman make their way back home to
New York City by joining a travelling circus to try to blend in as they cross Europe. But a pesky French animal control officer and their new circus friends create hilarious European adventures unlike anything you’ve ever seen. Featuring a sensational, all-star cast of voice talent including Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer, Jada Pinkett Smith, Sacha Baron Cohen, Cedric the Entertainer, Martin Short and Jessica Chastain, MADAGASCAR 3 delivers hysterical entertainment that the whole family can enjoy.

Monster High™: Why Do Ghouls Fall in Love

Unmissable DVD for any Monster High fan out there (mum or daughter)! Everyone’s favourite student monsters return with more wild tales in this double-disc DVD: Monster High™: Why Do Ghouls Fall in Love and Monster High™: Friday Night Frights available on Blu-Ray & DVD from 21st January 2013.
In Monster High™: Why Do Ghouls Fall in Love; Draculaura is preparing for her extra special sweet sixteen hundredth birthday party at Monster High. But her high expectations for the party lead to deadly results for her social life when she is faced with a love emergency with the arrival of new vampire heartthrob, Valentine. She has to decide between practical boyfriend Clawd and Valentine, the new arrival, who turns out to be a romantic blast from her past. But things are not all as they seem with Valentine as Draculaura and her ghoulfriends discover his sinister plan to steal her heart (literally!). Will they be able to help her in time? Will Cupid be a villain or a hero? And most importantly…will Draculaura pass her driving test?

In Monster High™: Friday Night Frights, the girls once again team up for ghoul power as Monster High races towards the Skulltimate Roller Maze (SKRM) finals. The school’s all-boy team faces defeat when their star players, Clawd and Deuce, are mysteriously injured, and school spirit seems dead and buried. Frankie breaks the mould to take on the “boys only” sport and signs up the rest of her ghoulfriends to restore Monster High’s glory.

Bringing their own sense of style, flair and unique monster talents to the pitch, the team looks set to play in the SKRM championship until their rival team starts to play dirty tricks. The fate of the sport and their school’s cred are at stake as they skate for the finish line and “go out there and play like ghouls!”

Grandpa in My Pocket: Lighthouse View, as Good as New

Every new series is a surprise and mums love watching it as much as the kids (I dare say) 🙂 Five episodes of the BBC children’s comedy drama following the adventures of Grandpa (James Bolam) and his magical shrinking cap, which only his grandson, Jason (Jay Ruckley), knows about. When he puts the cap on, Grandpa shrinks and comic mayhem inevitably ensues – but Grandpa and Jason always manage to save the day somehow. The episodes comprise: ‘Lighthouse View, Good As New’, ‘A Captain Dumbletwit Box of Tricks’, ‘Mr. Mentor’s Marvelicious Inventing Club’, ‘More Than a Biscuit for Mrs. McWhiskit’ and ‘No Mention of an Invention’.

CloudBabies Fly Away Home

The DVD box includes free rewards chart and stickers which the kids will love. If you are not already familiar with CloudBabies, it’s a CG animated series about four enchanting, childlike characters, Baba Pink, Baba Blue, Baba Yellow and Baba Green whose job it is to look after the sky and their sky friends — Sun, Moon, Rainbow, Fuffa Clud and Little Star. They live together with Bobo White, a mischievous little imp, in a house on a big fluffy cloud. Every morning, they jump on their Skyhorsies and begin their day’s work. They are adorable. Check them out in this trailer.

Arthur Christmas

This is a great film you can watch not just at Christmas. From Aardman Animations (Chicken Run) and Sony Pictures Animation (The Smurfs) comes this heartwarming animated tale of Santa’s youngest son, Arthur, and his race to save one little girl’s Christmas. The movie reveals the answer to the age old question of children everywhere, just how all those millions of presents get delivered in one night, through an eye-popping look at Santa’s high-tech North Pole operation. Arthur Christmas is out on Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray and DVD now from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.

Sooty Christmas Special

This DVD includes episodes from the new TV series plus FREE Christmas colouring-in poster. There are lots of Christmas songs sung by the beloved Sooty gang who celebrate their Xmas party. We love going to the Sooty shows in the West End before Christmas every year and then watch the DVD to remind us of all the fun we had 🙂

The DVD is available from all major retailers from 5th November 2012.
RRP: £7.99 CERT: U