The best thing about Little Einstein's Fire Truck Rocket's Blastoff on DVD is that it features the Fire Truck Rocket episode that won't air normally until the end of 2009. Generally, these DVD collections are just that: Collected episodes from a previous season or sometimes several years past. Using DVD as a preview format is a stroke of genius on Disney's part, in our opinion. Folks may not feel compelled to watch the episode on television, but they will be building some buzz around the airing of the episode like there's no tomorrow. Kids will just be happy to view this collection and the associated games contained on the DVD. There are some nice extras here, including two levels of what are called "Magic Mission" modes, appropriate for kids age 2 - 3 or 4 - 6. The Magic Mission Mode is really just a series of quizzes that pop up during each episode, as you would see on a typical DVD game; kids can use the directional buttons on the remote to make choices and answer questions. The 4 - 6 year demographic is nearing the upper end of where Little Einsteins strikes a chord with kids, before viewers get into live-action shows and tween sarcasm. Having something they can sink their teeth into here through each Magic Mission is a smart hook.
Having just four episodes feels a bit skimpy, but it's not unusual compared to past releases. The selections are very action-packed, compared to the ordinary pace of a Little Einstein's show. Rocket in full fire-fighting mode, set against the sounds of Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture," is an awesome enough combination to inspire an "awww...cool!" comment from even our jaded 6-year old... "Carmine's Big Race" takes the Little Einsteins to Monaco for some fast-paced car racing on the winding slopes and tight European corners, complemented by rousing music from Mouret and positively psychedelic landscapes from Ranson. The collection is rounded out by "Melody the Music Pet," featuring a rather hard-to-identify creature that the gang tries to help, and another helper episode ("Mr. Penguin's Ice Cream Adventure") featuring great art by Lichtenstein and Schubert's "Unfinished" symphony. We'd have loved another episode or three to make the price of entry feel better spent, but what's here is a pleasure and can even satisfy older children thanks to those interactive "Magical Mission" games.
