Jim Henson always had the capacity to turn learning into a magical experience. Ever since he created Sesame Street in 1969, generations of kids have enjoyed being educated by his irresistible Muppet characters. He made his programs so much fun, kids didn’t even realize they were actually learning something. Even when he taught about the dangers threatening the environment, he never seemed to be preaching. This DVD, advertised as “A wondrous celebration of the planet”, collects four ecologically themed stories featuring Henson’s Muppets. The late Mister Henson was a huge animal lover and his passion shows clearly in this affectionate ode to nature.
The first story, “Song of the Cloud Forest”, is a visually glorious homage to the beauty of the rain forest. It also outlines the dangers threatening the region and its inhabitants. The tale features a group of brightly colored creatures (all Muppets) who live and sing in the wilds, while danger threatens from human encroachment. Milton, the last male golden toad in the rainforest, longs for a mate and regularly croaks his unanswered mating call. This leads to a wonderful opening number where Milton’s monkey friend Wilf and all the creatures of the forest decide to help him by joining in on a melodious chorus. There doesn’t seem to be a female toad in earshot, due to the deforestation caused by the “Uprights” (humans). The other animals are educated about the perils of the approaching humans by Red Ralph Robin, who comes bobbing along to sing a song about how humans are eating the planet alive.
Meanwhile, two conservationists are hunting in the forest for a male specimen of the nearly endangered golden toad, so they can keep it safe in captivity. As bait, they have a rare female toad in a cage, giving off a scent that Milton sniffs out quickly. His animal friends warn him not to sound his mating call because if he does, the Uprights will hear and he’ll be captured. So what’s a toad to do?
The next two stories are episodes of The Animal Show with Stinky and Jake. With a cast of Muppet animals, this funny and furry television parody is an amusing cross between a cordial morning talk show and the late night shenanigans of The Tonight Show. Hosted by Polar Bear Jake and Stinky Skunk, The Animal Show alternates between being educational and satiric.
There are sequences where various animals are interviewed including an owl, a kangaroo, and a frog (named Leapovitch), followed by actual nature footage of real animals in their native environments, where we get true facts about our furry friends. We’re given quizzes by a bee and there are musical numbers. But then the show will quickly shift gears to give us clever spoofs of celebrities, including Rhonda Rat: Rodent Reporter and Yves Saint La Roach. A sketch called “That’s Amazing” parodies That’s Incredible. “Habitat Time” also uses actual nature footage to show us the natural homes of various animals.
The final of the four stories, “River of Life”, is an episode of Henson’s oft-overlooked gem Fraggle Rock. The series featured a colony of small creatures living in tunnels winding through a limestone deposit under the ground. They are barely aware of the existence of humans and often imperiled by their ogre-like neighbors, the Gorgs. They get advice from the Great Trash Heap, who is the sage of the underworld. The brilliance of the series is that it gives us various species who want nothing to do with each other but who are irrevocably connected and dependent on each other.
In this story, a human named Doc who lives above the Fraggle’s rock signs a $100,000 deal to allow industrial waste to be dumped in the tunnels beneath his home. (Doc obviously isn’t too bright. Why would you want to live above a waste dump?) His dog sprocket, who knows about the Fraggles, tries to get the message of danger to his little friends.
Alas, the Fraggles don’t get the message and become sick from the contaminated water. Only a Fraggle named Boober remains healthy so the Great Trash Heap charges him with a quest to save his Fraggle friends, which consists of making the trek to “outer space” (meaning the surface) and begging mercy from the “silly creatures” (the humans).
Henson, who also created the The Muppet Show, had a genius for combining music and merriment with scholastic teachings. He used his lovable Muppets to give life lessons and factual knowledge to several generations of children. For any child who loves animals or who would just like to learn a bit more about the world we live in and the species we share it with, this is a perfect introduction to the beauty and grandeur of Mother Earth. And its also good fun.
DVD Bonus Features
The only extra feature on the DVD is the Trailer Gallery, which previews two upcoming animated features; “Math Adventures” and “Happily Never After 2”.
"Jim Henson's "Song of the Cloud Forest" and Other Stories" is on sale April 13, 2010 and is not rated. Children & Family, Education. Directed by Jim Henson. Written by David Young, Jim Lewis, Jocelyn Stevenson, Jim Henson. Starring Jim Henson.
