One of the best cartoons on television today, short of Avatar: The Last Airbender is Spongebob Squarepants. I have loved this cartoon from the very beginning. As a person who does not see much excitement in today’s cartoons, Spongebob gives me plenty of reasons to reconsider watching some of the newer Nickelodeon shows.

Spongebob is a sponge who lives in Bikini Bottom. His best friend Patrick is perhaps the dumbest sidekick you will ever meet. From there you have Spongebob’s amazingly cheap boss at the Krusty Krab, Mr. Krabs, and his snooty co-worker and next door neighbor, Squidward. Spongebob lives with his best friend and pet snail, Gary. The show revolves around his zany mis-adventures as a cheerful sponge that lives in a pineapple and works at a fast food restaurant.

Not much changes from episode to episode when it comes to Spongebob. Most episodes he finds himself annoying someone or dragging Patrick into some crazy plan. Occasionally, he will attempt to protect the Krabby Patty recipe from Plankton, the crazed restaurant owner who works across the way from the Krusty Krab and wants to steal success for his restaurant, The Chum Bucket. However, the feeling of Spongebob is generally the same. You tend to know what to expect and in most cases that means a hilarious, light hearted, 30 minutes of family fun.

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Episode 3.2 of Avatar: The Last Airbender got right into the action immediately from the first few moments it aired. This season is going to make Avatar fans very happy if the episodes continue to be as interesting as this one. I enjoyed how they mixed in lighthearted moments with the heaviness of the situation the Avatar, Aang as his friends, Toph, Katara, and Sokka are facing as they try to hide out in the Fire Nation. Also, fans of the Aang and Katara, blossoming “young love” (would this make them Aangtara?) will get a hint of the budding romance in this episode.

As always, this episode is kid friendly, for those mature enough to handle the themes in the show. I recommend it for those over the age of ten and must say it is a great show for both teens and adults. I love it and everyone in the family is hooked. It’s a great way to gather around the TV and bond while watching something as opposed to everyone just going their separate ways.

That being said, let’s get into the recap and catch anyone up who missed the episode.

At the beginning of “The Headband”, Zuko awakens in the middle of the night. After putting on his robe, he sneaks out of the palace and goes to where you have to assume they are keeping Uncle Iroh. When he approaches the building, a guard appears asking him who he is. Zuko turns around and runs off before the guard can find out who he is.

Aang and the Avatar Crew (Toph, Katara, Sokka, Momo and Appa) hide in a cloud until they can find a cave to hide in. The Avatar’s bison flying over the Fire Nation wouldn’t exactly be information they want to get out or spread around. Once inside the cave, Sokka explains this is how they will be living their time out until the invasion of the Fire Nation on the day of the eclipse. They’ll be living from cave to cave.

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When Warner Bros announced that they were releasing Tweety’s High-Flying Adventure, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on the movie. As a child, Tweety was my favorite Looney Toons character. I was even Tweety one year for Halloween when I was about three years old. So naturally, I couldn’t wait to pop this in the DVD player and relive all those great Tweety moments. However, I have to say this is not truly the Tweety that I remember happily growing up with.

It was not as entertaining, watching this as an adult, though my three year old nephew adored Tweety. He even told me that he needed to keep the DVD because he loves Tweety. I am glad that I was able to give this DVD a good home because I know that I would not have watched it again.

The main premise is an Around the World in 80 Days knockoff. Tweety becomes the center of a bet that Granny makes with Colonel Rimfire that comes on because Rimfire proclaims that cats are smarter than all other animals. When Granny hears that she offers Tweety Bird in a challenge. She says that Tweety can fly around the world in just 80 days. In that time, Tweety has to collect feline pawprints to prove that she has visited all of the required cities. If Granny wins the municipal park will be saved from closing and the Colonel will pay the back taxes to be sure it stays open.

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It is rare that I enjoy an animated television show as much as I do Avatar: The Last Airbender. I never seem to grow tired of watching this show. After catching some of the season two episodes on NickToons, I became hooked on this series, and the whole family has come to enjoy and appreciate this animated series by Nickelodeon.

We’ve covered Avatar: The Last Airbender in the past on the LI Kids site, so it seemed only natural to review the latest Avatar DVD collection to be released, Avatar: The Last Airbender – The Complete Book Two Collection. This DVD was released by Nickelodeon on September 11, 2007 and it comes in a Five Disc set. The first four discs are split up with five Book Two (season Two) chapters per DVD and a special feature included on each of them. The fifth disc contains Avatar bonus features.

Avatar: The Last Airbender – Book Two: Earth begins where Book One: Water left off. Sokka (Jack De Sena), Katara (Mae Whitman) and Aang (Zack Tyler) leave the northern water tribe. Aang and Katara have learned enough water bending to become fairly skilled benders and it is time for Aang to learn to Earth bend so he can defeat Fire Lord Ozai (voiced by Mark Hamill this season) by the end of the summer.

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Warner Bros. released a new Scooby Doo movie on September 4, 2007 called Chill Out, Scooby Doo!. If you or your children like Scooby Doo, then you might just want to add this movie to your Scooby Doo arsenal. However, as far as originality goes, this film only rates as a mediocre Scooby Doo movie.

This film is similar to most of the other Scooby Doo themed movies. There’s a mystery to solve, Scooby and Shaggy uncover the danger, and the crew must work together to figure out the truth. It was relatively predictable and while any Scooby Doo movie has touches of humor to it, this film is your typical Scooby Doo flick, so don’t expect more then what you’re already used to seeing.

In Chill Out, Scooby Doo!, the gang are all vacationing in Paris. Did anyone else notice they brought the mystery van with them?? Anyhow, Velma (Mindy Cohn of Facts of Life Fame), Fred (The Hollywood Voice God, Frank Welker), and Daphne (Grey DeLisle of Avatar: The Last Airbender fame) are enjoying relaxing at a Parisian café, when they realize Shaggy (famed DJ, Casey Kasem) and Scooby (Frank Welker) have yet to make it to Paris. It isn’t long before we find out where the clueless duo is. They’re on a plane to the Himalayas!

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Warner Bros. has released the third and final installment of the Tom and Jerry Spotlight Collection. Tom and Jerry Spotlight Collection Vol. 3 is comprised of 35 original Tom and Jerry episodes, re-mastered for better audio and video quality and presented in a two disc set. What you can expect from this DVD set, which was released on 9/11/07, is a classic cartoon that has delighted audiences of varying ages for decades. What you might be surprised to know is that Warner Bros. includes a disclaimer on the back of this DVD box set advising that it is for adult collectors and the material may not be suited for children.

I was a little puzzled at first by this. Tom and Jerry cartoons can be seen on a daily basis on cable television cartoon channels. I watched the show as a child. My son watches Tom and Jerry and so do most of his friends. I have never considered Tom and Jerry to be an adult cartoon. Then, after watching the 35 episodes presented, I realized something. Television stations can decide what episodes to air and what to avoid. Tom and Jerry was developed at a time when social standards were different. Cartoons didn’t have to be PC as not to offend any particular group. The cartoon was affected by the social beliefs of the society for which it was written. Things considered taboo to kids, these days, were not necessarily taboo back then.

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As a parent, I constantly examine the television shows, movies and other forms of media my son could potentially be watching. When I receive an animated movie to review, I know that this does not necessarily mean that my child (who is 12) is going to be able to watch the film. I try to examine these types of films for maturity content, violence, and the potential for adult language. Not all animated films are made for kids nor do they always contain material suitable for children.

When I watched Superman Doomsday, I immediately noticed that this film was darker than the other Superman films out there. While I do not believe my son would be ready to watch this film, I do believe that some teenagers and pre-teens would be able to handle this animated movie. Ultimately, it will depend on your child’s maturity level. The biggest issue that kids will have problems with (besides the increased violence in the film) is the death of Superman. This is done in an emotional way that may be too intense for some kids to be able to handle.

If you’re looking for a great film to watch with another adult or an older child who can handle more mature content and you are interested in animated films featuring Superman, this is an excellent choice. The character-driven story is based on the graphic novel in which Superman dies, as developed by DC Comics. This story was adapted for Warner Bros’ animation studios and released directly to DVD by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment.

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Book Three: Fire was the title for the much anticipated Avatar: The Last Airbender’s third season. As you might have guessed, it is time for Aang to take on the Fire Nation. After helping to defend the Water Tribe in Book One: Water (Season One) and getting injured during the last scene of the last episode of Book Two: Earth (Season Two) in the battle that ultimately led to the collapse and surrender of the Earth Kingdom to the Fire Nation, season three shows us a very different Aang then the one we know.

The first episode was “Chapter One: The Awakening”. This was an awakening for more than just Aang…literally. In many ways, it is the start of the awakening of Prince Zuko. Having been away from the Fire Nation for the past two years, his return has changed him. Where once he was so confident in his need and desire for his father’s love and approval, we now see a somewhat paranoid yet vulnerable Zuko who fears…what if his father will never embrace him with open arms again?

This series is recommended for older children and teens. Due to the potential level of violence and the advanced storyline, it is easy to see why Avatar: The Last Airbender is popular with adults, as well. I would ignore the Y7 rating most of the episodes receive, merely because some children under ten may not be ready for this type of story…where good tries to conquer evil, but evil sometimes wins.

In the premiere, the episode starts with Aang awakening on a Fire Nation ship. As you can imagine, it causes Aang to panic, and in his weakened state he runs feebly onto the deck where he is greeted by his friends, Katara, Sokka, and Toph who are all wearing Fire Nation garb. During the few weeks he was passed out, not only did the crew (aided by Katara and Sokka’s father and the men of the Water Tribe as well as various other Avatar allies) capture a Fire Nation ship, which they are using as a disguise to stay off the radar while planning the attack on the Fire Nation during the eclipse, but the usually bald Aang has a head full of dark hair. While Aang freaks out at having hair, this obviously helps with his disguise.

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