Filed under: — Cartoon, DVD, Nickelodeon, PBS, Television
Written by: Dominick at 6:58 PM
Writer: Simon Nicholson, Keith Chapman
Cast: Neil Morrissey, Mac Silk, Lorelei King, Emma Tate
Rating: Not Rated
Studio: 20th Century Fox/Hit Entertainment
Release Date: February 5, 2008
Hit Entertainment has a hit on their hands with their Bob the Builder television series and DVD releases. I’ve always loved cars and trucks, especially when I was little. Having a three year old nephew who is obsessed with trucks and construction made reviewing Bob the Builder On Site: Roads and Bridges a breeze.
I’d never seen the show before, even though my son, who is now 13, claims he used to watch it on Nickelodeon. I wasn’t really surprised by how good a show Bob the Builder is. I was surprised by how much I, as an adult, liked this DVD.
Bob the Builder On Site: Roads and Bridges, and I’m assuming all of the other various Bob DVDs and episodes, really do teach kids about building. I’m pretty sure I learned a thing or two, myself. I don’t know much about actual construction. Bob the Builder is a child friendly version of Bob Villa, though I think Bob the Builder might actually be more interesting!
Release Information:
Bob the Builder originated in the UK. It has played on various television networks in the United States. It aired on Nickelodeon until 2005 when it moved to PBS Kids. The show also aired on CBS from 2001-2002. Bob the Builder On Site: Roads and Bridges is a newly released version that is based on the television show, but offers a new, Bob formula with Bob and his crew discussing and then building. Then live-action on site construction sites show the same thing that Bob just did. There are also segments that feature kids building their version of roads and bridges.
Bob the Builder On Site: Roads and Bridges is a production of Lyons and Hit Entertainment. It is being distributed by 20th Century Fox. Bob the Builder On Site: Roads and Bridges was released on February 5, 2008. It is available at all major retailers including Amazon, where it is on sale for $14.99 USD.
The Plot
Bob the Builder On Site: Roads and Bridges has shown me just how far Claymation has come. Gone are the days of Gumby, who was the primary Clay-animation figure of my childhood. Bob and his crew are attractive, clay figures, with no visual flaws. In this newly released DVD set, Bob introduces children and adults, both old and new fans of the Bob the Builder television show, to the wonders of construction.
In Bob the Builder On Site: Roads and Bridges, everything a child or adult could ever want to learn about construction on roads and bridges is learned. Through songs, repetition and actually viewing construction, the lessons are emphasized. The show follows a formula. First, Bob explains the steps to build something. He mentions what machines are used in the building experience. Then Bob and his crew build it. Finally, he shows live-action footage, “on site” as actual construction is performed. After Roley, a green steamroller on Bob’s crew, sings his catchy little tune, “How do you do it?” (in this episode he’s teaching squirrels and rabbits how to build roads and bridges), children build their version of whatever Bob is building.
Some of the characters involved in Bob the Builder On Site: Roads and Bridges include Muck (bulldozer), Scoop (backhoe loader), Benny (excavator), Tumbler (concrete mixer), Roley (steam roller), and Lofty (crane). There is also a grater, in the live action sequences, that cleans away the dirt when the road is being made. Bob goes through how he makes a plan before building anything. He either draws up his plan or her makes a model. He explains that people who make plans when building are often called surveyors.
Bob then explains that there are three stages to building a road. Stage #1 is digging. Since the rain would wash the road away, Bob and crew have to dig a hole for it to sit in. Stage #2 is building the foundation. In it, lots of rocks, stones, and gravel go into the hole. They have to be heavy for a steady foundation. Finally, Stage #3 is the laying the road stage. Concrete is poured onto the foundation. Asphalt is poured on top of that. Then a steamroller rolls it flat. After Bob shows images of real machines making a road, Roley sings “How do you make a road?” Then children, use sand and water, rocks, and wooden planks with bricks at the ends, to make their own version of a road.
After learning about roads, Bob talks about building, what is called, ‘a road in the sky’. Bob mentions there are three kinds of bridges and he looks through his archives at some of the bridges he and the crew have built in the past. The bridges are beam bridges, arch bridges, and suspension bridges. Then, he shows kids building a bridge. Beam bridges have supports under them. Arch bridges, have arches to support them, and suspension bridges are suspended by suspension supports above them. Bob even shows how bridges are replaced. After Roley sings “How do you build a bridge?” there are more segments about live action-on site building.
Then the entire episode is reviewed. There are kids playing and drawing roads with chalk. There are plenty of live action sequences of building. Bob talks about how roads meet at intersections. There is a final song by Roley and then Bob gets a call. He has to go build a road and bridge. This is how the DVD ends.
Universally entertaining for parents and children, Bob the Builder On Site: Roads and Bridges is geared towards a toddler and preschool audience. Little B, loved this DVD. He has watched it several times since the first time we watched it together. I think any child would benefit from watching Bob the Builder On Site: Roads and Bridges. It’s a fun way to learn new facts about construction. Besides, Bob’s voice is very soothing, so the annoyance factor many children’s television shows seem to have, due to screechy voices or obnoxious singing, are missing from this series.
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Audio/Visual:
Bob the Builder On Site: Roads and Bridges is transferred in fullframes at an aspect ratio of 1.33:1. The clay animation is flawless. There aren’t any issues with animation. Colors are vibrant. I was impressed. It’s pretty much as good as it gets for cartoon video quality.
Bob the Builder On Site: Roads and Bridges is available in basic Dolby Digital stereo sound. This set features three languages, English French and Spanish. Subtitles are available in all three languages as is closed captioning. This is standard sound quality and it sounded pretty good for not being enhanced.
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Bonus Features:
Bob the Builder On Site: Roads and Bridges didn’t have any bonus features. There is the ability for Auto Play, but it seems pointless with absolutely no extras to watch.
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Bottom Line:
Bob the Builder On Site: Roads and Bridges was one of the most enjoyable learning experiences I’ve had with the recent, child friendly shows I’ve been given the chance to watch. If your child loves building, construction, trucks, or Bob the Builder then you definitely need to purchase Bob the Builder On Site: Roads and Bridges. Your child won’t be disappointed.
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Technorati Tags: Bob the Builder, On Site, Roads, Bridges, construction, PBS, Nickelodeon, CBS, 20th Century Fox, Kids, TV Show, Claymation
Written by Dominick Evans - Visit Website
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Dominick is in his late 20s. He lives in Michigan with his life partner, Ashtyn, their 14 year old son Robert, and their Shih-Tzu, Oliver. Dominick is a writer and the head editor for both LI Kids and Literary Illusions. He enjoys composing music and is an aspiring director/screenwriter. In his free time he enjoys spending time with his family, playing and watching sports, playing video games, watching movies, and singing.
