PBS Home Video presents

Teletubbies: Again-again! (1997-2004)

"Fi-dit, fi-dit, fi-dit. Eh-oh."- Po (Pui Fan Lee)

Stars: Pui Fan Lee, Simon Shelton, John Simmit, Nikky Smedley, Dave Thompson
Other Stars: Rolf Saxon, Tim Whitnall
Director: Vic Finch, Paul Gawith

MPAA Rating: Not Rated for (nothing objectionable)
Run Time: 01h:08m:24s
Release Date: 2004-08-03
Genre: television

Style Grade	Substance Grade	Image Transfer Grade	Audio Transfer Grade	Extras Grade
B	B	A	B+	C

 

DVD Review

If you have toddlers who like the Teletubbies, "Again, again," is probably a frequently-heard phrase around your household. This disc collects together a bit over an hour of various segments featuring Tinky-Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa and Po plus their children friends. The first two segments, entitled Teletubbies Everywhere feature live action segments from India and Wales, respectively. The Wales bit is the most interesting since the children are not only feeding little lambs, but also speaking Welsh. The Teletubbies also introduce concepts of running, green and white, circles, and stop and go through their technique of endless repetition, which toddlers often find appealing and reassuring.

The program proper features more Teletubby antics, with voice trumpets playing "lovely music," Po on her scooter and the concepts of playing indoors and outdoors. The Teletubbies also try skipping, but find that they need more practice. There are two segments with children, including a dull one of tricycle riding and a more interesting one of making play dough. Finally, tragedy strikes the Teletubby household when it's time for Tubby Custard but the Tubby Custard Machine doesn't work.

As usual, the bright colors will be appealing to small children. The avoidance of the rapid cutting that plagues so many other childrens' shows gives this program a much more relaxed pace and shouldn't stir the kids into hyperactive frenzy, which is always a plus. The short running time is the main detraction.

Rating for Style: B
Rating for Substance: B

 

Image Transfer

	One
Aspect Ratio	1.33:1 - Full Frame
Original Aspect Ratio	yes
Anamorphic	no

Image Transfer Review: The full frame transfer appropriately looks good for such a recent program. Colors are very bright and vivid. Although there's a somewhat artificial look that's mainly traceable to the heavy use of bluescreen in production rather than a problem with the transfer.

Image Transfer Grade: A
 

Audio Transfer

	Language	Remote Access
DS 2.0	English, "Canadian"	yes

Audio Transfer Review: One can choose from either the American-dubbed version or the original UK version, mysteriously labeled as the "Canadian" language version. Apparently Canadians have become part of the Empire again or that's the wishful thinking of the folks at PBS. That would make sense; if that were to happen, it would be easier for them to get hold of British programming. In any event, the audio is clean and sounds fine, without distortion. There's some significant surround activity, though not much directionality.

Audio Transfer Grade: B+ 

Disc Extras

Static menu with music
Scene Access with 9 cues and remote access
Subtitles/Captions in English with remote access
Packaging: Amaray
Picture Disc
1 Disc
1-Sided disc(s)
Layers: single

Extra Extras:

1. Additional segments

Extras Review: The special features consist of a segment with several kids constructing an obstacle course (3m:30s). The lengthier extra, Dipsy's Very Special Dance (10m:12s) features Dipsy doing her very special dance first for us, then for each of her compatriots, and then for us again. More coordinated toddlers will have fun trying to keep up with Dipsy as she dances, though the sped-up camera work may make that a little frustrating. Finally, under Sneak Peeks there are segments running about 2 minutes each from five other Teletubbies discs. Selecting a chapter from the main menu, oddly, will play that chapter only, and then it returns you to the menu.

Extras Grade: C
 

Final Comments

More charming Teletubby fun, with a good transfer and bonus footage, but really the running time is a bit light for the price. But future generations should if nothing else have a good command of the surreal.

Mark Zimmer 2004-08-02