KidVid: Timmy Time
If you’re familiar with either (or both) Playhouse Disney or Shaun the Sheep, then you already know about Timmy. Timmy the Sheep spun off from the Shaun the Sheep franchise (which is from the people who brought you Wallace and Grommit), and this lovably lunatic lamb will release his first DVD February 22, 2011. With five episodes and a bonus feature, Timmy Time: Timmy Steals the Show is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser with the preschool set. If you aren’t familiar with Playhouse Disney or Shaun the Sheep, you might recognize Timmy from his appearances on recent DVD releases of Thomas & Friends, Barney, and Fireman Sam, among others.
Timmy Time’s first episode is “Timmy Steals the Show,” in which tense rehearsals for the nursery’s talent show result in a crisis—of course, Timmy saves the day. Other episodes are “Timmy’s Picnic” (a story about a broken soccer ball and an ingenious use of soccer spikes); “Timmy Brings a Smile” (is that remnant of cloth an old rag or Apricot’s security blanket? Timmy again saves the day when Apricot suffers a broken heart over her misappropriated blankie); “Timmy Can’t Dance,” that is, until he discovers hip-hop and break-dancing; and “Timmy Says Sorry” and this time he means it—or at least learns the difference between saying it and meaning it. Timmy Time Sing-Along is the bonus feature. Kids will quickly find a favorite among the cast of colorful characters.
The neat thing about Timmy Time is the absence of dialog--unless oinks, barks, meows, quacks, and bleats count as dialogue. Timmy Time successfully gets its messages across without verbally belaboring them. Enfolded in the silent comedy are lessons on friendship, sharing, making mistakes, and learning. It’s all wrapped up in the kind of silliness preschool children find hilarious. (Kids who really enjoy Timmy Time should check out timmytime.tv for games, activities, downloads, and clips from the show).
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