I recently told you about The Golden Ribby awards, a talent contest for kids sponsored by WonderWorld Entertainment, the creators of “Ribert & Robert’s WonderWorld”. And today I’m going to be reviewing this award-winning public television series, which features a CGI frog with a penchant for hip-hop, Ribert.
“Ribert & Robert” is billed as an “the first show a kid can ride”, which seeks to actively engage children and draw them into the story. Many of the shots are animated from the perspective of a rollercoaster, Ribert’s main mode of transportation – as he travels from one part of Wonderworld to the next, the animation flies you through the air, twisting and turning, to create the effect that you’re sitting right next to Ribert on his adventures. It’s an unusual concept, and I can see how it could add an extra dimension of fun and make-believe to watching TV.
Ribert has an unquenchable thirst for knowledge, and spends each episode learning about different themes. The first episode that I watched, “Winter”, shows the loveable toad learning about everything related to the season. He visits several human friends, including his BFF Robert, who engage Ribert in all sorts of fun activites, like making paper snowmen and drawing. The second episode, “The Rainforest”, shows the gang learning about tropical landscapes and the animals that inhabit them. I think the combination of fun animated scenes with the live-action footage worked well here, and I liked the inclusion of arts & crafts – this show really does aim to be interactive and involve the children who watch it. This song-filled show is fun and educational, and I’m sure kids will enjoy being “Power Pals” with the world’s first rapping frog.
If you’d like to check out “Ribert and Robert’s WonderWorld” for yourself, click here to watch free episodes online at WonderWorldTV.com.
