Kipper - The Visitor and Pig's Present Double Bill [VHS]
The first two volumes ofKippervideos are packaged together:The VisitorKipper, the generous, fun-loving dog created by British author and illustrator Mick Inkpen, has a go at four different adventures in this little collection, derived from a wonderful television series airing in the U.S. on Nickelodeon. "The Visitor" finds a dozing Kipper awakened by a gosling tapping at his window. The scared little bird has been separated from his flock by a storm, and Kipper--characteristically--takes him in, warms him up, and makes a snuggly bed in which the gosling instantly falls asleep. The next morning is slightly less tranquil as the visitor leaves muddy tracks everywhere and takes a swim in a cleaning bucket, but Kipper, who loves small animals, laughs it all off. "The Umbrella" is a delightful story about Kipper's rainy-day delays (which include being lifted to the moon in a gust that fills his umbrella) on the way to his fishing date with best pal Tiger, a gentle if overly serious pooch. "The Seaside" concerns a day at the beach for Tiger and Kipper, the latter a bit exasperated over Tiger's strategic preoccupation with "setting up a base camp" before fun is allowed. Finally, "Nothing Ever Happens" features Kipper home alone on another stormy day, alleviating his boredom by exploring the attic and discovering a magician's hat and cane with more tricks than he reckoned. Sweet without pandering, quaint without being corny, the Kipper tales have a timeless charm blending the fanciful with quiet lessons in kindness and getting along.Pig's PresentHere's another volume of four episodes from the Kipper animated series from Great Britain, which airs for American audiences (of the toddler persuasion) on Nickelodeon. "Pig's Present" is a wonderful story about a dilemma of the heart: Kipper, the lively and considerate dog created by author and illustrator Mick Inkpen, goes in search of a small pet to buy for his friend, Pig, for Pig's birthday. Kipper comes home with a cuddly, funny hamster and develops so much affection for the little guy that it pains Kipper to think about giving him up. Still, Pig has been wanting such a pet, and Kipper doesn't want to let him down. What to do? "Rainbow Puddle" is among the best Kipper cartoons, concerning our canine hero's encounter with a magic frog in a rain puddle. Obligated to fulfill three wishes of Kipper's, the frog is suddenly in need of some wish-fulfillment himself when his puddle is sucked dry by an elephant (the subject of Kipper's second whim). "The Butterfly" finds Kipper madly chasing a graceful butterfly who seems spellbound by the color violet, and "The Bleepers" is a very funny story of two young, yammering extraterrestrials whose spaceship is in need of repair and who prefer lollipop sticks over the candy itself. Typically, all four stories feature a blend of fancy and subtle lessons in the art of love and getting along with others. Lovely stuff.--Tom Keogh