Ten years ago, I was watching animation on television because I actually liked it, which made me a geeky 20-something, I suppose. Today I watch what most people consider children's television for the more socially acceptable reason that I have children and they occasionally like to watch television. When the occasion arises, I do my best to ensure my kids are watching stuff that is safe, clean, and entertaining. The last point usually takes care of itself because kids will "vote with the remote" if they are not enjoying a particular show. The other dimension I look for is a show that has some intelligence.

Bunnytown, and this DVD collection Bunnytown: Hello Bunnies!, was a new one for me. It first appeared on the Disney Channel in 2007, when my oldest would have said he was growing out of shows "for babies." The reality is that Bunnytown: Hello Bunnies! has a broader appeal than just the crib-bound bunch, with wry humor, memorable characters, and catchy songs. The average four- or five-year old might not admit that he's into Bunnytown: Hello Bunnies!, but you'll have a hard time turning it off while he's in the room... The closest comparison I can make for parents is the whimsical fun of a Fraggle Rock or The Muppet Show, which is no surprise considering the show's producers both were influenced by Jim Henson.

Unlike the one-theme, episodic focus of shows like Handy Manny or Dora the Explorer, each Bunnytown episode plays more like a little variety show. There are usually snippets of puppetry that bring the same characters forward again and again. There is always a funny segment with live actors; watching the "Clown Race" segment in Bunnytown: Hello Bunnies! reminded me very strongly of the Monty Python "Upper-Class Twit Olympics" skit. Each episode is bracketed by a large-ensemble song featuring the entire town, and smaller musical interludes can also pop up at any time. The show's production is very strong, meaning that your older kids won't feel like they're watching a puppet show. Young kids will just find the bright colors and happy sounds entrancing, and there's no kind of thematic material that they'll find too challenging.

Bunnytown: Hello Bunnies! strikes a nice balance between the more teachy aesthetic of Sesame Street and the almost rave-worthy feeling one gets from watching a show like Boobah. The four episodes here are a great introduction to the series, and younger kids will especially enjoy learning the Bunny Dance through the DVD's special features. If you're already in possession of a full-blown tween, Bunnytown: Hello Bunnies! may be more of a guilty pleasure to them than they'd like to admit, because the bottom line is that this show will charm absolutely anyone from 5 to 95.

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