If you are going to attend Wondercon then there are a couple of interesting panels happening with great Netflix shows. As a family we have watched both Trollhunters and Voltron. Both shows are amazing and we cannot wait for more seasons to come out. I had the pleasure of meeting the showrunners for Voltron last year and also some of the amazing voice talent. I think that the Voltron panel is going to be awesome especially after two great seasons. Here are some details on both the panels. Continue reading Two great Netflix Show Panels at Wondercon: Trollhunters and Voltron #StreamTeam→
I have to admit, I got way behind on Dragon Riders: Race to the Edge. I love the How To Train Your Dragon Series very much. It is something really funny and emotional that resonated with me. I watched all of the first season and most of the second a couple of the third but I think I should go back to the beginning and watch How To Train Your Dragon 1 and then Dragon Riders: Race to the Edge and then How To Train Your Dragon 2 in preparation for the upcoming How To Train Your Dragon 3. I want to see where the story goes. I also think that the kids and I should start reading How to Train Your Dragon book series. We made it to number 11 but never read the final chapter. That was something that Eva and I really enjoyed together. Now we could bring Andrew into it as well.
The kids and I watched the last two episodes of Voltron Season 2 tonight. The certainly packed a ton of action into the whole season. We watched as the action got more and more intense from the beginning of episode 12 to the very end of episode 13. I was sort of nervous about the finale because I had heard the possibility of there being a major death in the episode. I can’t say whether or not a death happened but it was intense.
I was also worried because we watched all of Trollhunters together and something really tragic happened at the end of the season. It hit Eva really hard. I was hoping that this wouldn’t be on that same level. They are two separate shows. They have two different vibes. We love the Paladins and we love the Trollhunters. Both finales gave me the chills with the stakes being so high. There were characters that I feared for and some that I cheered for. There were tears and gasps of amazement. I loved the action of Voltron. They really pulled out all the stops on those last episodes. The action was incredible. The kids loved it and the cliffhanger of an ending makes us eager for Season 3.
Being a part of the Netflix #StreamTeam has been awesome. Netflix has become a huge part of our family’s entertainment. Allison and I have found a number of Netflix originals that we enjoy together including Travelers. This show is about a group of time travellers who have returned to the past to prevent a major disaster. What they find is cause and effect aren’t so cut and dry and may things don’t go the way that they expected. For the kids we have been watching Trollhunters, Voltron and Project Mc2. The kids gave Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events a try but didn’t care for it. I watched the first episode so far and it was pretty entertaining. The subject matter is a bit bleak but it puts things into a more humorous perspective. I don’t think that my kids are quite there yet for the subtle humor around such a dark premise.
However, some kids are getting to that point where their shows are dealing with more adult subject matter. Kids are starting to gravitate towards more grown up stories. With a show like A Series of Unfortunate Events the kids can still be kids and deal with difficulties instead of seeing something that they just aren’t old enough to be exposed to. We’re still enjoying mostly cartoons but moving towards those that have larger more grown up stories.
We recently finished Trollhunters which dealt with responsibility, death, betrayal and friendship. It is truly a family show but can still tell a grown up story set in this fantasy world. It was wonderfully done and we ate up the first season with gusto. When we got to the final episode my daughter experienced the loss felt from loving a character only to see it perish. There were real tears at that moment, and not just hers and Andrew’s. I got choked up, too. In real life, people die, no matter how much we love them.
we’re now watching the second season of Voltron and the paladins are growing and changing while the threats from Zarkon are becoming more real and terrible. We don’t know what the rest of the season will bring but I have a feeling that nothing will be the same once we get to episode 13.
With Eva we are had a very special experience together. We shared a love for the show Girl Meets World which ran for 3 seasons, two of which are on Netflix. We watched the series finale today and were both in tears. There were so many different episodes with important themes in this show. While it was almost always kept to a light tone there were more grown up topics that came up in the series. It gave us an opportunity to talk about things that will come up in life. It gave us something to bond over and a mutual starting point for conversations. Good TV can do that.
I received a couple of the new Voltron toys from Playmates Toys for free to Unbox and review. The kids gave me a hand and the opinions expressed are ours.
When Voltron Season 1 came out I watched the whole thing on my own and then I re-watched it with the kids. The kids really enjoyed it and we have been looking forward to the release of second season. I have a big post about it from yesterday, too. It was one of my StreamTeam posts. Tonight we watched the first episode of Voltron Legendary Defender Season 2 as a family and loved it. Then I had to go to work and believe me, I would have much rather watched 4 or 5 episodes with the kids and really get into this season.
But.. we only watched the one episode and then the kids helped me unbox three Voltron toys. Two of them were provided to us by Playmates and the other one Andrew and I bought today. I was so close to buying the entire 16″ Voltron with all five lions (buying the Legendary ones will cost $100+) I really wanted it but decided against it. Lucky for me because the car needs new brakes.
By now you have seen the trailer for Season two of Voltron Legendary Defender. We loved this show as a family. I was fortunate enough to get a sneak peek at the show at DreamWorks Animation Studios last year and it was so hard to wait for the first season to start. It has been even harder for the second season to get under way but that is all about to change tomorrow. So, to get you excited take a look at a whole bunch of stills and videos that I have to share with you including some downloadable activity sheets and more. But first, let’s check out that season two trailer.
I was given access to watch the first two episodes of DreamWorks Trollhunters from filmmaker Guillermo del Toro. The show has an exciting storyline, beautiful visuals and plenty of fun characters. Our main character is a boy of 15 named Jim (voiced by the late Anton Yelchin). Jim finds a magical amulet on the way to school. This amulet grants him a suit of armor and a great sword that he can use to capture bad trolls. Yes, there are good and bad trolls. On the good side are trolls Blinky (voiced by Kelsey Grammer) and AAARRRGGHH!!! (voiced by Fred Tatasciore). On the bad side of the trolls is Bular (voiced by Ron Perlman) a troll that becomes Jim’s nemesis.
Jim is smitten with Claire (Lexi Medrano). He cannot seem to talk to her and is quite awkward around her but you can see that she likes him a bit. Jim’s best friend is Toby (Charlie Saxton). Jim seems an unlikely hero. He’s tall and spindly but he is no stranger to standing up for himself or people in trouble. Jim takes good care of his mother, a doctor working long hours. He is also a bit of a foodie and makes meals for himself, his mom and also Toby.
When Trollhunters launches there will be 26 1/2 hour episodes that follow a full season of adventure. The show was excellent and I look forward to watching an entire season. It will be pretty amazing to see all the designs of the trolls and to see how Jim advances as a character through the season. Continue reading Trollhunters is a Visual Masterpiece and an Epic Story – #StreamTeam→
Season 3 of the popular DINOTRUX has dropped on Netflix and I know one kid who is pretty excited…. Me. I love the idea of these dinosaurs that are actually construction vehicles. The way this show is done is incredible. The designs of each of the characters are excellent with so much detail being put into making them look the best that they can look. I have an 8 minute preview of Season 3 below but if you have Netflix already then you should head there and start watching Seaoson 3. We’re actually a few episodes behind on Season 2 so we have to catch up before we go on to 3. Don’t wait for us, go now!
Yesterday my email inbox was pinging like crazy with announcements from Netflix. I received no less than six emails with press release information about release date, upcoming shows and more. As part of the Netflix #StreamTeam I’m happy to bring you all sorts of Netflix related information. But rather than a whole bunch of separate posts about what is coming, when things are being released and new things just announced, I’ll do a sport of roundup announcement for you this time around.
For the Younger Kids
The biggest deal announcement for the kids, pre-schoolers specifically but I think that Eva may still enjoy it, is the show Beat Bugs. This show premieres on August 3rd and is a celebration of the songs of The Beatles as done by many different artists. Here is the lineup in order of show appearance which also includes season two. Yes, a second season has already been announced before the first season debut. Here is the trailer and then the listing of artists.
Beat Bugs Season 1
P!nk: “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds”
James Corden: “I’m A Loser”
Aloe Blacc: “Rain”
Robbie Williams: “Good Day Sunshine”
Eddie Vedder: “Magical Mystery Tour”
Frances: “In My Life”
The Shins: “The Word”
The Lumineers: “Honey Pie”
Sia: “Blackbird”
Beat Bugs Season 2
Rod Stewart: “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”
Chris Cornell: “Drive My Car”
Regina Spektor: “And Your Bird Can Sing”
Jennifer Hudson: “I’ll Follow The Sun”
Of Monsters and Men: “Eleanor Rigby”
James Bay: “Hey Bulldog”
Tori Kelly: “I’m Happy Just To Dance With You”
Other hit songs to be featured in the Netflix original series and the soundtracks will include Beat Bugs renditions of Beatles classics like “Help,” “Come Together,” “Penny Lane,” “Yellow Submarine,” “We Can Work it Out,” “Strawberry Fields Forever,” “Hello Goodbye” and “Across the Universe,” among others. Continue reading A Netflix #StreamTeam Monthly Extra Announcement→
I was lucky enough to be invited to DreamWorks Animation Studios on behalf of Netflix to preview the first episode of Voltron: Legendary Defender and interview the creators and cast. I am a member of the Netflix StreamTeam and as such receive various compensations for review and promotion of Netflix shows. Opinions are 100% my own.
Sometimes I have to pinch myself regarding the luck that I have. I would never, in a million years, think that I would be headed to DreamWorks Animation Studios in California to not only see the pilot episode of Voltron: Legendary Defender but also get to interview the creators and cast. I was also a bit starstruck because I got to meet one of my all time favorite voice actors, Josh Keaton. And you know what, he was a pretty chill dude. We talked about television and cutting the cable cord and all the ways you can get TV without cable. Ways like subscribing to Netflix. You might not realize it but Netflix produces so many different types of content and Voltron: Legendary Defender is but one of them. One amazing show full of incredible heart. When our viewing was over I just wanted to know what was going to happen next. I am looking forward to sharing this show with my kids. Continue reading Voltron: Legendary Defender Leaps into Action on June 10 on Netflix #StreamTeam→
