Ni Hao, Kai-Lan: Super Special Days
by Allan Jacobsen
List Price:
Our Price: $4.92
You Save: $8.03 (62%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $4.87 (click here)
Category: DVD
See more DVD releases
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
DVD Cover Information
Actor: Angie Wu, Clem Cheung, Jack Samson, Jade-Lianna Peters, Khamani GriffinDirector: Allan Jacobsen
Brand: Paramount
Editor: Philip Malamuth
Writer: Karen Chau
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); Mandarin Chinese (Original Language)
Format: Animated, Color, Dolby, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 30 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2008-08-12
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Nickelodeon
Movie Reviews of Ni Hao, Kai-Lan: Super Special Days
Movie Review: Crazy good for your kid to learn how to deal with frustration
Summary: 5 Stars
Until now, if you were, say, a 1st-generation Chinese parent who wanted their 2nd-generation, fully-immersed kid to watch Chinese DVDs targeted at English-speaking kids, you had to suffer through a few noble but failed attempts: Bao Bei the Panda is a notable example, Jade goes to Kindergarten is a little better.
This is great for Chinese language, though not for the vocabulary, but mostly because they use crazy-hard words like "Xue" and other tongue-rolling Chinese sounds and my kid picked it up spontaneously. Of course, we thought she was swearing at first, but turns out she was saying the word for shoe (or more appropriately, the word for slippers/sandals).
Anyhow, that's not the best part of these videos, which is a refreshing surprise. While Dora, Diego, and Blue all teach your kid to basically follow a three-part mystery, and prepare them for a lifetime of watching CSI or Law & Order, Kai Lan and her friends teach them much more valuable lessons.
What seems like Chinese Dora is not that at all -- it's really geared at teaching how to deal with tough situations for kids, like when it's raining, or if they're angry about something, etc. The only other children's series I've seen come close to this is Thomas the Tank Engine (where the trains often wind up embarassed at their behavior when frustrated) and Sesame Street (where it often takes a human being to point out to Elmo or Zoe that they're being unreasonable. Again). But Kai Lan convinces her friends to calm down, find things to do when it's raining, etc. (Notably, some episodes are better examples than others; I went to iTunes to grab the episodes not on this DVD).
If you're debating whether or not to get this DVD, just get it. There's so much to be said for it, and very little to be said against it. It stands up to repeated viewings (because Chinese is so difficult to learn to American ears), and the stories are actually emotionally educational. At first blush, it's a wannabe Dora. But after you watch it a few times -- and if your kid has two eyes and two ears, they will force you to watch it more than a few times -- you'll realize that Kai Lan has created a super special place of her own in the pantheon of kids' TV programming.
Summary of Ni Hao, Kai-Lan: Super Special Days
Super Special Days! is the DVD launch of Ni Hao, Kai-lan. Ni Hao Kai-lan is an all-new animated series from Nickelodeon designed to open the eyes, ears and hearts of children to a fantastic new way to understand their social, emotional and physical world. Kai-lan and her animal friends encounter and learn to overcome daily obstacles that will help kids at home make sense of the world around them. Aspects of Chinese-American family, food and culture, as well as basic Mandarin Chinese phrases are woven throughout the episodes.A sort of Dora the Explorer that features Mandarin Chinese instead of Spanish, Ni hao, Kai-lan is an entertaining Nick Jr. animated program for preschoolers that positively portrays biculturalism, helps build problem solving skills, and introduces basic Chinese words. Kai-lan is a creative, compassionate young girl who has a very close relationship with her Grandfather (YeYe) and loves to play and try new things with her many animal friends including Tolee the koala, Rintoo the tiger, and Hoho the monkey. Like all young children, Kai-lan and her friends play and explore and minor conflicts and emotional outbursts inevitably arise. Kai-lan has a way of stepping back and reviewing the situation to reveal the underlying problem, whether it's hurt feelings, frustration, or downright anger. With a little help from her grandfather and his calming techniques, she always finds a way to support her friends and make everyone feel better. Along the way, viewers learn some basic Chinese words and get a sense of the importance Chinese culture places on things like intergenerational families, calmness, and looking at things from another's perspective. (Ages 3 to 7) --Tami Horiuchi
Similar DVD Movies
Journeys to the East: The River Dragon KingRelease date: 2008-07-28; DVD
Best price: $11.25
Price in other shops:
Munchkin 9 Ounce Ni Hao Kai-Lan Insulated Straw Cup, Colors May VaryMunchkin; Munchkin; Release date: 2011-04-21; Baby Product
Best price: $5.99
Team Umizoomi: Journey to NumberlandParamount; Release date: 2011-09-06; DVD
Best price: $8.14
Price in other shops:
Ni Hao, Kai-Lan: Under the Stars (Little Sound Book)by Editors of Publications International, Ltd.
Publications International, Ltd.; Published: 2009-11-11; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $3.97
Price in other shops:
Ty Beanie Baby - Kai-lan - Ni Hao Kai LanTy; Ty Beanie Baby - Kai-lan - Ni Hao Kai Lan; Release date: 2009-11-16; Toy
Best price: $5.16
Price in other shops:
Kai-lan's ABCs (Ni Hao, Kai-Lan)by Natalie Shaw
Simon Spotlight/Nickelodeon; Published: 2011-09-13; Board book; Book
Best price: $2.50
Price in other shops:
Super Sweet Dreams!: A Lift-the-Flap Story (Ni Hao Kai-lan (Quality 8x8))by Natalie Shaw
Simon Spotlight/Nickelodeon; Published: 2010-10-19; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.55
Price in other shops:
Artist Not Provided - Ni Hao, Kai-Lan: Kai-Lan's CarnivalNIC; Release date: 2009-10-06; DVD
Best price: $7.12
Price in other shops:
Artist Not Provided - Ni Hao Kai-Lan: Princess Kai-LanNIC; Release date: 2010-10-05; DVD
Best price: $5.98
Price in other shops:
Ni Hao, Kai-Lan: Kai-Lan's Great Trip to ChinaParamount; Release date: 2009-07-14; DVD
Best price: $6.95
Price in other shops: