The Disney Frontier Blog

Little Einsteins: Rocket's Firebird Rescue DVD Review

The disc contains two bonus features, one of which plays automatically after the feature via Disney's Fast Play: the episode "Rocket Soup" (24:00, originally aired July 30, 2007). In this episode, Rocket is growing hungrier and hungrier after a long day of fun with the gang. Instead of filling him up with gasoline like other vehicles, they propose to make him rocket soup: a concoction consisting of cheese, peas, and magical jumping beans (to give him that extra kick).

When the kids realize that they lack these ingredients, they force the poor, starving Rocket to take them around the world to get some (of course, the thought of going to their local grocery never occurred to them). While the lack of an antagonist such as the ogre may make this episode seem less epic than Rocket's Firebird Rescue, it moves at a much brisker pace.

The second feature, "Magic Mission Mode" allows the viewer to watch Rocket's Firebird Rescue with animated pop-up fun facts interspersed throughout. This comes with two options: "Active" (a more interactive mode where the viewer hits enter on the remote when the Firebird feather pops up) and "Auto" (where all of the segments will automatically play). There are nine segments in all that are usually between 15 - 20 seconds each. They include facts on St. Basil's Cathedral, butterflies, bear cubs, nerpa seals, ballet, fish sleeping habits, Fabergé eggs, dragons, and nesting dolls. The facts in question are surprisingly unique enough that even an adult viewer can pick up something new. In a nice touch, the viewer can chapter skip to each fact during "Auto" mode so that the entire program doesn't have to be re-watched again.

The 4x3 menus replicate the menus found on other "Little Einstein" DVDs, only with a few minor tweaks here and there. The main menu shows the interior of the Little Einstein treehouse while the owners in question occasionally run in and out of frame. Disney's Fastplay precedes the feature presentation with previews for The Jungle Book: Platinum Edition, Disney Princess: Enchanted Tales, My Friends Tigger & Pooh: Super Sleuth Christmas Movie, and "Disney Einstein Pals". Ads on the Sneak Peek's menu can be found for Little Einsteins: Race for Space, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Mickey's Great Clubhouse Hunt, "My Friends Tigger & Pooh," "Handy Manny," and the Disney Vacation Club.

The previous "Little Einstein" DVD ("The Legend of the Golden Pyramid") broke the tradition of red keepcases for this series. Rocket's Firebird Rescue follows suit, thus implying that Disney's abandoned the original cases, though it wouldn't be the first time Disney's treated a series on DVD inconsistently. The case is housed by a cardboard slipcover replicating the sleeve artwork, only with added bumps and engravings here and there. Inside, a booklet advertising a multitude of Playhouse Disney DVDs and merchandise is included, as well as 100 points for Disney's Movie Rewards.

"Little Einsteins" may not join the special class of children's programming that adults find entertaining, but it's decent enough to rise above most programs of the genre. Rocket's Firebird Rescue does nothing to differentiate itself from the usual episodes outside of running time, but it at least holds true to the format expected from this show. Picture and audio are flawless, and "Rocket Soup" and "Magic Mission Mode" should stimulate children's minds further. This earns a recommendation to both families already familiar with the show and those looking for "edutainment" for their children.