Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Explore! Rescue! Protect! The Octonauts Octopod Playset and DVD {Review}

Octonauts logo
Although we stay pretty up-to-date on the hot children's shows and characters, it took a birthday invitation a few years ago before my children and I were introduced to The Octonauts.

Look at these guys, Mama, who are they?

A quick search showed that they are a collection of animals who live underwater that are kind, generous, caring, humorous, lighthearted and intelligent. And apparently they help other animals? It sounds good, let's watch an episode and see!

We've never looked back since.

The Octonauts Characters

Airing on the Disney Junior block of the Disney Channel, the Octonauts have taken America's preschool and early elementary age viewers by storm. The show is based in an undersea base, the Octopod, where the Octonauts go on adventures with the help of a fleet of aquatic vehicles to rescue sea creatures, discover amazing habitats and often save the day before returning safely to their home base.

But this isn't just another children's show that entertains with bright colors and silly antics, Octonauts works closely with the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) and is advised by a team of marine biologists to ensure accuracy and watertight science.

Therefore, as children follow the exploits of these quirky and courageous heroes, they will not only experience fast-paced, high-peril action-adventures, but they develop a deeper appreciation for the natural world that lives undersea.

Octonauts undersea animals

There aren't too many other kids' shows that I know of that are grounded in scientific discovery and true-to-life exploration of the natural world... and I have to admit that I enjoy watching the Octonauts as they explore the world's oceans, rescue the creatures who live there, and protect their habitats just as much as my children do!

Needless to say, I'm not sure which one of us was the most excited at the arrival of the Here Come the Octonauts! DVD and the Octonauts Octopod Playset!

Octonauts toys

Scheduled for release on January 7, 2014, Here Come the Octonauts! is the perfect way to bring home the adventures of everyone's favorite underwater explorers to watch anytime, anywhere.

This six-episode collection includes Captain Barnacles tangling with a Colossal Squid who has his hooks in the Octopod, Peso babysitting a bunch of penguin chicks stuck in a blizzard, Kwazii having a shocking encounter with an Electric Torpedo Ray, and much more!

Octonauts Colossal Squid Octopod

Having the ability to watch brave Captain Barnacles, daredevil ex-pirate Kwazii, and medic Peso Penguin (and the rest of the cute cast) embark on exciting new missions while we're on car trips, airplane rides or just whenever we want to at home is so easy with this DVD!

With an MSRP of $12.99 (but currently available for preorder on Amazon for only $7.96), Here Comes the Octonauts! would make a great gift for fans everywhere.

However, to really bring the scientific exploration and discovery of the Octonauts to life, Fisher-Price has released a detailed home version of The Octopod that is packed with features and accessories to have an endless number of underwater adventures.

Right out of the box I found that the assembly was minimal and that the instructions were clear and concise. In just a few minutes I had turned a collection of pieces...

Octonauts Octopod toy

...into an adorable playset replica from the show.

Octonauts Octopod review

I always love when companies take the time to include great details in their products and Fisher-Price did just that with this Octopod. It not only includes 10 play pieces (including Barnacles, Kwazii and three undersea creatures) but a slew of little extras everywhere you look.

Each of the individual Octopod arms are designed as a certain room (e.g. the kitchen, Peso's medical room), and the small touches such as photos on the wall, buttons on the control panel and a ladder to the control room just make it even more fun and easy to pretend and imagine.

Fisher-Price Octonauts Octopod

In addition, the Octopod includes handy slides for Captain Barnacles and Kwazii to get around, foot pegs to help the characters stand at the controls, a back peg in the GUP-A to keep them in place when driving around and four rescue tools (a net, barrel, stretcher and anchor) to ensure that the Octonauts can help each and every animal that they encounter.

Fisher-Price Octopod

There is also a fun miniature Launch Bay, just like on the show, and this Octopod even has a great lever allowing kids to send the Octonauts right out into the underseas in the GUP-A for their next mission.

Octopod Launch Bay

As the final touch, the Fisher-Price Octopod not only looks the part, but it includes sounds as well! The removable OctoAlert button can be left in place on top of the Octopod or hooked right on to a child's belt for sounds and phrases directly from the show. Too cute!

Octopod OctoAlert

With an MSRP of $34.99 (currently on sale on sale on Amazon for $27.99), the Fisher-Price Octonauts Octopod Playset is a great way to continue the mission of the show and help spark the imagination and interest of young children in the mysteries of the ocean.

Whether your child is a big fan of the show or this is the first that you've heard of it, I encourage you to check out the Octonauts, their underwater missions, and the fun and entertainment that remains true and accurate to the scientifically valid facts and issues!

Find out more by visiting TheOctonauts.com and connecting with them on Facebook.

Other than the Octonauts Octopod Playset and DVD that I was provided in order to facilitate my review, I was not compensated or enticed to do this post in any way. This review is solely my honest opinion about this show and these products.

6 comments:

Unknown said...

My granddaughter watches the Octonauts on TV all the time, she loves them and I let her watch them because they always have a good theme and lesson for the children.

Courtney B said...

ohhhh la la :) my daughter is obsessed with octonauts!

Unknown said...

My son is just a little too old for watching the Octonauts, so I wasn't aware of them. I love that they work with NOAA and marine biologists to make sure they are providing correct information.

won said...

Ohhhh....reminds me of the Jetsons for some reason. Maybe it's the shape. Either way, it's really cute.

Wendy T

Janet W. said...

This is such a cute play set! My grandson would love this and it would keep him so entertained!

Unknown said...

This sounds like a great DVD and toy set that would make a gret Christmas gift. The program sounds like it is both entertaining and educational. Thank you for this review.