As puns go, you’ve got to admit “Donkey Hodie” is pretty good. As with his namesake, the little yellow donkey hero of this animated, PBS Kids’ show is associated with a windmill (he lives in one). Unlike Cervantes’ famous dreamer of a knight, however, young Hodie is under no illusions. In fact, he and his pals are busy learning techniques about how to deal with common, everyday problems that can become vexing hurdles for youngsters.
The two episodes on this video are good examples. In “The Waiting Game,” Donkey Hodie is given a huge gift in wrapping paper, and he’s excited to see what it is. But wait: it’s a gift meant to be shared with friends Bob the Dog, Purple Panda, and Duck Duck, too. Oh, no! That means he has to wait until all four are together—and waiting does not come naturally. As he’s gradually joined by Duck Duck and Bob, the trio strategizes about how to get through the difficult task of waiting until Panda gets there, too.
In “Purple Planet Party,” Panda organizes all the elements of a wonderful birthday for his mother, who awaits him on Purple Planet. He’s got a card, a cake, balloons, a pinata...But every time he and Donkey blast off for Purple Planet, they realize they forgot to bring along one thing or another. After they go through this a dozen or more times, they ask themselves: How can we remember everything we need? Well, of course! Make a list!
Once again, kids watching the show can learn a simple tool that makes challenges so much easier. And there’s a lot to be said about Donkey Hodie as pure entertainment. The music soars, the colors pop, and the action is funny (and surprisingly nuanced). The vocal cast is spot on with their characters, and this is a program parents can easily enjoy with their little ones. Strongly recommended. Three stars (T. Keogh)