Little Tug's Big Adventure

Anthropomorphic boats of all kinds go whizzing around the harbor in this cute video designed to interest kids in a variety of watercraft. Hercules is the little tugboat that could. Once set in the water by Clark Crane, he sets about pursuing Sweet Rita, a carefree "female" Garwood, who is heading for big city "danger." Along the way, we meet the requisite boats with the requisite accents, from a southern gentleman paddlewheel to a New England lobster boat. While the stereotypes made me a little uneasy (especially the assumption that our female boat needs to be rescued from the horrible allure of a life of independence), I suspect these concerns will be lost on the 2 to 6 year old audience the video is targeting. Ultimately, this is an adorable little program with high production values and a winning concept that, for kids this age, should prove more riveting than a shipyard. Recommended. Aud: K, E, P. (R. Ray)