Octonauts: 15 Underwater Adventures

An irresistible British children's show, the animated Octonauts is a Star Trek-like episodic adventure series featuring the captain and crew of the Octopod, a massive underwater structure that resembles an octopus and serves as a roving base for the Octonauts, whose duty is to explore and protect those in need. The fuzzy, cuddly-looking critters generally find themselves helping one or another ocean-dwelling species that is in some sort of trouble. This 15-episode collection opens with “Beluga Whales,” which is reminiscent of the real-life “Operation Breakthrough” of 1988, in which several gray whales were trapped in pack ice in Alaska and were freed via an international effort. Here, the Octonauts rescue a pod of belugas similarly cut off from the ocean by ice. In “Lost Sea Star,” a young, frightened sea star becomes separated from its family by a strong current, leading the crew of the Octopod to explore ever-deepening and darkening waters in order to return it back home. This rescue-story template also applies to “Baby Dolphin,” “Lionfish,” and “Sardine School,” among other episodes, although there is always an added story element to keep things fresh, typically involving the Octonauts' pirate-like lieutenant Kwazii and his ability to bond with others. A break in the pattern is found in the funny “Cone Snail,” in which an aggressive snail trapped aboard the Octopod keeps shooting mildly poisonous darts at the crew, making everyone loopy. A fun series, this is highly recommended. Aud: P. (T. Keogh)