Paul McCartney: The Music and Animation Collection

In his post-“Wings” era during the mid-1980s, Paul McCartney branched out into a variety of creative endeavors, including the imaginative trio of animated shorts compiled in this collection, for which he served as executive producer, composer, and voice artist. Every bit as impressive--and arguably more entertaining--than anything in Disney's Fantasia, the first short, "Tropical Island Hum," discreetly advances the late Linda McCartney's vegetarian cause with its charming compassionate song about animals who've been neglected or abused by humans. Dedicated to Linda's memory, the dreamily amusing "Tuesday" (based on the award-winning children's book by David Wiesner) offers the fantastical vision of jubilant frogs on flying-carpet lily pads, entering the homes of unsuspecting humans and hopping to earth again as daybreak brings an end to their magical night. Amiable amphibians also star in "Rupert and the Frog Song," in which the beloved children's book character Rupert the Bear witnesses frogs performing a glorious midnight concert. All three of these wonderful shorts, presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 sound, celebrate nature, animal welfare, and the timeless innocence of childhood. DVD extras include a new interview with McCartney, and “making of” featurettes and storyboards for “Tropical Island Hum” and “Tuesday.” Recommended. Aud: P. (J. Shannon)