Wallace & Gromit's World of Invention

Any fan of the beloved plasticine duo Wallace and Gromit—stars of numerous stop-motion-animation comedy shorts and the feature film Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit—know that the pair are inveterate inventors, making them ideal hosts for this highly entertaining, kid-friendly British TV-aired science series. World of Invention focuses on some of the most interesting contemporary scientific research and experimental inventions around the globe, offering filmed profiles of an assortment of innovators who describe their clever solutions to various problems (with details scaled down for kids' understanding). The framing animation provides the humor, with Wallace doing all the talking and Gromit acting as the silent straight man (er, straight dog). Each episode is organized around a different theme: transportation, safety, the five senses, contraptions for the home, flight (including space travel), and ideas inspired by nature. Presenting a wide array of marvelous innovations—with a little bit of stop-motion whimsy between the reports—Wallace & Gromit's World of Invention nicely celebrates creativity in science and engineering, making this an inspirational, informative, and entertaining watch. Highly recommended. Aud: E, I, P. (S. Axmaker)