Shaun the Sheep: Season One

The animated children's series Shaun the Sheep hails from Nick Park and Britain's Aardman Animations, creators of the Wallace and Gromit shorts and movies, and features the same style of stop-motion animation. Shaun is a diminutive but imaginative member of a flock of sheep who has a creative touch when it comes to having fun on his rural farm. The country barnyard is also home to an earnest sheep dog who balances his duties with an appreciation for Shaun's ideas, a trio of wily pigs, and a farmer who manages to remain oblivious to the antics of his livestock. The story is presented as silent movie comedy—with music and sound effects, but no dialogue (except bleating)—and each short episode is filled with clever visual humor and vivid personalities. This series ran on the Disney Channel in the U.S. in 2007 but this re-release is timed to coincide with the arrival of the Oscar-nominated Shaun the Sheep feature film. Compiling all 40 first season episodes, extras include behind-the-scenes featurettes, and a sing-along music video. Recommended. (S. Axmaker)