Keep it simple, clear–and fun

An executive of the local version of the “Hi-5” kiddie show on TV5 recently asked us to comment on how the new program is coming along. Our initial notes, which we hope will help the production to more productively get its “infotainment” act together:

We’ve watched the English version of “Hi-5” for years, because we believe in the importance of educational TV early in a child viewer’s development—so, we readily compare the local TV5 version to the original.

A key difference is the fact that the local cast tends to theatrically “push” too hard to get its points across, while its counterparts abroad are more relaxed and naturally warm in the way they “project.”

So, if the local cast can remind itself that TV is a small and thus cool and more laid-back medium, it’ll do a better job.

Of the five local performer-hosts, the best are Aira and Fred, partly because they look younger and fresher.

Perplexing

In terms of production, props, presentation and visualization, the difference isn’t all that marked. But we do note the tendency of the local version to occasionally take some shortcuts that could perplex its intended audience of very young kids.

For instance, two months ago, the show had a long teaching feature that revolved around a bus. At one point, the vehicle “stopped” due to a flooded roadway, and the driver pretended to solve the problem by placing two “planks” over the “water” and driving over them. But, the bus itself was a two-dimensional construct that couldn’t move, so young viewers had to “imagine” the vehicle doing so.

Later, the bus had a flat tire, which was immediately fixed by simply replacing one “flat” prop tire with another “good” tire, no nuts and bolts involved.

It could be that leaving so many steps unclearly depicted could limit the educational effectivity of the show’s modes of presentation.

“HI-5” CAST (clockwise from top left): Alex, Fred, Gerard, Aira and Rissey

Ditto for another feature about a giant balloon that another host was riding. The presentation wasn’t all that clear about how dropping some sandbags would enable the balloon to fly up, while releasing air would prompt it to return to terra firma.

Fuzzy concepts

Even “infotainment” educational TV shows need to be more detailed to be truly informative and helpful, so no wrong or fuzzy concepts or notions are imparted.

Finally, it looks like the local show is less interactive than the original, because at the end of the program, the participation (dancing, turning, gesturing) of the kids in the studio audience is markedly less lively.

It could be that the choreography of the local version’s group dance is too busy or fancy for 3- or 4- or 5-year-olds, hence their inability to “join.”

Again, relax, keep it simple and fun—but also clear enough for even little kids to understand how things happen in their TV world—and why.

Elsewhere on the tube, viewers who want their children to “learn while watching” would do well to encourage them to view shows like “Matanglawin,” “Adventure Time,” “How Do They Do It” and “How It’s Made” on Discovery, “Project Runway Threads” (on child fashion designers), “Masterchef Junior Edition,” “Ningning,” “Born to Be Wild,” “I Juander,” “Science of Stupid,” “Mr. Bean,” “The Doctors,” “Yoga for Life” and “Art Attack!”