While Bert and Ernie might be afraid of the dark, they're definitely not afraid of things that go bump in the night. When Bert's bed starts tapping along to the opening sequence of the new animated series Bert and Ernie's Great Adventures, the two best buddies climb aboard and fly straight out the window of their apartment at 123 Sesame Street. They travel through a magical night sky on their way to faraway lands and fantastical adventures. In the bite-sized five-minute episodes, Misseri Studio's clay animation brings the odd couple's journeys to life in a way that's reminiscent of dream sequences. As Bert and Ernie ride through the sky, clouds turn into cityscapes, and those cityscapes then dissolve into balloons. Each of Bert and Ernie's adventures is based on a photo from the pair's scrapbook. When a picture and memory come to life, an adventure unfolds that focuses on friendship and communication. Bert and Ernie's Great Adventures aims to show young viewers that each person experiences the world in their own way, and encourages honest expression of feelings. The series also notes that importance of listening to others when they express their own feelings and points of view. When Bert gets stuck in a pile of treasure that he and Ernie have been seeking in the fabled land of Pigeonia, Ernie must work with the duo's pet pigeon Bernice to dig Bert out -- and Bert must trust that Ernie is able to help him. The experience teaches the two friends important lessons in cooperation, empathy, and communication in the face of obstacles. The series shows young viewers the value of another kind of treasure—a lasting friendship that truly breaks the mold. |