Mickey Mouse: Mash-Up - App Review

 By: Nick

If you've seen the new Mickey Mouse cartoons Disney has released recently, you'll know that they are very clever.

The Mickey Mouse: Mash Up app for iPhone, iPad and iPod gives you the opportunity to be as clever as the Disney animators, because YOU get to help Mickey Mouse complete one of the cartoons, "No Service."

Mickey asks for your help, inviting you to draw something large you would find at the beach.

I drew a sand pail.

Now it's time to color it in.

It's going to sound like I'm making excuses, because I am, but this app is probably great on an iPad, as drawing and coloring is much more difficult on an iPhone, which is what I'm using here. But artistic skills aside, this is fun regardless, and you can always start over by using the icon in the upper right hand corner. Just click on that...

... to be brought to the menu, where you can choose a point to go back or forward to.

You are then invited to draw something small you'd find on the beach,  and something silly for Mickey to wear.

All these drawings will be used later in the cartoon!

As the cartoon progresses, you are asked to contribute new illustrations.

 For instance, the sign needs to be completed with a food item. The drawing by me? A hotdog.

In addition to drawing activities, there are interactive games throughout. Here, I'm picking a feather I'll use to tickle Donald with!

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Why is Mickey naked? Spoilers! You'll be using your drawings from earlier to help Mickey out of a tricky spot!

There is plenty to entertain both young and old here, with appearances from Goofy, Minnie Mouse and Daisy Duck.

At the end Mickey thanks you for helping finish his cartoon, and invites you to celebrate by drawing a picture of him, either using a template to draw over, or a blank page to draw from memory.

You can even view past mouseterpieces.

The app is $3.99 and lots of fun, with plenty of potential. I'm assuming Disney will be adding additional animated shorts in the future, adding to the re-playability.

We would like to thank Disney Publishing for providing this App for review.

Frozen: Storybook Deluxe App Review

Disney's newest Animated Feature film Frozen won't be out in the United States until November 27th, but you can get the Frozen: Storybook Deluxe, compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch, and optimized for iPhone 5, now!
The Frozen: Storybook Deluxe App is $6.99

In “Frozen,” fearless optimist Anna teams up with rugged mountain man Kristoff and his loyal reindeer Sven in an epic journey, encouraging Everest-like conditions, mystical trolls and a hilarious snowman named Olaf in a race to find Anna’s sister, Elsa, whose icy powers have trapped the kingdom of Arendelle in eternal winter.

The storybook features lovely illustrations, tappable animation, film quotes, a few surprises, and short clips from the actual film.

Be sure to tap around the illustrations.

Storytelling Options: Read on your own, record your own voice, or listen to the narration that accompanies this retelling of Frozen.

Experience two sides of the story from Anna's or Elsa's viewpoint by rotating your i-devise!

As for games:
You can create your own snowflakes and ice castles with frosty drawing tools, then insert the image into a snow-globe scene, which is what I did here with a rather rudimentary castle drawing!

I have to be honest, I could only figure out how to insert the castle, and not, say, this snowflake I made.

In the puzzles section, match the shapes to those on the left, and drag them over to remove them, revealing the illustration.

 Games can be accessed from within the story as well by clicking either the snowglobe or puzzle icon when they appear.

I didn't know anything about this story. It's beautiful. The animation, the music, the story. Beautiful.

Obviously, if you don't want to know too much about the movie "Frozen" before seeing it, you may want to wait until after it's release to read the story. But in the meantime, you can enjoy the games.

Disney Musings would like to thank Disney Publishing for providing this app for review.

Jake's Never Land Shapes and Patterns : App Review

By Nick:

I just got back from an adventure with Jake and his crew, and we learned about shapes!

Disney recently released the Jake's Never Land Shapes and Patterns App for iPhone and iPad.

Start your voyage by tapping on where you'd like to begin.

Twilight Treasure Hunt tells a story about a treasure map, interweaving Jake's Shape Games.

Either follow along with the story, or go right to the games, which include Matching Shapes.
Drag the shapes that Jake has made to the rock.

Pirate Patterns is a little more advanced, as you are picking up on patterns. Add the shape that would come next in sequence.

Shape Tracing has your child both finding missing shapes to complete a pattern, it then asks them to draw the shapes with the help of Brtightly, the firefly.

Your reward for playing games is gold doubloons, and new outfits for your pirate puppet!

Tap on Pirate Puppets on the home screen to choose and customize your own puppet.

You can even add a photo!

You can choose not to add a picture, but, of course, I did.

Here, you speak the pirate phrase for playback later.

Choose one of 3 songs to accompany you and your dance! 

The final result is a pirate jig with a recorded pirate message thrown in for good measure!

If your young one loves Jake and the Never Land Pirates, and you are teaching them shapes, I can't think of a better combo than this app to hold their interest and educate and entertain them at the same time.

Disney Musings would like to thank Disney Publishing Worldwide for providing this app for review.

Disney Planes: Storybook Deluxe : App Review

Disney is releasing "Planes" on August 9th, but you can take flight now with the Disney Planes: Storybook Deluxe App, which takes readers to new heights as they relive the film through 41 story screens, read-along text and full narration that re-retells the story of the feature film with original music and video clips from the film.

Created to immerse readers in the world of Planes wherever and whenever, the app features "tilt-and-play" technology that gives pilots a chance to fly as "Dusty" through the story.

These games are pretty difficult for an old timer like me, but youngsters will probably take to them easier! Also, I highly recommend downloading this on an iPad rather than an iPhone if possible, to aid in ease of play.

There are many "tappable" features, so tap on anything that catches your eye to hear character names, dialogue, and actual animation from the film!

Also, as this is a retelling of the movie, if you don't want to know the plot, you may want to wait until after the film's release to read it. 

But in the meantime you can always play the game!

The "Race & Fly" game allows readers to race as their favorite Planes characters.

You can unlock other planes as you advance.

There is also a "Scan and Fly" feature. Once a day, you can scan a "Planes" logo to unlock a plane trading card!

I scanned the logo off of my computer to do so...

...and unlocked a Dusty card! 

Disney “Planes: Storybook Deluxe" is available now in the Entertainment category of the Apple App Store.

 

Also, those who purchase the Planes Read-Along Storybook and CD Bundle – available exclusively at The Disney Store and Disney Parks – will receive the “Planes: Storybook Deluxe” app for free, including four exclusive Planes to fly as in the app’s “Race & Fly” game; a download code can be found inside the book cover and is redeemable on the iTunes App Store.

I'd like to thank Disney Publishing for providing Disney Musings this App for review.