Welcome to the Neighborhood

PreS—Welcome to Daniel Tiger's neighborhood, featuring animated characters deriving from the classic TV series with Mr. Rodgers. Daniel Tiger assumes the role of host, as each episode begins with him putting on his sweater and shoes. The values from the original series are carried into this current program. In three stories, characters learn that "When something seems bad, turn it around and find something good," and that doing something for others makes you feel good, too. In "Daniel's Birthday," the cub and his mom go to the bakery to buy a cake. They find the perfect tiger-shaped cake, but on the way home it gets "smushed." That's bad, but the cake is still delicious, and that's good. Later Daniel and his friends have a picnic and learn the same lesson when O the Owl falls onto the ball they are playing with, squishing it. They find that a squished ball makes a good Frisbee. Then when it starts raining, the friends learn that they can have an indoor picnic. In the second episode, "Neighbor Day," Daniel and his mom decide to be good neighbors and do something nice for others by distributing sunflowers. Daniel and his friends also find other ways to help by delivering Mr. McFeely's packages and putting things away for Music Man Sam and Baker Aker. The computer generated animation is colorful and attractive, though one-dimensional. Each episode includes several catchy songs, and Daniel Tiger addresses the audience in the same reassuring way as his predecessor.