DVD REVIEW: FTN reviews Ape Escape

Based on the best selling video games, join Specter and his minions for wacky monkey mayhem in a series of colourful Ape Escape adventures!

Specter, the leader of the ape world, was just an ordinary ape at the zoo. That is until a “pipo-helmet,” which was invented by a brilliant, but absent minded, Professor, was accidentally dropped into his cage. When Specter puts the intelligence-boosting helmet on, he is suddenly given the intelligence of a human and even starts to look human. What is a super intelligent ape to do in a world dominated by people?

Ape Escape DVD features 19 episodes of simian fun and frolics featuring Specter; an intelligent monkey thanks to his intelligence-boosting helmet. He is joined by

his fellow monkeys and a human; a rather power grabbing and annoying boy called Jimmy.

Each mini adventure/story works well in that they last approx two minutes each. There is little dialogue other than monkey sounds from Specter but this is punctuated by comedic sound effects and typical cartoon music.

The animation is very simple, 2-D and similar in style and look to The Powerpuff Girls. However, it works fairly well and even though the running time is short, it packs a few simple gags into the mini episodes.

That said, its fine to watch a couple of mini-episodes but to watch an entire DVD’s worth begins to drag on after the first half dozen or so. Added to this, the characters and situations don’t really differ too much; a simple set-up and one or two gags and then the credits.

Still, its great fun for the youngest air of eyes, if you are a fan of the game then you will probably like this too. If I were 6 years old, this would probably be the best cartoon DVD since Top Cat; and as it’s half term, a great idea to keep the kids busy for a little under an hour.

2 out of 5 nerds (strictly for kids though)