Review of Button Moon: Vol. 1

Introduction

We`re off to Button Moon,
We`ll follow Mr Spoon,
Button Moon,
Button Moon.

And so begins the theme song to this classic, sung by Peter Davison and Sandra Dickinson. This is another of those low budget TV shows for the younger generation, and this one is for the very young. It`s probably best described as "innocent" and "gentle".

Button Moon follows the adventures of the Spoon family. Mr Spoon (a bottle, some wellies, some spoons and some bowls) is actually an intergalactic astronaut, who flies his top quality rocket (a Heinz baked bean tin, a funnel and another tin that perhaps contained tinned tuna) to Button Moon. Which is quite literally a button. Mrs Spoon (more spoons, a vase and a dishmop) stays at home and looks after Tina Teaspoon (more spoons, some wool and a washing up bottle).

Video

A standard full-frame transfer which actually looks very good indeed. This was a low budget show, and one of those shows where the stars were puppets. It`s mostly done with strings and sticks, but see if you can spot the puppeteers clad in black in the background.

There wasn`t a huge budget for high tech space age effects, so you have to make do with ribbons and bows (that you would normally find on a Christmas present) flying through the air, and umbrellas twirling around whilst being sprayed with glitter.

Audio

The original mono soundtrack preserved for all eternity. And it sounds fine, very clear and crisp. The narrator does sound like Patrick Moore at times, and when he`s trying to do a posh accent you do wonder if he wanted to present The Sky at Night instead.

And you`ll be singing the theme tune for weeks.

Features

Afraid not, not even a "how to make your own Mr Spoon guide", although I think you could work it out for yourself really!

Conclusion

A gentle classic from a bygone era when TV shows for children were about education and entertainment. This one is really aimed at very young children as it is very simple, and tells some classic stories. Although I`m sure that a certain Homer J. Simpson would like to watch the episode called "Planet Doughnut" (mmmm, doughnuts....)

Buy this DVD if you want to relive this golden age. And if you`re a parent who wants to avoid the mad rush of buying the latest TV related Christmas presents this year then let your children watch this instead of Tweenies, Teletubbies or other such modern rubbish.