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 7 Reviews 4.5 star rating Comment on this Article
Gorilla in the Greenhouse
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Gorilla in the Greenhouse

Posted on April 22, 2008
by Adam W.

Animated shorts and music videos about a group of kids and the Green Gorilla who overcome environmental challenges through fun and collaboration. A SustainLane Media presentation. Check out the site: http://www.greengorilla.com

The pilot episode, entitled The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, which launched on Earth Day 2008, follows the kids and KJ the Green Gorilla as they face a demented plot by Dr. Morlon Huffelbot to create an island of plastic bags in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, and come up with green jobs of their own to fix the problem.

Everyone's hooked on what they think is "clean, green, mountain energy." But when KJ helps the gang find out that the city is actually being powered by a massive coal-seeking mechanical worm on it's way to 'remove' their favorite mountain, the kids get to work.

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Reviews

4 star rating May 2, 2008

Go Gorilla!

I give our show four stars.

I will give it five stars when we see hundreds of kids inspired to go into their local stores and help to promote actions such as using reusable bags, like the kids at www.kidsforacoolerplanet.com have done, all by themselves. Or to gather their neighborhood's used plastic bags and create a plastic bag ball to inform fellow students and parents about how much waste was created in just one year of normal everyday life...back in the days before the kids took action!

(Full Disclosure: I'm the creator of the show)

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4 star rating May 1, 2008

Gorilla Marketing - Kids Spreading the Word

Congratulations! GO GREEN GORILLA!

I like it! I learned something I didn't know anything about. And, I think this is going to be a great venue for reaching the youth, giving them a great message they can share with their peers and family! Our kids are inheriting a planet in crisis...they will be the ones to restore and sustain it. Its now our responsibility to give them the knowledge and the tools they need to be our future change-makers.

These are the suggestions I've made:

Hopefully, this animated series is leading to table-top, computer and online games and educational tools, whether at home or school, to learn about all the other topics I assume GG will be addressing: climate change, waste reduction, pollution, water quality, renewable energy and conservation, sustainability, activism...

I'd like to see them create a Green Glossary, updating it with each episode.

I would like to know what age group they are targeting? On my monitor, the font on the website is way too small for young viewers..and old for that matter! LOL I would do a check for red/green color-blindness.

There is too much information crowded into some paragraphs - small bites better. Also, some of the language (vocabulary) is far too sophisticated for young viewers: example: Meet the GANG: "terse language"...text should be written for 3-5 grade level comprehension.

I suggested they should inform consumers about the content of their retail GG Stuff, including why they are eco-friendly. A factoid will support why its a better choice for the environment.

I'm looking forward to sharing the next episode with my young friends!

Cris' keywords:

1 of 1 people thought this review was helpful.

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User Comments:

Jay G. says:
Thanks Chris B. Our goal is to create many shows and all kinds of other media that helps kids think and act for a sustainable planet. Many things are in development right now about future issues and actions so I... more »

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4 star rating April 30, 2008

Going bananas over "Gorilla In The Green House!"

I found myself mesmerized, entertained and educated watching this cartoon, which a lot of cartoons lack nowadays! It's wonderful that this cartoon is refreshing and the message is clear where kids and adults alike can understand how to keep our world "green." I can't wait to see the next episodes of this fabulous cartoon!

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Jenn A. says:
Awesome review - it was very mesmerizing! more »

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5 star rating April 30, 2008

Think globally, act locally

This is a great tool for getting the message to the next generation. If kids grow up with that stuff, it will always be part of their awareness. And they will influence their surroundings. I remember one of my coworkers a few years ago complaining that his 10 year of girl makes them separate the trash because of "all that stuff she reads on the internet".

It works.

This video is great because it is also good and entertaining regardless of the message and the purpose it was created for. Kids will love it just because of what it is: Adventures, great music, funny.

It is very light and easy to digest, with the right message:
Take action locally. That's practical for kids. We have to deal with the bigger problems :)

Kids will figure out that something is wrong anyway when they become adults and gas is 60% of their paycheck, but they have the potential for strong influence on adults right now.

This is the way to go and this one is well thought and well executed. The music is great as well and stands out from the banal repetitive and simple music of most kid shows.

This is much a better alternative from the purposeless typical kids animation, thought I have to admit I like Itchy and Scratchy :)

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5 star rating April 30, 2008

Captivating, fun & informative

I confess - though as a staff member, I was privy to previews of the songs and characters during the development, when I finally got to see the final cut of "Gorilla in the Greenhouse," I was genuinely impressed. This is a very enjoyable cartoon - for kids and grownups -- the songs and the music convey the message nicely without being heavy-handed.

A great testament to the power of this cartoon is the reaction from kids -- at the launch party, several kids were begging the grownups to stop talking and replay the cartoon.

Please visit the site and you'll find that the few minutes you spent watching this cartoon were well spent!

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5 star rating April 27, 2008

Go Gorilla!

The Green Gorilla is SustainLane's newest animation, and I say check it out. It's a great video that manages to be fun and carry a message at the same time.

An island of garbage the size of Texas floating in the Pacific Ocean sounds like science fiction, but unfortunately it's hard fact. KJ - the gorilla - not only exposes the problem, but provides the start of a solution, which is to stop using disposable plastic bags. I'm hoping that future episodes will show us more about how KJ came to be living with a rock band and just maybe some ideas for dealing with the floating trash.

The animation is definitely aimed at kids, and I think it hits the mark. Everyone under ten I've shown it to has absolutely loved it, but people of all ages should take a look.

I hope the next episode isn't too far off.

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5 star rating April 22, 2008

Gorilla in the Greenhouse

Yes I do work for SustainLane, and yes this video/cartoon is made by SustainLane. However, it is made by a part of the company i technically have no affiliation with, and I feel very comfortable saying right now that the review I am about to give represents my personal views, and not those of SustainLane or a representative thereof. Take from that what you will.

This video is awesome. It is about one of my favorite topics, the North Pacific Gyre. Basically, it is a huge plastic garbage dump in the middle of the pacific ocean the size of Texas and over 100 feet deep. That is pretty messed up right there. The most amazing thing however is that NO ONE KNOWS ABOUT IT. This video will hopefully start getting kids asking their parent questions, and then parents have to look it up and see what a terrible thing plastic is for the world.

The other great thing about this show is the music. I have had the theme song stuck in my head for almost two hours, and it is showing no signs of going away anytime soon.

The only downside as far as I could see is how little background we get on the Green Gorilla himself. I can only imagine that will be coming up in the next few episodes! Can't wait!

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Comments

Stefan P.
7/9/2009 2:31 pm

Stefan P. says:

Cute.

Savannah B.
7/11/2009 11:10 am

Savannah B. says:

I Love it!!

Adele K.
7/12/2009 2:21 pm

Adele K. says:

My computer was not able to make the cartoon move. Frustrating!

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