Reviewer's Bias*
Loves: Animation, Noggin
Likes: Children's books
Dislikes: Most CG animation, Olivia
Hates: How boys are portrayed in most kids shows, bossy girl characters

The Show
Star of a well-known and well-loved series of kids books, Olivia is a piglet, the oldest of three siblings, and a legend in her own mind. Constantly referring to one sibling as her little "bother" and putting herself first in all matters, she may be the most unlikeable character to ever star as the lead in a children's TV series. Even the show itself doesn't seem all that comfortable cheering for its would-be hero, never ignoring a chance to point out what a Type-A personality she is (often using her exasperated parents to make the observation. (By the way, it's refreshing to see a healthy, functional family be a core part of a kids show without it being treacly like Little Bear or Franklin.))

As she goes about her day, giving Ruby (of Ruby & Max infamy) and The Backyardigans' Tasha a run for their money as bossiest girl on Nickelodeon, Olivia gets lost in her imagination, which utilizes her ego as rocket fuel. There's nothing she can't do and nothing she doesn't know, a fact she shares willingly with anyone who will listen. While self-confidence is certainly admirable, taking it too far is too easy, as Olivia proves time and again. Fortunately, the series doesn't hesitate to serve her a slice of humble pie, including making her schoolmate Francine better than her at most everything. It should be no surprise though that she doesn't quite get the message, a point hammered home with her "Rules of Life," which point out how she's an expert on everything.

Though I am no fan of Olivia (the little girl), the series has quite a bit going for it. The art style, which mimics the rough-hewed drawing style of the books in a rounded, 3-D style that's textured just enough, is quite attractive, lending the show a look of its own while staying loyal to the source material. The style of the show itself is pretty nice as well, as it hews more toward a sitcom than the usual kids show, complete with a cold open that's usually pretty cute. There's no formula to Olivia's adventures (except that it always ends with her being tucked into bed) which makes them more enjoyable, as it's not always obvious where we're going, and there's a sense of creativity at play. Anything involving her parents is always rather amusing, especially when Olivia contemplates what it would be like if adults had to share the way kids are forced to.

One thing I can't find though is any hard-line educational value. Any show with more than one character can claim to teach about social skills, but outside of that subject, I see nothing. The message that Olivia's attitude and personality aren't helping her in any way may be too subtle for younger kids to understand, because the consequences aren't very defined. But if your little one just wants a good time, this show should provide it. (Which isn't awful, but if my daughter is going to watch a video, I prefer she get something out of it.)

The disc presents four two-part episodes:

• Olivia Acts Out/Olivia and Grandma's Visit
• Olivia Plays Piano/Olivia Trains Her Cat
• Olivia and the Crystal Ball/Olivia Plays Soccer
• Olivia Packs Up/Olivia is Invited to Dinner

The DVD
Packed in a standard keepcase, this one-disc release features a static, full-frame menu offering options to watch all the shows, select episodes or check out the bonus features. If you leave the menu up long enough, the play-all option will kick in automatically. There are no audio options and no subtitles, but there is closed captioning.

The Quality
The full-frame video is beautiful, showing off the delicately-textured animation well. The color is appropriately vivid throughout and the level of detail is quite high. As it's CG animation, naturally there's no dirt or damage.

If you're expecting the standard kids show audio, that's just what you're getting here. The Dolby Digital 2.0 tracks are good, but nothing impressive, presenting clear dialogue and clean music. It's just what the show gives you.

The Extras
The extras aren't too plentiful, starting (and basically ending) with a photo gallery. At least it's not the usual simple array of stills, as each image has a bit of text to go with it, written in the voice of Olivia. The captions are pretty amusing, but of course, you have to be able to read to enjoy them.

The usual reel of previews you're forced to sit through at the beginning of every Nickelodeon DVD is also available to sit through by choice in the extras section.

The Bottom Line
Surprisingly, for a series starring such an abrasive lead character, Olivia is pretty easy to watch for adults, possibly because of the lack of transparent lessons and treacly emotion. The disc is as short as any Nickelodeon DVD, but the episodes are packed and varied enough to make them seem more meaningful than the norm. The shows look and sound solid, and though there's not much in the extras, if this is a favorite of your kids, it might be worth picking up.

Follow him on Twitter

*The Reviewer's Bias section is an attempt to help readers use the review to its best effect. By knowing where the reviewer's biases lie on the film's subject matter, one can read the review with the right mindset.