The Magic School Bus Season Three: education via the looking glass

The Magic School Bus is a show that flew under our radar when it first came out in 1994. The third season of the show is out on DVD and it’s one that our children watch consistently. Not only that, we’ve started watching with them and thoroughly enjoy it. Imagine childhood questions being answered by Lilly Tomlin, asking if you want the blue or red pill before you go on your Matrix-esque, kid friendly 26 minute journey and you have an idea about this series.

Lilly Tomlin voices the Frizz, a school bus driver who commands the magic school bus that takes them on lessons wherever they happen. She has a group of students that look like a Benetton ad. Each kid has their own personality issues that make the series better as viewers get to know them.

For example, Ralphie is the athletic one who is more prone to let others do his work. There is also the loud smart one, the artistic one, sarcastic one, the new student and more.

On each episode the kids encounter a problem or new situation and the Frizz comes along with her magic school bus to teach the kids about the issue. What is great about the series is that it teaches facts and science, as well as, behavior and the correct way to handle certain situations.

In season three of The Magic School Bus the gang encounters a beehive, river life, physiology, ecology and more. The Frizz always wears a dress that is themed to the lesson that they’re studying about is each episode. There are also dozens of quick puns and deep humor that adults will get in the episodes.

For a children’s show The Magic School Bus is very intelligent. The writing takes into account the adults watching with their kids, in addition to the kids that are learning things for the first time.  Sometimes the kids get shrunk to learn about the human body while other times they travel to far away locations like the Arctic or time travelling to the 1800s.

It’s a weird, creative show that hasn’t changed a bit since it first aired in the mid 90s. Literally. The animation is straight from that time period and our son keeps asking why it doesn’t fill the screen like his other shows. Despite its dated look the show is outstanding and, probably wouldn’t work if that version were tweaked for today’s audiences. I think that a new version would succeed, but the vintage version is playing just well in our house.

The Magic School Bus is G and this DVD has 13 episodes for a total run time of 299 minutes.