Pippi is classic, clean fun for the whole family!

I was so excited to see that the beloved Pippi Longstocking movies were finally available on DVD. My four younger brothers and I absolutely loved these movies when we were kids and I always kept my eye out for them to buy for myself and children. The only place I ever found them before now was on eBay, for out-of-print VHS copies that could go for upwards of $50.00.

Pippi Longstocking is a character created by Astrid Lindgren. The movies are based on her books. Pippi is an odd, fun, and adventurous little girl of eleven years, and the daughter of a sea captain who would like her to have a safer and more stable life away from sea. He sends her to live in Villa Villekulla, a large house next door to Tommy and Annika, two other kids who become her best friends. She has a horse named Old Man and a monkey named Mr. Nilsson, and a neverending supply of pirates' gold she carries around in a suitcase. She also has the strength of ten men!

This DVD collection contains all four of the original Pippi Longstocking movies, but not the remake, "The New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking," which is fine with me because I didn't like that movie anyway. Special features include (from the DVD box):

Photo gallery

Pippi filmography

Languages:English-dubbed, Spanish-dubbed

Scene access

Interactive menus

All new digital transfers from original negatives

The movies are as follows, with summaries from the DVD box:

Pippi Longstocking: A mysterious young girl, Pippi Longstocking, moves into the abandoned Villa Villekulla. The redheaded Pippi, living alone but for a monkey called Mr. Nilsson and her horse Little Old Man, befriends two neighboring children, Tommy and Annika. Join the fun-filled adventures of the world's strongest girl in her first full-length feature film! (1969) 90 minutes.

Pippi Goes on Board: Having decided to stay on in the Villa Villekulla and not follow her father to sea, Pippi continues to run riot in her quest for fun. To the joy of her best friends Tommy and Annika, Pippi throws a bizarre birthday party, causes chaos at a carnival, builds the world's biggest snowball, and celebrates Christmas her own way. (1968) 79 minutes.

Pippi in the South Seas: When Pippi Longstocking learns South Sea pirates have kidnapped her father, she sets off on a daring rescue mission. Naturally she takes her inseparable friends Tommy and Annika along with her. Shiver me timbers! It's all aboard for a pirate-packed musical romp with Pippi Longstocking that is guaranteed fun for all. (1970) 96 minutes.

Pippi on the Run: After being nagged by their parents for staying out late with their best friend Pippi Longstocking, Annika and Tommy decide to run away. Life can never be ordinary when you're with Pippi Longstocking, the world's strongest girl! Join Pippi and her friends in this fantastic escapade that is packed with catchy songs and rollicking action. (1970) 93 minutes.

All the movies are in color and in widescreen format. The DVD box is bright yellow with a picture of Pippi on the front. The DVD cases are white with drawings of Pippi in the front in different scenes from the movies. They are all rated G. Pippi is played in all movies by Inger Nilsson. The movies are originally in Swedish, dubbed in English. The camera direction isn't Stephen Spielberg or anything, but it gets the job done and is not distracting. The special effects are the norm for the time, and fun to watch. The only minor problem I have had is the beginning of the first DVD, Pippi Longstocking, doesn't appear to have been digitally remastered, but that problem goes away after a few minutes.

I can't recommend these movies highly enough. They are clean fun and kids absolutely love them. My two-year-old son is sick today and has watched two of these movies. I am amazed, because I generally don't allow him to watch a lot of TV and two live-action, not animated, movies have held his attention. He keeps asking for "Pippi? Pippi?" Look what I have started!