Recess is one of those cartoons kids of today will look back on with fond memories, it is a definite classic, from the only pre-WWII animation power house to survive, Disney.

     Recess was created by Paul Germain and Joe Ansolabehere it premiered in 1997. Paul and Joe as they preferred to be known, met while attending UCLA's film school. Both Paul and Joe worked on another modern classic Nickelodeon's The Rugrats, in which Paul helped co-create with the legendary Arlene Klasky and Gabor Csupo (who also help develop The Simpsons and The Wild Thornberry's). After the initial success of Rugrats, Paul and Joe joined forces and by 1996 were creating Recess for Disney.

     Recess currently airs on Disney's 1 Saturday Morning and the weekly syndicated cartoon block Disney Too. Recess focuses on a group of Fourth Graders at the Third Street School during their recess period. The show's main characters are a motley group of Fourth Graders who are lead by T.J., a charismatic slacker who can talk his way out of the most trouble with his principal and a crabby old teacher named Ms. Finster. T.J.'s best friend Vince is a superb sports player. Then there is Gretchen the groups super intelligent chick, Mikey the gentle giant who loves to eat and sing Opera. Gus the insecure army brat who just enrolled in the Third Street School, and finally the rough and tough Spinelli, a short-tempered tomboy, who likes to fight (or at least threaten too).

     Recess allows the viewer to gain a microscopic view of the greater world through the grammar school playground through the very real but unrealistic personalities and caste system of the Third Street Playground. There are the cool kids like the Ashleys, a group of girls based on the cult classic The Heather's, starring Christian Slater and Winona Ryder. The older kids who rule the playground under the auspices of the Sixth grader King Bob, the diggers, Sam and Dave, who have destroyed the school's landscape in an attempt to dig a hole to China. The Upside Girl who hangs from the monkey bars, trees, and basically anywhere that she can get a head rush. Randall the local school informant and brown nose that keeps the bitter Ms. Finster informed on all the children of the Third Street School. The Hustler Kid who has every schoolyard child's needs like silly string, gum, and bets on the schoolyard's latest contest of strength and wits. And last but not least the Kindergartners who dressed in their Lord of the Flies regalia, of face paint and loin clots, terrorize the older children of the playground.

     Of course no school would be complete without Teachers. There are three main adults featured on the Recess series, Ms. Grotke, the free spirited fourth grade teacher, Miss Finster, who as discussed is an older woman who has been disenfranchised by her position as a teacher, and Principle Prikley (voiced by Dabney Coleman), the strict low tolerant principal. Prikley and Finster are T.J.'s main nemesis. They have put up with his antics since Kindergarten and are looking for anyway to foil any of his plots.

     Recess: School's Out takes place during summer vacation, the longest and greatest recess. Unfortunately for T.J. he will be spending the summer alone, since all of his friends: Mikey, Vince, Gretchen, Gus and Spinelli are all head out of town to camp, along with most of the Third Street School. So T.J. mom sets up a play date to get T.J. out of the house. On the way to his play date he notices something strange going on at Third Street School like men in black and large green rays shooting into the sky. He tries to tell his parents and the police but no one believes him, so he goes to the least likely person for help, Principal Prickley. In order to help him further with the investigation he "kidnaps" his pals from camp, by blackmailing his sister Becky (voiced by Melissa Joan Hart) with her diary, to drive the gang to and from camp everyday.

     It turns out that the ex-principal of the Third Street School is the culprit, Philliam Benedict (voiced by James Woods). Benedict has unmet ambitions that began when he was principal of Third Street School. He has taken over Third Street School and is using it as his main base to carry out his diabolical plan which will cause misery not only to the children of Third Street but all worldwide. And incidentally Benedict's plan will probably destroy all life on Earth.

     I thought Recess: School's Out overall was a good movie. The storyline met my expectations. It followed the reality and eccentricities, tackled in the series and was a perfect extension.

     The soundtrack was E-X-C-E-L-L-E-N-T! It followed Walt Disney's soundtrack formula to the tee-that music should blend in to enhance and progress the animated movie's storyline. And unlike the traditional Disney animated movies where musical scores are created, Recess used popular 60s songs like Dancing in the Street, sung by Martha and the Vandellas, Steppenwolf's Born to be Wile, and Purple Haze by Jimi Hendrix. Hits such as these blended perfectly into the film's themes, and fit perfectly into this 21st Century flick, as if the music were made just for the movie.

     But while I cannot say enough about the storyline and soundtrack, the animation was substandard for a Disney flick. Maybe it was the movie theater, I just felt it lacked that Disney movie feel. I actually think the animated series is very well done, and while the characters were given a more third dimensional look, I prefer the "cartoony", almost comic strip, feel to the series that really sends home the message that this series is an exaggerated view of reality.

     I still recommend Recess: School's Out to die hard animation fans. If you are a fan of the series you will be very happy with this big screen adaptation. For those who are not familiar with the series you can see this film without fear of being lost, as it is a great introduction to one of the best American cartoons on the air. Send your comments and questions about this article to CosmicNerd@ybfree.com