29) A.N.T Farm

Bibliography: Signer, D. (Creator); Signer, D. & Engel, S. (Producers); A.N.T Farm; Disney Channel; Original Run Date May 6, 2011 to Present.

Plot: A.N.T Farm tells the story of the newest member to the group, Chyna Parks.  A.N.T stands for Advanced Natural Talent.  Each member of the group has exceptional talent in different subjects.  Chyna is advanced in music, her friend Olive has an eidetic memory, and her friend Fletcher is an artistic genius.  The A.N.T group gets picked on due to their being younger and smaller than the other students at Webster High School.  The show features Chyna and her friends experiencing new things and using their special talents to the best of their abilities.

Review:

Episode “Ballet Danster”

In this episode a new girl joins the A.N.T group.  Violet is a sports prodigy and is quite violent.  Immediately, Violet causes a stir with the older kids and gets on Lexi’s bad side.  Lexi informs Chyna that it is her job to keep Violet as far away from her as possible.  The A.N.T group tries to mellow Violet out with their talents, but nothing seems to work.  When Violet decides to join ballet, Chyna and her friends must figure out a way for Violet and Lexi to be in the ballet together.

Episode “Some Enchanted Evening”

Olive convinces Chyna to lie to Fletcher and tell him she has a boyfriend.  Unfortunately, this has ill effects when Olive sets up Chyna and Fletcher on a double date.  Chyna and Fletcher must find a fake boyfriend and girlfriend or give up the truth. 

Elsewhere, Lexi and the cheerleaders get a new coach right before their big Pom Pom competition.  When it becomes apparent that the new coach has no experience in cheerleading, they fire the coach just in time to get a routine together for the competition.

This show is quite humorous and tweens will love the characters.  Luckily, Disney has created several different characters for tweens to relate to.  Unlike some other shows, Disney is highlighting the underdog, something that tweens will enjoy.

Genre: Humor/Coming of Age

Interest Level: age 9 and up

Related Shows: iCarly; Victorious; Shake it Up; How to Rock

Characters: 

Chyna Parks is the main character of the show.  The show features her brother and family in several episodes.

Olive Doyle remembers everything she has ever read, heard, or seen. 

Fletcher Quimby is an artistic genius including sculpture, painting, and drawing.  He is in love with Chyna.

Lexi Reed is the most popular girl in school.  She is Chyna’s rival.

Cameron Parks is Chyna’s brother and pretends they are not related at school.

Official Website: http://tv.disney.go.com/disneychannel/antfarm/