Hi-5 is an Australian children's television series, originally produced by Kids Like Us and later Southern Star for the Nine Network and created by Helena Harris and Posie Graeme-Evans. The program is known for its educational content, and for the cast of the program, who became a recognised musical group for children outside of the series, known collectively as Hi-5. It has generated discussion about what is considered appropriate television for children. The series premiered in April 1999 on the Nine Network and aired until 2011, before returning to Nine in 2017 with a revived series.
In Australia, Roadshow Entertainment have released selected songs and segments from the television series, compiled on VHS and later DVD, for home video consumption. Each compilation release usually featured three feature Songs of the Week and a range of segments from the corresponding television series, selected to reflect the specific theme of the video. In 2012 and 2013, selected full episodes were released on DVD. Roadshow also distributed three DVDs featuring Hi-5 performing live stage shows, entitled Hi-5 Live! The Playtime Concert (2009), Hi-5 Surprise! Live (2010) and Hi-5 Holiday! Live (2012). These releases did not feature any footage from the television series.
The home video releases were typically well received by the target audience. In its first three months, Move Your Body had sold 80,000 copies on VHS.[1] Summer Rainbows was the highest selling VHS title for Australian children in 1999 and Star Dreaming was the most sold in 2000. The Summer Rainbows / Move Your Body double release was the highest selling DVD in 2003, and Surfing Safari was the highest selling VHS of the same year.[2] Playing Cool (2001) was certified as double platinum by the time of its 2004 DVD release.[3]
Series | DVD Title | Release Date (Region 4) | Songs of the Week | Special features | ||
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1 | Move Your Body | VHS: June 1999[4] DVD: 19 February 2003[5] |
| [6] | ||
1 | Summer Rainbows | VHS: 1999[7] DVD: 19 February 2003 |
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1 | Star Dreaming | VHS: 2000[8] DVD: 9 April 2002 |
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| [9] | |
2 | Animal Adventures | VHS: 2000 DVD: 10 March 2004[10] |
| [11] | ||
2 | Music Machine | VHS: 30 October 2000[12] DVD: 9 April 2002[13] |
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2 | Snow Party | VHS: April 2001[14] DVD: 3 August 2005[15] |
| [16] | ||
3 | Five Alive | VHS: 3 September 2001[17] DVD: 1 October 2003[18] |
| [19] | ||
3 | Playing Cool | VHS: 19 November 2001 DVD: 11 February 2004[20] |
| [21] | ||
3 | Magical Treasures | VHS: 25 February 2002[22] DVD: 9 September 2004[23] |
| [24] | ||
4 | Let's Celebrate | VHS: 21 October 2002[25] DVD: 9 September 2004[26] |
| [27] | ||
4 | Surfing Safari | VHS / DVD: 2 April 2003[28] [29] |
| [30] | ||
4 | Hi-Energy | VHS / DVD: 13 August 2003[31] [32] |
| [33] | ||
5 | It's a Hi-5 Christmas | VHS / DVD: 12 November 2003[34] [35] |
|
| [36] | |
5 | Hi-5 Holiday | VHS / DVD: 8 April 2004[37] [38] |
| [39] | ||
5 | Come On and Party | VHS / DVD: 8 July 2004[40] [41] |
| [42] | ||
5 | Space Magic | VHS / DVD: 7 October 2004[43] [44] |
| [45] | ||
6 | ||||||
7 | Action Heroes | VHS / DVD: 7 July 2005[46] |
| [47] | ||
7 | Wonderful Journeys | VHS / DVD: 1 December 2005[48] |
| [49] | ||
7 | Mix it Up | DVD: 6 July 2006[50] |
| [51] | ||
8 | Sharing Wishes | DVD: 1 November 2006[52] |
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8 | Have Some Fun | DVD: 21 February 2007[53] |
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8 | Travelling Circus | DVD: 4 July 2007[54] |
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9 | ||||||
9 | Team Hi-5 | DVD: 7 November 2007[55] |
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9 | Party Street | DVD: 2 April 2008[56] |
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| [57] | |
9 | Go Wild | DVD: 19 June 2008[58] |
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10 | Playtime | DVD: 2 October 2008[59] |
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10 | Jump and Shout | DVD: 5 January 2009[60] |
|
| [61] | |
11 | Fun with Friends | DVD: 1 October 2009[62] |
| [63] | ||
11 | Santa Claus is Coming | DVD: 3 December 2009[64] |
| [65] | ||
11 | Stop, Look and Listen | DVD: 7 January 2010[66] |
| [67] | ||
11 | Sharing Stories | DVD: 18 March 2010[68] |
| [69] | ||
12 | Imagine That | DVD: 7 October 2010[70] |
| [71] | ||
12 | Happy Hi-5 House | DVD: 6 January 2011[72] |
| [73] | ||
12 | Hey Presto | DVD: 3 March 2011[74] |
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12 | Sharing Stories 2 | DVD: 2 June 2011[75] |
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| [76] | |
13 | Amazing | DVD: 17 November 2011[77] |
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13 | Ready or Not | DVD: 5 January 2012[78] |
| [79] | ||
13 | Make a Wish | DVD: 1 March 2012[80] |
| [81] | ||
13 | Sharing Stories 3 | DVD: 21 June 2012[82] |
|
|
| [83] |
Series | DVD Title | Release Date (Region 4) | Songs of the Week | Episodes | Special features | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
12 | Fun & Games | DVD: 5 September 2012[84] |
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| [85] | ||
13 | Discovery | DVD: 14 November 2012[86] |
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13 | Let's Play | DVD: 9 January 2013[87] |
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13 | Feeling Fine | DVD: 6 March 2013[88] |
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| [89] | |
12 | Animal Fun | DVD: 19 June 2013[90] |
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Series | DVD Title | Release Date (Region 4) | Songs of the Week | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Hi-5 Dance Hits, Volume 1 | VHS / DVD: 3 March 2005[91] |
| [92] | |
2 | Hi-5 Dance Hits, Volume 2 | VHS / DVD: 22 September 2005[93] |
| [94] | |
3 | Hi-5 Dance Hits, Volume 3 | DVD: 2 March 2006[95] |
| [96] | |
2 – 10 | Favourites | DVD: 24 June 2009[97] |
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