Animated Hero Classics Marco Polo

Animated Hero Classics is an educational Animated television series of programs co-produced by Nest Family Entertainment and Warner Bros. The series, geared toward elementary school aged children, includes twenty biographies of both female and male scientists, inventors, explorers, and social champions from around Europe, North America and the Middle East, including George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Florence Nightingale, Harriet Tubman, Joan of Arc, Benjamin Franklin, Helen Keller, Marco Polo, Marie Curie and Louis Pasteur. The Children's Television Act of 1990 required terrestrial television networks to devote time to Educational and Informative programming for children. Even though Warner Bros' cable networks were not directly affected by these requirements, these programs were debuted on their HBO network's Saturday morning children's block as a show of good faith that the network was committed to quality educational programming for children. The dramatic biographies were meticulously researched by the producers and written to engage both children and adults, providing an entertaining and accessible way to learn about the positive impact that these women and men have had on our world.

Over a century ago, only one man stood in the way of the disintegration of the United States of America—and he was a gangly, storytelling country lawyer from Illinois with no political experience at the national level. And yet by the sheer force of his will and his uncompromising stand on critical issues, Abraham Lincoln not only saved the nation but carved out an immortal place in world history.

Even as a young boy, Beethoven marched to the beat of a different drummer. Trained in the traditional music methods by his father, Beethoven was an accomplished pianist by the age of 12. But he yearned to try new sounds and persevered until audiences heard his music. By his early twenties, this persistent young man performed for Joseph Haydn, who compared him to the great Mozart. Sadly, Beethoven began to lose his hearing, but he threw himself even more deeply into his music, composing "Fur Elise," "Sonata Pathetique" and the dramatic "Fifth Symphony" years later, audience members heard what he could not and leapt to their feet in ecstatic appreciation for such passionate music. His creativity gave the world then, as it does today, music that stirs the soul. The video begins in 1827 with 30,000 people paying tribute to the great Beethoven in Vienna, Austria. Then the video switches to his life as a child...

At the height of the Crimean War, English soldiers were wounded and dying by the hundreds. Into the rat and flea-infested facilities stepped a woman of uncompromising convictions, great patience and an iron will. Florence Nightingale, “The Lady of the Lamp,” changed the science and practice of nursing all over the world.

Galileo Galilei (February 15, 1564-January 8, 1642) was an Italian physicist, astronomer, astrologer, and philosopher associated with the scientific revolution. In addition to discovering that the Earth revolves around the sun, Galileo is also credited for making improvements to the telescope and making the first systematic study of uniformly accelerated motion. Learn about Galileo's courage and ingenuity in this 30-minute animated educational DVD that teaches how his integrity led to a whole new universe of discovery and knowledge! Source: Nest Family Learning

Except for the courage of Pocahontas, the English settlers at Jamestown in the early 17th century would have died from starvation and exposure. Her brave intervention saved the settlers’ lives and brought peace between two very different peoples. History comes alive as you meet an inquisitive girl who grows into a great ambassador for peace.

Even as a young boy, Beethoven marched to the beat of a different drummer. Trained in the traditional music methods by his father, Beethoven was an accomplished pianist by the age of 12. But he yearned to try new sounds and persevered until audiences heard his music. By his early twenties, this persistent young man performed for Joseph Haydn, who compared him to the great Mozart.

In Jerusalem the temple was the Holy Place, a place that King David’s son had built for worship. The enemy of the Jews had destroyed this temple and the Greeks had begun to attack and ruin the sacred treasures previously used in temple ceremonies. The spirit of the faithful Jews was broken as they saw their world falling about them.

The time is 1589 in Pisa Italy. As a professor in a university classroom, Galileo questions the ideas of Aristotle. Knowing that he could be convicted of heresy, he continues to teach that the sun is the center of the universe and not the earth.

When Helen Keller was a young child, she contracted a high fever that left her sightless and unable to hear. Being the parents of a non-seeing and non-hearing child was a hardship on two loving parents who did all they could but seemed to do it in the wrong way. Out of desperation, they hired a young educator, Anne Sullivan, to teach and train the young Helen.

We first meet Christopher Columbus as an exuberant boy of Genoa, Italy, who wants only one thing - an adventurous life at sea. As he grows into young manhood, he becomes an expert sailor. When King John offers a handsome reward for the captain who can find the fastest route to the treasures of India, Columbus realizes he has found his calling. Columbus is convinced that the most direct route to the Far East is by sailing due west around the globe. But King John only laughs at Columbus. "No one has ever sailed to the west on the great ocean. It cannot be done." Columbus' determination keeps his dream alive. Many years later, in search of support for his voyage of discovery, Columbus is in the court of Queen Isabella of Spain. He tells her, "I have met many men who say it is impossible to sail west. They all have one thing in common - none of them has sailed west." The Queen is intrigued by Columbus' determination, but Spain is at war. She can spare neither ships nor money for such ...

Animated movie of Harriet Tubman

George Washington, “The father of America,” comes to life in this remarkable story about his extraordinary accomplishments as a military leader. This inspiring tale shows Washington at his best—courageous, determined, humble, brave, and patriotic.

The great French scientist, struggling with his own limitations from a stroke, is not deterred by scientific criticism nor failed experiments. Pasteur had the courage to look into the unseen world and his perfected vaccines are his gifts to mankind.

Marco Polo (September 15, 1254-January 8, 1324) was a well-traveled Venetian explorer and trader. He intrigued audiences with his tales of magnificent palaces filled with precious stones, rivers filled with gold, and "men with tails" (aka, monkeys) who threw nuts as large as a man's head (aka, coconuts). He described things that no one had ever witnessed, and so no one believed him. His audiences were certain he had never visited these wondrous places. . . .yet he had! Teach honesty, adventure, and courage with this 30-minute animated educational DVD about Marco Polo. Source: Nest Family Learning

Marie Curie (November 17, 1867-July 4, 1934) was a Polish-French physicist and chemist. A pioneer in the study of radioactivity, Madame Curie ventured to discover the "X" in X-rays. In addition to being the first female professor at the Sorbonne, Marie Curie was the first woman to receive a Nobel Prize for discovering the elements radium and polonium and was the first two-time Nobel laureate. Teach passionate resolve, determination, and how to overcome challenges with this 30-minute animated educational DVD about Marie Curie. Source: Nest Family Learning

William Bradford (March 19, 1590-May 9, 1657) was born in Yorkshire, England and was a committed member of the "Separatist" church. He and his fist wife, Dorothy May, sailed to America with the Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower to escape religious persecution.

Helen Keller (June 27, 1880-June 1, 1968) was an American author, activist, and lecturer. Born in Alabama to Captain Arthur H. Keller, a former officer of the Confederate Army and Kate Adams Keller, second cousin of Robert E. Lee, Helen came down with an illness that left her deaf and blind at the age of only nineteen months.

Thomas Edison opens up the laboratory of America’s most celebrated inventor and invites you to explore its secrets. Sprinkled with humor and packed with little-known details about the search for a working electric light bulb, this story will help you see for yourself why Edison quipped, “Genius is about one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.”

The young George Washington has to do much to take care of his family. Good with math and numbers, Washington becomes a surveyor. As a youth, Washington was close to his half-brother Lawrence. When Lawrence dies, George inherits Lawrence's land and home at Mount Vernon. George Washington is elected to the Continental Congress, and when fighting breaks out between England and the colonies at Lexington, the Congress names Washington commander of the new Continental Army.