March 11 will see the release of Mars Needs Moms, a computer-animated Disney movie based on the children’s book by Berkeley Breathed. I’ve read the book to my children, and look forward to taking them to see the adaptation. It will be interesting to see if a film based on a 700-odd word story can stand on its own, or if it will be an afternoon wasted, a la The Polar Express.
Of course, I’m hoping for the former. Even if realism is out the window, anything that gets the next generation interested in Mars is a good thing. What I’d really like to see, however, is some realistic Hollywood fare to get kids excited about Mars. In the Shadow of Ares would be a great place to start.
After all, Mars really needs humans.