THE MITTEN

Iliad Productions’ premier product, the first of its kind, is an educational interactive multimedia CD-ROM, specifically geared towards teaching Ukrainian children about Ukrainian language, heritage, and music through a traditional folk tale, "The Mitten".

The product is interactive in that it allows the child to play through the story and related games at his or her own pace, providing the ability to choose which path they wish to pursue, in either English or Ukrainian. The multimedia aspect of the product is experienced through a display of animation, sound effects, and music.

The story introduces two animated characters, a young girl, Zoriana, and a young boy, Niki, depicted in traditional Ukrainian garments. Zoriana and Niki guide the child through the story, songs, and games. "The Mitten" is an old Ukrainian folk tale that has been passed on from generation to generation, in which seven animals are brought together by the bitterness of a cold winter day, eventually sharing a lost mitten as their warm and comforting home. The story’s message is one of sharing and friendship, and is a favourite among Ukrainian folk tales.

At various points in the story, the child is invited to play games related to the current scene. The games focus on teaching the child colours, numbers and vocabulary in Ukrainian. The child can choose from three levels of difficulty.

At various points in the story, the child is invited to sing along with traditional Ukrainian folk songs, accompanied by the bandura. The child can follow the Ukrainian text while enjoying animation on the screen.