McCartney, kidding around

Whimsical children’s stories, memorable original music and visual magic courtesy of high-end traditional cel and computer animation are a winning combination in Miramax Home Entertainment’s new DVD release, “Paul McCartney: The Music and Animation Collection” ($29.99, video.movies.go.com).

The DVD features three short films created between 1985 and 2000 by producer McCartney and director/animator Geoff Dunbar.

“Rupert and the Frog Song” is a charmer about a thoughtful bear and a frog kingdom’s musical spectacular (centered around McCartney’s song “We All Stand Together”). “Tuesday,” a heavenly, hilarious treat, is based on David Wiesner’s children’s book about frogs whose levitating lily pads convey them to a nearby town for late-night mischief. And “Tropic Island Hum,” by Paul and Linda McCartney, is essentially a music video set in an island sanctuary run by animals themselves.

The late Linda McCartney inspired the protect-the-animals message; her presence is felt too in her role as co-producer, voiceover artist and as an animated character in “Hum’s” “making of” segment, one of the DVD’s three surprisingly substantive mini-documentaries; an interview with Paul McCartney about his passion for animation is another extra.

American Cinematheque, offering a rare children’s matinee, will screen the films on Saturday.

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Screening

What: “Paul McCartney: The Music and Animation Collection”

Where: American Cinematheque at the Egyptian Theatre, 6712 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood

When: 2 p.m. Saturday

Price: Adults, $9; 12 and younger, $6

Info: (323) 466-3456