WENDA THE WACKY WIGGLER

A rhyme-driven tale about a gamboling girl who singlehandedly initiates a citywide renaissance.

There’s never any explanation why Wenda wears an aviator’s helmet and scarf, but nonetheless, she’s a cute little spindly lass who can’t sit still. When she glides into town (with a movement that seems a bit like roller skating), she appears to be looking for a fight, as her fists are cocked and shifting. But she’s really just grooving, and that drives the mayor and the townspeople crazy. In an effort to stop her motion, the mayor silences everything—even capturing a singing bird—but Wenda hears her own song within. Eventually, her dance prevails, and it inspires everyone to create great art. The screen transitions are quite sluggish, and animation is minimal yet fluid. The text is lethargic too, appearing after the narrator begins reading; a row of dots indicates how many text blocks must be swiped before moving to the next screen. The visuals are bright and appealing, but there’s very little interaction other than a wiggle here, a wagging finger there. The intended message is admirable, if packaged in a weak, spoon-fed narrative: Be who you are, and it will inspire others.

With narrative constrained by the meter and an interface that’s mostly passive, this app is one to skip.