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World War II transformed the Disney Studio. Although nearly one-third of the artists had been drafted, production quintupled, up to 95% of it for military and government uses. Some of the films included in On the Front Lines have not been seen since their initial release; others were never shown to the general public. Anticipating the importance of animated training films, Disney produced the studio's first educational film, "Four Methods of Flush Riveting" (1941), using limited animation to train riveters at Lockheed. Decades later, "Four Methods" and the excerpts from military training films remain models of how to present information clearly and concisely.

Many of the wartime entertainment shorts are largely propaganda. Donald's nightmare of working on a Nazi assembly line in "Der Fuehrer's Face" is still hilarious slapstick. The grimmer "Education for Death" and "Chicken Little" have aged less gracefully. Disney's oddest wartime project was Victory Through Air Power (1943), a live action/animation feature based on Major Alex de Seversky's controversial book that called for the adoption of long-range bombers. By the time it was finished, air power was a reality.

Front Lines also includes several health films made for the Office of Inter-American Affairs, and bond-buying shorts for Canada that reuse animation from Snow White and "Three Little Pigs." This collection of genuine rarities is a must-have for anyone interested in the history of animation, the Disney Studio, or America during WWII. (Rated G, suitable for ages 10 and older: violence, ethnic stereotypes, tobacco use) --Charles Solomon ... Read more

Reviews (30)

Excellent and Entertaining as well as Educational
This collection has been the most aniticpated set for hardcore Disney fans and cartoon historians alike. Collecting all of Disney's war time cartoons into one set was just a great idea and a real gem to own. I watched the entire collection in one day with friends of mine and I showed it to some students I teach at school who were just dumbfounded that people did this with cartoons during the second world war.
An excellent set with many bonus features including Leonard maltin who comes on to explain the background of many of these animated shorts.
I recommend this to everyone, not as a baby sitter for young children, but as an entertaining and educational look at America's history in animation and WW2.

DIFFICULT BUT CREATIVE ERA FOR DISNEY
The years that the probable contents were released, as well as some info on the various works.

FILMS

1943
VICTORY THROUGH AIR POWER - This film was basically propaganda with some entertainment and some powerful animation. Mainly championed Major Seversky's 1942 book of the same title with the theory that long-range air power could defeat the WWII enemies. The scene of an American eagle attacking the Japanese octopus is very powerful, moving animation.

ENTERTAINMENT/PROPAGANDA SHORTS

1942
DONALD GETS DRAFTED-always enjoyed the idea of Donald reporting to the draft board in his sailor suit.
THE ARMY MASCOT-Pluto schemes to take over the job of a mascot goat, with hilarious results.
THE VANISHING PRIVATE-Donald goes crazy with invisible paint, leading to war with his sergeant Pete, with a perfect, funny ending.
SKY TROOPER-Donald wants to be a pilot, and his sergeant Pete gives him more than Donald bargained for.

1943
DER FUEHRER'S FACE-the famous and infamous cartoon in which Donald dreams he is in Naziland where he is forced to work in a munitions plant.
EDUCATION FOR DEATH-very strong propaganda about Germany's totalitarian state which turns an innocent young boy into a robotic soldier.
PRIVATE PLUTO-Pluto has a war with the chipmunks in guarding the area.
FALL OUT - FALL IN-Donald experiences some of the trials of Army life, such as super-long hikes.
REASON AND EMOTION-entertainment and propaganda used in a story about reason and emotion working together for the war effort, enjoyable animation.
VICTORY VEHICLES-Goofy shows off alternate transportation due to the wartime rubber and gasoline shortage, settling on the pogo stick.
THE OLD ARMY GAME-Sergeant Pete catches Donald sneaking back into base after a late night on the town, leads to a merry chase.
HOME DEFENSE-Donald's nephews conflict with Donald after he sleeps during his duty of watching for enemy attack.
CHICKEN LITTLE-The classic "the sky is falling" story, originally planned to have more wartime references.

1944
HOW TO BE A SAILOR-Goofy's story of the history of sailors, ending with him using himself as a torpedo to sink Japanese ships.
COMMANDO DUCK-Donald is sent on a suicide mission to wipe out an entire Japanese air base, with hilarious results.

EDUCATIONAL SHORTS

* = Created for Canada to sell their war bonds.

** = CIAA films (Coordinator of Inter-American Affairs) created to combat the German Nazy influence that was widespread in Latin American in the early 1940s.

1941
THE THRIFTY PIG * - animation from Three Little Pigs cartoon adapted, with the Big Bad Wolf wearing a Nazi hat and armband.
THE SEVEN WISE DWARFS * - animation from Snow White adapted to show dwarfs buying war bonds.

1942
DONALD'S DECISION * - uses animation from 1938 Donald Duck cartoons "Donald's Better Self" and "Self Control" to convince Donald to buy war bonds.
ALL TOGETHER * - uses animation from several sources, including The Band Concert (1935) and Mickey's Amateurs (1937) to show several Disney characters in a parade to sell war bonds.
THE NEW SPIRIT - Donald is encouraged to pay his income tax to help the war effort.
FOOD WILL WIN THE WAR - Stresses the importance of farmers to the war effort. Includes the Three Little Pigs leading a long line of pigs.
OUT OF THE FRYING PAN INTO THE FIRING LINE - Minnie & Pluto star in an effort to show how important it was for housewives to save kitchen fats and greases for the war effort.

1943
THE GRAIN THAT BUILT A HEMISPHERE ** - Tells the history of corn and its importance to the world.
THE SPIRIT OF '43 - Donald Duck resists Nazi propaganda and pays his taxes to support the war effort.
WHE WINGED SCOURGE ** - The Seven Dwarfs point out ways to defeat the malaria-carrying mosquito.
DEFENSE AGAINST INVASION ** - Shows the human body's ability to fight off germs through vaccination.

1945
CLEANLINESS BRINGS HEALTH ** - The difference between the Clean Family that is happy and healthy and the Careless Family that is unhappy and unhealthy.
WHAT IS DISEASE ** - Shows what causes disease and how to protect against disease.

1946
PLANNING FOR GOOD EATING ** - Careless Charlie is used to teach a family about good dietary habits.

TRAINING FILMS

1942
FOUR METHODS OF FLUSH RIVETING - basic animation for education purposes
STOP THAT TANK (BOYS ANTI-TANK RIFLE) - a great deal of live action but fun, enjoyable animation of Hitler being blown to Hell by the rifle

1942-1945?
TRAINING FILM MONTAGE - A selection of scenes from various training films, I assume.

There are a few war-related entertainment shorts not listed here - one or more might be added to this collection instead of what is listed above.

1943
DONALD'S TIRE TROUBLE - most likely short. Donald has continual trouble with flat tires due to the wartime shortage of rubber.
PLUTO AND THE ARMADILLO - small connection to the wartime. Short releated to the Latin Armerica trip and the Saludos Amigos and The Three Caballeros films developed from that trip.

1944
THE PELICAN AND THE SNIPE - same info as for Pluto and the Armadillo.

1945
DOG WATCH - Pluto is a watchdog for a Navy ship.

The war years were a demanding time for the Disney Company. Most of their meager resources were devoted to the war effort. But this era contained a great deal of creative effort that might not have existed if not for the war.

I have seen most of these war works, and I consider them fascinating and among the best of all of Disney's work. I much look forward to owning them on DVD.

GREAT CINEMATIC LESSONS IN PROPAGANDA
This is trully a grat collection of war-time propaganda from WWII made by the Disney Studios. Some of these movies feature our favorite characters Donald Duck, Goofy and Pluto. Others feature specific characters created on purpose.

The main thing about this collection is Mr. Disney's master hand behind each film. Quality animation (and expensive animation from the studio that elevated animation to an art on its own).

They alert, inspire, teach and (last but not least) entertain. Some of these little gems are a bit violent and you should see them before deciding if they are suitable for your children. But anyway, these are great films and should be seen by anyone who want to see some of the best propaganda films aver made.

It is all great if you check Nazi propaganda films at the same time... they are very different. In these here films Mr. Disney never lost his touch and the style that made his studio famous.

In this double DVD you will find lots of things... one feature-length film (VICTORY THROUGH AIR POWER - a trully memorable film that explains the importance or air power to american forces and also the strategical and logistic problems WWII represented to America). This is certainly a landmark film.

The DVDs also contain an enormous list of cartoons (in the short form) that cover a large variety of subjects and moods.

This is one of the best titles in the collection and an important piece of History. Should be treasured. The quality of the DVDs is outstanding... as everything that is made with care.

I just don't understand why the tin cans are not numbered anymore (like the previous titles in this collection).

Finally!
Of all the film studios that produced "propaganda" cartoons during WWII, none have been better kept hidden than those made by the Walt Disney studio. Sure a couple of them slipped through the cracks into the public domain, but as a whole they remained sealed in the Disney Vaults until now.

While not every single cartoon made during the War (Disney produced numerous "how to" films made only for those in the actual armed forces, clips of some are shown on these DVDs), it does include all the theatrically released features. Stars like Donald Duck, Goofy, Pluto, Pete, Minnie and Huey, Dewey and Louie star in these wartime cartoons. Mickey Mouse only appeared in one short, using borrowed animation from "The Band Concert."

There is also the full length animated WWII feature "Victory Through Air Power," which is considered to be amongst the rarest of all the Disney features. This DVD set is well worth the buy.

History Buffs and Disney Fanatics Will Love It
During World War II, Walt Disney almost bankrupted his company producing stuff for the war effort. Now, we get a chance to see this part of animation history at home on DVD with this two disc set.

Disc 1 features 29 shorts. They range from entertainment with a patriotic edge, like "Donald Gets Drafted" or "Private Pluto," to shorts purely to help with the war like "The New Spirit" and "Out of the Frying Pan and into the Firing Line." There are even shorts used to fight disease in South America like "Cleanliness Brings Health" and "The Winged Scourge." I was surprised to learn from this disc about the films Disney was making for Canada even before the US entered the war.

Of course, the highlight of this disc is "Der Fuehrer's Face" which finds Donald trapped in Nazi Germany.

Disc two's main attraction is "Victory Through Air Power." This feature length movie was produced to bring the arguments of a book by the same name to more people. It makes a compelling argument that the Allies needed to build up their air forces to win the war, arguments about modern warfare that still apply today.

Disc two also features a few of the educational shorts Disney produced during that time. Frankly, after viewing the two that are included in their entirety, I'm glad that most of them are just highlighted. I don't find watching a film on how to fire a gun or how to flush rivet that entertaining. There are lots of production galleries and even galleries of some project this Disney fan had never heard of before. Finally, we have interviews with Disney veterans Joe Grant, John Hench, and Roy Disney.

This is a set that Disney buffs will want because it fills in some time in the studio's history. It also has interest for historians of all stripes as it presents a picture of life on the home front during World War II. Since the entertainment value of much of the disc is low, I took away one star. I probably won't go back to this set in the near future, but I was fascinated by much of what I saw here and am thrilled that the studio released this material so fans can view it today. ... Read more

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Trust
The four-episode Samurai X: Trust original animation video captures the mixture of swordplay and poetry that makes Japanese warrior culture so intriguing to viewers on both sides of the Pacific. The OAV series serves as a prequel to both Samurai X: The Movie and the more lighthearted TV series. The action unfolds in 1864, when a few clans began the revolt that would overthrow the military dictatorship of the Tokugawa Shogunate and return power to the Emperor in the Meiji Restoration of 1868. Shinta, a lonely orphan, is transformed by master swordsman Hiko into Kenshin Himura, an assassin in the service of Katsura, one of the revolutionary leaders. Kenshin kills whomever Katsura orders with consummate skill and unshatterable calm. He believes he is using his sword to bring about a better world, even as the intrigues and counter-intrigues escalate. But he becomes aware of unspoken doubts when he meets Tomoe, a mysterious girl whose beauty, like the iris, is seen to best advantage in cloudy weather. Director Kazuhiro Furuhashi choreographs the sword fights with a grace that infuses even scenes of extreme violence with an elegant sensuality: in one striking image, he focuses on the rain washing a spatter of blood from Tomoe's cheek. The dialogue in the English translation often sounds stilted, but the words are usually superfluous.

Betrayal
The peace that reigns over the remote mountain village of Otsu contrasts sharply with the rapid-fire violence of the previous episodes set in Kyoto. Working as a farmer, growing crops and savoring the passage of the seasons, Kenshin comes to terms with the discontent festering in his soul. He regrets the death and suffering he has caused, and hopes to find a better life--with the mysterious Tomoe. A conventional story would end on this note of self-discovery and moral growth. But Samurai X unfolds like a Kabuki tragedy: the desire for revenge remains strong, especially among the agents of the last Tokugawa Shogun, who are anxious to crush the nascent rebellion led by the Choshu clan. Kenshin was an important agent for the Choshu; Tomoe is just a pawn, but the outcome of a game may hinge on a strategically positioned pawn. Kenshin finally grasps the lessons his master, Hiko, attempted to teach him: the need for inner peace and the possibility of defending the weak without resorting to violence. The exquisitely detailed artwork evokes 19th century Japan, and director Kazuhiro Furuhashi depicts these understated inner conflicts as skillfully as the epic sword fights in the first episodes. Samurai X demonstrates the power of animation to present stories of great emotional depth, earning it a rightful place among the top anime series.

Reflection
The final OAV brings the long-running saga of master swordsman and assassin Kenshin Himura to its conclusion. The story is set in 1893, long after the bloody conflicts of the Meiji Restoration--and the events in the previous OAVs that culminated in the death of Kenshin's wife, Tomoe. With his devoted second wife, Kaoru, Kenshin seeks peace in trying to aid the helpless. But he cannot escape the karmic burden of the many deaths he caused: there is no peace for Kenshin in this world. The Japanese concept of the transitory nature of beauty permeates the two-part adventure. Director Kazuhiro Furuhashi ushers the narrative along at a deliberate pace, deftly inserting the many flashback sequences. The result is a properly elegiac farewell to one of most popular anime characters on both sides of the Pacific. (Rated 17 and older: violence, alcohol use, mature themes) --Charles Solomon ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Samurai X
Hmmm. Well, Im a bit biased, since I live anime. Now that that is out of the way, I would like to tell you what I think of this. Rurouni Kenshin is my favorite anime. It is about a famous ex-assasin turned wanderer and his struggles involving his past, internal, as well as externally. When I first heard of Samurai X, I thought that it was just Rurouni Kenshin being released in US under a different name. However, I soon learned that it is the story of when he was still Hitokiri Battousai, the manslayer. While the title is appaling, since it has nothing to do with Kenshin, since he is not a samurai, nor is that an X on his cheek(cross), I think that this is a spectacular mini-series and a must own for any anime fan and especially Rurouni Kenshin fan. However, this is NOT one for the kids. Bloody, violent, and full of saki this anime is. I feel that hasnt seen an R rated flick should be kept away from this masterpiece. It may cause some emotional scarring ;). However, if you even like anime a little, and arent scared by some gore, then this is for you!

All you can ask for in a compact package!
From the groundbreaking work of Nobuhiro Watsuki, Rurouni Kenshin, comes the prequel and the sequels to this paramount anime series. The Trust and Betrayal (prequel) OAVs are unparallel to anything you have ever seen before. The darkness that surrounds the story of kenshin's old man-slayer days reflets his feelings at the time and adds greatly to the story. For all you thrill-seekers, the action in this movie is unmatched by any other. Also, there's a very complex love story intertwined masterfully into the blood and gore that was the transition period between the Tokugawa Era to the Meiji Era. These turbulent times were the perfect setting for this story to take place. The battles fought in the movie were actual historical battles at those exact locations. The names of the clans were also real (The "Imperialists" [Choushu clan] Mibu's wolves [Shinsengumi], etc). The plot is wonderful, the story reels you in and the animation and music is simply superb! The animation is sleek and you feel as if you're witnessing all the action first hand! The music is also a vital part of this series. The composer of all the great instrumentals in this movie is Taku Iwasaki. The music sets the mood for the movie. For example in the battle scenes when "One more Red Nightmare" comes on, it sets that dark killing mood into place that just compliments those scenes perfectly. "Shades of Revolution" also gives teh movie that mysterious touch, with the eerie wolf howls and violin pieces, it is again unparallel to any other music in any other anime series.

The same can be said of the Reflection OAV. This is the sad part of the story, how the whole story wraps up. Of course, not in the original plotline of what Nobuhiro Watsuki originally wrote, but it is indeed a good rendition. (Of course nothing compares to the original story in the Manga of Rurouni Kenshin, but that's another point.)

Not enough can be said about this, any anime fan HAS to experience the beutiful story of Rurouni Kenshin. There are not enough stars in this review to rate this, I would personally give it as many stars as possible.

samurai x ova
I have only seen this anime in the orijinal japanies as American voice work can be a bit lacking, that hasn't stopped me from being ingulfed in the kenshin univers, as with manny of the fine anime films and manga books no detail was left obscure, the series was full of purpose and uncluttered. I would suggest this series to any one, weather they watched anime or not, for this is one of the reasons i do.

Simply the Best
I love the anime series of Rurouni Kenshin, but the OVA's, especially Trust and Betrayal, are simply amazing! I loved seeing Kenshin as a young and serious hitokiri and later, as a happily married man.

One of the box collection extras are brief character analysis, including Kenshin, Tomoe, Hiko Seijuro, and Enishi. Kenshin's superiors are also included, something I thought was extremly helpful, as I kept confusing some of the leaders of the clans. Also, some historical background information is provided which further helped me understand what things were like during that time period.

Again, I LOVE Kenshin and would highly recommend the OVA collection to anyone who doesn't already own the OVA's.

Sadly, audio mastering spoils this wonderful anime
Samurai X (or Rurouni Kenshin) OVAs are among the best anime ever produced. The story, the art, the characters, everything just blew my mind away when I saw them for the first time, and still does. But, alas, something went awry, probably in the mastering phase of this release:

For some unknown reason there are very annoying problems in the audio, which heavily affect the watching experience. Every now and then, when there is music, speech and sound effects playing simultaneously, music drops about 10-20 db, and the sound effects control the whole soundscape. Then, after a few seconds, the music strengthens again as suddenly as it weakened.

Especially in this kind of story, where music plays a really big part in the atmosphere, these kinds of problems can't be forgiven. For me, it destroed the whole watching experience, which means that I'm forced to watch old digitized vhs-versions.

Shame on the guys who mastered this. ... Read more

Reviews (36)

A sweet video that enchants toddlers
First of all, it's useful to know that there are two sets of "Richard Scarry" videos available, each produced by a different company: Cinar/Polygram/USA Films offers a video series called "The Busy World of Richard Scarry", and Sony/Random House has a set of videos named like "Richard Scarry's Best (fill in the blank) Video Ever". There are notable differences between them.

The "Busy World of...." series consists of episodes from an actual television series, although I don't know what network originally carried it. It's kind of bland and generic kids TV, and it sorely lacks the Richard Scarry charm. Not recommended.

Our family much prefers the "Best...Video Ever" home video series. This series features simple storylines and really sweet, catchy songs that both preschoolers and parents enjoy even after multiple viewings. "Best Learning Songs" is probably our favorite because it covers such a variety of subjects. The story is extremely simple: Huckle and friends put on a show in their backyard. Their show consists of gently educational songs about the alphabet, counting, shapes, opposites, common courtesy, etc.

On the downside, the animation is pretty primitive, the image quality doesn't improve from VHS to DVD (we now own both), and the price could be better for a 30-minute program. But those charming, educational songs really carry the day, and both of our kids were completely entranced by this series of videos while they were preschoolers.

This really is the Best learning video ever!
My two year old son has lots of videos and I hesitated to get a Richard Scarry video because my son seemed to prefer real life children as opposed to animation. He's not into Barney (thank goodness) and really doesn't watch any of the "educational" children's T.V. programs so I'm always trying to find videos that he can learn something from and enjoy. Well I was thrilled when we watched this video for the first time. The children's voices are very clear and they enunciate everything very well and they just couldn't be any more precious. My son loves this video and actually has tried to sing some of the songs along with the video which is great because up til now he hasn't done much talking. The songs are very cute and easy to learn and they are not annoying at all like some children's videos. They teach so many things, including ABC', counting to 10, shapes, manners, opposites. I can't say enough good things about this video. If you're looking for a video that your child will love, and learn from without even realizing it, this is the one video you must get. I wish I had gotten it sooner, instead of spending my money on other so called learning videos that my son only watches twice and then gets bored. This is a must have video!

Recommended!
This is my 2nd Richard Scarry DVD - I also have the ABC DVD. Of the two, I think the ABC is better, but this one is quite good too. It covers a series of concepts with a song each, like counting, shapes, prepositions, alphabet, opposites etc. Of the songs, I don't find any of them memorable except the one teaching the alphabet, which is super (A is for apple, B is for bed, C is for crown that you wear on your head etc).

The DVD is about 30 minutes long, which I find ideal - you can get a bit of housework done without making the TV too much of a babysitter.

Be aware that the Richard Scarry DVDs look a bit low-tech, they are not flashy and polished like Sesame Street DVDs.

Refreshing new songs and great learning concepts
I'm a huge fan of the Richard Scarry DVDs and videos, and this one is certainly amongst my favourites. It is delightful to learn and sing some new songs with my 15 month all that can teach her about opposites, the alphabet, counting and shapes. The tunes are catchy, the music is appealing and the lyrics are well sung. Very sweet and simple, perfect for toddlers! I don't see myself getting sick of this video any time soon, whereas if I hear "Wheels on the Bus" and "Old McDonald" one more time....

Sweet, innocent, simple, captivating - A Great Learning Tool
I started out by buying Richard Scarry's counting DVD. I loved it so much, I bought all the rest (minus the nursery rhymes DVD). My 2-year-old son really enjoys watching the movie, as does my 6-month-old daughter. I personally enjoy the DVD and its innocence. I like that it is simple yet captivating for them. It really holds their attention. I tend to be pretty particular when it comes to movies for my children, making sure they don't teach any bad habits and that it doesn't teach anything contrary to the Bible. I was very pleased to see there wasn't any reference to magic, fairies, etc, as many things tend to include such references these days. The DVD gave more than one example for each letter (F is for Firetruck, etc), and I was so glad to see that all of them were positive examples. What a great learning tool! ... Read more

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By its fourth season, The Simpsons had come far enough where Lisa could make a self-referential joke about Dustin Hoffman and Michael Jackson's pseudonymous guest voice appearances in seasons 2 and 3, respectively. In this season, no less than Elizabeth Taylor (in two episodes), Bette Midler, and even the reclusive Johnny Carson blessed The Simpsons with their iconic presences. Awhile back, Entertainment Weekly ranked The Simpsons' Top 25 best episodes ever. Five gems from season 4 cracked the top 12, including the (debatable) choice for No. 1, "Last Exit to Springfield."Other episodes that loom large in the Simpsons legend are "Mr. Plow" (you know the jingle: "Call Mr. Plow / That's my name / That name again is Mr. Plow"), "Marge vs. the Monorail," featuring a Music Man-style extravaganza, and "A Streetcar Named Marge," the episode that outraged New Orleans residents,who heard their fair metropolis referred to as "a city that the damned call home."

The Simpsons smartly subverts traditional family sitcom convention, but anyone who thinks the show doesn't have a heart is advised to watch "I Love Lisa" and "New Kid on the Block," two fourth-season gems that absolutely nail the agony and ecstasy of unrequited crushes ("You won't be needing this," a heartbroken Bart fantasizes his babysitter saying while dropkicking his heart into a wastebasket in "New Kid"). While the Simpsons' celebrated ensemble gets all the glory, we must pause now to praise the peerless writing staff, among them, George Meyer, Al Jean, Jon Vitti, John Swartzwelder, David Silverman, and Conan O'Brien. One can only marvel in astonishment at the alchemy that went into creating, week after week, such essential episodes as "Kamp Krusty," "Streetcar," the profane and profound "Homer the Heretic," and "Lisa the Beauty Queen" (And that's just disc 1!). The animators, too, rose to the occasion, particularly in "Itchy & Scratchy: The Movie," with its dead-on, ultra-violent sinking of the seminal Disney cartoon, "Steamboat Willie." And another benchmark in The Simpsons' rise to the TV pantheon: Its very first clip show. What Homer says about donuts in "Monorail" holds true as well for The Simpsons itself: Is there anything this show can't do? --Donald Liebenson ... Read more

Reviews (152)

Is released on June 15 2004
I think Fox should really hurry up with these. They average about 1 every year and if they keep up this pace we'll be seeing the current Season on DVD in 2015 if we're lucky.

Episodes included in this season are

Disc One:
Kamp Krusty (9/24/92)
A Streetcar Named Marge (10/1/92)
Homer the Heretic (10/8/92)
Lisa The Beauty Queen (10/15/92)
Treehouse of Horror III (10/29/92)
Itchy & Scratchy: The Movie (11/3/92)

Disc Two:
Marge Gets a Job (11/5/92)
New Kid on the Block (11/12/92)
Mr. Plow (11/19/92)
Lisa's First Word (12/3/92)
Homer's Triple Bypass (12/17/92)
Marge vs. The Monorail (1/14/93)

Disc Three:
Selma's Choice (1/21/93)
Brother From the Same Planet (2/4/93)
I Love Lisa (2/11/93)
Duffless (2/18/93)
Last Exit to Springfield (3/11/93)
So It's Come to This: A Simpsons Clip Show (4/1/93)

Disc Four:
The Front (4/15/93)
Whacking Day (4/29/93)
Mage in Chains (5/6/93)
Krusty Gets Kancelled (5/13/93)

As well as all 22 episodes from the fourth season (1992-1993), the bonus material will consist of commentaries on each episode, an introduction by Matt Groening, a voiceover featurette with James L. Brooks, an Animation Showcase multi-angle feature, animatics, commercials, deleted scenes and more.

Each episode is presented in 1.33:1 full frame, as drawn, with English 5.1 Surround, Spanish Dolby Surround, French Dolby Surround Sound and Spanish subtitles.

simpsons 4 down 11+ to go
As reported by Fox the 4th Season DVD set is expected to hit stores/homes in June. The set will include all 22 hilarious episodes with equally entertaining commentary. Those of us who have already listened to Season 3's episode commentary (multiple times) will attest to their value. Additional bonus material will include deleted scenes, an intro by Groening, a voiceover featurette with James L. Brooks, commercials, an Animation Showcase(?), and animatics.

Disc One:
Kamp Krusty (9/24/92)

A Streetcar Named Marge (10/1/92)
Homer the Heretic (10/8/92)
Lisa The Beauty Queen (10/15/92)
Treehouse of Horror III (10/29/92)
Itchy & Scratchy: The Movie (11/3/92)

Disc Two:
Marge Gets a Job (11/5/92)
New Kid on the Block (11/12/92)
Mr. Plow (11/19/92)
Lisa's First Word (12/3/92)
Homer's Triple Bypass (12/17/92)
Marge vs. The Monorail (1/14/93)

Disc Three:
Selma's Choice (1/21/93)
Brother From the Same Planet (2/4/93)
I Love Lisa (2/11/93)
Duffless (2/18/93)

Last Exit to Springfield (3/11/93)
So It's Come to This: A Simpsons Clip Show (4/1/93)

Disc Four:
The Front (4/15/93)
Whacking Day (4/29/93)
Marge in Chains (5/6/93)
Krusty Gets Kancelled (5/13/93)

Full frame, aspect ratio 1.33:1. (...)

the simpsons season three is awesome
This dvd is the best one yet. I bought it a month ago and I've seen this dvd countless times its worth every penny, my personal favorites are duffless, treehouse of horror 3, homers triple bypass, and selmas choice. Theses episodes are classics. so stop reading and buy this amazing dvd.

LAME
you are all morons for watching this tripe, just victims of this nonsense, " the ONLY WAY TO FIX IT IS TO FLUSH IT ALL AWAY " - TOOL

The Simpsons #4
The best Simpson's episodes you'll will want to see over and over.My personal favorite from this season would be when Homer gives up Drinking Beer,Very hilarious. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Disney's 1977 The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh may be the last word on (animated) Pooh because it so faithfully honors the first word on Pooh, penned in the 1920s by British storyteller A.A. Milne. Gently paced, subtly humorous, and blessedly understated, this adaptation reflects Walt Disney's original vision to develop the beloved British bear for a wider audience. The film is essentially a collection of the original Pooh shorts, "The Honey Tree," "The Blustery Day," and "Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too." These storybooks are presented in seamless "chapters," narrated by the timeless Sebastian Cabot. The familiar musical score and original voices of Sterling Holloway as Pooh, and Paul Winchell as Tigger, cap this enchanting keepsake. (Ages 2 and up). --Lynn Gibson ... Read more

Reviews (46)

Nothing Like Pooh Bear turning a Blustery Day into Sunshine
Winnie the Pooh has always been my favorite playmate and all his friends at enchanted Pooh Corner-Christopher Robin, Eeyore, Piglet, Kanga and Roo, Owl, Rabbit and Tigger, too. This is Walt Disney's 22nd full-length animated movie masterpiece. Winnie the Pooh was created in the 1920s out of British author A.A. Milne's whimisical stories he told to his son Christopher Robin. The character Pooh was created from Christopher's toy bear Edward Bear, and from his favorite London zoo friend "Winnie," a black bear. The name "Pooh" came from a swan residing also at the zoo. The film is a gathering of these wonderful moments and Disney's magic weaves them into this joyful feature-length movie.

This edition includes footage of behind the scenes interviews and how the story of Pooh all started. The original stories are "The Honey Tree," "The Blustery Day" and "Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too." "Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day" was nominated and won Best Cartoon Short Subject in 1968. If you're a lover of enchanted days take a journey to the Hundred Acre Wood with the most huggable, lovable bear of very little brain for a wonderful adventure and lots of honey pots! Complete with the magical music score theme song and the Tigger song, too. It's the best fun you'll have in your entire childhood with none other than that willy nilly silly old bear. Guaranteed!

Disney Has The Magic And The Charm!
The Many Adventures Of Winnie The Pooh is a very good movie for the whole family. It is so wholesome and filled with basic messages and foot tapping music that all ages will enjoy.

It has great character actors doing all the voices and who could every forget Tigger! Or Eyor or Piglet or Rabbit or Roo! Such a fun more even as I watch it as an adult today. The story of Pooh is a classic and it wasn't until Walt Disney created these three mini features and married them till the US populous catch on to Whinnie's adventures. And they are fun.

Winnie is lovable and adorable and has the biggest of all hearts of all the characters in the Disney line of magical memories I have ever seen! This movie is really special.

The DVD extras are just as good as the film. It has a storybook for the kids a music video by Carly Simon and series of games for children to figure out and even a Tigger sing-a-long. Also there are several previews for the kids to see the new Piglet movie, a new Pooh Christmas video due out this fall and Lilo and Stitch preview. With a lot of fun extras. This is a must for any collector of Disney or animated features overall.

For people who are blind or have low vision.
I just found out that there are tapes like this (For people who are blind or have low vision.) on sale at Amazon.com! It's very great help for those kids!

Great collection of Pooh stories
Yes, we all love Winnie the Pooh. However, the main reason I prefer "The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh" over any of the other Disney movies featuring Pooh Bear is the way this movie is set up. It's a compilation of several of the classic Pooh short stories, instead of one long movie. I find my two-year old gets much more out of watching the individual 10 minute stories, as opposed to attempting to sit through a full-length, animated film.
Thus, keeping the little ones (ages 1-5) and their attention spans in mind, I highly recommend "The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh" to be a must for any family video collection!

Gotta see this one!!!!
Winnie the Pooh is one of the most lovable characters there is and this DVD showcases his sweetness. Pooh, Piglet, Tigger and all their friends romp and frollic through a series of stories that kids of all ages, even grown up kids, will enjoy. The stories are very entertaining and the voice talents who bring the characters to life are awesome. Most touching of all is Pooh and Christopher Robin toward the end of the movie discussing the fast approaching arrival of Christopher's departure to "school". My entire family loves this movie!!! ... Read more

Amazon.com

America's first family of dysfunction, the Simpsons, appear in all their depraved glory in this wonderful DVD compilation of their show's premiere season. Fans accustomed to the slick appearance of the later episodes will be delighted by the rougher nature of these earlier episodes, when the characters weren't as well defined (Homer isn't quite as dumb as he is in later seasons) and the animation was still evolving. This only adds to the charm of these 13 episodes, which begin with "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire," the December 1989 Christmas special in which a down-and-out Simpson family adopt Santa's Little Helper. Throughout the season, familiar faces are introduced, as we catch first glimpses of Smithers, Mr. Burns, the Flanderses, and Patty and Selma. Highlights of the season include "The Crepes of Wrath," in which Bart is sent to France as an exchange student ("Don't mess up France the way you messed up your room"); "Bart the Genius," in which Bart ends up in a school for the gifted; and "Krusty Gets Busted," in which Bart's lifelong animosity with Sideshow Bob begins. --Jenny Brown ... Read more

Reviews (518)

At last
The best television art North America has ever produced comes to DVD at last. All 13 original episodes and with commentary by Matt Groening too and then some !! Mmmmmmmm DVD with sprinkles. Here are more details: Disc One: 1. "Simpsons Roasting On An Open Fire" ­ episode and commentary. 2. "Bart The Genius" ­ episode, commentary and original script. 3. "Homer's Odyssey" ­ episode and commentary. 4. "There's No Disgrace Like Homer"­ episode and commentary. "Bart The General"­ episode, commentary and original script. 5. "Moaning Lisa"­ episode, commentary and original script. Disc Two: 1. "Call Of The Simpsons"­ episode and commentary. 2. "The Telltale Head"­ episode and commentary. 3. "Life On The Fast Lane"­ episode and commentary. 4. "Homer's Night Out"­ episode and commentary. "The Crepes Of Wrath"­ episode and commentary. 5. "Krusty Gets Busted"­ episode and commentary. Disc Three: 1. "Some Enchanted Evening"­ episode, commentary, unaired outtakes and original script. 2. Animatic of "Bart The General" with commentary by Matt Groening and David Silverman. 3. Albert Brooks outtakes from "Life On The Fast Lane." 4. "America's First Family" BBC special. 5. ABC News special report on the famous Bart Simpson T-shirt controversy. 6. "Good Night Simpsons" short, the first to air on "The Tracey Ullman Show. " 7. At least five foreign language clips. 8. 100 early sketches in a still gallery. 9. 12 stills and magazine covers.

Are you a fan? Buy this!
Bottom line: The Simpsons is the funniest, smartest show on television. This is satire at its best! It has a strong cast of characters which is one of the reasons it has survived for so many years. This DVD is a fan's dream, and is loaded with clips, commentary, and of course the groundbreaking first season of shows. A landmark show finally has a fitting DVD set. The early episodes of course aren't quite as sharp in the animation department, as the art and produciton values will continue to grow with each season. The writing is there, however, and its fun seeing how the characters have evolved/grown over time. And hey, these are the classic episodes! I look forward to the release of the rest of the seasons, but for now will enjoy this wonderful set. If you are a fan (and you probably are since you're reading this) this is a must have. This is the kind of set you go buy a DVD player for!

A Gem
This is a must buy for sure. The episodes may look badly animated, and they may not be as funny as the newer episodes, but I still laughed and laughed as the Simpsons crawled their way to fame. The Simpsons is the funniest tv show out there along side Family Guy. As for the episodes in this collection
well I can't complain. They are a very good start. There is only one episode in this season I didn't like and that was Moaning Lisa. I'll rate each episode out of 10.

Simpsons Roating On An Open Fire....7/10

Bart The Genius....7/10

Homers Odyssey....6/10

There's No Disgrace Like Home....8/10

Bart The General....8/10

Moaning Lisa....5/10 (The only episode I didn't really care for)

Call Of The Simpsons....8/10

The Telltale Head....7/10

Life On The Fast Lane....7/10

Homer's Night Out....6/10

The Crepes Of Wrath....9/10 (My favorite episode of the season)

Krusty Gets Busted....8/10

Some Enchanted Evening....7/10

So, I really recommend this set because you get to see the Simpsons back when they first came out. And soon we should have all the 15 seasons on dvd.

sucks
all the old episodes aren't as funny sorry. I'd only buy this if i were a simpsons geek.

Simpsontastic Stuff
The DVD makes superb use of a season brilliant in places and average in others:The First Season.Most episodes individually have a great storyline and plot...but the voices and drawings soon tell you it's early pickings!There are some classics thrown in here though.Life On The Fast Lane,Bart The Genius and Homers Night Out exceed with the pilot(Simpsons Roasting On An Open Fire) overseeing even them.Memories come thick and fast..helped by the quality special features(a thing never to dissapoint in any Simpson box set).With an interview,documentary,a never seen before scene and an explanation about how the making of an episode's done,packed with lots of other Simpson fan must haves,the DVD set as a whole becomes more enjoyable and reccomendable.However,there is no dought better Simpsons material comes from the next 4 or 5 seasons,a time when the show reached heights it could,nor any other programme,reach again.Despite faults in the first season,it takes no value away to a Simpson fan.Furthermore,the first episode(aired 46 days after I was born)makes the DVD set worth buying alone.Priceless. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Although the book The Adventures of Mickey Mouse (1931) listed Donald Duck as one of Mickey's friends, he didn't appear on screen until the "Silly Symphony" "The Wise Little Hen," three years later. Donald's personality began to gel in "The Orphan's Benefit" (1934, on Walt Disney Treasures: Mickey Mouse in Black and White), when he threw his first temper tantrum. He began as dumpy-looking character with a long beak and thick legs, but was soon redesigned and made more appealing.

Donald's firecracker temper made him a favorite with audiences--and the Disney artists. By the late '30s/early '40s Mickey was no longer allowed to kick someone, break a window, or get into a really embarrassing situation. Donald was, and he did. If Donald encountered a mechanical device, from an outboard motor to a waffle iron to a riveting gun, the results were sure to be disastrous. He was routinely outwitted by chipmunks, ants, bees, and his nephews, Huey, Dewey, and Louie, who came to visit in 1938 and stayed for more than 60 years.

The Donald Duck shorts featured some of the broadest slapstick comedy the Disney studio ever produced. They lack the razor-sharp timing, extreme takes, and wild gags the animators at Warner Bros. and MGM were developing at this time. But they're still funny and retain a nostalgic charm, especially such classics as "Don Donald," "The Autograph Hound," "Mr. Duck Steps Out," and "Put-Put Troubles." (Rated G, suitable for ages 8 and older: cartoon violence, tobacco use, minor ethnic stereotyping) --Charles Solomon ... Read more

Reviews (24)

Donald Duck in DVD
Finally the waiting is (almost) over!, in December we are going able to get this wonderful collection.

A congratulation to Leonard Maltin because he can persuade Disney Company to release those "Treasures" unedited... by the way, those sets (including all those in the past two waves) are for collector and animation buffs, it's somehow irritating find reviews from parents that are angry against the Goofy collection because that included "No Smoking" and "tomorrow we diet"... it's because those bad reviews (and complains in the Disney Consumer service) that WD company had not released, until now, "Fantasia" uncensored and "Song of the South".... if you think that those uncensored shorts are offensive, please buy any of the direct-to-video sequels that WDC releases from time to time...

INFORMATION ABOUT WALT DISNEY TREAURES WAVE 4

Take this as a rumor, but the following are probably the sets for the next year

-Mickey Mouse in Black and White Volume II

-Assortment Set (to include BEN AND ME and DONALD IN MATHMAGIC LAND)
-Mickey Mouse Club
-The Complete Pluto

(courtesy of dcap3 from the animationshow forum ;) )

It's a shame that the "Chronological Donald" vol. 2 is not presented in this future wave.... i would be change the "Assortment Set" for another Donald volume, only time will tell... also, where is "Silly Simphonies Vol. 2"?

Sooooooooooooo!!!! In 2 Words: Just Ducky!!!
Wonderful to see the unedited, uncensored, and unbound Donald in his early work at the Disney Studios! Braveaux, WD! The only drawback has been mentioned before, so I quote from a previous reviewer "The big drawback however is Leonard Maltin's sermonizing about gunplay and stereotyping... all the unPC stuff. I feel like he thinks morons are watching these cartoons. He keeps giving the "that was what was done then, but we would never consider doing it now". Ok, Leonard, once is enough, thanks."

BUT......... even Little Lame Leonard cannot hold this Duck down, and Donald's everlasting charm overshadows even Mr. Maltin's limp noodle routine!

I can't wait for the next set, though it does not appear it will be coming out in 2005. My personal favorite, the Fountain of Youth, which has Donald and his 3 nephews visiting the fabled Fountain of Youth in Florida only to find themselves in comedy hijinx with a local gator, will hopefully be included then.

Buy it...... Donald and Disney put the CLASS in classics, and continue to demonstrate why these will ALWAYS be ageless and enduring!!!

I love Donald.
Not too long ago one of my friends asked me "Why Donald?" He was referring to a period in the studio's history (never more prevalant than in the wartime films, available on another DVD) when Donald Duck was the big star. Why, asked my friend, was Donald Duck so wildly popular. More to the point, why did they decide that he would be the ideal star of morale-boosting, patriotism-inspiring war films? The answer is simple: Mickey Mouse is an idealist. He's how people SHOULD be. If the world were more like Mickey, it'd be a happier place. But, despite their overall "When You Wish Upon a Star" attitude (which seems to have died with Walt. Boo, Eisner!) the animators knew that things were not perfect and that the majority of Americans were like Donald Duck. You make fun of his temper-tantrums, but how many times in your life have you blown a fuse over something seemingly unimportant? We are all of us a little bit of Donald Duck...after all, who hasn't felt, at least once in their life, that no one understands us?

That's kind of a nice thought, isn't it?

Disney's Lovable Duck Gets His Due
Finally, Disney's greatest character gets the spotlight! Donald is the everyman-just a regular guy that has to put up with the travails of everyday life. Whether it's a wild animal or an inanimate object that raises his ire, Donald keeps the viewer laughing with his lovable voice and temperamental antics. This volume features Donald's debut in "The Wise Little Hen" and all his starring shorts from 1936's "Donald and Pluto" to 1941's "Chef Donald". It also includes a short piece on Donald's original voice Clarence "Ducky" Nash, photo stills and memorabilia stills, and introductions and commentary by Leonard Maltin. The easter eggs that I've found include a short 1940 short "The Volunteer" and two excerpts from "The Reluctant Dragon". It would have been nice if the DVD also included all of Donald's shorts in which he wasn't in the starring role, such as "Lonesome Ghosts" and "Orphan's Benefit" among others, but this is still one of the best collections of any kind that has been put together. I can't wait for the second volume, which will probably feature all of Donald's wartime shorts, to come out. It'll definitely be worth the wait, just like this set was. Now if Disney releases the 39 episode Quack Pack on DVD, all Donald Duck fans will have years of Donald viewing pleasure.

Donald is definitely the best
Donald Duck IMHO is the best ,and this DVD opens a door which was closed for decades.. You can see all the films that Donald started in ..and more. Never did Donald duck have a DVD dedicated only for him. Great if you love this little angry duck. ... Read more

Reviews (247)

Kidnap the Sandy Claws!
This is my favorite animated film and in my opinion the best to come out of the Burton/Elfman team. The plot is... well... "different": The denizens of Halloween Town kidnap Santa Claus and have their way with Christmas. i.e. make a complete mess out of it. The visuals are spectacular (if a little dark) and the music and songs are wonderful and fit right in with the action. Regarding the "family appeal" of this movie: just keep in mind that this is a Tim Burton creation (Beetlejuice, Sleepy Hollow) and therefore it is dark, a little scary and the humor is on the sarcastic side. Oh, and if you absolutely can't stand musicals, then this movie will either make you a believer (like it did to me) or will put you off.

About the DVD edition: I've seen this movie in the theater, on TV, on VHS and now on DVD and I must say that the DVD edition had the best sound quality. They could have included some bonuses (a "the making of..." type of feature is really missing) but the excellent sound and decent picture quality was good enough for me.

Go ahead and give it a try, especially if you're a Burton/Elfman fan!

Fantastic, wonderful, and moving...
I've not seen this movie in a very long time, and it wasn't until just recently that I revisited it. The Nightmare Before Christmas' title sounds like something from a horror movie, but it certainly isn't one. Sure, everything looks grim and creepy, but that's just the setting. The story of Jack Skellington feeling as if everything is a routine for him and wants to experience something different was kinda touching, as is with the songs he sings to himself in the film. The music is creepy at times and is beautiful when needed, and it's all composed by Danny Elfman; who in turn also wrote the songs, and does Jack Skellington's voice. TNMBC was skillfully animated, using the stop-motion style, which most likely took them quite a while to finish. The end product looks pretty good too, especially for a movie released back in '91. Tim Burton has always been one of my favorite directors, and this film didn't let me down. Not only did it bring back some nice childhood memories, but it also made me feel good in the process. Those parents who aren't sure of showing this film to their kids because it may scare them, at least consider that the movie has NO violence either than a stitched-up lady jumping from a building, but she doesn't get harmed as she puts herself back together. If your kids can handle the creepy looking monsters and creatures, by all means let them watch this movie. They most likely will never forget it.

the best christmas and halloween movie ever
wellllllllllllll.the guys from halloween land go to x-mas land and kidnap santa and do x-masup thier own way.its animated or something so no stars per say.this one is for some kids and not for others.the sensitive types need to be in bed.it is another one of tim burtons abselute masterpieces.there are basicly 2 kinds of movies.your julia robetrs-sell out-hollywood-junk and movies that actualy required some thought.so anyone with an imagination will like it.this is themost over the top and wild x-mas movie ever.

Spellbinding
This movie is beyond enchanting, delving into the realms of spellbinding. I never thought that an animated film could be so stunning with its cinematography mixed with the music. That's the amazing beauty of Tim Burton's world: it's filled with contrasts. In particular is Sally (voiced by the Canadian goddess Catherine O'Hara) the ragdoll who externally is not the most beautiful thing with her stitchings and patched clothes, but internally she is pure and filled with love for Jack. Even her singing (again Catherine) sounds like an innocent child, straight tone (no vibrato) and a flowing, velvet soprano.
The world of Halloweentown is dark, but filled with beauty and rich melodies straining through (by the genius Danny Elfman). The construction of the film is so perfect making Halloweentown filled with browns and blacks whereas Christmastown is bright and cheerful, joyful as we expect Christmas to be and the real world is somewhere in between. All of it pulls together beautifully to create a timeless story and the most magnificently filmed ending with Sally and Jack in the snow.
Just proves the genius of the film makers.

yuck
Why does "everyone" love this movie? It's not that good. Not at all. I saw this when I was four and I absolutely hated it when I found out they kidnapped Santa Clause. The zombie girl taking her head off at one point in the movies was pretty gross too...yuck. I don't reccomend this film. ... Read more

Description

Earth is the battleground, control of the Universe is the prize, and the only defense is an army of Autobots able to transform into massive fighting machines as powerful as their enemy—the deadly Decepticons. Each boxed set includes 2 limited edition cels of Transformer characters. All episodes are in chronological order based on original airdate.
Episodes: AUTOBOT SPIKE • CHANGING GEARS • CITY OF STEEL • ATTACK OF THE AUTOBOTS • THE TRAITOR IMMOBILIZER • AUTOBOT RUN • ATLANTIS, ARISE! • MACHINE REBELLION • ENTER THE NINJA • A PRIME PROBLEM • THE CORE • INSECTICON SYNDROME • DINOBOT ISLAND #1 • DINOBOT ISLAND #2 • MASTER BUILDERS • AUTO BERSERK • MICROBOTS • MEGATRON’S MASTER • PLAN #1 • MEGATRON’S MASTER PLAN #2 • DESERTION OF THE DINOBOTS #1 • DESERTION OF THE DINOBOTS #2 • BLASTER BLUES • A DECEPTICON RAIDER IN KING ARTHUR’S COURT ... Read more

Reviews (50)

Okay But Lacking
This is where the Transformers cartoon started getting good. The season started in 1985. I'm not too familiar with all of the aspects of the series, but I do know that the Season 1 commercial bumpers were used, rather than the Season 2 bumpers, which makes no sense, unless the bumpers were changed in mid-season. There are numerous white spots on the picture, but this is understandable considering the age of the original master tapes. The extras are nice, but there's not enough focus on the original series. There was one G1 voice actor interview and one G1 writer interview. I wanted more interviews. I wanted the scripts. I wanted Year 2 toy commercials. Now onto the actual story. 24 of the 49 episodes of Season 2 are in this set. They're presented in original air order, not production order. There is less continuity in this season than the previous. There are three 2-part episodes in this set. Year 2 characters start appearing with no explanation. They either came to Earth as reinforcements from Cybertron, or they were in stasis on the Ark and the Decepticon ship. Most of the characters aren't developed beyond stereotypes. Carly is introduced, bringing a much-needed female presence to the series. Carly is strong and intelligent - a great role-model for girls. Also, even though this story is about a war, none of the robots are ever destroyed, and none of the humans are ever killed. Still, this is an entertaining cartoon series and worth the purchase, even though it'll probably be cheesier than you remember from childhood. For those of you that missed it when it was on TV, this is your chance to see it.

BEST SEASON EVER
THIS IS THE GREATEST EVER. GREAT EPISODES HERE MY FAVORITES IN THIS SEASON WERE DINOBOT ISLAND 1 AND 2 AND. DESERTION OF THE DINOBOTS 1 AND 2 . THIS SEASON IS WELL WORTH WHATEVER PRICE THEY ARE SELLING IT AT.

Transformers Season 2 part 1
Ok, first off, its a collection worth having. All the originals are here, and everything you remembered about them is present. I've broken down my review into quick snibits to make it short and sweet.

SOUND: I don't know why Rhino decided to put 5.1 audio on a cartoon that was barely suitable for stereo. The sound is good, however the decision to replace sounds with new snd fx was a horrible idea. Why? Why!! Also, because of this "forced" 5.1 audio, it is painfully obvious and straining to the ear to hear the audio switch back and forth between your center spkr and your surrounds. It was a nice try, but really doesn't snd too good.

IMAGE: The restoration is good, and I don't think can get any better. Crisp and clean. Though, I don't understand why Rhino decided to keep the commercial tag lines in. It seems those should have been taken out.

EXTRAS: Horrible. They are actually pretty boring, and having almost nothing to do with the old series. These are guys who are doing the new Armada series, and you don't get anything, zippo, from hardly anyone who did anything on the original broadcast. They are not well done either, and did I say they were rather boring?? No concept designs, sketches, storyboards, commentaries. . . nothing.

That's it. Besides all that, it is worth having to simply relive the nostalgia of it. But I think Rhino has made some pretty wierd and poor decisions on the quality. It's as if no one really tested the product. Or, these are people who didn't even grow up with the series, and are simply pumping out another DVD to put on the market. who knows.

Transformers Season Two Boxed Set, Part 1
It's amazing how classic these cartoons are. Being a father now, my own sons enjoy watching them, the cartoons today are pale in comparison to the series that launched in the 80's and 90's.

Everything of the quality is excellent, I don't think you could ask any more as far as sound and picture. These were old, and I don't think anyone had DVD's in mind back then. The only thing that is seriously lacking is really good extras. It begs the question: "Does anyone from the original series even care, or are they even alive still?" Where are the directors/writers and original artists for these things? I would have loved to hear some audio commentary too by some of the former directors. Yet you find none of it on any of the collector editions. It's unfortunate, and I would really like to know why. Model sheets, concept designs would have been neat to look at, even the Transformers: The Movie DVD had little to nothing to offer. I guess no one saved anything???

However, this is the DVD to get, simply for the episodes. It's worth the money, and it has definately been worth the wait.

You cant beat Transformers on DVD!!
The original and classic Transformer cartoons of yesterday can be yours TODAY! ARMADA-SMARMADA! This is the real deal! ... Read more

Amazon.com

The third broadcast season of Rumiko Takahashi's long-running transgender comedy was clearly one of the high points in the series: "Am I Pretty" may well rank as its funniest installment. When he insults her cooking yet again, Akane clobbers Ranma with an iron skillet--which somehow brings out the feminine side of his nature. The normally loutish Ranma suddenly becomes obsessed with frills, fine cooking, and extreme modesty (he blushes at the sight of his own jockey shorts). The results are hilariously incongruous. "Ryoga's Miracle," in which the geographically challenged Ryoga Hibiki finds a miraculous soap that seems to counteract the transforming spells of Jusenkyo, is only slightly less uproarious. The season begins with Ranma acquiring the last thing he needs or wants: another would-be fiancée, Ukyo, a champion okonomiyaki chef. The cross-dressing contretemps reach new heights of absurdity with the arrival of Ukyo's admirer, Tsubasa; soon no one knows who's who or what's what. Meanwhile, Chinese Amazon Shampoo serves pork buns laced with a love potion; Kuno banishes the long-suffering Sasuke, who takes refuge at the Tendo Dojo; and the entire cast competes to win a trip to China in the Miracle Martial Arts Obstacle Race. The set concludes with a no-holds-barred farce as Ranma attempts to change the past and keep himself from falling into the accursed spring at Jusenkyo. A must-have for Ranma fans. Unrated; suitable for ages 12 and up: Slapstick violence, nudity, mildly risqué humor. --Charles Solomon ... Read more

Reviews (25)

Season Three Is For Me
This is it! The Hard Battle Box Set, marking the 3rd season of the hit anime Ranma 1/2. If you aren't quite up to date on what this show is about then I say..."WHERE AND THE HECK HAVE YOU BEEN!?"....I also say, that I will not even attempt to say that which has already been said, far too many times. Ok, with that said, this box set includes some of the best episodes of the entire series. It even features a couple episodes VIZ released on a special tape featuring just that, the best episodes of the entire series(hows that for proof). It also finally finishes up the introduction of all the most major characters with Ranma's latest fiance, Ukyo.
Ranma has long been known for its quirky, unsophisticated, romantic, and entirely enjoyable brand of comedy. And this particular season truly shines with some classic moments.
So if you are a Ranma fan, then I definitely suggest you do yourself a favor and pick this up. If you are new to Ranma, well then it would be best if you start with first season. Or rent some tapes before buying this. As you will find yourself more confused than a Japanese tourist at a Lynard Skynard concert.(totally lost, wont know who or what your dealing with, along with plenty of cultural misunderstandings to boot) So take my advice when going into these convoluted and yes, oh so entertaining waters, take it one step at a time.
Either way, most people will have a blast with this series. Its fun for the whole family, if you don't mind a little casual nudity.(this goes back to that whole cultural misunderstanding thing) Enjoy = )

Farewell to Sarah Strange
Well, a major change happens in this season. We're introduced to Ukyo Kuonji, okonomiyaki master and yet another fiancee to Ranma. Personally, I can't stand her, but oh well. It does seem that Kelly Sheridan does a pretty good starting job for the anime, but then again, she did have some extra time to get Ukyo's voice right(she previously did her voice in a few Ranma OVAs and movies). Still, I do like Hitomi Tsuru a bit better(who's also Meryl in Trigun and Bulma in the Dragonball series) This also happens to be the only season that doesn't have any mutli-part episodes. Not one. The English cast finally seems to be mastering the voices, even Sarah Strange, which is a bit upsetting, since this was also the final season in which she did Ranma's English voice, as Richard Cox(Inu-Yasha, X-Men Evolution, Mobile Suit Gundam, Zoids) did the voice afterwards. I think this is the best season of Ranma yet, although season 6 is my personal favorite. It's definitely worth watching, but like other people said, watch out for the defective disk 5, which has English-dubbing only for the 22nd and 23rd episodes!

Caveat Emptor
I purchased this box set "Outta Control" on June 19, 2004 on Amazon.com, and, despite the fact that the defective fifth disc's audio track is supposed to have been corrected, mine is just as defective as can be. That being said, I would caution anyone against buying this barring some assurance that at the very least they will be able to obtain a satisfactory replacement for said disc if it is faulty. The recall offer ended, apparently, on June 30, 2003.

ranma1/2 rocks
This is by far the best show.If you want funny action this is what you need.These are some of the best episodes reoga & akane together for ever ,transform Akane the super duper girl,all it takes the kiss of love or the kiss of death,the last days of happosai,and ukyo's skirt !the girly girl gambit.BUT BE WARNED THERE IS NUDE.But it worth every last penney.

One of the worst
1. The animation is horrible! The first season had better animation than this one. There are many scenes where it looks like they just painted some manga scenes and tilted the screen a little (when Ukyo hits Ranma in episode 1).

2. Most of the episodes were rushed stories and pretty much the only episodes that were Manga episodes were the ones in the first two DVDs

Buy this DVD if you want to collect Ranma merchandise, but I don't suggest this to be your first box set (it was unfortunately mine). Buy the Random Rhaphsody set, its theme song is great (the name is Zettai part 2) and the made up episodes are funny. ... Read more

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Toy Story
There is greatness in film that can be discussed, dissected, and talked about late into the night. Then there is genius that is right in front of our faces--we smile at the spell it puts us into and are refreshed, and nary a word needs to be spoken. This kind of entertainment is what they used to call "movie magic," and there is loads of it in this irresistible computer animation feature. Just a picture of these bright toys on the cover of Toy Story looks intriguing, reawakening the kid in us. Filmmaker John Lasseter's shorts (namely Knickknack and Tin Toy, which can be found on the Pixar video Tiny Toy Stories) illustrate not only a technical brilliance but also a great sense of humor--one in which the pun is always intended. Lasseter thinks of himself as a storyteller first and an animator second, much like another film innovator, Walt Disney.

Lasseter's story is universal and magical: what do toys do when they're not played with? Cowboy Woody (voiced by Tom Hanks), Andy's favorite bedroom toy, tries to calm the other toys (some original, some classic) during a wrenching time of year--the birthday party, when newer toys may replace them. Sure enough, Space Ranger Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) is the new toy that takes over the throne. Buzz has a crucial flaw, though--he believes he's the real Buzz Lightyear, not a toy. Bright and cheerful, Toy Story is much more than a 90-minute commercial for the inevitable bonanza of Woody and Buzz toys. Lasseter further scores with perfect voice casting, including Don Rickles as Mr. Potato Head and Wallace Shawn as a meek dinosaur. The director-animator won a special Oscar for "the development and inspired application of techniques that have made possible the first feature-length computer-animated film." In other words, the movie is great. --Doug Thomas

Toy Story 2
John Lasseter and his gang of high-tech creators at Pixar create another entertainment for the ages. Like the few great movie sequels, Toy Story 2 comments on why the first one was so wonderful while finding a fresh angle worthy of a new film. The craze of toy collecting becomes the focus here, as we find out Woody (voiced by Tom Hanks) is not only a beloved toy to Andy but also a rare doll from a popular '60s children's show. When a greedy collector takes Woody, Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) launches a rescue mission with Andy's other toys. To say more would be a crime because this is one of the most creative and smile-inducing films since, well, the first Toy Story.

Although the toys look the same as in the 1994 feature, Pixar shows how much technology has advanced: the human characters look more human, backgrounds are superior, and two action sequences that book-end the film are dazzling. And it's a hoot for kids and adults. The film is packed with spoofs, easily accessible in-jokes, and inspired voice casting (with newcomer Joan Cusack especially a delight as Cowgirl Jessie). But as the Pixar canon of films illustrates, the filmmakers are storytellers first. Woody's heart-tugging predicament can easily be translated into the eternal debate of living a good life versus livingforever. Toy Story 2 also achieved something in the U.S. two other outstanding 1999 animated features (The Iron Giant, Princess Mononoke) could not: it became a huge box-office hit. --Doug Thomas ... Read more

Reviews (453)

Toy Story 2 Is Better Then the Original!
I had expected a dull child's cartoon with a meaningless plot and dull characters...wow was I ever wrong! Toy Story 2 is funny, exciting, dramatic, and very entertaining! This time around, Woody is stolen by a greedy toy collector...why? Because it turns out that Woody is a valuable doll from the 1950's when he had his own popular TV show! As Buzz and the rest of the toys frantically try to find a way to rescue Woody, our cow-boy hero meets other toys just like him---Jesse the cow-girl, the Prospector, and Woody's hillarious horse. And all this time Woody starts to wonder if maybe he's found his rightful home...or has he? The animation is tops, the plot is engrossing, and the movie is excellent! If you think an animated feauture is just a bunch of interesting graphics then you're wrong! This is a heart-warming and wonderful family film.

Toys
Toy Story (1995, 80 minutes, Dolby Digital Surround; Audio Commentary, Interviews) As 6-year-old Andy's favorite toy, Woody (Tom Hanks), a take-charge, pull-string cowboy, is confident in his role as room leader. But after Andy's birthday party, newcomer Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen), a flashy space ranger with laser action and pop-out wings, crash-lands into Woody's world.

Buzz instantly wins the admiration of Andy's other toys, igniting a rivalry that lands the duo inside the home of Sid - the toy-torturing boy next door. To escape Sid's evil plans, Woody and Buzz must work together and realize they've got the perfect friend...in each other!

Toy Story 2 (1999, 94 minutes, Dolby Digital 5.l Surround EX; Audio Commentary, Sep. Film Score Audio Track, Outakes) Andy goes to summer camp and the toys face a new crisis: Woody turns out to be a valuable collectible, and is kidnapped by an evil toy collector. It's now up to Buzz and the gang to find a way to save him.

Five stars for the movies, one star for Disney
Why must they stick to this archaic way of releasing their movies on video/DVD? I could understand discontinuing collector's or limited editions, but why discontinue entire movies? Well we all know the answer, I just hate to be jerked around like this. Disney is the largest movie company in the world but our enjoyment of their films is based around their idiotic release/discontinue schedule.
Well, with that unpleasantness out of the way, I must say Toy Story 2 is my favorite animated movie of all time and the Toy Story series is my favorite animated series (if you think about it, though, that's not saying a lot). Let's just do this in the order they came out.
Toy Story blew my mind, because the things they did in that movie (the first in particular) were so like me when I was a kid (at that age). Toy Story is sure enough my second favorite animated movie ever. It's funny, and colorful, and touching. I think all good kid's movies should have a sense of wonder, or delight, and it shouldn't be in either a cynical or naive way. They should show wonder in a way that can be found in the real world, which is a balance hard to find. The original Toy Story has all kinds of wonder and awe, both in positive and negative ways (some kids could be afraid of Sid but I bet they won't be able to stop looking at him). It's about finding your place in life, and what to do with what you've got. When Buzz happens upon a commercial for himself and then tries to fly through the window-well that is one of the most touching scenes in any movie I've seen. And the whole ending sequence is beautiful, from Buzz and Woody on the RC car going through traffic, or them being blasted from a rocket through the air. Not to mention it's filled with all kinds of toy-related jokes that any kid can relate to. I think it's safe to say it'll be looked back on like the very first full-length animated movie (it was Snow White, wasn't it?).
Toy Story 2 is nearly flawless. It has one of the craziest openings for a movie ever, and I love the way it can find a way to have characters with all kinds of motives. Al is driven by his greed, the Prospector is jaded but just wants to be loved, Jessie hasn't given up hope yet so is overjoyed when she can find a way to confirm her hopefulness. The movie uses the toys as a metaphor for growing up and moving on: or not. You can aspire for your dreams or you can realize you're happy with what you've got. Toy Story 2 is/was the last movie Disney made with Pixar before they got too smug and self-indulgent. They realized they had the power to stir emotions and awe (they also realized they could make a ton of money), but instead of giving us a sweet movie like Toy Story, we got the self-congragulatory Monsters Inc, with its obvious conflicted main character, and instead of a great secondary character like the Prospector, we got Boo. Finding Nemo was a step in the right direction, but in my opinion doesn't have the heart of the Toy Story movies.
I can actually think of one thing wrong with Toy Story 2, and that's that lame Sarah Mclachlan song. I'm not one of those people with a weird Randy Newman fascination, but his songs were so much better than that one Mclachlan song. I guess it's because the scene in which it's used is already so emotional, instead of Newman's weird but effective delivery we got Mclachlan hammering the point home with her yodeling. But I love that scene because it shows how the little girl grew up. Other than that, Toy Story 2 is great: funny and vibrant, even on my crusty old VHS tape.
I wish I had these movies on DVD. They spark wonder in me at my age just like they did when I first saw them. They have plenty of in-jokes and such but also have a timeless quality (and a strong sense of innocence). Five stars for the both of them, the best animated series of all time.

It's Different.
It's different from your average animated film. So was Toy Story part 1 but this one is better. The movie plotting is a lot better in this part. I give it five stars(I'd give it six if it was in my hands!)

The secret lives of toys
Woody (Tom Hanks), who turns out to be a rare collectible, is stolen by an unscrupulous toy store owner and slated to be sold to a toy museum in Japan. Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) and friends embark on a dangerous cross-town rescue mission. This is a very entertaining and perceptive film that remembers the guilt that a child can feel over outgrowing a favorite toy. Sammy the bear was my own constant companion when I was a young child. As I grew older, I sometimes felt a pang of shame when I would encounter him lying unloved and unplayed-with in the bottom of my old toy chest. I hope he's as philosophical and understanding about it as Woody is. As cheerful as this film is, it takes on an added dimension by honoring that first melancholy that a child feels upon outgrowing a formerly cherished plaything. The animation and voice talent are also top-notch. ... Read more