Animation fans, young and old, should sit up and take notice as lots of new-to-DVD cartoons are released.
CARS (Disney/Pixar, 2006, G, $29.99). Pixar has set an amazingly high standard — for itself and everyone else. So even a lesser effort such as this one is miles better than anything else out there.
But self-indulgence takes its toll in this yarn about anthropomorphic automobiles, which, at a full two hours, is way too long. And a few unnecessary vulgar double-entendres creep in, something these guys should leave to the competition.
On the other hand, there are some very funny vignettes, along with a nice, warm bunch of characters, and the voice talent is remarkable — Paul Newman, Owen Wilson, Bonnie Hunt, Cheech Marin, Tony Shalhoub, Michael Keaton, George Carlin, etc.
And did we mention how great it all looks?
Extras: Widescreen, deleted scenes, featurettes.
HARVEYTOONS: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION (Classic/Sony, 1945-59, four double-sided discs, $39.98). Casper the Friendly Ghost is the main draw here, but other Harvey/Famous Studios characters such as Wendy the good witch, Baby Huey, Little Audrey and Richie Rich are also here.
Great nostalgic fun for those who remember these fully animated shorts from theatrical or TV runs. Too bad there's no booklet or menu to tell you what's where.
Extras: Full frame, 312 cartoons.
LOONEY TUNES GOLDEN COLLECTION, VOLUME 4 (Warner, 1936-89, four discs, $64.92). Another must-have for Warner Bros. cartoon fans, with loads of classic theatrical shorts featuring Bugs Bunny, the Road Runner, Speedy Gonzales, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Elmer Fudd, etc. Includes "Knighty Knight Bugs" and so many bonus features it's impossible to name them all.
Extras: Full frame, 60 cartoons, feature: "Bugs Bunny Superstar," World War II shorts, audio commentaries, featurettes, music/effects-only tracks, documentary on Friz Freleng; also available is "Looney Tunes Spotlight Collection , Volume 4, with 28 of the "Golden Collection" cartoons and bonus features, $26.99.
THE THIEF AND THE COBBLER (Genius, 1993, G, $19.95). Aka "Arabian Knight," the title under which this animated film had a brief Salt Lake run in 1995. Notorious for being a long-in-gestation personal project for its creator, Richard Williams ("Who Framed Roger Rabbit"), but eventually being taken away from him and re-edited by others.
The story has a shoemaker (voiced by Matthew Broderick) in love with Princess Yum-Yum (Jennifer Beals) and encountering an evil wizard (Vincent Price). Other voices are provided by Jonathan Winters and Eric Bogosian.
Extras: Full frame; pop-up box art.
SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS: WHALE OF A BIRTHDAY (Nick/Paramount, 2006, $16.99). The title episode leads off this collection, which also includes "All That Glitters," "Once Bitten," "Chimps Ahoy," "Summer Vacation," "Wingstruck" and "She's No Lady."
Extras: Full frame, seven episodes, featurette, interactive game.
THE BEST OF CLIFFORD THE BIG RED DOG (Lionsgate, 2006, five discs, $34.98). A collection — in a big red plastic box — of five "Clifford" DVDs: "Everyone Loves Clifford," "Doggie Detectives," "Rock 'n' Roll Clifford!" "Clifford Saves the Day!" and "Look Out Clifford."
Extras: Full frame, 42 episodes, featurettes, interactive games, trailers.
DISNEY'S DUCKTALES: VOLUME 2 (Disney, 1988, three discs, $34.99). This collection includes the five-part pilot episode, "Treasure of the Golden Suns."
Extras: Full frame, 24 episodes.
CHIP 'N' DALE RESCUE RANGERS: VOLUME 2 (Disney, 1989-90, three discs, $34.99). Includes the five-part pilot episode, "Rescue Rangers to the Rescue."
Extras: Full frame, 23 episodes.
ADVENTURES OF THE GUMMI BEARS (Disney, 1985-87, three discs, $34.99). The first three seasons of this kids animated show (based on the popular candy)
Extras: Full frame, 47 episodes.
POLLYWORLD (Universal, 2006, $19.98). Feature based on the Polly Pocket doll, as she and her friends head for the grand opening of zany PollyWorld amusement park.
Extras: Widescreen, interactive games, music video; DVD-Rom applications.
BLUE'S ROOM: MEET BLUE'S BABY BROTHER (Nick Jr./Paramount, 2006, $16.99). The title episode, plus "The Baby's Here" and "What's New, Blue?"
Extras: Full frame, three episodes, music video.
STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE: COOKING UP FUN (Fox, 2006, $14.98). The Strawberry Shortcake gang puts on a cooking show in this animated program for young ones.
Extras: Full frame, music video; 12-page recipe booklet.
TODDLER TOONS (Thingamakid, 2006, not rated, $9.99).
ACTION BIBLE TOONS (Thingamakid, 2006, not rated, $9.99). These titles each have a DVD and a CD aimed at kids ages 2-5. The first includes a video disc of cartoons set to kids songs, such as "This Old Man" and "Eensy, Weensy Spider," with a CD of those songs and more. The second is similar, except that the songs and cartoons reflect Old and New Testament stories.
Extras: Full frame, each DVD has 13 cartoons and each CD has 15 songs, bonus short.
E-mail: hicks@desnews.com