TEX AVERY’S DROOPY Complete Theatrical Collection
© Warner Bros.
Avery’s Droopy on DVD
By: Brian ThomasDate: Monday, May 14, 2007
Shrek the 3rd opens Friday, in case you hadn’t heard. These movies are great fun, but sometimes I feel myself pulling back from the overwhelming hype. That green ogre is just everywhere. Ironically, the overweight Shrek was chosen to appear in a PSA ad encouraging kids to exercise, which have been withdrawn so that it doesn’t look like the government is advertising the sequel. Well, if Shrek is a role model to kids then they’d better get some exercise to work off all the snacks and sugary cereals he’s endorsing. Shrek is also featured in toys available with McDonald’s Happy Meals, but in order to push their healthier menu choices like salads and apple slices, the chain is using a thinner version of the ogre. McD press releases tell us this is an effort to be more responsible, and I have to admit, they’re offering a lot more choices these days to upgrade the damage done by – for example – the documentary Super Size Me.
But a thinner Shrek? Isn’t that a bit confusing? If they want to sell more food, then why put that unappetizing mug in their restaurants, or on any food products?
But a thinner Shrek? Isn’t that a bit confusing? If they want to sell more food, then why put that unappetizing mug in their restaurants, or on any food products?
***
In our Prize Closet this week, we have two copies of Arthur & the Invisibles for you. For a chance to win one, just send an email to which includes your name and address DVD Shopping List, and in the subject line put “ART IS INVISIBLE”.
SPOTLIGHT OF THE WEEK
Some of the funniest shorts ever created. Hopefully this means the whole Complete Tex Avery laserdisc box set is making its way to DVD.
(O) TEX AVERY’S DROOPY Complete Theatrical Collection (Warner Bros.) a low-key dog who is always at the right place at the right time. All 24 original Droopy shorts directed by animation legend Avery for MGM in the 1940s and ‘50s on two discs, plus seven shorts adapted for Cinemascope and a documentary featurette.
NEW DVD RELEASES
Here’s a rundown of the constant stream of anime comin’ at ya on DVD from around the world:
(O) AMERICAN DAD Volume 2 (Fox) Right-wing maniac CIA Agent and family man Stan Smith with an alien in his attic. 3-disc set includes 19 episodes with commentraks, featurettes and more.
(O) ARTHUR & THE INVISIBLES (Weinstein) Freddie Highmore (Charlie And The Chocolate Factory) stars as Arthur, a brave young boy who must find a hidden treasure that will save his family's home. To do so, Arthur must enter the CGanime underground realm of the "Invisibles," tiny creatures who live beneath his own backyard. Directed by Luc Besson and based on his children’s book, with a celeb cast that includes Madonna, Robert De Niro, Mia Farrow, David Bowie, Jimmy Fallon, Anthony Anderson and Jason Bateman. Includes featurettes, music videos and more. Win one – details above.
(O) BEHIND CLOSED DOORS Volume 1 (Central Park) Erotic horror from Anime Hot Shots.
(O) BEST STUDENT COUNCIL Volume 3: Class Antics (ADV) One of the "maximum authority wielding" Best Student Council at Miyagami Academy members might be a secret agent.
(O) BLUE SUBMARINE No. 6: Anime Legends Complete Collection (Bandai) Includes interviews, featurettes, footage from the Playstation game and more.
(O) BOB THE BUILDER: Bob’s X-treme Adventures (Fox) Bob gets high on Ecstasy and murders a hobo.
(O) CLIFFORD’S REALLY BIG MOVIE (Warner Bros.) John Ritter voices the Big Red Dog in his first movie. It’s a road trip! Cast includes John Goodman, Judge Reinhold, Jenna Elfman and Wayne Brady, with music videos, read-alongs, activities and more.
(O) COYOTE RAGTIME SHOW Volume 3: Fall from Graceland (ADV) In less than 24 hours, a photonic annihilation bomb will reduce the war-torn Planet Graceland to nothing but a memory. This is the final volume, so it just might happen!
(O) CURIOUS GEORGE: Rocket Ride and Other Adventures (Universal) Specifically, six other adventures. With games and coloring print-outs.
(O) FATE / STAY NIGHT Volume 3: Master & Servant (Geneon) Obsessed with obtaining the Holy Grail at any costs, Shinji and his Servant, Rider, press their attack on a still weakened Saber. Thus it becomes imperative for Saber to begin training Shirou to improve his martial skills and aid her in the battles to come. When the final confrontation with Rider comes along, Saber is forced to reveal her hand.
(O) LAW OF UEKI Volume 7: Teammates Wanted (Geneon) To form a 5-person team for the second round, Ueki tries to recruit one last member - Hideyoshi Soya.
(O) THE MAGIC STAR TRAVELER Volume 1 (Unicorn) Educational anime plus stock footage show.
(O) MAGNOS THE ROBOT (Unicorn) 1970s robo-action series.
(O) MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM SEED: DESTINY Volume 8 (Bandai) Now that Durandal has revealed the existence of Logos to the world, anyone who will not join his crusade against the secret society is considered an enemy of ZAFT, and a showdown between the Minerva and the Archangel can no longer be avoided.
(O) MOON PHASE Volume 6 (Funimation) Episodes 23-26. To save the others, Hazuki must embrace fate, sacrificing all that she has to come to love in order to preserve it.
(O) A PUP NAMED SCOOBY-DOO Volume 6 (Warner Bros.) Five episodes from the Scooby prequel series that ought to be set around 1963.
(O) SACRILEGE Volume 1 (Central Park) A cult uses drugs to turn men into sex-mad monsters. An Anime Hot Shots release.
(O) SUPER GRAND PRIX (Unicorn) Movie combining episodes of the 1977 Toei TV series (AKA Crash Corrigan). More realistic than Speed Racer, but a lot less fun.
(O) TIDE-LINE BLUE Volume 1 (Bandai) Kind of like the anime version of Waterworld. Includes interviews and songs.
(O) TOM & JERRY TALES Volume 2 (Warner Bros.) 12 more shorts from the 2006 series.
(O) UTAWARERUMONO Volume 3: A Haunted Past (ADV) A demon from the benevolent emperor’s long forgotten past threatens to tear his country apart.
(O) ZIPANG Volume 5: Friend or Foe (Geneon) Shore leave leads tp more drama.
(O) AMERICAN DAD Volume 2 (Fox) Right-wing maniac CIA Agent and family man Stan Smith with an alien in his attic. 3-disc set includes 19 episodes with commentraks, featurettes and more.
(O) ARTHUR & THE INVISIBLES (Weinstein) Freddie Highmore (Charlie And The Chocolate Factory) stars as Arthur, a brave young boy who must find a hidden treasure that will save his family's home. To do so, Arthur must enter the CGanime underground realm of the "Invisibles," tiny creatures who live beneath his own backyard. Directed by Luc Besson and based on his children’s book, with a celeb cast that includes Madonna, Robert De Niro, Mia Farrow, David Bowie, Jimmy Fallon, Anthony Anderson and Jason Bateman. Includes featurettes, music videos and more. Win one – details above.
(O) BEHIND CLOSED DOORS Volume 1 (Central Park) Erotic horror from Anime Hot Shots.
(O) BEST STUDENT COUNCIL Volume 3: Class Antics (ADV) One of the "maximum authority wielding" Best Student Council at Miyagami Academy members might be a secret agent.
(O) BLUE SUBMARINE No. 6: Anime Legends Complete Collection (Bandai) Includes interviews, featurettes, footage from the Playstation game and more.
(O) BOB THE BUILDER: Bob’s X-treme Adventures (Fox) Bob gets high on Ecstasy and murders a hobo.
(O) CLIFFORD’S REALLY BIG MOVIE (Warner Bros.) John Ritter voices the Big Red Dog in his first movie. It’s a road trip! Cast includes John Goodman, Judge Reinhold, Jenna Elfman and Wayne Brady, with music videos, read-alongs, activities and more.
(O) COYOTE RAGTIME SHOW Volume 3: Fall from Graceland (ADV) In less than 24 hours, a photonic annihilation bomb will reduce the war-torn Planet Graceland to nothing but a memory. This is the final volume, so it just might happen!
(O) CURIOUS GEORGE: Rocket Ride and Other Adventures (Universal) Specifically, six other adventures. With games and coloring print-outs.
(O) FATE / STAY NIGHT Volume 3: Master & Servant (Geneon) Obsessed with obtaining the Holy Grail at any costs, Shinji and his Servant, Rider, press their attack on a still weakened Saber. Thus it becomes imperative for Saber to begin training Shirou to improve his martial skills and aid her in the battles to come. When the final confrontation with Rider comes along, Saber is forced to reveal her hand.
(O) LAW OF UEKI Volume 7: Teammates Wanted (Geneon) To form a 5-person team for the second round, Ueki tries to recruit one last member - Hideyoshi Soya.
(O) THE MAGIC STAR TRAVELER Volume 1 (Unicorn) Educational anime plus stock footage show.
(O) MAGNOS THE ROBOT (Unicorn) 1970s robo-action series.
(O) MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM SEED: DESTINY Volume 8 (Bandai) Now that Durandal has revealed the existence of Logos to the world, anyone who will not join his crusade against the secret society is considered an enemy of ZAFT, and a showdown between the Minerva and the Archangel can no longer be avoided.
(O) MOON PHASE Volume 6 (Funimation) Episodes 23-26. To save the others, Hazuki must embrace fate, sacrificing all that she has to come to love in order to preserve it.
(O) A PUP NAMED SCOOBY-DOO Volume 6 (Warner Bros.) Five episodes from the Scooby prequel series that ought to be set around 1963.
(O) SACRILEGE Volume 1 (Central Park) A cult uses drugs to turn men into sex-mad monsters. An Anime Hot Shots release.
(O) SUPER GRAND PRIX (Unicorn) Movie combining episodes of the 1977 Toei TV series (AKA Crash Corrigan). More realistic than Speed Racer, but a lot less fun.
(O) TIDE-LINE BLUE Volume 1 (Bandai) Kind of like the anime version of Waterworld. Includes interviews and songs.
(O) TOM & JERRY TALES Volume 2 (Warner Bros.) 12 more shorts from the 2006 series.
(O) UTAWARERUMONO Volume 3: A Haunted Past (ADV) A demon from the benevolent emperor’s long forgotten past threatens to tear his country apart.
(O) ZIPANG Volume 5: Friend or Foe (Geneon) Shore leave leads tp more drama.
NOT ON DVD CORNER
We welcome the input of Maniacs who want to share input on this section, where we highlight a different genre feature that has yet to come to digital disc format – just send your suggestions to Anime Avalanche in an email identified with “NOT ON DVD” in the subject line.
(O) SPACE ANGEL (BCI Eclipse? VCI? Facets?) Cambria Productions’ 1962 follow-up to their successful Clutch Cargo syndicated cartoon serials was also filmed using their strange Sychro-Vox system. Scott McCloud is a sort-of FBI agent in space, getting into one scrape after another in pursuit of interplanetary criminals. Not much on action due to the cheap limited animation, but the stories have some intrigue and humor, and the artwork by comics great Alex Toth and others is beautiful. Clutch was released in competing box sets back in 2005, but so far his future sci-fi cousin is NOT ON DVD.
And be sure to check back next week—and every week—for Mania’s Anime Avalanche And check in every Tuesday for the latest DVD Shopping List!
Anime Avalanche (© 2007 Brian Thomas) is our weekly anime column. Brian Thomas is the author of the massive book VideoHound’s Dragon: Asian Action & Cult Flicks,available now!
Questions? Comments? Let us know what you think at Anime Avalanche.
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