Big hunk o' Cartoons!

By: BRIAN THOMAS
Date: Saturday, March 11, 2006

Ever wonder what Samuel L. Jackson is doing when he's not starring in hit movies or chilling with celebrity friends? He's producing a cartoon show! Check out the upcoming AFRO SAMURAI at the official website: www.afrosamurai.com .

SPOTLIGHT OF THE WEEK

Hey, want to keep the kids busy for 17 hours and 53 minutes? Or maybe you just want a handy source of zone-out, get away from it all material. Here's a bargain brick of PD toons that's sure to be of help, featuring stars like Porky Pig, Popeye, Superman, Casper, Heckle & Jeckle, Felix the Cat and lots more, all for less than 15 bucks.

(O) 150 CARTOON CLASSICS (Mill Creek) On 4 discs. I'm guessing they'll include "The Tuba Tooter", "Plane Dumb", "Red Skin Blues", "Jelly Fish", "Barnyard Bunk", "A Spanish Twist", "The Piano Tooners", "Pencil Mania", "Jingles", "In the Museum", "The Snow Man", "Goofy Goat Antics", "Let's Sing With Popeye", "Circus Capers", "Sultan Pepper (Little King) ", "Red Riding Hood", "Nursery Scandal", "Boy Meets Dog", "Westward Whoa", "Molly Moo Cow and the Indians", "The Talking Magpies", "Jerky Turkey", "Doggone Tired", "Trolley Ahoy", "Toonerville Picnic", "Inki and the Minah Bird", "The Fresh Vegetable Mystery", "Have You Got Any Castles", "Hamateur Night", "A Tale Of Two Kitties", "The Case Of the Missing Hare", "The Enchanted Square", "Private Eye Popeye", "Porky's Midnight Matinee", "Tarts and Flowers", "Flycycle Built For Two", "Wolf! Wolf! ", "Bargain Counter Attack", "Little Hawk", "Symphony Orchestra", "Uncle Tom & Little Eva", "Vacuum Cleaner", "In April Maze", "Music Academy", "Prof. YaYa's Memoirs", "Along Came a Duck", "Ali Baba the Magic Horn", "Brave Molly", "Hasty and the Princess", "The Kindhearted Girl", "The Three Sisters", "The Proud Princess", "The Sunshine Makers", "You Can't Shoe a Horsefly", "It's A Greek's Life", "Picnic Panic", "Cupid Gets His Man", "Molly Moo Cow & Robinson Carusoe", "Scotty Finds a Home", "Parrotville Post Office", "Spinning Mice", "Parrotville Old Folks", "Le Escargo", "The Henpecked Rooster", "A Mutt In the Rut" (ew!), "The Story of Time", "Notes To You", "The Mechanical Monsters", "Fresh Hare", "There's Good Boos Tonight", "All's Well", "Flat Heads", "Shuteye Popeye", "Cheese Burglar", "The Stupidsitious Cat", "Time For Love", "Little Stranger", "Hawaiian Birds", "Peeping Penguins", "A Car-Tune Portrait", "Play Safe", "All's Fair at the Fair", "Ant's in the Pants", "The Cob Web Hotel", "A Day at the Zoo", "Jungle Jitters", "Nearlyweds", "Fire Cheese", "My Friend the Monkey", "On With the New", "Pudgy Takes a Bow-Wow", "Rhythm on the Reservation", "Hairbrained Barbers", "Sock-A-Bye Kitty", "Comin' Round the Mountain", "Crazytown", "The Golden State", "Winter Draws On", "Shortnin' Bread", "Once Upon A Time", "The Lost Dream", "Cad and Caddy", "Quack A Doodle Doo", "Marriage Wows", "Hector's Hectic Life", "Falling Hare", "Gabby Goes Fishing", "Goofy Goofy Gander", "I Don't Scare", "The Noisy Silent Movie", "The Little Martian", "Naughty but Mice", "The Early Worm Gets the Bird", "Aladdin's Wonderful Lamp", "Ancient Fistory", "Taxi Turvey", "Popeye For President", "Assault and Flattery", "Fright to the Finish", "Bride and Gloom", "Gopher Spinach", "Customers Wanted", "Out To Punch", "Popeye Meets Ali Baba's Forty Thieves", "Spree Lunch", "Greek Mirthology", "Parlez Vou Woo", "A Haul In One", "Insect To Injury", "Cookin' With Gags", "Floor Flusher", "Little Brown Jug", "A Corny Concerto", "The Wabbit Who Came To Supper", "The Timid Toreador", "The Impatient Patient", "The Friendly Ghost", "The Goose That Laid a Golden Egg", "Pantry Panic", "Electric Earthquake", "Pigs in a Polka", "Yankee Doodle Daffy", "The Wacky Wabbit", "Get That Snack Shack Off the Track", "Boo Moon", "Patriotic Popeye", "Big Bad Sinbad", "Eleventh Hour" and "The Queen Of Hearts".

NEW DVD RELEASES

Here's a rundown of the constant stream of anime comin' at ya on DVD from around the world:

(O) ALL DOGS GO TO HEAVEN 1 & 2 (MGM) Double feature of both features about dead dogs that return to Earth as guardian angel dogs. The 1989 original featured the voices of Burt Reynolds and Dom DeLuise. In the 1996 sequel, Charlie Sheen took over Reynolds' role. It's up to you whether or not this is an improvement.

(O) ALL DOGS GO TO HEAVEN: Dogs Undercover (MGM)
(O) ALL DOGS GO TO HEAVEN: Friends to the Rescue (MGM) Four episodes each from the late 1990s USA network series with Steven Weber assaying the voice duties for Charlie B. Barkin. Both volumes also offer Sony's "unique 'QuickStart' automatic play feature", which is not so unique since it apes the one Disney has been using for about a year.
(O) ANASTATIA (Fox) Heavily rotoscoped 1997 Don Bluth feature takes some extreme liberties with this tale of the Russian revolution. 2-disc "Family Fun Edition" includes commentrak, interactive games, Making-Of, music video, Sing-Alongs and the follow-up feature BARTOK THE MAGNIFICENT.
(O) BARBIE FAIRYTOPIA: Mermaidia (Lions Gate) A sequel to the classic FAIRYTOPIA has Elina (played by Barbie) travels under the sea on a quest for a magic berry. Includes games to help you calm down after the feature.
(O) CODE LYOKO Volume 3: X.A.N.A. Possessed (Funimation) Four bright students protect a super-computer from the attacks of an ultra-virus. Five episodes with holomap and more.
(O) CREST OF THE STARS (Bandai) Anime Legends complete collection includes all four volumes.
(O) GANKUTSUOU: The Count of Monte Cristo Chapter 3 (Geneon) Episodes 9-12. Includes voice actor comments.
(O) GARFIELD & FRIENDS Volume 5 (Fox) Hey, check this out: http://lakini-malich.livejournal.com/365513.html
(O) HAKUGEI: THE LEGEND OF MOBY DICK Volume 3: The Moad Trail (ADV) The hunt heats up. Includes interviews and more.
(O) ICE AGE (Fox) "Super Cool" edition with commentrak, deleted footage, bonus shorts, Making-Of and more.
(O) JIMMY TIMMY POWER HOUR 2 (Paramount) Jimmy Neutron meets Timmy from FAIRLY ODDPARENTS, plus a bunch of bonus episodes and cartoons.
(O) KALEIDO STAR NEW WINGS Volume 2: A Tale of Two Rivals (ADV) Four more episodes of cirque action, plus mini poster and more.
(O) LUPIN THE 3rd: Missed By A Dollar (Funimation)
(O) MACROSS Volume 2: Under Crimson Skies (ADV) Episodes 7-11 of the 1985 series. Mmmm, Slurpee.
(O) MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM SEED DESTINY Volume 1 (Bandai) A war orphan pilots the new Impulse Gundam against a new threat.
(O) PLANETES Volume 6 (Bandai) More adventures of an orbital clean-up crew. With commentraks, audio skits, digital comics and more.
(O) SABER MARIONETTE J (Bandai) Complete 25-episode series on six discs.
(O) SPACESHIP AGGA RUTTER 4 (Central Park)
(O) SPEED RACER Volume 4 (Lions Gate) 8 episodes, plus metal die-cast collectible Mach-5.
(O) STRATOS 4 (Bandai) Complete four volume collection.
(O) VEGGIE TALES: Sheerluck Holmes and the Golden Ruler (Sony) Larry the cucumber plays detective. God did it!
(O) WEDDING PEACH Season 2 Collection (ADV) All 28 episodes on five discs.

UMD CORNER

(O) ICE AGE (Fox) Zamboni edition.
(O) SUBMARINE 707 REVOLUTION: THE MOVIE (Geneon) Hi-tech undersea action.

And be sure to check back next weekand every weekfor CINESCAPE's Anime Avalanche! And check in every Tuesday for the latest DVD Shopping List!

Anime Avalanche (© 2006 Brian Thomas) is our weekly animation 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 DVDShoppingList@cinescape.com.