Dixar!

Plus Pink Avalanche

By Brian Thomas     January 28, 2006

In 1989, Disney revived their animation studio with THE LITTLE MERMAID (which is overdue for a deluxe DVD), leading to a string of mega-hit features throughout the 1990s. As this cycle began to run its course, Disney partnered with CGanime pioneers at Pixar to create TOY STORY, which in turn revolutionized the entire animation industry once again. By 2004, with THE INCREDIBLES heading toward theaters, Pixar had tired of being the tent pole holding up Disney, and announced that the already contracted CARS would be their last collaborative efforts. Well, never say never. Last year, Robert Iger took over as Disney's Chief Exec and Disney's, and the first features from Disney's own CGanime studio were disappointments - CHICKEN LITTLE made money due to a relentless ad campaign, but failed to ignite merchandise, while VALIANT was an outright bomb. Before Pixar's CEO Steve Jobs could find a new distributing home, Iger got on the phone with him to offer a new deal. With a complicated stock transaction involving a reported 7.4 billion dollars changing hands, Disney will officially acquire Pixar this summer and merge Disney Animation into Pixar. Yes, all this does remind me a bit of an old girlfriend.

This is considered a win-win for both sides. Everybody at Pixar takes a step up in the expanded company and will likely get to play with Disney's stable of classic characters. Disney won't have to worry about getting crushed by future Pixar products, and can use Pixar's creative minds to keep future projects (such as the already in the works MEET THE ROBINSONS and TOY STORY 3) on track. And for the audience? Is this good for us? Well, on the one hand, Pixar operating independently might have sparked some competition leading to a lot of better cartoon features being made by all hands. On the other hand, the market may have become glutted with hopeful inferiors trying to compete, which would make the overall picture look bad, which might lead studio execs to stop making animation for a while. We'll all just have to wait and see. *****

Speaking of acquisitions, BCI has been making a big deal over the past year over their HE-MAN DVDs. I think they're doing a great job of presenting what is really a very poor show, but apparently their efforts have made it a big enough that they've bought the rights to the entire Filmation catalog. This means they'll be bringing us high quality discs of SHE-RA, ("Real") GHOSTBUSTERS, BRAVESTARR and some live-action TV series. Among what you might remember as precious childhood memories, but I consider "the dross" from one of the cheapest TV cartoon studios, are some interesting possibilities. It may have been a sloppy spin-off of the ARCHIE franchise, but I always got kind of a kick out of GROOVIE GHOULIES, and there are other Filmation shows that I'm wondering are part of this package. *****

Whatever is buying up whatever, you won't have to buy anything to win these three titles in our Prize Closet from Geneon - FAFNER Volume 4, DAPHNE IN THE BRILLIANT BLUE Volume 6, AND SAMURAI CHAMPLOO Volume 7 if you're one of the five emails we pick as winners. To enter, send your name and address to psycho@psychotronic.info with the words "GENEON THREE" in the subject line.

SPOTLIGHT OF THE WEEK

It was kind of a new concept in the 1960s: a movie that had a cartoon short right in the main titles! It was so popular that they took out the titles and made more cartoons.

(O) PINK PANTHER CLASSIC CARTOON COLLECTION (MGM) In 1964, Friz Freleng and David DePatie created a terrific animated title sequence for a new Blake

Edwards comedy film. The sequence was such an audience favorite that the team was commissioned to produce a 6-minute short with the characters, which won an Oscar. They went on to create 123 more shorts for theaters and TV over the next 15 years. Includes all 124 shorts on 5 discs, plus a bonus disc with documentary featurettes, Making-Of, title sequences from 5 films and a coupon for a ticket to see the new PP with Steve Martin. Delayed from last summer. First three discs available separately:
(O) PINK PANTHER CLASSIC CARTOON COLLECTION Volume 1: Pranks in the Pink (MGM) First 27 shorts.
(O) PINK PANTHER CLASSIC CARTOON COLLECTION Volume 2: Adventures in the Pink (MGM) Second 27-cartoon volume.
(O) PINK PANTHER CLASSIC CARTOON COLLECTION Volume 2: Frolics in the Pink (MGM) Another 27-cartoon volume.

NEW DVD RELEASES

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

(O) AH! MY GODDESS Volume 3: With Or Without You (Media Blasters) Episodes 11-14. Belldandy's bratty little sister Skuld cockblocks Keiichi.
(O) THE BARBIE DIARIES (Lions Gate) "Fab friends, big dreams and a rockin' adventure." Find out what Barbie does when she's not starring in remakes of fairy tales. Includes outtakes, bloopers, games karaoke and music video. Also available in a gift set with diary.

(O) BERSERK TV Series Season 1 (Media Blasters) First 6 episodes of this sword & sorcery fantasy series, plus outtakes, music video and more.
(O) CORPSE BRIDE (Warner Bros.) Tim Burton returns to musical puppet animation for a fable about a young man who accidentally becomes betrothed to a fetching but deceased young lady. Includes Making-Of featurettes and more.
(O) HAKUGEI: The Legend of Moby Dick Volume 2 (ADV) The sci-fi version continues.
(O) HERE COMES THE GRUMP! (Image) Friz Freleng adapted one of his Yosemite Sam cartoons into this 1969 series about a dragon-riding goofball (Rip Torn) menacing a fairy kingdom. All 34 episodes on three discs.
(O) LIVE FREAKY! DIE FREAKY! (Wellspring) X-rated claymation rock musical comedy about the Manson Family, with music by Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong, Faith No More's Roddy Bottum, Rancid's Tim Armstrong and the Go-Gos' Jane Wiedlin. Includes commentrak, Making-Of, deleted scene, CD soundtrack and more. And hey, my name is on the back cover.
(O) SALARYMAN KINTARO Volume 4 (Artsmagic) Kintaro faces a new boss and several assassination attempts.
(O) SHRINE OF THE MORNING MIST Complete Collection (Media Blasters) Five priestesses with supernatural powers fight an evil sorcerer and his army of demons.
(O) SHURA NO TOKI Premium Collection (Media Blasters) Volume 1-6.
(O) TARO THE DRAGON BOY (Discotek) A lazy boy is given a magic potion that gives him super-strength, but he can only use it to help others. 1979 Japanese feature boasts beautiful graphics.
(O) TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: Turtles Against H.A.T.E. (Funimation) Five episodes plus DVD-ROM game.
(O) VOYEUR'S DIGEST (Critical Mass) A student causes havoc with a high school underground newspaper in this entry in the adult anime Vanilla Series.
(O) YU YU HAKUSHO: POLTERGEIST REPORT THE MOVIE (Central Park) A teen cheats death by supernatural means and gains super powers.

UMD CORNER

(O) THE BARBIE DIARIES (Lions Gate) "Dear Diary. Today I picked my career based on how I looked in the uniform."
(O) LIVE FREAKY! DIE FREAKY! (Wellspring) Edited edition.

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.