Golden Age Cartoons!

By: BRIAN THOMAS
Date: Saturday, October 22, 2005

The door to the DVD Prize Closet is creaking ominously, so let's see what's inside...

Boo! We've got five copies of TRIPPING THE RIFT Season 1 to give away! Just send an email that contains your name and address to psycho@psychotronic.info, and make sure to put "TRIPPING" in the subject line.

And if you don't win that prize, you might win one of five Geneon 8-packs we're giving away, too! These packs contain an amazing EIGHT recent Geneon anime DVD titles: TETSUJIN 28, STELLVIA Volume 7, DEARS Volume 2, ULTRA MANIAC Volume 4, SAIYUKI RELOAD Volume 5, MELODY OF OBLIVION Volume 3, FIGHTING SPIRIT Volume 8, and CYBUSTER Volume 6. Same drill for this one, but put "GENEON 8" in the subject line.

And don't forget, we're also running a STREETFIGHTER ALPHA: GENERATIONS giveaway. Check out the details here: www.cinescape.com/0/editorial.asp?aff_id=0&this_cat=Video+26+DVD&action=page&obj_id=49887

SPOTLIGHT OF THE WEEK

Try as they might, they just don't make cartoon shorts like they used to back when every big studio had its own animation factory. Want to burn through a weekend? Just pop these platters on the carousel.

(O) LOONEY TUNES GOLDEN COLLECTION Volume 3 (Warner Bros.) 60 restored  classic cartoon shorts on 4 discs. Also available bundled with the first two collections.
(O) LOONEY TUNES MOVIE COLLECTION (Warner Bros.) 2-disc set pairs THE BUGS BUNNY/ROADRUNNER MOVIE and BUGS BUNNY'S THIRD MOVIE: 1001 RABBIT TALES.
(O) TOM & JERRY SPOTLIGHT COLLECTION Volume 2 (Warner Bros.) 40 classic cartoons on 2 discs six in CinemaScope! Also available bundled with the first collection.

NEW DVD RELEASES

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

(O) AVENGER Complete Collection (Bandai) Supplies are short in the domed cities of Mars. A gladiator competing in games for rations goes on a revenge mission accompanied by an android doll. All 13 episodes on 3 discs in a special tin case, plus 4 mini cells.

(O) BURST ANGEL Volume 4: East Meets West (Funimation) Episodes 13-16. Includes commentraks, Japanese radio drama and more.
(O) COWBOY BEBOP REMIX Volume 2 (Bandai) This classic favorite series about interplanetary bounty hunters gets remastered and remixed for this new edition, along with commentraks by the voice cast.
(O) DANGER MOUSE Complete Seasons 3 & 4 (A&E) 14 episodes plus theme sing-along.
(O) DORA'S DOUBLE-LENGTH ADVENTURES (Paramount) Three explorations.
(O) DRAGONS: METAL AGES (Lions Gate) CGanime sequel to FIRE & ICE brings further conflict between MegaBlok fantasy characters.
(O) FIGHTING SPIRIT Volume 8: The Champ & I (Geneon) Episodes 36-40. Ippo tries to counteract the dangerous "corkscrew blow".
(O) GANKUTSUO: The Count Of Monte Cristo Chapter 1 (Geneon) Much anticipated anime created by top international talent based on Alexander Dumas' famed novel. Also available in collector box.
(O) GANKUTSUO: The Count Of Monte Cristo Chapter 1 (Geneon) UMD
(O) GHOST IN THE SHELL: STAND ALONE COMPLEX Official Log Volume 1 (Manga/Bandai/Anchor Bay) Feature lengthy behind-the-scenes documentary on the hit series, plus 148-page book.
(O) GHOST STORIES Volume 1 (ADV) Traditional Japanese folk tales retold in a modern setting.
(O) HEAVY METAL (Sony) UMD
(O) HOOP DAYS Zone 3 (Bandai) An opposing boys team tries to psych out the girls in the playoffs.
(O) INU-YASHA Volume 35: The Band of Seven (Viz) The Band of Seven continues to pursue Inuyasha and friends.
(O) JUBEI-CHAN 2 Volume 3: Revelation (Geneon)Episodes 8-10. Jiyu recovers from her wounds, but finds an unfriendly homecoming.
(O) MEGAMAN NT WARRIOR Volume 7: Net City (Viz)
(O) MELODY OF OBLIVION Volume 3: Metronome (Geneon) Episodes 9-12. Are monsters behind a string of truck hijackings?
(O) MOBILE SUIT ZETA GUNDAM Chapter 1 (Bandai) The Earth Federation becomes more like the Zeon they've defeated. Ten episodes of the 1985 series on 2 discs.
(O) MY LITTLE PONY: A Very Minty Christmas (Paramount) Pony Minty breaks the candy cane beacon that guides Santa to Ponyland. So what? Uh I mean, that's terrible. How will the ponies save Christmas?
(O) NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS (Buena Vista) UMD
(O) PIANO Volume 3: Heartstrings (Right Stuf) Episodes 8-10. Distracted by various pressures, Miu can't get excited about New Years. Includes special booklet and more.
(O) POKÉMON ADVANCED Box Set Volume 1 (Viz)
(O) SAIYUKI RELOAD Volume 5 (Geneon) Gojyo saves a boy who turns out to be the familiar of a huge demon, and a misunderstanding turns to tragedy.
(O) SCRAPPED PRINCESS Volume 4: Spells and Circumstances (Bandai) After a battle, Pacifica is separated from the others and suffers from amnesia. Also available in collector box.
(O) S-CRY-ED Volume Edition 2 (Bandai) The second three volumes.
(O) SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS MOVIE (Paramount) UMD
(O) STREET FIGHTER ALPHA: GENERATIONS (Manga/Anchor Bay) This new prequel series follows the earlier adventures of Ryu as he develops his martial arts skills and fights his arch-enemy Akuma Gouki. Includes behind-the-scenes footage and interviews. See special giveaway elsewhere.
(O) STREET FIGHTER ALPHA: GENERATIONS (Manga/Anchor Bay) UMD
(O) SUPER MARIO BROS. SUPER SHOW (Sony) Super.
(O) THOSE WHO HUNT ELVES Complete Collection (ADV) Every episode.
(O) TRIPPING THE RIFT Complete First Season (Anchor Bay) First 13 episodes on 3 discs of the Sci-Fi Channel CGanime comedy series about a spaceship crew of misfits that are as much out to get each other as their enemies. Includes scripts. See above for giveaway.

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 (© 2005 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.