PINKY & THE BRAIN Volume 2
© Warner Bros.
Jingle Bells 24-7
By: Brian ThomasDate: Monday, December 04, 2006
Every year I get into the same spirit once December rolls around. Heck, it usually comes on much earlier – that certain special feeling one gets when everyone begins to hustle around cheerily shopping and decorating their houses and/or cubicles with lights and ribbons. Of course, I’m talking about that special resistance-to-Christmas-spirit spirit. Oh, I always get around to the whole peace on Earth feeling. I just don’t like being pushed, and it’s natural for me to pull back whenever I’m told I have to feel a certain way. Here’s an example: I don’t spend a lot of time these days listening to the radio and I don’t play holiday music for myself this early in the season. But I swear I’ve heard Andy Williams singing “It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Year” at least 67 times since Thanksgiving. It’s blaring away in every store, elevator and coffee shop. Last week I was downtown trying to find a quiet spot to make a phone call, but outside there was too much traffic and wind, and everywhere I went indoors, the damn moozack was blaring.
However, I love animation, and so I love a lot of the cartoon Xmas specials that run every year. When I was a kid, they were just getting started and they were a rare treat. Catching a broadcast of How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Rudolph, A Charlie Brown Christmas and Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol were annual traditions the whole family gathered around the TV to enjoy. Naturally, they got huge ratings, and just as naturally, everybody wanted a piece of the pumpkin pie, churning out holiday specials and “special” holiday episodes of every show in such profusion that now during December the networks have trouble scheduling them all.
And so, I have a proposal for the Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon and their standard cable ilk. Each year at least one local radio station switches their format to all Christmas music, and the satellite radio networks follow suit by adding on an extra channel just for festive sounds. Why not create a seasonal cable channel that just shows Christmas specials and Christmas episodes? (And of course, at least one showing of Adam Sandler’s Eight Crazy Nights.) This would take some of the pressure off of all the other channels to get everything in, and of course the whole thing would be hosted by Ray Liotta. Those in a present wrapping mood could just switch it on and not have to worry about losing their glow when Dateline or Law & Order: Special Victims Unit comes on. And there’d be a better chance of catching Nestor the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey. On the other hand, those of us who don’t want to feel pressured would have more of a chance to escape the constant clamor of silver bells. A very slim chance, but at least there’d be hope.
SPOTLIGHT OF THE WEEK
Animaniacs tried a lot of different concepts, but only one was ingenious enough to not only spin off, but to eclipse the show that it spun off from. Two mice plotting world domination every night. Just brilliant.
(O) PINKY & THE BRAIN Volume 2 (Warner Bros.) One is a genius. The other, insane. Ah, but which laboratory mouse is which? And what do you want to do tonight? 22 episodes on four discs, plus a featurette in which Mark Hamill and Wayne Knight answer a casting call for a Pinky & the Brain movie. Also available bundled with Volume 1.
NEW DVD RELEASES
Here’s a rundown of the constant stream of anime comin’ at ya on DVD from around the world: DISNEY DVD GAME: Disney Dogs © Buena Vista
(O) ADVENTURES OF THE LITTLE PRINCE: The Greatest Gift (Koch)
(O) ADVENTURES OF THE LITTLE PRINCE: The Magic Case (Koch)
(O) ANIMANIACS Volume 2 (Warner Bros.) 25 episodes on five discs, plus a writers’ round table. Also available bundled with Volume 1.
(O) THE BATMAN Complete Seasons 1 & 2 (Warner Bros.) Bundled.
(O) DISNEY DVD GAME: Disney Princesses (Buena Vista) An interactive DVD Cinderella, Ariel, Snow White, and other Disney cartoon royals. Features over 250 games, activities and trivia questions for up to four players, plus a 3-D virtual castle. INUYASHA Volume 49: The Tragic Love Song of Destiny © Viz Media
(O) DUNGEONS & DRAGONS Complete Animated Series (BCI Eclipse) 1983-1986 series based on the classic role playing game. A mysterious theme-park ride throws six kids into the perilous realm of the Dungeon Master. All 27 episodes on five discs, plus commentraks, featurettes, storyboards, scripts, game, fan short, audio drama and more.
(O) ERGO PROXY Volume 1: Awakening (Geneon) The epic goth/cyberpunk saga begins. Also available in collector box.
(O) FULL MOON Volume 3: I Want You to Hear It! (Viz) A girl prevails upon spirits to help her realize her pop idol dreams before a tumor ends her life.
(O) GARFIELD & FRIENDS: BEHIND THE SCENES (Fox) 15 episodes picked by creator Jim Davis. Also available bundled with mini plush toy.
(O) HAPPY TREE FRIENDS Season 1 Volume 1 (BCI Eclipse) Cute. Cuddly. Incredibly violent. First nine episodes, plus commentraks, behind-the-scenes and storyboards.
(O) HARE + GUU Volume 6 (Funimation)
(O) HELLSING ULTIMATE Volume 1 (Geneon) A British taskforce, lead by the daughter of the vampire hunter Prof. Van Helsing, battles the a new wave of supernatural dangers with the aid of two vampires.
(O) HUCKLEBERRY HOUND Volume 1 (Warner Bros.) Disc 1 of the first Season.
(O) KYO KARA MOAH! Season 2 Volume 1 (Geneon) More adventures in the world beyond the toilet. Also available with book.
(O) MICRONAUTS REVOLUTION (Anthem) DVD comic.
(O) PUFF THE MAGIC DRAGON (Genius) 1978 TV feature adapted from the 1960s folk hit single, with Burgess Meredith as Puff.
(O) SHAKUGAN NO SHANA Volume 1: Torch Bearer (Geneon) Yet another fantasy girlfriend series. This time, the Average High School Boy meets up with a swordswoman from a magical world. Episodes 1-4. TRIGUN Remix Volume 5 © Geneon
(O) SHAKUGAN NO SHANA Volume 2 (Geneon)
(O) SHONEN JUMP NARUTO Uncut Box Set Volume 2 (Viz) Ninjas in training. Both original broadcast and uncut versions of 13 episodes on 3 discs.
(O) STARSHIP OPERATORS Complete Box Set (Geneon) Naval space cadets on a training mission get a thorough shakedown when their homeworld is invaded and they’re left to man the ship themselves. On 3 discs.
(O) TEEN TITANS Complete Seasons 1 & 2 (Warner Bros.)
(O) TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES Volume 6 (Lionsgate) 12 episodes.
(O) TOOT & PUDDLE: I’ll Be Home for Christmas (National Geographic/Warner Bros.) Will Toot get back to Woodcock Pocket in time to share Christmas with his lover Puddle? Oh, sorry. Did I type “lover”? I really have no idea of the orientation of these charming cartoon pigs. But come on – who came up with those names? Plus: enjoy a sing-along and learn about Toot’s trip to Scotland.
(O) VIEWTIFUL JOE Volume 6 (Geneon) Joe Meets Another Viewtiful Joe?!
(O) WHAT’S NEW SCOOBY-DOO? Volume 10: Monstrous Tails (Warner Bros.) Mystery Inc. finds monsters in Antarctica, Hong Kong and Australia.
(O) THE YOGI BEAR SHOW Volume 1 (Warner Bros.) Disc 1 of Season 1.
(O) ZATCH BELL Volume 7: Apollo the Free Traveler (Viz) Episodes 26-28. Demon fighting action.
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 (© 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 DVD Shopping List.
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I'm slowly building up my DVD collection of XMas animated shows from when I was a kid. This year, I added the new How the Grinch edition (glad I waited) and the Classic TV Christmas Show set (which I scooped up for a good price at Wal-Mart). Last year, it was the Peanuts Holiday set.