More CGanime

By: Brian Thomas
Date: Saturday, September 23, 2006

Don't get me started on a rant about all the Christmas DVDs coming out already or the fact that most of them are just repackaged versions of stuff that came out last year. Just don't.

That doesn't mean I'm not in the Spirit of Giving. In our Prize Closet this week we have a copy of TRANSFORMERS ARMADA Season One Part Two, courtesy of Rhino Home Video. To enter this giveaway, send an email to psycho@psychotronic.info containing your name and address, and put "ARMADA" in the email subject line.

SPOTLIGHT OF THE WEEK

Opening Friday, September 29 in theaters, yet another animal fish out of water CGanime movie:

(O) OPEN SEASON (Sony) A domesticated grizzly bear (misvoiced by Martin Lawrence) gets lost in the woods 3 days before hunting season starts and is forced to rely on a nutty mule deer (misvoiced by Ashton Kutcher) to survive. CGanime feature also includes the voice talents of Gary Sinise, Debra Messing, Billy Connolly, Jon Favreau, Patrick Warburton, Jane Krakowski and Georgia Engel.

NEW DVD RELEASES

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

(O) ALVIN & THE CHIPMUNKS: A CHIPMUNK CHRISTMAS 25th Anniversary Special Collector's Edition (Paramount) Includes classic Chipmunk Christmas CD.
(O) BAKI THE GRAPPLER Round 9: Illegal Tactics (Funimation) Episodes 33-36. Street fighter Chiharu Shiba trains beyond the breaking point in his obsession with the legendary Kaoru Hanayama. Includes commentrak and more.
(O) BRATZ: Diamondz (Fox) Poserz.
(O) THE BATMAN Complete Second Season (Warner Bros.) All 13 episodes on two discs.

(O) COMPLETE WALKING WITH COLLECTION (BBC) 5-disc set includes the original WALKING WITH DINOSAURS, ALLOSAURUS and WALKING WITH PREHISTORIC BEASTS, plus Making-Of featurettes, interviews, CD-ROM features, storyboards and more.
(O) CRICKET ON THE HEARTH (Classic Media) 1967 TV special based on the Dickens story with the voices of Danny and Marlo Thomas, Hans Conried, Roddy McDowall, Paul Frees and Ed Ames.
(O) CURIOUS GEORGE (Universal) George looks curiously unlike his children's book image in this theatrical feature, losing much of the books' charm. Widescreen & fullscreen editions include 15 deleted scenes, music video sing-along, Making-Of featurettes, games and more.
(O) CURIOUS GEORGE Double Feature (Allumination)
(O) DANGER MOUSE Final Seasons (A&E) The last 21 episodes plus an episode of COUNT DUCKULA, karaoke and more.
(O) DICK TRACY Complete Animated Series (Classic Media) This oddball 1961 syndicated series wasn't so much inspired by the famous hard boiled police comic strip as it was by Hanna-Barbera series running at that time, as Tracy sits on the sidelines while a collection of comic cops pursue his criminal rogues gallery. Includes comic reprint.
(O) DRAGON HUNTERS Volume 2: Dead Dragon Walking (Geneon) When Zaza decides to chase the rewards of dragon slaying, she ends up being captured and its up to Lian-Chu, Gwizdo, and Hector to save her!
(O) GAOGAIGAR Volume 1: Heir to the Throne (Media Blasters) A child brought from the stars by a mechanical lion grows up with a talent for robotics. Also available in collector box. Delayed from last month.
(O) GHOST IN THE SHELL: STAND ALONE COMPLEX 2nd Gig Volume 7 (Manga/Bandai/Anchor Bay) The final three chapters (24-26) in the GitS saga see our heroes fighting to prevent nuclear war! Includes interviews. Also available in a 2-disc limited edition tin collector case with soundtrack CD and toy.
(O) GREEN GREEN Volume 2: Nature Girls (Media Blasters) Yuusuke finds himself being chased everywhere by Midori, who claims to be his love from another life. The mysterious Reika, however, seems dedicated to keeping the two of them apart. Delayed from last month.
(O) HARE + GUU Volume 5 (Funimation) More oddball jungle adventures.
(O) IF I SEE YOU IN MY DREAMS: Complete OVA & TV Series (Media Blasters) Romantic comedy 2-disc set.
(O) INU YASHA Third Season Box Set (Viz) 5-disc set collects season 3 of this still-lively series.
(O) LAURA'S STAR Volume 1 (Warner Bros.) Cute series for kids. Includes interviews, featurettes, games and more.
(O) THE LEGEND OF FROSTY THE SNOWMAN (Classic Media) Too early for this 2005b holiday TV special with voices by Burt Reynolds and Larry Miller. Includes deleted footage, games and activities.
(O) MIKE MULLIGAN & HIS STEAM SHOVEL (Scholastic)
(O) MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM SEED: Destiny Volume 4 (Bandai) More mecha action and drama.
(O) NICK JR. FAVORITES HOLIDAY (Paramount) Too early.
(O) NICK PICKS HOLIDAY (Paramount) Too early.
(O) NINJA NONSENSE: LEGEND OF SHINOBU Volume 2: Psychedelic Summer (Right Stuf) The ninjas do mushrooms.
(O) ORIGINAL TELEVISION CHRISTMAS CLASSICS (Classic Media) 4-disc set collects RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER, SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN, FROSTY THE SNOWMAN, FROSTY RETURNS and THE LITTLE DRUMMER BOY, vintage classic Christmas TV specials that it's way too early for.
(O) THE SECRET WORLD OF BENJAMIN BEAR: Being Brave with Benjamin Bear (Genius)
(O) THE SECRET WORLD OF BENJAMIN BEAR: Close Calls with Benjamin Bear (Genius)
(O) THE SECRET WORLD OF BENJAMIN BEAR: Helping Friends with Benjamin Bear (Genius)
(O) THE SECRET WORLD OF BENJAMIN BEAR: Working Together with Benjamin Bear (Genius)
(O) TACTICS Volume 2 (Manga) Episodes 6-10. This time, the team travels to Bride Island, Suzuku Temple, and Asakusa in search of adventures, monsters...and interesting journal articles! With interviews and more.
(O) TEENY-TINY AND THE WITCH-WOMAN (Scholastic)
(O) TRANSFORMERS ARMADA Season One Part Two (Rhino) In this thrilling conclusion to the hit TV series Transformers Armada, Optimus Prime, his Autobots, and their human friends step up the fight against Megatron and his Decepticons for control of the powerful Mini-Cons. 26 episodes plus interactive features on four discs.
(O) TRINITY BLOOD Volume 1 (Funimation) Vatican vampire hunters fight evil in the far future in this series from Gonzo. Also available in a limited edition starter box.
(O) VEGGIE TALES: The Star of Christmas (Classic Media)
(O) VEGGIE TALES: The Toy That Saved Christmas (Classic Media) Even Jesus is offended at how too early this is.
(O) VOLTRON: DEFENDER OF THE UNIVERSE Collection One (Media Blasters) For months now, Media Blasters has been making a big deal about their restored and remixed DVD release of this minor 1984 anime series that was syndicated to stations across the USA, which I recall seeing at 6:30 weekday mornings. But for the anime starved US otaku, it was pure giant robot gold. Episodes 1-15, plus Making-Of, interviews, episode guide and an episode of ROBOT CHICKEN.
(O) WIND IN THE WILLOWS Feature Films Collection (A&E) Includes the original feature, A TALE OF TWO TOADS, interview, trivia, a bonus episode of PAPERCHASE and more.
(O) WOLF'S RAIN Complete Collection 2 (Bandai) Anime Legends box set of volumes 5-7.

BLU-RAY DISC CORNER

(O) CORPSE BRIDE (Warner Bros.) Includes Making-Of featurettes and more.

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.