More Disney Treasures!

By: BRIAN THOMAS
Date: Saturday, December 03, 2005

Studio News: In Japan, Fuji continues plans to get into anime in a big way following production of the feature BRAVE STORY. Production I.G. and Fuji TV are teaming up to found a new studio called Fuji IG Lab Movies. (or simply FILM). Starting in January, they'll start putting together CGanime and live-action feature films.

SPOTLIGHT OF THE WEEK

Now that they're starting to pile up, the easily dented tin box packaging for only a 2-disc set is starting to feel like an unnecessary extravagance. But kudos to Disney for producing these consistently excellent sets organizing and making readily available their archive of short subjects especially their more esoteric material.

(O) WALT DISNEY TREASURES: Chronological Donald Volume 2 (Buena Vista) Donald Duch cartoons from 1942-1946, including some now controversial wartime propaganda shorts. Includes featurettes, a tribute to Duck artist supreme Carl Barks, lithograph and more.
(O) WALT DISNEY TREASURES: Disney Rarities (Buena Vista) From the Alice Comedies series in the Kansas days to specialty shorts made in support of features, here's a collection of little seen cartoons from the Disney vaults dated 1920s-1960s Includes commentraks, featurettes, lithograph and more.

NEW DVD RELEASES

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

(O) AQUA TEEN HUNGER FORCE Volume 4 (Warner Bros.) Food fight! Also available bundled with volumes 1-3.

(O) BATMAN THE ANIMATED SERIES Volume 4 (Warner Bros.) After a tiff with Batman, Robin takes off to become Nightwing. 24 episodes on 4 discs, plus commentraks and featurette. Also available bundled with volumes 1-3.
(O) BURST ANGEL Volume 5: Line in the Sand (Funimation) Episodes 17-20. A new cybernetic police unit goes haywire. Includes commentraks, Japanese radio drama, interviews and more.
(O) DNANGEL Complete Collection (ADV) Every time tween Daisuke gets sexually excited an inherited gene turns him into a master thief alternate identity. All 26 episodes.
(O) DRAGON BALL MOVIE BOX (Funimation) Includes SLEEPING PRINCESS IN THE DEVIL'S CASTLE, THE PATH TO POWER and MYSTICAL ADVENTURE.
(O) GARFIELD THE MOVIE (Fox) "Purrfect Collector's Edition" (Get it? He's a cat!)
(O) GARFIELD & FRIENDS Volume 5 (Fox)
(O) GARGOYLES Season 2 Volume 1 (Buena Vista) Living gargoyles leave their perches to fight evil. 22 episodes
(O) THE HAPPY ELF (Anchor Bay) Maybe you saw this Christmas special driven by the voice and songs of Harry Connick Jr. on NBC last night. On Tuesday you can buy it on DVD.
(O) HE-MAN AND SHE-RA: A CHRISTMAS SPECIAL (BCI Eclipse) So... they're not Jewish? Includes documentaries, script, trivia, music video, two art cards and more.
(O) PET ALIEN: The Lighter Side of Doom (Fox)
(O) THE POLAR EXPRESS (Warner Bros.) Big budget Christmas CGanime fantasy about a boy who takes a magical train to the North Pole, with the voice of Tom Hanks and a vaguely creepy based on the pseudo-realistic book illustrations. Widescreen 2-disc edition (apparently delayed from last month) with deleted song, PC game demo, behind-the-scenes featurettes and more. Also available in a gift set with snow globe and wooden toy train.
(O) THE PROUD FAMILY MOVIE (Fox) The Prouds vacation in Hawaii.
(O) SAMURAI X: Director's Cut Collection (ADV) Complete samurai action series in a thinpak set with additional footage.
(O) SHINKAI Collection (ADV) Space operas VOICES OF A DISTANT STAR and THE PLACE PROMISED IN OUR YOUNGER DAYS feature a mix of traditional and CGanime. Includes interviews, bonus short, animatic and more.
(O) STAR WARS: CLONE WARS Volume 2 (Fox) Concludes the continuity between Episodes 2 and 3. Includes commentrak, featurette, playable X-Box demo and more.
(O) SUPERHERO COLLECTION (Goodtimes) 3-disc bundle of Superman, Popeye and Hercules cartoons.
(O) SUPERMAN THE ANIMATED SERIES Volume 2 (Warner Bros.) 18 episodes on 2 discs focusing mainly on supervillains, including a brave & bold team-up with Batman. With commentraks and featurettes. Also available bundled with volume 1.
(O) TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES Volume 3 (Lions Gate) 12 episodes.
(O) THUNDERCATS Season 1 Volume 2 (Warner Bros.) 32 more feline adventures on Third Earth. Includes documentary featurette. Also available bundled with volume 1.
(O) YU-GI-OH!: A New Evil (Funimation) Episodes 1-7 from 1996.

UMD CORNER

(O) AQUA TEEN HUNGER FORCE Volume 4 (Warner Bros.) 13 episodes.

(O) DEAD LEAVES (Manga) Captured amnesiacs must break out of a secret cloning facility in this vibrantly stylish sci-fi thriller.
(O) MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM SEED Movie Trilogy (Bandai)
(O) PERFECT BLUE (Manga) A pop star turned actress becomes caught in a web of paranoia when a stalker starts killing those around her.
(O) X: The Movie (Manga) Earth is caught in a conflict between opposing groups of incredibly powerful mutants.

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!

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