Santa's helpers!

By: BRIAN THOMAS
Date: Saturday, December 24, 2005

Everyone knows that Santa Claus won't visit your house until he knows that you're asleep. It's true don't believe all those Christmas specials where kids sneak in and spy on Santa! Those are simply works of fiction. But then, that probably won't effect you, as I'm sure you've been so bad this year that Santa will be passing by your house anyway. In which case, you might just as well stay up late watching television. Cartoon Network is showing the first two INU-YASHA movies AFFECTIONS TOUCHING ACROSS TIME at midnight, followed by CASTLE BEYOND THE LOOKING GLASS at 2:30 AM. That should keep you busy while you tear open other people's gifts.

Just kidding! I'm sure you have plenty to do today, so I won't take up too much of your time with this column.

SPOTLIGHT OF THE WEEK

Here's a puppetoon-type short that I used to see about a dozen times every December on local kids TV shows, and it was a seasonal tradition in several cities. You can find copies of it around on various DVD compilations (a furniture store was giving them away last year), or you can see it here: http://www.nantyglo.com/Christmas/HardrockCoco_andJoe.htm

(O) HARDROCK, COCO & JOE (?) It began as a Christmas song called "The Three Little Dwarves" written by singer, actor, and one-time presidential candidate Stuart Hamblen in 1950, which was covered by Gene Autrey and others, but the short's artists are unknown. Centaur Productions (possibly the same company owned by f/x man Ray Mercer) already had the shorts "Suzie Snowflake" and "Frosty the Snowman" in circulation in 1953, and the dwarves' short was added in 1956. Following the song, Santa's three helpers accompany him on his rounds, but aren't above a bit of horseplay. If you lived in a town that showed these shorts, they are an essential part of the holiday. Everybody loved the dwarves, but a lot of boys hated Suzie, citing it as "girl stuff".

NEW DVD RELEASES

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

(O) BIOGRAPHY: Betty Boop (A&E) That's right, they did an episode chronicling the life and career of the famous Fleischer toon.

(O) DAVEY & GOLIATH Volume 4: Learning About Helping Each Other (Starlight/Koch) Six episodes highlighting cooperation. Plus: 5 downloadable coloring pages, a special half hour New Year's episode, complete episode guide and more.
(O) DAN DOH!!! Volume 1: The Super Shot (Bandai) Episodes 1-10. A boy is "discovered" as a golf prodigy.
(O) THE DOT... And More Stories to Make You Feel Good (New Video) Four "up" shorts adapted from children's books.
(O) GALAXY ANGEL A: Complete Collection (Bandai) The girls are called back into action to face a new menace. All 26 episodes on 3 discs, plus concert footage and a bonus episode.
(O) GILGAMESH Volume 4: Under A Blood Red Sky (ADV) Gilgamesh sneaks past the Orga psychic guards into Mitleid Corp.'s tower, causing untold havoc.
(O) GUNGRAVE: Fully Loaded Collector's Set (Geneon) A heavily armed gunman and his monstrous minions are out to take down the Millenion mafia.
(O) HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSON: THE LITTLE MERMAID AND OTHER STORIES (Starlight/Koch)
(O) HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSON: THUMBELINA / THE FLYING TRUNK Starlight/Koch)
(O) HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSON: UGLY DUCKLING & OTHER STORIES (Starlight/Koch) Obscure adaptations of fables.
(O) HIKARU NO GO Volume 1: The Go Master's Descent (Viz) Episode 1-4. A boy learns the ancient strategy game.
(O) KNIGHT HUNTERS ETERNITY Complete (Media Blasters) All 13 episodes in a 3-disc box set.
(O) MOBILE SUIT ZETA GUNDAM Chapter 3 (Bandai) Episodes 21-30 of the classic 1985 series on two discs.
(O) MELODY OF OBLIVION Volume 4: Solo (Geneon) Kurofune tries to help a boy condemned to an unending death cycle.
(O) ORIGINAL DIRTY PAIR OVA Collection (ADV) Kei and Yuri of the 3WA are back to cause trouble again in 10 episodes in a 2-disc thinpack set.
(O) ROBONIMAL PANDA-Z: THE ROBONIMATION Volume 3 (Bandai) Episodes 11-15. More goofy fun with the greatest giant mecha-panda ever.
(O) SAIYUKI RELOAD Volume 6 (Geneon) Gojyo runs off to fight God all by himself. Includes three episodes of URA-SAI, commercials and more.
(O) SAKURA WARS TV Complete Collection (ADV) Entire series based on the hit video game.
(O) STARSHIP OPERATORS Volume 1: Revolution (Geneon) The graduating class of Defense University celebrates on the maiden voyage of a new space warship, but returns to find their planet at war.
(O) SUKISHO Volume 2: Rules of Attraction (Media Blasters) Sora continues to unravel the mysteries of his past.
(O) TOY STORY 2 (Buena Vista) Woody is abducted by a toy collector and comes to learn his place in history. Special 2-disc edition featuring a new state of the art transfer and tons of bonus features.

UMD CORNER

None this week!

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.