Sunday Night Cartoons!

By: BRIAN THOMAS
Date: Saturday, April 30, 2005

The answer has been found! Last week I asked you folks to help stupid old me remember the title of an anime feature that a reader had written in asking about. Several readers (wow! I have several readers!) identified the flick as GANDAHAR, a 1988 French feature better known in the USA under its English dubbed Miramax release title LIGHT YEARS. Produced during a lull in American animation, this didn't do too well in the US despite voicework by Glenn Close, Jennifer Grey, Penn & Teller, Christopher Plummer, Bridget Fonda and Paul Shaeffer. But it stuck somewhere in the brains of those of us that saw it, and is overdue for its DVD debut. The emailer that provided this answer first will receive a prize package of this and that (anime screeners, soundtrack CDs, etc.) pulled from my Prize Closet. The rest of you can stop whining I'll do another contest soon. Meanwhile, readers are still trying to find the origin of that mysterious TUTENSTEIN DVD I reported on last month...

SPOTLIGHT OF THE WEEK

This week, our spotlight can't avoid a Sunday Night network block of cartoons!

(O) ANIMATION DOMINATION (Fox) Giving in to the overwhelming popularity of its cartoon shows over sitcom invaders like STACKED, Fox celebrates the return of the

accidentally canceled ("I thought you renewed it") THE FAMILY GUY by turning over their entire Sunday night lineup to shows starring funny moving drawings. Well almost they put in a MALCOLM in the middle after KING OF THE HILL. But then it's the 350th episode of THE SIMPSONS. Technically, it's the 351st episode, but for some reason Fox is promoting it as 350. Followed immediately by episode 352, then the return of FAMILY GUY (whose dog was named after me, by the way) and the debut of temporary animation darling Seth McFarlane's new show AMERICAN DAD (which I'm told is not based on the 1981 novel by Tama Janowitz). Wow, with all these cartoons I may have to stock up on sugary cereal for Sunday night dinner.

NEW DVD RELEASES

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

(O) BOYS OVER FLOWERS Volume 11: Open Up Your Heart (Viz) The long running HANA YORI DANGO saga continues with episodes 42-46.

(O) THE DAICHIS: EARTH'S DEFENSE FAMILY Volume 3: Payday (Geneon) The alien attacks become more sophisticated while the family continues to freak out. Includes bonus alternate world episode.
(O) DINOTOPIA: QUEST FOR THE RUBY SUNSTONE (Goodtimes) Cartoon feature adaptation of the lushly-illustrated book and TV series tries to muscle in on LAND BEFORE TIME territory. Voices by Alyssa Milano, Jamie Kennedy, Malcolm McDowell, Kathy Griffin, Michael Clarke Duncan, and every kid's favorite George Segal.
(O) DORA THE EXPLORER: It's A Party! (Paramount) We meet Dora's cousin Daisy to celebrate her 15th birthday. 6 episodes, plus music video, game and more.
(O) ENTER THE DRAGON (Blackchair) Experimental video compilation explores the theme of typefaces. Ends in a brutal duel as Verdana infiltrates the hall of mirrors at the heart of the evil Cooper Black's island fortress.
(O) LOS FRUITTIS Volumes 5 & 6 (EMI) These frolicking fruit characters have been entertaining European kids since 1989. Really.
(O) GANTZ Volume 4: Terminal Dispatch (ADV) As the group tries to adapt to new circumstances, fresh players enter the sphere for another game. Includes a chat with the Japanese voice cast.
(O) GRAVION ZWEI Volume 2: Esoteric Truths (ADV) The sexy, sexy Gravion pilots go on a cosplay holiday to a theme park, then have to battle the enemy in episodes 5-8. With cast interviews, profiles, etc.
(O) KING OF THE HILL Season 4 (Fox) Will Peggy die in a skydiving accident? No. Is Bobby a Buddhist lama? No. Is Hank a murderer? No. Funny it takes them a half hour to settle these issues. All 24 episodes on 3 discs.
(O) METRONOMIC & CO.: French Animated Shorts (Blackchair) 11 challenging cartoons from France.
(O) MIKE JUDGE & DON HERTZFELDT PRESENT: The Animation Show (Blackchair) The animation big cheeses collect a program of award winning cartoons.
(O) MINDCANDY Volume 1: PC Demos (Blackchair) A collection of music videos and shorts hacked and cracked from pirated software from the early days of home computing.
(O) POCAHONTAS (Buena Vista) Musical romance in which an aborigine princess (the only American Disney Princess) and her animal friends encounter invading White Devils from Europe. Attacked by critics upon release for its PC morphing of the facts, the script has since been substantiated as historically accurate by the rediscovered journals and letters of Meeko the raccoon. 2-disc 10th anniversary edition includes the original feature, a new version with an extra song, commentrak, games, music videos, sing-alongs, Making-Of, deleted scenes and more.
(O) TENJHO TENGE Round 1 (Geneon) Boys find their quest to become high school big shots blocked by a pair of tough girls in this comedy. Also available in collectors box that includes a jigsaw puzzle and mini pencil board.
(O) TOKYO UNDERGROUND Volume 2: Irruption (Geneon) To save Ruri, Rumina undergoes training in the "Gale Force Wind" technique, assisted by an extra helping of beans. Yes, I'll stoop to fart jokes.

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.