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DVD Features
- DVD Release Date: May 12, 2009
- 1.33:1
- English
- Suggested Retail Price: $19.99
The Movie
Disney fans can’t really complain about the company’s attempts to get their classic product out on DVD. The digital age has been kind to us. The Walt Disney Treasures series has been a blessing for the die-hard fans and all of the classic animated films have been given their due on DVD. For those who either missed purchasing the special Treasures tins, didn’t feel the need to splurge for them or for the more casual viewer, this year has seen the release of the Disney Animation Collection series. The first wave was released in April and only a month later, the second wave has been released. As I said when I reviewed the original three, this series falls short of the wonderful Treasures releases, but it is a good way to continue to get the classic shorts out to the public.
Volume 4 features the 1935 Academy Award winner (Short Subject-Cartoons) The Tortoise And The Hare. This retelling of the classic Aesop fable pits Toby Turtle against Max Hare. Surely everyone knows the moral; slow and steady wins the race. Disney’s version doesn’t disappoint, a fine piece of animation with enjoyable characters and a great story. It’s long been debated whether or not Max Hare was the archetype for Bugs Bunny. If you’re familiar with the original versions of Bugs, you can certainly see similarities.
An interesting assortment of shorts rounds out the disc:
Babes in the Woods (1932)
The Goddess of Spring (1934)
Toby Turtle Returns (1936)
Paul Bunyan (1958)
The Saga of Windwagon Smith (1961)
The six shorts are certainly a pleasure to watch, and represent a wide range of classic Disney animation styles. Be sure to look for some Silly Symphony star cameos in the Tortoise and Hare sequel, Toby Turtle Returns. Max and Toby are at it again, this time in the boxing ring. Look for such Silly stars as The Three Little Pigs, Jenny Wren, Elmer Elephant and more.
The Goodies
There are no special features included on any of the discs. The one goody included with each DVD is a collectible litho print. Each set contains a decent quality print on postcard weight paper.
The Tortoise and the Hare Collectible Litho Print. “© WDSHE. All Rights Reserved.”
Audio, Video and Interface
The discs sound fine to me, but it must be noted that I’m not a strict audiophile. I am aware of the age of these films and the fact that their original tracks are mono. That said, one shouldn’t expect to be blown into your seat by the sound.
The video quality is a similar situation. There are some scratchy frames and “film debris.” Considering the fact that this is not a Treasures release, that is to be expected. That said, I think the shorts (given their age) look pretty good.
The menus are static and easy enough to navigate.
The Final Evaluation
If you own the wonderful Walt Disney Treasures: Silly Symphonies and Disney Rarities release, than you don’t need to make a purchase. If you weren’t able to get the Treasures versions, didn’t want to spend the money, or just want to show your kids the classics, then go ahead and get this series. I prefer the restored versions, but any collection of classic Disney animation is a winner when compared to most of the offerings out there.
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DVD Features
- DVD Release Date: May 12, 2009
- 1.33:1
- English
- Suggested Retail Price: $19.99
The Movie
Let’s give J. Thaddeus Toad the award he deserves most: “Most Obscure Disney Character To Have Their Own Attraction”. I know J. Thaddeus and I’m sure most of you reading this site know him too, but let’s face it, as far as famous frogs go, he’s no Kermit. The younger generations only know him if they’ve been on his ride at Disneyland, or maybe if they were in Walt Disney World before Pooh Bear kicked him out of Fantasyland, and that’s a shame. The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad, Disney’s 1949 package film is really one of my favorite pieces of Disney animation. That said, I’m quite happy that J. Thaddeus takes center stage on this release.
Joining Mr. Toad, Ratty, Moley and Angus McBadger on Volume 5 are:
The Ugly Duckling (1939)
The Grasshopper And The Ants (1934)
The Golden Touch (1935)
The Robber Kitten (1955)
The Wise Little Hen (1934)
Volume 5 is certainly a great introduction to The Silly Symphonies. Five prime 1930’s Symphonies are represented here. Couple this with the long (34 minutes) Wind in the Willows and you have one of the best values of the series so far. Be on the lookout for none other than Donald Duck making his film debut in The Wise Little Hen.
The Goodies
The Wind in the Willows Collectible Litho Print. “© WDSHE. All Rights Reserved.”
Audio, Video and Interface
The audio and interface are similar to Volume 4.
Considering it’s the title short, Wind in the Willows suffers in the video quality department. The older Symphonies on the disc all look better in comparison. I’m very happy Mr. Toad is on the cover and is the star of this volume, but it’s a shame that they didn’t use a better print for the transfer.
The Final Evaluation
This is a tough summation. I love Wind in the Willows, always have. This is a great set of Silly Symphonies as well. However, if at all possible seek out the Treasures versions of the Symphonies and The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad. The quality of both is far superior. If video quality isn’t your thing, or once again, if the high price point of the Treasures series eludes you then this is certainly a worthwhile collection. At any rate, let’s show the younger generation who that Toad guy with the wild ride really is.
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DVD Features
- DVD Release Date: May 12, 2009
- 1.33:1
- English
- Suggested Retail Price: $19.99
The Movie
Here’s an interesting quartet of films. The title short, The Reluctant Dragon was contained in the 1941 live action film, Disney’s first such offering. Johnny Appleseed was released as part of 1948’s compilation film, Make Mine Music. 1960’s Goliath II seems to be a precursor in style and story to that decade’s Jungle Book and Academy Award winner Ferdinand the Bull takes us back to Disney’s Golden Age of shorts.
Four shorts seems a bit shy for this series but given that the title film is over 20 minutes as is Johnny Appleseed and Goliath II checks in at 15 minutes, this is a pretty sizeable offering. All four are wonderful, completely enjoyable examples of different periods in Walt Disney Animation. I find this to be a very satisfying set of shorts.
The dragon is paired with:
Goliath II (1960)
Ferdinand the Bull (1938)
Johnny Appleseed (1948)
Volume 6’s star, The Reluctant Dragon was released previously on the Treasures series as were Ferdinand the Bull and Goliath II. Johnny Appleseed can be found on the Make Mine Music DVD and is one of the only shorts in this series not to be on a Treasures release.
The Goodies
The Reluctant Dragon Collectible Litho Print. “© WDSHE. All Rights Reserved.”
Audio, Video and Interface
The audio and Interface are similar to Volumes 4 and 5.
Once again, considering it’s the title short, The Reluctant Dragon suffers in the video quality department. especially when compared to it’s fantastic Treasures release. Ferdinand and Goliath, on the contrary, look great and are probably equal if not better looking than their prior Treasures releases. Johnny Appleseed looks great as well.
The Final Evaluation
Once again, if you’re buying this to see The Reluctant Dragon, than seek out the Treasures release for the superior quality and to see what the film looked like imbedded in Walt Disney’s original live-action film. If you don’t mind some diminished quality on Dragon, the three remaining shorts are wonderful and look fantastic. It’s an interesting collection to say the least.
The Final Final Evaluation
As I said in my previous review of the first wave of Animation Collections, I’m glad that Disney continues to release their gems from the massive Disney vault. The expensive collectible sets aren’t for everyone, and these simpler sets give everyone a chance to experience the beauty and artistry of the original Disney art form, the animated short. The first wave featured Mickey Mouse himself and The Three Little Pigs. These three titles feature some lesser known characters than the first wave and for that alone, I recommend seeking them out and showing them to the kids or to a friend that may not be familiar with these wonderful, but more obscure, characters from the Disney lineup.
