TV Shows on DVD has been positively booming with toon-related DVD news the past couple of days – here’s a one-post round-up of all things animated coming up! First off, cover art for the second season of Garfield & Friends, which comes out December 7th, has been released. A press release, with full disc-by-disc breakdown of the fifth season of The Simpsons (arriving December 21st) has been issued, featuring all 22 uncut episodes and a wealth of extras. Two Wacky Races spinoffs, Dastardly & Muttley in Their Flying Machines and The Perils of Penelope Pitstop have been announced for DVD releases in 2005. From ToonZone, TV Shows reports that a first volume The Batman is expected to hit in early to mid 2005, likely to tie in with the new Batman film’s release. TV Shows also credits ToonZone for their scoop on both a “Best-Of” compilation disc and a Deluxe 4-Disc Box Set of Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids, which comes to stores on December 14th, also likely to tie in with the new live-action film. On November 2nd, The Smurfs come to Region 1 DVD – in a French-only Canadian release, but it’s a start! Unfortunately, there’s no word yet on whether an English-language release is imminent. The latest issue of the trade magazine Video Business made an announcement that the obscure animated TV series Atomic Betty is making its way to DVD in 2005 – Warner Home Video has grabbed the first 2 seasons, though it’s unknown how they plan to release them. Finally, Family Guy fans will be excited to learn that a 5-episode compilation disc, colorfully titled the Freakin’ Sweet Collection, is to be released on December 14th. This compilation is noteworthy for its inclusion of the uncut episode of “Road to Rhode Island,” which included scenes of Osama bin Laden dancing his way into an airport with weapons-filled cases of luggage. The episode was included on the first box set, but that scene was still cut out, causing an uproar amongst purist fans.