The long awaited Iron Giant: Special Edition DVD was finally released today. The DVD was reportedly finished months ago but held until the theatrical release of director Brad Bird’s latest film The Incredibles. For a film considered to be one of the best animated films in history, not many people have seen or even heard of The Iron Giant. Warner Brothers, who may have been gun shy after the disappointing box office for Quest for Camelot, did a poor job marketing the film.

While the general public may have missed out on seeing it, animation fans took notice. Critics embraced the film, giving it a 97% fresh rating on the Rotten Tomatoes tomatometer. At “animation’s Oscars”, the Annie Awards, The Iron Giant received 15 nominations, and swept every category it was nominated in winning 9 Annie’s.

A no frills DVD was released previously, but fan interest apparently convinced Warner Brothers to give The Iron Giant the full special edition treatment. Extras include: a new digital transfer, feature-length commentary, an alternate beginning and other unused sequences, 13 branching mini-documentary sequences, and much more.