Wow, wow, wow! After neglecting their prime animated property for so many years, Universal have made a simply s-p-e-c-t-a-c-u-l-a-r one hundred and eighty degree turnaround with their Walter Lantz/Woody Woodpecker library, which I’ve been catching up on thanks to the absolutely splendid collection put out just a week or so ago. Seriously, this set presents the cartoons just as it should be done, in vibrant transfers, a nice cross spectrum from other characters’ series, and a perfect smattering of bonus features – all brought together in a smashing glossy digipak package complete with a deluxe slipcover with Woody wood-pecked cutouts! Unless I knew better, I’d say that everything about this set screams of a new regime change at Universal Home Entertainment! After the excitement of the Popeye collection last week, us classic cartoon fans surely can’t complain we’re not currently getting the goods…needless to say the Woody Woodpecker set comes highly recommended!

NOTE: I just read Kurtis’ message in the Animated News & Views Forum that the Canadian edition carries different packaging at some, if not all, retailers there, coming in three slim cases and a cover without the cutouts, so purchase accordingly.

Kurtis has also posted a link to the TV Shows On DVD page that lists the complete contents of this fall’s Looney Tunes Golden Collection V5. While I thought the Chuck Jones: Extremes And Inbetweens documentary worked very well as its own stand-alone disc, I can obviously see the value of its inclusion for those who missed it, even though there are other, rarer specials that I’m personally itching for. Best among the crop for me are the three Looney Tunes TV specials: Carnival Of The Animals, Looney Christmas Tales and Bustin’ Out All Over, a springtime program from 1980. These are not prime Looney Tunes but their inclusion at least means we should see more of these specials in future sets, paving the way for numerous compilations that were cleverly edited and enjoyable in their own rights.

Just a reminder that you have just today and tomorrow to get your entries in for our Darkwing Duck and 300 giveaways and, as with the Woodpecker collection, look for our full reviews of those titles in the coming weeks!

– Ben.