A mixed bag of stuff for you today…
First up is the good (and not so good news) from our friends at The Digital Bits, who have posted a transcript from last night’s Home Theater Forum chat with the animation and television representatives of Warner Bros’ Home Entertainment division. As usual, the HTF is pretty strict on who they let reprint the transcript, so head on over to one of those links for the full thing. What we can reveal are some of the highlights, such as the news that WB is “evaluating” several Cartoon Network shows for DVD release, as well as eying next year for the debut of Tiny Toons, and planning on making a mystery announcement (rumored to be for The Smurfs) at this year’s Comic-Con. There’ll also be some Josie And The Pussycats news soon.
From their classic animation archive, Warners are continually looking at issuing their catalog on both standard DVD and HD/BR disc, though nothing was announced or planned at this time. The great news is that the Looney Tunes Golden Collection will see a volume five debut this holiday season, again with four discs crammed with around 60 restored cartoons and bonus features. Though the inclusion of more “star-powered” black and white Looney Tunes and some of the “Censored Eleven” were requested, WB remained tight-lipped on the shorts that would be included.
They didn’t have any news “now” on the previously mooted Looney Tunes Wartime Collection, but it was added that the MGM library would continue to be mined, with a third Tom & Jerry: Spotlight Collection set coming this fall to compliment the release, next Tuesday, of the Tex Avery’s Droopy: Theatrical Shorts set (some disturbing DVNR news on that title here and unfortunately here too).
Lastly, those who picked up the first season of Superboy hoping for the much better second seasons will be disappointed – there are currently no plans for releasing further sets unless sales increase. What a super-bummer!
Somewhat related to news of the classic Hanna-Barbera shows is the latest that prolific director Robert Rodriguez might be heading further into animation territory, after the green-screen “epics” Spy Kids 3, Shark Boy And Lava Girl and genuine achievement Sin City, to take controls of The Jetsons movie, being produced by Tim Burton’s ex-partner Denise Di Novi for Warner Bros. Though that choice seems to be a right fit, nothing is set yet: he still has a second Sin City to shoot and complete and is also considering a Will Ferrell remake of Land Of The Lost. As The Hollywood Reporter says, “the question is whether he wants to do a space movie or a dinosaur movie”, but the thought of a Rodriguez-helmed Jetsons is an intriguing thought…
News from the “so crazy it can’t be real – but it is!” file next, and again thanks to The Bits, though the original link came from Jerry Beck’s Cartoon Brew blog. It’s truly a sign of the times when an entire theme-park can get bootlegged right down to a replica of its signature castle, as in this Chinese DisneyLand rip-off which shows up just how poorly copyright infringement is being attacked in the region. And, worse still, this one is state-owned! Check out this direct link to the Japan Probe website for more, including some hysterical news reports (scroll down, there’s one with English subtitles) where other studio characters pop up and the park’s president describes Mickey as a cat with big ears! The best thing? The place has been operating for over 20 years! Unbelievable…
Lastly today we’ve got a new contest for ya, and this time your in with a chance to snare the recent release of Jim Henson’s Dinosaurs: The Complete Third And Fourth Seasons. You have just over one week to enter, during which (he promises!) Rand will post his full account of the set right on this here site, so look for that soon!
– Ben.
