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Iron Man – Armored Adventures: The Complete Season One

The show is quite enjoyable, but it really should be called Iron Boy. The lack of widescreen video or any decent extras are other knocks against what is otherwise a nice set of 26 episodes.

Iron Man: The Complete 1994 Animated Television Series

This version stays reasonably true to the comics, but fails to reach the heights of its contemporaries. Season Two improves with better stories and animation, but weak video and a lack of extras hurt this DVD release.

My Life With Charlie Brown

This collection of prose writings from Charles Schulz provides the next-best thing to a true autobiography. It also finally made me understand why I love Peanuts so much.

The Drawn Together Movie: The Movie!

There’s a good story outline in here somewhere, but being totally uncensored did this direct-to-video title no favors.

New Charles Schulz book collects prose writings

University Press Of Mississippi, known for its extensive line of comics-related books, has just announced a new book featuring the writings of Peanuts creator Charles M. Schulz, entitled My Life With Charlie Brown. The publishers feel that this book constitutes something akin to an autobiography, given how some of the pieces do trace Schulz’s life […]

Ponyo

Miyazaki’s latest film is a fantasy spectacular. The simple story and quiet ending do little to detract from what is an animation tour de force.

My Neighbor Totoro

Miyazaki’s family classic gets its best DVD treatment yet. The reissue has no serious drawbacks, and packs in some nice new extras.

Castle In The Sky

Studio Ghibli’s first film is an imaginative adventure movie, but the new DVD has some problems. Video, dubbing, and a lost subtitle track are all concerns.

Kiki’s Delivery Service

The 2010 DVD edition of this fine Studio Ghibli film easily bests the 2003 version, with better video, changes that bring it closer to the original Japanese film, and a plethora of new bonus features. Miyazaki fans should be very pleased.

You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown: Remastered Deluxe Edition

The animated adaptation of the musical that came from an album inspired by the comic strip. Despite the fourth-generation status, it still feels delightfuly like Peanuts.

Super Friends: Season One, Volume One

Finally, Warner releases the very first incarnation of Super Friends. The two-disc set is no-frills, but it’s nice to finally meet Wendy and Marvin.

Golden Globes for animation, and a teaser for this week…

Up and Avatar win at the Globes. And more to come this week!

Shorts

Robert Rodriguez adds another children’s film to his resume. This one is mostly for kids, but with fun for adults if you don’t mind some gross-out stuff. Fun special effects and decent bonus features make the Blu-ray worth a look.

Yogi’s First Christmas

Yogi awakens early from hibernation, and finds himself the star of Warner Archive’s first cartoon release.

I Want A Dog For Christmas, Charlie Brown: Remastered Deluxe Edition

Rerun pines for a puppy in this latter-day Peanuts classic. This new release bests the old Paramount one in the video department, and adds a second holiday special and featurette that makes for a nice disc.

Walt Disney Treasures: Zorro – The Complete Second Season

Walt’s perfect TV series gets another Treasures set.

Saturday Morning Cartoons – 1960s: Volume 2

A couple of new-to-DVD shows are here, but otherwise this set gets bogged down in Looney Tunes and more of what we’ve seen before. Jetsons again?!

Saturday Morning Cartoons – 1970s: Volume 2

More Saturday morning fun from Warner Bros.! There are few classics here, but lots of fondly remembered shows and a few obscure gems.

Tinker Bell And The Lost Treasure

The second Tinker Bell movie improves on the first, with an adventurous tale that teaches lessons of responsibility and friendship.

Peanuts: 1970’s Collection Volume 1

Only six specials over two discs, but you can’t argue that most of them are pretty good.

Wallace And Gromit: The Complete Collection

The charming British inventor-and-dog team get their best disc yet, including their newest effort, A Matter Of Loaf And Death. With only a couple of minor caveats, this is the best way to collect their adventures.

Gigantor: The Collection, Volume Two

More giant robot action is always good, I suppose, but there’s more history than excitement in these primitive shows.

Superman/Batman: Public Enemies

This is a wild ride, though far from the best story to adapt from the comics. There are some nice extras on the disc, however.

The Astonishing Work Of Tezuka Osamu

Art triumphs over commerce! Here are thirteen less commercial works from the creator of Astro Boy, each marvelous to behold.

Bedknobs And Broomsticks: Enchanted Musical Edition

Unfairly knocked for being a poor man’s Mary Poppins, this film has its own richness of magic. Though this is a lesser package than the previous DVD edition, it is still bound to please most who haven’t got the old DVD already in their collections.

Astro Boy And Anime Come To The Americas

Lots of great material exists in the first third of the book, after which the author loses his way, and the poor writing and lack of a proper editor make this a tough one to recommend.

Pete’s Dragon: High-Flying Edition

This tale of a boy and his dragon showed that the 1970s were not so bad for the Disney studio as many remember. The DVD shines with numerous fine bonus features.

Super Friends: The Lost Episodes

These episodes saw the last of ther Wonder Twins, and a lot of cheesy plots. But darned if I wasn’t entertained.

Green Lantern: First Flight

DC Comics’ Emerald Warrior gets his own exciting, visually impressive movie. The extras are plentiful even if they don’t address the movie too much. But comic fans especially will enjoy everything.

Peanuts: 1960’s Collection

All six classic specials come in a nifty little package. Putting them accross two discs is a bit of a joke, but the contents are still golden. Great Vince Guaraldi profile, too!