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Lady And The Tramp

Walt Disney’s classic brings kitchen sink drama to animated film, and this latest home video version, while not adding much new to what the Platinum DVD served up, scores with its pristine audio and video presentation.

Mad: Season One, Part Two

The usual gang of idiots return for a second helping of the original satirical magazine’s surprisingly consistent transition to the screen, and even if the strike rate isn’t quite as strong as the first episodes there are still (“cheap!”) laughs to be had.

Dr. Seuss’s The Lorax: Deluxe Edition

Dr. Seuss’s ecological fable looks fantastic on Blu-ray, though its accompanying TV specials don’t get the same treatment. All three specials otherwise still stand up well as great family viewing.

Scooby-Doo – Mystery, Incorporated: Crystal Cove Curse (Season One, Part 2)

The final half of the reimagined Scooby show hits DVD in a two-disc set. Purists may balk at the changes in the show’s premise, but the season-long storyline pays off nicely.

Real Steel

Memories of robot-in-the-ring childhood toy games will come flooding back for those of a certain age, for whom the big-hearted Real Steel will entertain as a good-time, old-style movie, but with state-of-the-art visuals.

The Looney Tunes Platinum Collection: Ultimate Collector’s Edition Volume One

Looking better than ever, the Looney Tunes have hit Blu-ray with a stunning collection of classic toons and tributes to Chuck Jones. Excellent.

The Essential Daffy Duck

An overpriced random selection of milestones, also-rans and specials don’t really add anything to the Daffy Duck legend, but a couple of nostalgic TV specials may help to round out some collections.

Beauty and the Beast: Belle’s Magical World

Belle’s adventures with the Beast and the enchanted servants are filled with magic and moral life lessons, but they loose their heart-warming meaning if you’re over twelve.

Dr. Seuss’s Holidays On The Loose!

A rather odd grouping of previously released Grinch specials, collected together under the pretence of the holidays when only one of them is actually tied to one, with undistinguished audio and video on all but the classic Christmas show.

Frosty’s Winter Wonderland

Frosty returns in the animated sequel to Frosty the Snowman with his wife Crystal, while Jack Frost grows jealous.

Disney Blu-ray 3D Reissues: Chicken Little / Meet The Robinsons / Bolt / G-Force

The lowdown on the upgrades for four of Disney’s recent CG features, now presented in high-definition 3D.

‘Twas The Night Before Christmas: Remastered Deluxe Edition

No big reason to upgrade on this minor Christmas classic, but it does look a tiny bit better on Blu.

Cars 2

Lacking any of the heart or speed of the original, this flat as a flat tyre sequel finds Pixar running awfully low on gas, and the extras scrape the barrel in trying to tune-up a rare misfire that doesn’t get out of the pit-stop let alone make the finish line.

Happiness Is… Peanuts – Snow Days

This DVD may not do much to promote oodles of happiness, but it does manage to evoke a smile or two at least.

Tom and Jerry: Fur Flying Adventures Vol. 3

Despite having some of the best Chuck Jones directed cartoons, Warner Brothers Home Video fails to impress with this random playlist of Tom and Jerry shorts.

Toy Story / Toy Story 2 / Toy Story 3 – 3D Editions

The toys are back on disc, now with an added dimension in these reissued combo packs that bundle in 3D and Digital Copy platters. The supplements are as plentiful as ever, but what about the new perspective?

Young Justice: Season 1, Volume 2

Young Justice is an exciting series for the pre-teen crowd, but its unoriginal plots do not live up to Warner Brothers Animation’s previous top quality shows.

Winnie The Pooh

Though sometimes overly familiar and not remarkably new, there’s an innocent sweetness to this return to the Hundred Acre Wood, and the disc’s package puts together some welcome supplements including the animated short The Ballad Of Nessie.

Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides: Limited 3D Edition

Fourth time around the sails look pretty worn on the franchise. The supplements show off the detail gone into its making, but sneaky of Disney to hold them back just for this otherwise redundant 3D edition.

Robotech: Complete Original Series

Robotech follows three generations of humans and their relationships as they defend Earth from hostile aliens bent on retrieving mysterious energy source protoculture. It not only has a significant role in anime history, but also for all US cartoons.

Tom & Jerry: Golden Collection Vol 1

At last! Tom & Jerry finally get the really deluxe treatment they deserve in the first of Warners’ high-definition shorts compilations. If they’re all as good looking and awarded with supplements as this, we’re going to be collecting a long time!

Batman: Year One

This proves the theory that great comics can make great movies, as the seminal comic book story gets a faithful adaptation. The short run time still packs a punch, with good bonus features nicely rounding the disc out.

The Lion King: Diamond Edition

The most crushingly disappointing Blu-ray since Fantasia, it’s disturbing that such little attention has been paid to Disney’s biggest film. Two new documentaries are very good, but that’s pretty much all you get: there’s much more to do than has been done here…

Aesop’s Fables: Volumes 1 & 2

This was one of the most prolific of all the old-time animation series, even if the studio and its cartoons are barely remembered today. Two neat volumes from Thunderbean shed light on some vintage gems from the 1930s.

Beauty And The Beast: Diamond Edition (3D)

With newly included Digital Copy and 3D that adds a surprisingly immersive aspect to Disney’s 20-year-old classic, this Diamond Edition reissue remains an excellent package that is certainly more Beauty than Beast!

Dumbo: 70th Anniversary Edition

Although one important supplement from previous disc releases hasn’t made the Blu-ray cut, one of Walt’s true classics flies high again in this 70th anniversary edition. With stunning image and new extras, Dumbo is an instant recommendation!

Phineas And Ferb: The Movie – Across The 2nd Dimension

While not classic Disney, or even classic Disney television animation, I’m sure long-time fans will get a huge buzz from Disney Channel’s Phineas And Ferb’s first big movie and this packed disc presentation.

Captain America (1990)

Contrary to popular belief, this is not the worst live action movie ever made featuring Captain America. It is, however, not very good either. Still, it makes for a fun movie night for superhero fans in search of laughs.

Mad: Season One, Part One

The original satirical magazine makes a truly genuine translation from page to screen in a Warner Bros. Animation animated program that feels close in freewheeling spirit to the unit’s classic 1990s animated comedies.

Hoodwinked Too! Hood Vs. Evil

Though not the worst animated film you’re ever likely to see, don’t get hoodwinked into seeing this lower than average sequel to a surprisingly fun original. The extras try, but there are no happy endings here.