As Halloween quickly approaches, animation fans today have a few holiday-related home video releases to choose from today. In addition to a special collector’s edition of Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, shelves are now stocked with DVD releases featuring classic cartoon favorites Fat Albert, Casper the Friendly Ghost and Alvin and the Chipmunks. There’s more monster action to be found in the first North American release of the hit anime series Bakugan.
Directed by Henry Selick, Disney’s 1993 stop-motion opus The Nightmare Before Christmas features the voices of Chris Sarandon, Catherine O’Hara, William Hickey, Glenn Shadix and Paul Reubens. The digitally restored, two-disc set features such bonus materials as What’s This? Jack’s Haunted Mansion Holiday Tour, an animated version of Tim Burton’s original poem that inspired the creation of the film with narration by Christopher Lee, deleted scenes, a making-of-featurette titled The Worlds of Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, an introduction to Burton’s upcoming stop-motion feature Frankenweenie, and commentary by Burton, Selick and composer Danny Elfman. Other extras include a digital copy of the film, a storyboard-to-film comparison and Burton’s animated short film Vincent. The release lists for $32.99 on DVD and $39.99 on Blu-ray Disc. A limited edition set featuring an individually numbered and hand-painted bust of Jack Skellington with a sound chip that plays memorable lines from the film will also be available for $179.99.
From Classic Media nad Genius Products comes the 1977 animated holiday staple Fat Albert’s Halloween Special. Featuing live-action segments starring comedian Bill Cosby, the special is joined on disc by other classic episodes from the Emmy-winning cartoon show, including ‘The Prankster’ and ‘The Jinx.’ The title carries a suggested retail price of $12.93.
Also arriving at retail in advance of All Hallow’s Eve from Classic Media are collections of cartoons starring Casper and his pals. Casper and Friends: Trick or Treat and Casper & Wendy: Scare Up Some Fun each offer 12 high-spirited adventures produced by Harveytoons and list for $9.93 each.
A trio of rodents with high-pitched voices stir up some trouble as well in the 2006 animated feature Alvin and the Chipmunks: Trick or Treason. In this adventure, Alvin wants to be accepted into the Monster Club, but finds that the exclusive group’s members seem to think its cool to be cruel. When Theodore befriends a misunderstood outcast the other kids call Pumpkinhead, Alvin realizes that being a true friend is better than trying to be popular. Featuring the Chipmunk’s rendition of the hit song ‘Monster Mash,’ the Paramount Home Entertainment release lists for $14.99.
Many boys will also be asking for Bakugan Chapter 1: Battle Brawlers. The Warner Home Video debut offers five episodes of the internationally successful anime series now airing on the Cartoon Network in the U.S. and TELEOON in Canada. Based Sega Toys’ and Spin Master’s a strategic card game played with magnetic, spring-loaded marbles, the toon centers on small spheres from a distant universe that morph into powerful warriors. Young Dan and his friends use the Bakugan to fight for the future of mankind in this co-production of Nelvana Enterprises, Spin Master, Sega Toys, TMS Ent., Japan Vistec and Sega. The DVD carries a suggested retail price of $14.98.
Win a Funko X Lilo & Stitch Prize Pack! 