Warner Home Video celebrates the 30th anniversary of the classic animated fantasy film Watership Down and Charlie Brown tries to get elected in this week’s batch of home video releases. Also hitting disc are episodes of the hit animated primetime series The Simpsons, South Park and Robot Chicken.
Based on British author Richard Adam’s bestselling novel of the same name, Watership Down revolves around a community of rabbits nestled among the rolling hills and peaceful meadows of England. When their warren is threatened, a small group of brave bunnies illegally escapes into the unknown countryside in search of a safer home. Led by the visionary Fiver, the courageous Bigwig, the clever Blackberry and the honorable Hazel, they embark on a dangerous journey that will require all of their strength and cunning. The voice cast includes such celebrated British actors as John Hurt, Richard Briers, Harry Andrews, Simon Cadell, Nigel Hawthorne and Roy Kinnear.
Listing at $19.97, the deluxe edition film is accompanied by all-new extra features including Watership Down: A Conversation with the Filmmakers, a conversation with producer/director Martin Rosen and editor Terry Rawlings. There’s also a featurette titled Defining a Style, as well as a storyboard-to-animation comparison.
The animated television special You’re Not Elected, Charlie Brown comes to DVD with a re-mastered, deluxe edition from Warner Home Video. In this enduring tale, Charlie wants to be student body president, but polling information gathered by Lucy doesn’t look good for his chances. He decides instead to back Linus, who runs on a pro-recess, anti-homework platform. He’s looking like a shoo-in, until he starts talking about the Great Pumpkin.
Included on the disc is a behind-the-scenes featurette titled The Polls Don’t Lie: The Making of You’re Not Elected, Charlie Brown. The feature offers viewers an in-depth look at the eighth Peanuts television special, and explores the political leanings (or lack thereof) of its producers as they set out to create a politically-themed piece within the realm of Peanuts. The DVD carries a suggested retail price of $19.98.
The Simpsons: The Complete Eleventh Season arrives as a four-disc set with 22 episodes of the long-running FOX series. Retailing for $49.98, the set features episode commentary, an introduction by series creator Matt Groening, an animation showcase, deleted scenes, The Many Faces of Krusty featurette, original sketches and A Star on Hollywood Boulevard featurette.
South Park: The Cult of Cartman is a two-disc set with 12 episodes featuring Cartman at his very worst. The Warner Home Video release lists for $26.99. There’s more irreverent, adult-oriented animated comedy to be found in Warner’s release of Robot Chicken: Season 3, a double-discer packed with 20 episodes of the Adult Swim series for $29.98.
