Batman: The Long Halloween
A brutal murder on Halloween prompts the Batman (Jensen Ackles) to team up with Gotham’s only honest lawmen, Cpt. Gordon (Billy Burke) and Harvey Dent (Josh Duhamel) to take down the Falcone Crime Family — only for more seasonal slayings to stain the city’s streets. So begins WB Animation’s take on the ’90s DC Comics story, directed by Chris Palmer (Man of Tomorrow). Part One also features the voices of Titus Welliver (Carmine Falcone), David Dasmalchain (Calendar Man), Troy Baker (Joker) and the late Naya Rivera (Catwoman). In the R-rated Part Two (on Blu-ray Aug. 10), the Holiday Killer remains at large, Batman falls under Poison Ivy’s (Katee Sackhoff) spell and Dent is torn in two by professional and personal battles. The sets include DC Showcase shorts The Losers (Pt. 1) and Blue Beetle (Pt. 2), as well as treasures from the vault, sneak peeks and more. [WBHE, $30 Pt. 1 / $35 Pt. 2]
The Spongebob Movie: Sponge on the Run
Yes, the long journey of the third bigscreen Bikini Bottom movie has reached its disc destination this month! Fans can follow SpongeBob and Patrick on their heroic, hilarious quest to rescue Gary the snail from King Poseidon in the Lost City of Atlantic City — bumping into old friends and new faces voiced by Awkwafina, Matt Berry and Reggie Watts along the way. Written and directed by series vet Tim Hill, the Paramount Animation/Nickelodeon Movies feature (animated by Mikros Image) comes home with snazzy souvenirs, like all-new mini-movie I’m Urchin You to Leave, music videos from the likes of Snoop Dogg, Tyga, et al; deleted storyboards and s’more from the BFFs’ carefree youth at Camp Coral. Also available in the SpongeBob 3-Movie Collection. [Paramount, $23 BD / $18 DVD]
Memories
Three unforgettable tales from Akira director Katsuhiro Otomo come home with a brand-new English language dub: a washed up diva awaits unwary deep space travelers in Magnetic Rose; a pill mix-up turns a junior scientist into a living WMD in Stink Bomb; and a family carries out their day in a city of perpetual war in Cannon Fodder. Special features include art gallery, interviews, translation notes and more. [Discotek Media, $30 BD]
The Herculoids: The Complete Original Series
Humanoid heroes and their creature companions defend a utopian planet from sinister invaders across this 18-episode Hanna-Barbera toon. Zandor — along with his wife, Tara, and son, Dorno — leads a group of unique creatures: Zok the flying dragon, powerful simian Igoo (who has rocklike skin), rhinoceros hybrid Tundro and two protoplasmic wonders appropriately named Gloop and Gleep. Together, they use their diverse super-strengths to defend their utopian planet against attack from such sinister invaders as the Pod Creatures, the Reptons and the Mutoids.Out of this world family entertainment, literally. [Warner Archive, $25 BD / $17 DVD]
The Art of Luca
While Enrico Casarosa’s beautiful ode to mid-century Italy, childhood friendships and coastal lore skipped theaters this summer, you can still score a front-row look at the beautiful Pixar artistry behind the film’s stunning CG visuals. Featuring a foreword by Casarosa and introduction by production designer Daniela Strijleva, the 176-page hardcover takes you below the waves to discover a rich world of concept and character development art, swimming with fascinating facts and insider details from the movie’s creative team. [Chronicle, $40]
The Art of Rick and Morty, Vol. 2 Deluxe Edition
The full hardcover peek behind the curtain of the Adult Swim global hit showcases the interstellar art of the third and fourth seasons. The deluxe release is given a glow-up with gilded edges and a ribbon marker to please the fanciest of fans, plus a glow-in-the-dark lithograph print and replicas of Rick’s iconic bumper stickers, wrapped up in an acetate sleeve emblazoned with Rick and Morty’s silhouettes. [Dark Horse Books, $80]
The Animator’s Survival Kit – Minis!
The must-have megatome for aspiring animators penned by the late Richard Williams gets a 20th anniversary re-issue as four key topic manuals of 40-80 pages, each with a never-before-seen intro in Williams’ own hand. Walks, Runs, Jumps and Skips; Flexibility and Weight; and Dialogue, Directing, Acting and Animal Action available in the U.K. August 5. [Faber, £10 each]
Exploding Minions | The first licensed spin on the hit Exploding Kittens card game (the No. 1 most-backed Kickstarter project in history) features new card types and fun, fresh illustrations of Illumination’s popular henchmen, as reimagined by The Oatmeal. This Russian Roulette-style diversion is suitable for players ages seven and up, available from select retailers. [explodingkittens.com, $20]
