Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment today released the new animated feature Futurama: Bender’s Game on DVD and Blu-ray Disc. The third of four new Futurama adventures, the movie comes loaded with bonus materials including Dungeons & Dragons & Futurama, in which co-creator David X. Cohen explores the influence of the classic role-playing fantasy game on the animated franchise. Fans of the Shrek franchise can also pick up the half-hour television special Shrek the Halls, which aired on ABC last Christmas.
With fuel prices skyrocketing, the Planet Express crew sets off on a dangerous mission to infiltrate the world’s only dark-matter mine, source of all spaceship fuel. But deep beneath the surface, they discover a far stranger place’a medieval land of dragons, sorcery and intoxicated knights who look suspiciously like Bender. Joining the cast are guest stars George Takei from Star Trek and Heroes, and comic impressionist Rich Little.
Other special features include outtakes, cast commentary, a featurette titled How To Draw Futurama In 83 Easy Steps, a 3D models featurette with animator discussion, a storyboard animatic, an anti-piracy message from Bender, an interactive Futurama Genetics Laboratory and a sneak peek at the next Futurama epic, Futurama: Into The Wild Green Yonder. The DVD is available for the suggested retail price of $29.98. The Blu-ray version lists for $39.98 and includes the wide screen version of the film, plus picture-in-picture capabilities.
Directed by Gary Trousdale (Beauty and the Beast), Shrek the Halls has Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz and Antonio Banderas all reprising their roles from the movies as Christmas Eve finds the green ogre lacking in holiday cheer. For the sake of Fiona and the kids, he tries to get into the spirit, but finds his plans for a cozy family celebration spiraling out of control when Donkey, Puss In Boots, Gingerbread Man and the whole gang try to join in on the fun.
The disc comes with sing-alongs of ’12 Days of Christmas’ and ‘Deck the Halls’ featuring clips from the holiday short starring the penguins from Madagascar. Other extras include Gingy’s Dunking Game, a DVD-ROM demo of the video game Shrek Carnival Craze and DreamWorks Animation Jukebox, which features songs and video from Shrek, Shrek 2, Shrek the Third, Bee Movie, Flushed Away, Over the Hedge, Madagascar and Shark Tale. The release lists at $24.99.
Also debuting today is Alvin and the Chipmunks Special Edition. In addition to the hit 2007 movie, the two-disc set features a mocumentary titled Behind the Nuts, dance instructional featurette hosted by Chipmunk choreographer Rosero McCoy and the featurettes Chipmunks Live on Tour! and The Dudes Behind The Munks. There’s also a ‘Chipmunk Funk Mixer’ interactive feature, deleted scenes and music videos. The release is also available as a limited-edition gift set in which the special edition DVD is packaged with an exclusive Alvin Ty Beanie Baby Plush toy.
