Before going on with the review, allow me to share with you the warning that is displayed at the start of each of these disks:
It is appropriate, considering some of the content in these old time toons. Warner Brothers has done all of us a favor by delivering all of the cartoons in their original, uncut and uncensored forms. These cartoons include sexuality, violence, suicide, and a fair share of racial stereotypes. We all know these things are wrong, but what would have been more wrong is if the cartoons were forced to face an editors blade and have these elements excised. There is something to be said about seeing them as they were originally seen and understanding that they are the product of another era when things like this were sadly tolerated. On the other hand, try not to let them interfere with laughing at the genuinely funny cartoons.The cartoons you are about to see are products of their time. They may
depict some of the ethnic and racial prejudices that were commonplace in
American society. These depictions were wrong then and are wrong today. While
the following does not represent the Warner Bros. view of today's society, these
cartoons are being presented as they were originally created because to do
otherwise would be the same as claiming these prejudices never existed.
Looney Tunes have always been my preferred brand of cartoons, over the Disney shorts. While Disney has put out some fine collections, and produced some great characters and cartoons, I always preferred the slightly more crazy and wacky world of Bugs, Daffy, and the rest to Mickey and Donald.
The second disk offers up a vastly different experience, but still an entertaining one. Rather than focus on any specific character, it focuses on director Frank Tashlin, although there is a good dose of Porky. Like I mentioned earlier, I am no historian, or even terribly familiar with all of the different names associated with
The fourth disk takes us on another themed trip, but it isn't charcter or director driven, it is cat powered! It is a collection of shorts featuring felines in the lead, not all of them are Sylvestor, although some of them seem to be Sylvestor
Audio/Video. In a word: stellar. All of the shorts in this set have been restored to the best of Warner's ability. These have not looked better since they were first projected on the big screen, and I am sure, for the toons I've seen before, that they have never looked better. The colors are bright and vibrant, and you can really get a good look at the fantastic animation that went into these sets. The audio is just as good, everything sounds excellent. Of course, these cartoons are getting up there in age, and as would be expected they are not perfect, but they are as close as we're going to get, and I am glad for that.
Extras. As if the cartoons weren't enough, this set is loaded with extras. This is not an exact list, but it will get you excited for a taste.
- Commentaries. All of the disks have multiple commentary tracks from animators, voice talent, and historians, all of which help put the cartoons in perspective and give a little history on those who made them, as well as analyze what we are seeing. All of the ones I have listened to have been great.
- Documentaries. Vintage footage and more recent creations, you will go inside Termite Terrace and get a look at the minds behind these beloved characters. I also learned of a man named Raymond Scott, a jazz orchestra leader whose music was used by musical director Carl Stalling for many of classic shorts, I have become determined to find CD releases of his work.
- Music and Effects Tracks. A number of the shorts have an alternate audio track where you can just listen to the music and effects. It is amazing how well they still hold up.
- Vault Footage. There are many shorts and other items dug out of the vaults and presented here, in some cases for the first time ever. They range from the bumpers used for the Bugs & Daffy Show to early cartoons, all of it a blessing for animation fans.
- Note: My favorite piece of extra material is on disk four and involves Porky. It is called Porky's Breakdown. It appears to be an animated outtake reel from 1939, and it just had me in tears laughing!
Bottomline. This set is an absolute must own, especially for animation fans. The restorations look great, the shorts are great, the extra material is fantastic. I tip my hat to Warner Brothers for doing such extraordinary work on these Golden Collections. Do yourself a favor and get yourself a copy.
Highly Recommended.
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