Disney today released special editions of its animated features Tarzan (1999) and The Emperor’s New Groove. The two-disc sets are joined on shelves by a reissue of the 1992 20th Century Fox animated movie Ferngully: The Last Rainforest, as well as the direct-to-video entries The Wheels on the Bus: Mango Helps the Moon Mouse and The Care Bears Big Wish Movie. a host of TV toon favorites including Atomic Betty, Pet Alien, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe and Yu-Gi-Oh!.
Disney’s hugely successful take on the legend of the Ape Man, Tarzan stars the voices of Tony Goldwyn (Ghost), Minnie Driver (Good Will Hunting), Glenn Close (Adaptation), Rosie O’Donnell (A League of their Own), Lance Henriksen (Alien vs. Predator), Nigel Hawthorne (The Madness of King George), Wayne Knight (Jurassic Park). The set features commentary by the filmmakers, deleted scenes, an alternate opening, a presentation reel, a featurette on the history and development of Tarzan from the novels by Edgar Rice Burroughs, three all-new games including Terk’s Tree-Surfing Challenge, the DisneyPedia entry "Living In The Jungle" and music videos featuring Everlife, Phil Collins and ‘N Sync, all for the list price of $29.99.
The Emperor’s New Groove: The New Groove Edition is a supped-up version of the Disney toon feature starring the voices of David Spade (Joe Dirt), John Goodman (TV’s Father of the Pride), Eartha Kitt (TV’s Batman), Patrick Warburton (Cartoon Network’s The Venture Brothers) and Wendie Malick (TV’s Just Shoot Me). Additions this time around include audio commentary by the filmmakers, a behind-the-scenes look at how the film was made, deleted scenes, an interactive game, a Rascal Flatts music video for “Walk the Llama Llama” and Sting’s Making the Music Video featuring the Academy Award—nominated Song "My Funny Friend And Me.” Fans can get into the groove for around $29.99.
Ferngully: The Last Rainforest: Family Fun Edition brings new extra features to the environmentally conscious animated feature voiced by Tim Curry (The Wild Thornberrys Movie), Samantha Mathis (The Punisher), Christian Slater (Alone in the Dark), Robin Williams (Robots) and comedy team Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong. Bonus materials include commentary, script-to-screen comparisons of five key scenes, behind the scenes featurettes, eight set-top games, a promo gallery, a still gallery and a music video for “If I’m Gonna Eat Somebody It Might as Well Be You." The edition carries a suggested retail price of $19.98.
The new preschool kids adventure The Wheels on the Bus: Mango Helps the Moon Mouse is a mix of live action, puppetry and 3D CG animation. Released by Starlight Home Entertainment, this second episode in the award-winning series features the voice talents of Roger Daltrey, frontman of legendary British rock group The Who, and former Saturday Night Live player Victoria Jackson, as well as songs by Laura Hall from Whose Line Is It Anyway?” It is available now for around $14.98.
Another classic property is back with Care Bears: Big Wish Movie, a direct-to-video CG-animated feature. Extras included on the Lions Gate release include a Care Bears sing-along, Build a House Game and Rocket Hunt Game. It lists for $19.98.
Popular Nickelodoen shows get tossed together on one disc with Nick Jr. Favorites Volume 2. The compilation offers an eight-episode mix of hit franchises including Dora the Explorer ("Super Map"), LazyTown ("Sleepless in LazyTown"), The Backyardigans ("Quest For the Flying Rock”), Blue’s Clues "Blue’s Big Pajama Party” ) Little Bill "Little Bill’s Giant Space Adventure”) and the Max & Ruby installments “Ruby’s Lemonade Stand,” “Ruby’s Rummage Sale” and “Ruby’s Magic Act.” Also available from Paramount Home Entertainments is Nick Picks Volume 2, which features nine episodes including The Fairly OddParents: "The FOP Big Superhero Wish,” All Grown Up: "Interview With a Campfire,” SpongeBob SquarePants: "I’m With Stupid,” “SpongeBob SquarePants Meets the Strangler,” My Life As a Teenage Robot: "Gridiron Glory,” Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: "Party At the Neutrons,” Danny Phanton: "Splitting Images” and Rugrats: "10th Anniversary Parts 1 & 2.” Each of the two releases list for $16.99.
Warner Home Video’s Atomic Betty Volume 1: Betty, Set, Go! and Atomic Betty Volume 2: Betty to the Rescue! each offer eight 11-minute episodes of the Cartoon Network animated series on single discs for $19.97. Meanwhile, Fox Home Video has released two editions of Cartoon Network’s Pet Alien. Containing four episodes each, Pet Alien: Aliens Unleashed and Pet Alien: Atomic Tommy can be had for $14.98.
The power of Castle Grayskull can be felt once again with the six-disc He-Man and the Masters of the Universe: Season One, Volume 1. Released by Bci Eclipse, the set contains 33 episodes of the popular 1980s cartoon, along with two new documentaries, a full-length animated storyboard, deleted scenes and two 4X6 art cards by Alex Ross and Bill Sienkiewicz for $49.98.
Yu-Gi-Oh! Volume 5: The Final Face-Off from 4Kids Ent. ($14.98) offers five episodes of the hit anime series from Funimation Prods. The show airs on Kids’ WB! in the U.S.
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