A quartet of foul-mouthed young boys, a famous cat-and-mouse duo and a simian ruling class make their way to DVD today with the releases of South Park: The Hits Vol. 1, Tom & Jerry Tales Volume 1: Ho Ho Horrors and Return to the Planet of the Apes, the complete animated series from the mid-1970s.
South Park creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker have hand-picked ten of their favorite episodes to be included in the first volume of South Park: The Hits. Episodes featured in the Paramount Home Video release are ‘Awesom-O,’ “Best Friends Forever,” “Casa Bonita,” “Good Times with Weapons,” “Red Hot Catholic Love,” “Scott Tenorman Must Die,” “Towelie,” “The Return of the Fellowship of the Ring to the Two Towers,” “Spoiled Whore Video Playset” and the infamous Tom Cruise/Scientology installment, ‘Trapped in the Closet.’
The installments are accompanied by new audio commentary and the fan-favorite bonus episodes “Fatt Butt & Pancake Head” (a.k.a. J. Lo and Ben Affleck), “It Hits the Fan,” “Timmy 2000” and “The Death Camp of Intolerance.” In addition, the compilation features The Spirit of Christmas, the original short film that started it all, available for the first time. Now in its 10th season, the show returns to comedy Central with seven all-new episodes starting on Oct. 4. The DVD is available now for the list price of $26.99.
Making a welcomed return to form, Tom and Jerry are up to their old tricks in the new Kids’ WB! series Tom & Jerry Tales, which premiered on Sept. 23. Now fans can pick up Tom & Jerry Tales Volume 1: Ho Ho Horrors, which features 12 of the first Tom & Jerry shorts produces in 30 years. Like the classic cartoons, these new episodes have the title characters wreaking slapstick havoc, but with a spooky twist for Halloween viewing. Titles include ‘Bats What I Like About the South,’ ‘Tomb It May Concern,’ ‘Firebreathing Tom Cat’ and Medieval Menace.’ The disc is available for around $14.98 from Warner Home Video. Tom and Jerry Tales is produced by Tom Minton and Frank Molieri and exec produced by Sander Schwartz and Joe Barbera.
Return to the Planet of the Apes offers all 13 half-hour episodes of the short-lived cartoon series based on the live-action features and TV show. The animated icarnation was first included in the recently released Ultimate Planet of the Apes collector’s set but has been restored and re-mastered for its solo release.
Animated by DePatie-Freleng Enterprises, the 1975-76 series is more in line with Pierre Boulle’s original novel, La Plan’te des Singes, which had the apes living in a technologically advanced society. However, there are familiar characters including Nova, Cornelius, Zira, Doctor Zaius and General Urko, as well as other elements and references to the films and live-action series. Fox Home Entertainment has given the set a list price of $19.98.
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