Today’s slate of home video releases includes a raft of holiday specials going back to the 1983 animated classic, The Wind in the Willows. Also on shelves today are I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown; Garfield Holiday Celebrations and two volumes from the Dora the Explorer library.
Kenneth Grahame’s classic children’s book comes to life through animation in The Wind in the Willows, a 20-year old stop-motion animation favorite getting another look today thanks to A&E Home Video. Produced by Cosgrove-Hall, the film takes place in early 20th Century Britain, where friends Mole, Rat, Badger and Toad enjoy a series of musical adventures. Extras includes an interview with co-producer Brian Cosgrove, Toad’s Road trivia game and a photo gallery. The title carries a suggested retail price of $19.95.
The new Peanuts holiday special, I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown!, premiered last Christmas on ABC and now it’s available on disc and tape courtesy of Paramount Home Video. The special centers on Rerun, the lovable but ever-skeptical younger brother of Linus and Lucy. Stressed out by his big sister, Rerun turns to best friend Snoopy for holiday cheer and ends up getting a dog of his own when he invites Snoopy’s canine brother, Spike, for a visit. But when Spike shows up, the real trouble begins.
Like the other Peanuts TV outings, I Want a Dog for Christmas is directed and produced by Bill Melendez (long-time voice of Snoopy) and exec. produced by Lee Mendelson. The hour-long, 50th Peanuts animated TV special carries a suggested retail price of $14.99 on DVD and $9.95 on VHS.
Garfield’s Holiday Celebrations includes the TV specials Garfield’s Halloween Adventure (1985), Garfield’s Thanksgiving (1989) and A Garfield Christmas (1987) on one disc. Produced by United Feature Syndicate and Film Roman Prods., the specials originally aired on CBS in the U.S. The Fox Home Entertainment release retails for $14.98 on DVD.
There’s more holiday fun with the release of Dora the Explorer: Dora’s Christmas (2004), complete with a Santa’s Super Scavenger Hunt game. Available for $16.99 on DVD and $9.95 on VHS, the Paramount Home Video release arrives with Dora the Explorer: Dora’s Ultimate Adventures, a three-disc DVD collection featuring the episodes Map Adventures, City of Lost Toys and Rhymes and Riddles. The anthology runs 291 minutes and is priced around $30.
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