Direct-to-video sequels are the order of the day as Disney’s Mulan II and Universal’s Balto III: Wings of Change make the trek to retailers. The follow-ups are joined on shelves today by a pair of wacky late-night Cartoon Network favorites in the form of Adult Swim’s The Brak Show: Volume 1 and Sealab 2021: Season 2.
The Chinese legend continues in Mulan II as our beautiful and courageous heroine and her guardian dragon, Mushu, return for another harrowing adventure. After saving her nation from the evil Huns, Mulan gets the surprise of her life when General Shang asks for her hand in marriage. Before tying the knot, however, the two lovebirds must undertake the dangerous mission of escorting three princesses to a distant city. Adding to their difficulties is Mushu, who plots to keep Mulan single as long as possible so he can keep his cushy guardian job. Ming-Na returns as the voice of Mulan, leading a cast that includes B.D. Wong, Pat Morita, Harvey Fierstein, Gedde Watanabe, Lucy Lui, Michelle Kwan, Jerry Tondo and Soon-Tek Oh.
The DVD bonus materials include a mini-doc on the voice actors; the featurette The World of Mulan, in which Mushu hosts a fun-filled tour of China’s rich history and culture; deleted scenes; and games and activities isuch as Mushu’s Guese Who, a guessing game involving the dragon’s shadow puppet skills. There’s also a music video for the song "(I wanna Be) Like Other Girls," performed by pop sensation Atomic Kitten. The Buena Vista Home Entertainment release lists for $29.99 on DVD.
An all-star voice cast turns out for the return of everyone’s favorite animated Alaskan sled dog in Balto III: Wings of Change. When an airplane pilot claims he can deliver mail and supplies faster than a sled dog team, Balto and his fellow four-legged pals rise to the challenge. Lending their voices to the production are Sean Astin (The Lord of the rings Trilogy, Cartoon Network’s Party Wagon), Keith Carradine (Deadwood, Hair High), Jean Smart (I Heart Huckabees, Disney’s Kim Possible) and Kathy Nijimy (King of the Hill, Stuart Little TV series).
The Balto III disc also features an interactive activity titled The Ultimate Rescue Challenge Game, in which players lead Balto and friends through six different levels. The DVD retails for $19.98.
From the archives of Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim block comes The Brak Show: Volume 1. The two-disc set features 14 episodes of the Space Ghost: Coast to Coast spin-off. Animated at Wild Hare Studios, the show takes place before Brak meets Space Ghost, and explores his suburban home life and his adventures with his best buddy, a foul-mouthed, destructive praying mantis named Zorak. Extra features include Cartoon Planet segments, Brak Presents the Brak Show Starring Brak, Adult Swim news, commentary from show’s creators and Brak himself, and a never-before-heard radio play production of The Brak Show. The Warner Home Video release lists for $29.98.
Also from the Adult Swim pool is a two-disc set featuring 13 episodes from the second season (2000) of Sealab 2021. The series producers take footage from Alex Toth’s 1972 animated show, Sealab 2020, and make it really twisted by re-writing the plots and dialogue. Bonus materials include commentary on all 13 installments, a tribute to Harry Goz (voice of Captain Murphy), "20 Questions with the Cast," a tour of 70-30 Prods. and a rough cut of the episode "Der Dieb." Fans can pick it up for $29.98 or less.
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