Kids’ action-adventure titles abound in today’s slate of DVD releases, starting with the latest batch of episodes from Nickelodeon’s hit series Avatar The Last Airbender. A pair of classics are also in the offing as BCI grants fan wishes by finaly bringing Filmation’s She-Ra and Flash Gordon TV series to disc for the first time.
Avatar: The Last Air Bender Book 1: Water, Vol. 4 offers episodes 13-16 of the hit anime-inspired cartoon series. “The Blue Spirit” finds Commander Zhao growing more powerful as the Fire Nation’ prepares for war, while “The Fortun Teller’ focuses on Aang’s relationship with Katara. In “Bato of the Water Tribe,” Katara and Sakkah get one step closer to reuniting with their lost father while a female bounty hunter picks up Aang’s trail. Finally, “The Deserter’ finds Aang a stranger in a new town where he hopes to learn the art of firebending from a reluctant master. DVD extras include a featurette titled “Ask the Creators” with creators Michael DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko and an original animatic. The Paramount Home Entertainment release lists for $16.99.
He-Man’s twin sister, Princess Adora, raises her own magic sword and becomes the most powerful woman in the universe in the animated 1980s series She-Ra Princess of Power. Today’s best-of release includes the introductory feature-length movie He-Man and She-Ra: The Secret of the Sword, as well as five episodes picked by fans via online voting. In addition, fans get a making-of featurette, audio commentaries, character bios, complete storyboards from selected episodes and downloadable scripts from selected episodes. The two-disc set carries a suggested retail price or $24.98.
The dashing, galaxy-traveling hero from comic books and early serials comes to animated life in Flash Gordon’The Complete Series. This four-disc set includes all 24 episodes of the series, which aired from 1979 to 1981. In the show, the title character blasts off to the planet Mongo with girlfriend Dale Arden and scientist Hans Zarkov on a mission to prevent evil dictator Ming the Merciless from dominating the universe. Our heroes are joined in their quest by Prince Barin of Arboria, the Hawk Men led by King Vultan, Queen Fria of the ice-covered land of Frigia and Thun the Lion Man. DVD bonus features include Blasting Off with Flash Gordon, a documentary featuring interviews with creators and historians, as well as audio commentaries, animated storyboards, art galleries, character profiles, trivia and fun facts. The set lists for $39.98.
Also debuting on disc today are volumes 3 and 4 of A Pup Named Scooby-Doo. Each release from Turner Home Entertainment offers four 22-minute episodes of the Warner Bros. series, which aired in the late 1980s. The show features Scooby, Shaggy, Fred, Daphne and Velma as young kids as they begin their sleuthing careers. The titles can be picked up for $14.98 apiece.
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