Just in time for Halloween, Warner Bros.’ CG-animated feature Monster House makes its home video debut today. Released in July, the $75 million spooky comedy took in just north of $73 million domestically and sacred up more than $133 million worldwide. Perhaps best suited for the fall frame, the flick should be a popular holiday viewing option for kids not quite old enough for the gory exploits of Michael Meyers or Jigsaw. Meanwhile, people of all ages can enjoy three individual releases of Aardman Animations’ popular British TV series Creature Comforts from Sony, which also gives us the classic British animated short The Snowman on disc.
Created with Sony Pictures Imageworks’ Performance Capture technology, Monster House is the feature directorial debut of UCLA Spotlight Award winner Gil Kenan. The supernatural comedy-adventure centers on three kids who venture across the street to a mysterious house that they believe to be alive. The film is produced by Steven Spielberg and Robert Zemeckis, the film features the voices of Steve Buscemi, Nick Cannon, Matthew Fahey, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Jon Heder, Kevin James, Jason Lee, Ryan Newman, Catherine O’Hara, Kathleen Turner and Fred Willard.
DVD extras include the seven featurettes Imaginary Heroes, Beginner’s Luck, The Best of Friends, Lots of Dots, Black Box Theater, Making It Real and Did You Hear That? There is also a multi-angle exploration of the evolution of the ‘Eliza vs. Nebbercracker” scene, filmmaker commentary, a look at the art of the film, a photo gallery and DVD-ROM games, downloads and activities. The Sony release carries a suggested retail price of $28.95.
All 12 episodes from the second season of Aardman’s BBC series Creature Comforts are available on two discs. For $24.96, fans also get a featurette titled Eyeballs and Fish-lips: The Making of Creature Comforts, as well as a look at the people behind the puppets and the bonus toon Animated Conversation’Countryside Code Short. Also released by Sony today are the mocumentary Creature Comforts: Merry Christmas, Everybody ($9.95) and Creature Comforts: Seasons 1 & 2, a three-disc set that also includes Merry Christmas, Everybody ($40.95).
Speaking of Christmas, Sony wants to complement your holiday DVD collection with John Coates’ Academy Award-nominated, BAFTA-winning animated short The Snowman. Narrated by music icon David Bowie, this adaptation of the classic wordless children’s book by Raymond Briggs has been broadcast in more than 100 countries worldwide and has been shown every Christmas on Channel 4 since it’s debut in 1982. The release is priced to own at $9.99.
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