Santa’s Little Helper is sure to make his way into many a stocking this holiday season as the blockbuster animated comedy The Simpsons Movie arrives on DVD and Blu-ray Disc today. The pic grossed more than $500 million at the box office worldwide and Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment aims to keep that gravy train rolling with an attractive package that includes a lot of commentary and deleted scenes.
Featuring the voices of series regulars Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith, Hank Azaria, Harry Shearer, Pamela Hayden and Tress MacNeille, The Simpsons Movie also boasts guest spots by Albert Brooks (Finding Nemo), rock band Green Day and two-time Oscar winner Tom Hanks (The Polar Express). The story finds the fate of Springfield hanging in the balance when Homer and his new pet pig inadvertently cause a major ecological disaster in their hometown. Forced to flee, Homer must find a way to save his family, the Springfield community and possibly the world.
Bonus features include commentaries by Simpsons creator Matt Groening, exec producer James L. Brooks, show runner Al Jean, producer Mike Scully, directors David Silverman, Mike B. Anderson, Steven Dean Moore and Rich Moore, and actors Dan Castellaneta and Yeardley Smith. Other extras include an alternate ending, a look at alternate character designs by the directors and Groening, and promotional spots including the Simpsons judging American Idol and Homer’s monologue on The Tonight Show. The single-disc DVD is available at a suggested retail price of $29.98, while the high-definition Blu-ray Disc version lists for $39.98.
Another animated offering debuting on home video today is The New Adventures of the Lone Ranger and Zorro, a collection of episodes from two Filmation series that first aired in the 1980s. The volume features eleven adventures of The Lone Ranger, and six installments of Zorro, each available for the first time ever on DVD. Fans can pick it up for the suggested retail price of $14.98.
