Sony’s Planet 51 lands on DVD and Blu-ray this week, giving animation fans a light-hearted diversion from the trials and tribulations of Oscar week.
Directed by Jorge Blanco, who worked with Javier Abad and Marcos Martinez at Madrid-based Ilion Animation Studios to produce the film, Planet 51 (Sony, $28.96 DVD, $39.95 Blu-ray combo pack) comes with bonus features such as extended scenes, a music video montage, the obstacle course game ‘Run Rover Run!’ and a multi-angle feature showing scenes in various stages of completion from breakdown to animatics, rendering and final animation. It also includes a making of documentary, a short film showing the various environments of the alien planet, and interviews with the voice actors. The Blu-ray/DVD combo pack also includes the exclusive Target 51 Game.
Children’s releases this week include Barbie in a Mermaid Tale (Universal, $19.98), Charlie & Lola Volume 10: I Can’t Stop Hiccuping (Warner Bros., $14.98), Dino Squad: Mutant Mayhem (NCircle Entertainment, $6.99), Elmo’s Rainbow & Other Springtime Stories (Warner Bros., $14.98), Martha Speaks: Martha Says it with Flowers (Paramount, $14.99), Pippi Longstocking: Here Comes Pippi (Phase 4 Films, $7.99 ) and Strawberry Shortcake / Spider’s Tale (Phast 4 Films, $9.99).
In addition, E1 Entertainment has six Jay Jay the Jet Plane releases, each selling for $12.98: Big Jake’s Birthday Surprise, Forever Friends, Persevere With God, Snuffy’s Big Picture, Super Sonic Jay Jay and You Are Special.
Anime releases arriving on American shores this week include Naruto Shippuden: Volume 7 (VIZ Media, $24.92), Evangelion: 1.11 You Are (Not) Alone (FUNimation, $29.98 special edition DVD, $34.98 Blu-ray) and Kenichi: Season 2, Part 2 Mightiest Disciple (FUNimation, $49.98 DVD).
