Own it now on DVD

There are a lot of shoddy PD DVDs available everywhere, but there are only a handful of DVD companies that release these cartoons not to make a quick buck, but to show them in the best possible light. Companies like Inkwell Images and even VCI (despite their overuse of DVNR) have successfully attempted to give us very respectable compilations, with good transfers and even some fine extras. Another company worthy of praise is Thunderbean. Ever since their first release (Cubby Bear), they strive to give these cartoons the respect they deserve, and their latest DVD proves their undoubted commitment.

Return of the 30's Characters is a sequel to the essential Attack of the 30's Characters DVD, and it contains cartoons from nearly every studio (Disney and MGM are not represented in this collection), with a mix of familiar favourites and rarities.

One such gem is the rare Toby the Pup cartoon The Museum. About 12 cartoons were made, but only five survive, of which this one was the very first to be released (in 1930). As this was made by ex-Fleischer animator Dick Heumer (along with Sid Marcus and Art Davis) for Charles Mintz and RKO, this is a very Fleischer-esque cartoons with plenty of surreal gags, and is also very well animated for its time.

And talking of Fleischer, the Betty Boop cartoon Rise to Fame is also included in this collection. Although it is a cheater cartoon containing footage from three earlier shorts (Stopping The Show, Bamboo Isle, & The Old Man Of The Mountains), this short does include a rare sound appearance by Max Fleischer. His Color Classic short Hawaiian Birds also features, and will be familiar to many classic cartoon fans.

Another rarity is the Flip the Frog cartoon Little Orphan Willie, where he looks after a rascally baby mouse. This short is particularly rare as it is not included on the Cartoons That Time Forgot DVDs. Two more Ub Iwerks shorts are also present: the ComiColor cartoon The Brementown Musicians, and the cult classic Balloon Land, which features the wonderfully-designed Pincushion Man.

Naturally, you gotta include some Van Beuren cartoons in this complilation: the Tom & Jerry short Joint Wipers, which contains the studio's trademark brand of surreal humour; and the less-memorable (but still entertaining) Molly Moo-Cow cartoon The Hunting Season, directed by ex-Disneyites Burt Gillett and Tom Palmer.

This DVD has one solitary Terrytoon: His Off Day, featuring Puddy the Pup, directed by Connie Rasinski and released in 1938. Although Puddy was not a memorable character, at least he showed a bit more personality than his nearest rival, Betty Boop's Pudgy.

The Walter Lantz studio is again represented in this collection: Oswald the Lucky Rabbit's Making Good; and the rare Meany, Miney & Moe short House of Magic, where the three monkeys wreak havoc in a magic shop. Although it is not hard to see why the chimps never caught on with the public, it is still a welcome addition to the collection with some fine visual gags.

And, of course, this collection would not be complete without a generous helping of Warner Brothers cartoons. The Harman-Ising shorts, Bosko's Holiday and Smile, Darn Ya, Smile (starring Foxy), are present and correct, alongside two Porky Pig toons Boom Boom (featuring co-star Beans) and Get Rich Quick Porky (also starring Gabby Goat). The print used for the latter is, thankfully, NOT the redrawn version usually found on other PD collections, and is a rare treat for us LT aficionados.

As with their previous releases, Thunderbean has digitally remastered (and, in some cases, re-assemble) each cartoon from the best-available prints, and while it is true to say that the picture and sound quality does vary with each cartoon, the quality of these transfers are still far superior than the shoddy-looking versions more commonly found on most other PD DVDs. In fact, many of the B&W cartoons look incredibly crisp. Also, Thunderbean took the time to reinstate or recreate the original opening titles. While some of the titles are not really 100% accurate, they still give you a feeling of what the original prints were like when first shown in theatres. Another bonus is that the cartoons have no DVNR whatsoever!

There are two bonus features on this DVD: one is a short essay of each of the cartoons featured, written by Mr. Thunderbean himself - Steve Stanchfield. Another is a complete Castle Films print of Balloon Land, retitled The Pincushion Man. To this reviewer, this is a slightly-odd inclusion, as most of us would want to watch the better-quality original version already included, but this extra will be welcomed by the older viewer or film collector as a welcome piece of cartoon nostalgia.

Yet again, this is a well thought-out DVD with good transfers and a top-notch selection of cartoons, which is the usual standard set by Thunderbean. This set is not only essential to hardcore animation fans (for the rare shorts and superior transfers), but also to the newcomer who wants to watch a sample from forgotten/lesser-known studios before deciding to seek out more. And the RRP won't break the bank. So what are you waiting for? Hugely recommended!

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