UPA cartoons come to DVD!

[Randall]

I posted this to the main page, but in case you missed it, Jerry beck announced two UP sets coming out in the new year. After so much time in the DVD era, I thought these might never come out. The sets look great, and I can't wait to see them.

Details: http://www.cartoonbrew.com/dvd/upa-on-dvd.html

[droosan]

I pre-ordered them yesterday!

Columbia released a 12-volume VHS series titled "Columbia Cartoon Classics" way back when .. which must've had a very small print-run, since I'd only ever found two volumes: #9, which has The Tell-Tale Heart, Gerald McBoingBoing, A Unicorn in the Garden, Mr. Magoo in Ragtime Bear, Rooty Toot Toot, Madeline, Magoo's Puddle Jumper, and the Fox & Crow in Robin Hoodlum -- and #12, which has eight more 'Mr. Magoo' cartoons.

I also have a DVD titled "Cartoon Adventures starring Gerald McBoingBoing" -- released by Sony Home Video a few years ago -- which contains his debut cartoon, the Cinemascope short Gerald McBoingBoing on Planet Moo, Gerald McBoingBoing's Symphony, and How Now BoingBoing.

And, of course, I have the UPA feature film Gay Purr-ee, released on DVD by Warner Bros.

Other than that, my main exposure to UPA was a small collection of 16mm film cartoons which I'd checked-out from the campus library several times, back when I was in college.

This amazing studio has been sadly 'under-represented' on home video, so I was very pleased with the announcement of these DVD sets!

[Randall]

"Pleased" would be an understatement.

I have that same VHS you mentioned first, in a clamshell (scored it at a Best Buy c.1997), plus one of the other ones (regular cardboard case, bought used at Blockbuster). My kids have watched them with me and they asked for more--- sadly, I couldn't show them anything else, except for the cartoons on the first Hellboy DVD. The new DVDs will be very welcome.

[EricJ]

After having already shelled out for the first Magoo box--which turned out to be only the TV series, with Magoo's Chinese houseboy PC-redubbed in most of the shorts--it's only made me that much more chomping at the bit to see the Theatricals finally make it out.
I'm guessing Columbia had held up the studio rights while Classic Media owned the UPA character, but nice to see they finally settled the disputes. (They have to put PC disclaimers on Magoo now, but Sony's was much more respectful than the one Disney put on the Leslie Nielsen movie.)

And 4 disks for $30 isn't too bad (or maybe I'm just used to Blu-ray by now)...There was supposed to be a "Complete" set, including Famous Adventures and What's New, what happened with that?
(Now, if somebody could just get 1001 Arabian Nights out of studio limbo.)

[Ben]

Excellent stuff!

There was an old VHS that we used to rent out all the time that contained Magoo cartoons alternating with other UPA shorts and although I read about lots more I could hardly ever see them.

This looks to be a very important release...by why no Blu-ray!? Sony always remasters their new releases in hi-def, and they invented the format! You'd think this to be the perfect opportunity to showcase a rich animation history and their fancy-looking format. Ahh well, maybe by the late 20-teens, just before BD gets to where DVD is now...

All we need is a TerryToons announcement now!

[EricJ]

This looks to be a very important release...by why no Blu-ray!? Sony always remasters their new releases in hi-def, and they invented the format! You'd think this to be the perfect opportunity to showcase a rich animation history and their fancy-looking format.

It would, but it's not Sony, it's Shout Factory. They're doing their best, but they're too humble and lovable a geek-title garage company (they're what's left of the original Rhino) to dabble in Blu-ray yet.
And Warner's TCM label doesn't deal in Blu-ray either, since their material is too "important" for the Archive, but too niche to sell on anything else.

(Darn, now if I could only find that opening clip of Magoo giving the "tour" of UPA studios, from the Famous Adventures "Man of Mystery" movie...)

[Ben]

Must have posted near the same time: I just read the talkback there and saw it wasn't Sony releasing, but Sony have restored everything on film and in HD and a Blu-ray could come in future.

Also Eric, 1001 Arabian Nights is currently planned to be on the Magoo theatricals set, so at least I'm not the only one not reading things through right!

[Randall]

It looks like the shorts were remastered in 1080, so there's some hope for the future... but it might be a while.

The Complete Magoo box, with Famous Adventures, is out now. Unfortunately, it still has the re-dubs on it, but it does have all 3 TV shows, plus a movie. I'm anxious to get it for the Famous Adventures cartoons, but I'll wait for a sale.

[EricJ]

The Complete Magoo box, with Famous Adventures, is out now. Unfortunately, it still has the re-dubs on it, but it does have all 3 TV shows, plus a movie. I'm anxious to get it for the Famous Adventures cartoons, but I'll wait for a sale.

I'll wait for the Famous Adventures to be re-dipped as a solo box.
That was the true classic (where I first learned of the Count of Monte Cristo and Midsummer Night's Dream while still in elementary school, and even to this day, I still see Don Quixote as Magoo)--But What's New was 70's DePatie-Freleng (ick), and the UPA TV series was...pretty minor. We're lucky they didn't stick the complete Dick Tracy in there as well.