the-depatie-freleng-collection-volume-1The Ant and the Aardvark:

The team of Depatie and Freleng tried to come up with their own animated version of Looney Tunes’ Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote. So basically one animal chasing another with you always rooting for the one trying to escape with its life and not be eaten.

 

Like the cartoon they are copying the Ant (voiced by John Byner) and the Aardvark (voiced by John Byner) are pretty much the only characters in this collection of seventeen cartoons. You don’t really need anything or anyone else as the concept is rather simple – the Aardvark is trying to catch and eat the Ant. What ensues is a series of crazy chases, non-stop action, laughs of the slapstick variety and some over the top violence.

 

They are simply going for laughs here – nothing more, nothing less. That being said rare are the moments in which you will find yourself engaging in a full out belly laugh. Rather it is amusing and something you will watch with a smile on your face. The best part is the voice work by John Byner, who plays both characters.

 

Special Features:

-Audio Commentaries for selected episodes by Friz Freleng (compiled from archival interviews), filmmaker Greg Ford, author Mark Arnold, and historian Jerry Beck

– “Goodbye, Warner Bros. Hello, DePatie-Freleng” – New documentary on the history of DePatie-Freleng Enterprises, featuring interviews with Friz Freleng, Greg Ford, animator/director Art Leonardi, ink & paint artist Barbara Donatelli, Jerry Beck, and critic Will Friedwald

– “Of Aardvarks, Ants, Inspectors, and Cranes” – more interviews with the creative team behind the cartoons regarding their favourites, voice work and preferred animation styles.

The Inspector:

From the mid to late Eighties as part of the Pink Panther cartoon series there was a very popular cartoon called The Inspector. A very popular and endearing character loosely based on Inspector Clouseau. Meaning it was one misstep and pratfall after another. The jokes and situations are pretty much the same throughout the series but so well done that you cannot help but be entertained and laugh.

 

The Inspector (voiced by Pat Harrington Jr.) works in Paris and tries to keep it free of criminals. He works under the Commissioner (voiced by Paul Frees) who really does not like the way the Inspector works and ends up blowing up a lot at him. That just brings about more laughs. The quirky factor is certainly here with our hero spending his time chasing criminals (Paris seems like a haven for them) like The Blotch, a three-headed man and a bird.

 

Special Features:

-Commentaries

-“Goodbye, Warner Bros. Hello, DePatie-Freleng” (16:59, HD)

-“Of Aardvarks, Ants, Inspectors, and Cranes” (17:10, HD)

Tijuana Toads:

This animated show has not aged as well as some. Originally aired in the late Sixties and early Seventies at a time where being culturally sensitive was not as high up on the priority list as it is today. So some of the humour based on stereotypes causes discomfort rather than laughter. That being said, if you are able to look beyond that then there is some funny stuff to be found. The premise is two rather dimwitted frogs try to get through life with all its dangers and challenges.

Special Features:

-Odd Couples

-Music and Sound Mix-Ologists

-Commentaries

-Go for Croak

Roland and the Rattfink:

Simple is as simple does. This one is simple. With the two characters in an eternal battle with one another. Roland is the hero and Rattfink is the bad guy. Told you this was simple. Heavy on the physical comedy with sprinklings of satire and silly.A kind of homage to the era of silent films.

Special Features:

-Odd Couples

-Music and Sound Mix-Ologists

-Commentaries