On October 9, 2001 Universal Studios Home Video reported that their release of THE MUMMY RETURNS registered the biggest first week in the history of DVD with consumers purchasing over two million units of the initial shipments of 4.5 million DVDs. Consumers spent an estimated $90 million on purchase and rental of THE MUMMY RETURNS DVD and VHS, which went on sale October 2, 2001. These figures break the first week sales and rental record previously held by the film GLADIATOR.

Here is a viewers guide to the notable animation and special effects releases on DVD and VHS for the month of October, 2001:



October 2:

Prolific animation music composer Denis M. Hannigan is currently scoring RECESS CHRISTMAS: MIRACLE ON THIRD STREET, an OAV to be released on VHS/DVD November 6, 2001. This feature follows the adventures of the RECESS fourth graders as they attract fun and trouble during the holiday season. Along with scoring RECESS CHRISTMAS, Hannigan is also arranging parodies of classic Christmas songs that will be featured in the film. Hannigan has written music for animated features and many of today's most popular children's TV series including RECESS, CATDOG and RUGRATS.

Twentieth Century Fox's THE SIMPSONS SEASON ONE COLLECTOR'S EDITION DVD BOX SET will be available in stores on September 25, 2001, and features all thirteen episodes from the show's first season and outtakes from an un-aired version of the first 22-minute episode. Bonus features include original scripts, audio commentaries by Matt Groening, James L. Brooks, writers, producers and animation directors, the original skit from the TRACEY ULLMAN SHOW, early sketches, foreign language clips (mais oui! Homer speaks French!), magazine covers and stills, Easter Eggs and outtakes.

In an attempt to keep the MATRIX franchise hot, Warner Bros. has green-lit anime adventures based on the original flick. The film's directors Andy and Larry Wachowski, who were originally inspired by anime to make the MATRIX, are currently looking for anime directors to create episodes for the video. MATRIX ANIME is being planned for a late 2002 or early 2003 release. The live-action sequel, MATRIX RELOADED, is scheduled to hit theaters in May 2003.

In response to the success of the DVD short-film collection "Best of the Web," Multimedia 2000 (M-2K) has announced the release of a follow-up DVD, "Best of the Web, Volume 2." The new installment will highlight the work of CampChaos.com. The 75-minute DVD will feature episodes of NAPSTER BAD and SAFARI KINGDOM as well as the U.S. election parody FLORI-DUH. "Most of these cartoon shorts were originally developed specifically for the Web, using Macromedia's animation software, Flash," said CampChaos' Bob Cesca.

In celebration of Halloween, Walt Disney Home Video will be releasing two holiday themed WINNIE THE POOH videos and one ROLIE POLIE OLIE title. In ROLIE POLIE OLIE: A SPOOKIE OOKIE HALLOWEEN, Olie and Billie decide to make Zowie's first Spookie Ookie Day one full of frights. In BOO TO YOU TOO!, Pooh and friends get their costumes ready, but Piglet is just too scared to join in. In FRANKENPOOH, the Hundred Acre Woods crew has a howling good time in three scary tales. A SPOOKIE OOKIE HALLOWEEN will sell for US$12.99, while the two POOH videos will retail for US$14.99.

Warner Home Video and PBS KIDS Home Video are about to release the first two CAILLOU titles in the U.S. In CAILLOU'S FURRY FRIENDS, Caillou takes his cat Gilbert to the vet, receives some help from the fire department to get Gilbert out of a tree, brings home a stray puppy and befriends a seeing-eye dog. In CAILLOU THE EXPLORER, Caillou heads out to sea with Grandpa, rides the train, visits the farm and learns to use chopsticks with his friend Sarah. The Cinar-produced series has already sold more than 1.2 million videos in Canada since its launch in 1998.

According to Sound Scan, a video industry analyst group, Pioneer Entertainment's newly released AKIRA was the number-one selling DVD for the week of July 29, 2001. The classic anime film was first released in 1989, but was recently restored by Pioneer Entertainment at a cost of $1 million. The DVD beat the debut of live-action films FAMILY MAN, starring Nicolas Cage, and SWEET NOVEMBER, starring Keanu Reeves. The film is set is Neo-Tokyo after World War III and follows childhood friends Tetsuo and Kaneda as they encounter a military operation to retrieve an escaped experimental subject.

Warner Home Video has announced the release of the animated LORD OF THE RINGS, THE RETURN OF THE KING and THE HOBBIT on VHS and DVD. Hitting stores of September 11, this is the first time that THE LORD OF THE RINGS has been on video and DVD. The animated version of JRR Tolkien's classic fantasy was produced by Oscar-winner Saul Zaentz. THE RETURN OF THE KING and THE HOBBIT were produced by Rankin and Bass. "WHV is extremely excited to offer families these JRR Tolkien classics, available on both VHS and DVD," said Ewa Martinoff, Warner Home Video VP, Family Entertainment Marketing.

Walt Disney Home Entertainment has announced the release of RECESS: SCHOOL'S OUT on VHS and DVD. Hitting stores on August 7, the theatrical film based on the popular TV series RECESS follows TJ's adventure to stop ex-principal Benedict's evil plan to ruin summer vacation. The voice cast features such stars as Dabney Coleman, James Woods and Melissa Joan Hart. The VHS and DVD will both contain the music videos for "Green Tambourine" by Robert Goulet and "Dancing in the Street" by Myra.

Arriving in stores on September 25, 2001, Fox Home Entertainment will release THE SIMPSONS SEASON ONE COLLECTOR'S EDITION DVD BOX SET featuring every episode from the premiere season. The three-disc set will feature all thirteen episodes from the show's first season and outtakes from an un-aired version of the first 22-minute episode. Bonus features include original scripts and audio commentaries by Matt Groening, James L.

Mongadillo Studios has announced the July 4th, 2001 home video release of the Web series SHAWKS. This limited edition video features re-mastered digital sound, full frame animation, sheet music for SHC anthems "Check for Gills" and "I Used To Love You," official Shawk Haters Club stickers and behind-the-scenes featurette, including interviews from cast and creators. In addition, Mongadillo has announced the 11th Webisode of SHAWKS has gone live at Shawks.net. The SHAWKS video retails for US$15.

The Gnomon Workshop has released six new Alias|Wavefront Maya training videos on polygon modeling, cameras and dynamics. This series of six marks the third round of releases and brings the total number of titles available from The Gnomon Workshop up to 18. The new videos are currently shipping and can be ordered in NTSC or PAL from the company's Website. The videos were produced by Alex Alvarez, director of The Gnomon Workshop and Gnomon School of Visual Effects, and Darrin Krumweide, associate director of Gnomon School of Visual Effects.

FUNimation Productions Ltd. has announced a slate of upcoming DRAGON BALL Z home video releases. On
April 17, 2001, edited and uncut versions of DRAGON BALL Z PERFECT
CELL - TEMPTATION and DRAGON BALL Z PERFECT CELL - PERFECTION are
scheduled for release. Scheduled for release on May 15, 2001, are
DRAGON BALL Z GREAT SAIYAMAN - CRASH COURSE and DRAGON BALL Z WORLD
TOURNAMENT - JUNIOR DIVISION, also in both edited and uncut versions.
The videos will retail for $14.95 edited and $19.95 uncut. DRAGON

Walt Disney
Home Video will be releasing THE EMPEROR'S NEW GROOVE on VHS and DVD
on May 1, 2001. The VHS release, retailing for $26.99, will include
Sting's "Making the Music" music video featuring "My Funny Friend and
Me" from the film's soundtrack. Two different DVD versions will be
released. The DISNEY DVD version, to retail for $29.99, includes an
additional music video "Walk the Llama Llama," as well as bonus
commentary, an interactive game and a deleted scene from the movie.

Bandai Entertainment has announced a series of June, 2001 VHS
and DVD releases for their ANGEL LINKS, SABER MARIONETTE J and
ESCAFLOWNE series. On June 5, the company will release an ANGEL
LINKS - FALLEN ANGEL DVD, which will include both English and
Japanese language tracks, English subtitles, trailers and bonus
clips, retailing for $29.98. Also scheduled for a June 5 release is
ESCAFLOWNE - LIGHT AND SHADOW and FOREVER AND EVER on VHS and DVD,
which marks the final installment of the ESCAFLOWNE television

Warner Home Video
has released three new POWERPUFF GIRL collections on VHS and DVD,
which include never-before-seen episodes. The new BOOGIE FRIGHTS VHS
collection contains five episodes, including the never-before-seen
"Helter Shelter," the Powerpuff Girls' music video featuring Shonen
Knife, a bonus episode of COURAGE THE COWARDLY DOG, and a sneak peek
at the upcoming Cartoon Network SAMURAI JACK series, which is set to
air in Summer 2001. The new TWISTED SISTER VHS collection contains

SAMURAI X: THE MOTION PICTURE was released on DVD and VHS on March 27, 2001. Inspired by the 97 episode TV series of the same name, the feature film marks the return of Rurouni Kenshin, who must fight his past demons in a duel to the death. The ADV Films title will sell for US$19.98 on VHS and $29.98 on DVD.

ADV Films released two new volumes of the anime series FLINT: THE TIME DETECTIVE. Hitting stores March 27, 2001, the time-traveling adventures of the little caveman return in "The Sands of Time" and "Can't We All Get Along?" The series currently airs on Fox Kids and is produced by Sanrio, the creators of HELLO KITTY. Both volumes will sell on VHS and DVD for US$14.98.