FEAR(S) OF THE DARK came out Monday, with MADAGASCAR 2 hitting DVD/Blu-ray shelves on Friday. Tuesday releases include a MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER volume, AFRO SAMURAI: RESURRECTION, the 20th anniversary edition of OLIVER & COMPANY, direct-to-DVD SPACE BUDDIES and more.
AFRO SAMURAI: RESURRECTION on DVD and Blu-ray
Afro Samurai (Academy Award nominee Samuel L. Jackson) avenged his father and found a life of peace. But the legendary master is forced back into the game by a beautiful and deadly woman from his past. The sparks of violence dropped along Afro's bloody path now burn out of control -- and nowhere are the flames of hatred more intense than in the eyes of Sio (Lucy Liu). She won't quit until Afro is schooled in the brutal lessons he dealt those who stood in his way. There's no such thing as final vengeance. The cycle of bloodshed spinning around the Number One Headband must roll on. Featuring the voice of Mark Hamill (Star Wars) and fresh production from The RZA (Wu-Tang Clan), the saga that began in the best-selling anime DVD of 2007 continues in AFRO SAMURAI: RESURRECTION, out now from Funimation Productions.
Director's Cut Special Features Include:
-- A limited edition art book featuring forwards from the RZA, Bob Okazaki (creator) and Fuminori Kizaki (director) as well as never before seen images from the anime and the original manga.
-- Over an hour of exclusive behind the scene featurettes including the making of the anime, the making of the video game, interviews with the cast and crew, RZA in the studio, commentary from the creators and more
THE BERENSTAIN BEARS: SPRINGTIME SURPRISES on DVD
Mama, Papa, Brother and Sister Bear spring into song as they help Boss Bunny learn the true meaning of the holiday spirit! Sony Pictures Home Ent. will release THE BERENSTAIN BEARS: SPRINGTIME SURPRISES, a new-to-DVD collection of four animated episodes featuring Bear Country's most famous family on February 3, 2009.
THE BERENSTAIN BEARS: SPRINGTIME SURPRISES includes a heartwarming Easter episode entitled Easter Surprise plus three more episodes highlighting spring and family themes such as baseball, bees and telling the truth. It's THE BERENSTAIN BEARS at their finest in four wonderful and engaging tales that families will want to watch over and over again.
Based on the classic children's book series (over 260 million copies sold to date!) from Stan and Jan Berenstain, THE BERENSTAIN BEARS have been a children's favorite for more than four decades. THE BERENSTAIN BEARS TV and home video success has proven that their enduring message of love and patience easily translates from the printed page to the small screen.
THE BERENSTAIN BEARS: SPRINGTIME SURPRISES represents the 14th SPHE release of the beloved family brand. SPRINGTIME SURPRISES contains Sony Pictures Home Ent.'s "Quick-Start" auto-play feature that makes it easier for kids to watch on their own.
HOLLY HOBBIE: MARVELOUS MAKEOVER on DVD
Holly Hobbie and The Hey Girls are back and totally together! This time, they demonstrate that you can still make good friends even if you're different. Their new DVD adventure, HOLLY HOBBIE: MARVELOUS MAKEOVER, will be available from Sony Pictures Home Ent. on February 3.
Celebrating more than 40 years as a Great American Brand, the original HOLLY HOBBIE debuted in 1967. Now her great-granddaughter, the "new" Holly celebrates friends, family, and laughter through relatable stories based on beloved characters that have been cherished for generations. In HOLLY HOBBIE: MARVELOUS MAKEOVER, best friends Holly, Carrie and Amy band together with a shy girl named K.T. and learn valuable lessons about how to deal with self-esteem issues.
HOLLY HOBBIE: MARVELOUS MAKEOVER represents the sixth SPHE release of the popular brand, which include best-selling HOLLY HOBBIE titles such as SURPRISE PARTY, CHRISTMAS WISHES, SECRET ADVENTURES, BEST FRIENDS FOREVER and FABULOUS FASHION SHOW.
HOLLY HOBBIE COVER GIRL
Holly moves to Clover and can't wait to start school with Amy and Carrie! But assigned to a different class than her friends, she befriends a shy, unpopular girl named K.T. McGee. Soon Holly is an outcast too for hanging out with "McGeek." But Holly stands by her new friend. While trying out for the volleyball team, Carrie and Amy find troubles of their own and realize that it's hard to be left out. The Hey Girls band together and learn that you can still be good friends with someone who is different from you, and that friendship can win any game.
HOLLY HOBBIE REBOOT
When Clover Elementary School holds its annual Open House, K.T. has a great idea for a project to submit for the Student Award of "Best Contribution." Too self-conscious to go through with her plans, Holly, Amy and Carrie encourage K.T. to create and present her new inspiration. K.T. and the girls work on the project, but not everyone is happy about her goal of winning the prize. When bratty Becca and her friends take part in some sneaky sabotage, the Hey Girls rally and lend a hand in getting K.T. to see "nothing ventured, nothing gained."
Bonus features include:
-- Dress Up With Holly Hobbie Game
FEAR(S) OF THE DARK (PEUR(S) DU NOIR) on DVD Feb. 2
FEAR(S) OF THE DARK (PEUR(S) DU NOIR) is a feature film that was initiated by French producers Valerie Schermann and Christophe Jancovic. At first, the duo wanted to develop an animated TV series based on the frightening creations of Robert Louis Stevenson, Jack London and Edgar Allen Poe, with children as the target market. However, they quickly came to realize that TV stations were not quite ready to finance such a project. The concept evolved. By bringing together several short films from gifted comics artists, it grew into a feature film aimed at a more adult audience.
Metrodome Films released this nightmarish art house animation on DVD on February 2.
MADAGASCAR: ESCAPE 2 AFRICA on DVD and Blu-ray Feb. 6
MADAGASCAR: ESCAPE 2 AFRICA comes in for a landing on DVD and Blu-ray on FRIDAY, February 6, 2009 from DreamWorks Animation.
With twice the laughs, twice the fun and twice the Penguins, the Move It! Move It! Double DVD Pack and Blu-ray include two animated adventures from Nickelodeon's new television series, THE PENGUINS OF MADAGASCAR. The series stars Skipper, Kowalski, Rico, Private and King Julien back at the New York zoo where it all started -- on a mission... without permission.
MADAGASCAR: ESCAPE 2 AFRICA follows on the heels of the best-selling animated DVD of 2008, KUNG FU PANDA. The Move It! Move It! Double DVD Pack has an anticipated retail price under $25.
MADAGASCAR: ESCAPE 2 AFRICA is full of additional bonus features including a behind-the-scenes peek at the creation of this animated epic, music videos and more Mad-Tastic fun exclusives with hours and hours of activities such as printables to download, games and much more. A single disc and a Valentine's Day version in themed gift-wrapped packaging for gifting to sweethearts of all ages will also be available at stores nationwide.
Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer, Jada Pinkett Smith, Sacha Baron Cohen, Cedric the Entertainer and Andy Richter return in MADAGASCAR: ESCAPE 2 AFRICA, joined by Alec Baldwin as "Makunga," will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas as "Moto Moto," Bernie Mac as "Zuba" and Sherri Shepherd as Alex's mom making their introduction to the watering hole as a brand-new cast of characters.
The four zany zoo denizens of the original blockbuster comedy prepare to head home to Manhattan in a rickety aircraft piloted by the ever-inventive penguin cadre. But when they crash land in the African savannah, it's time for a crash course in survival. Now the four friends far from home must answer a question of the heart when Alex finds his long lost parents (Bernie Mac and Sherri Shepherd), Marty joins a herd of his wild brethren, Gloria finds romance with a hippo Casanova (will.i.am) who appreciates her curves and Melman has one last chance at his truest desire.
ESCAPE 2 AFRICA's animals are fairly high up the anthropomorphic evolutionary scale, closer to Bugs Bunny than THE LION KING's Simba. Even though they spend most of their time standing upright, co-directors Eric Darnell and Tom McGrath still wanted them to exist in a naturalistic environment and put all of DreamWorks' technology to work to that end.
"We actually took a trip to Africa early on and went to eight preserves in 10 days," Darnell explained. "When you get there it just opens up. Two-thirds of what you see is the sky, and it feels like you can see the curve of the Earth. It's a huge scope and we wanted to catch that in the film."
Two-Disc DVD Special Features Include:
Disc One:
-- DWA Jukebox
-- Filmmaker Commentary
-- It's A Family Affair: The Cast of ESCAPE 2 AFRICA
-- Making of ESCAPE 2 AFRICA
-- Crash Landing
-- African Adventure
-- Jambo Jambo: Swahili Speak
-- Test Flight of Air Penguin Game
-- MADAGASCAR: ESCAPE 2 AFRICA Activision Game Trailer
-- Music Videos: The Traveling Song" Sing Along, "Move It, Move It," "Big and Chunky" and "She Loves Me"
Disc Two:
-- THE PENGUINS OF MADAGASCAR episodes "Popcorn Panic" and "Gone in a Flash"
-- The Bronx Zoo: Madagascar
-- Alex's Dance Off
-- The Heart of a Lion
-- DVD-Rom
* MADAGASCAR: ESCAPE 2 AFRICA PC Flash Mini-Game
* MADAGASCAR: ESCAPE 2 AFRICA Game Demo w/ Exclusive Cheat Code
* HP Printables
* Web links
-- Penguin Easter Eggs include Move It, Move It, Hock Shop, Julien's Birthday, Tug of War, Fully Armed and No Thanks, I'm Stuffed
Single-disc DVD will also be available in either a widescreen or full screen edition and includes the following special features:
-- DWA Jukebox
-- Filmmaker Commentary
-- It's A Family Affair: The Cast of ESCAPE 2 AFRICA
-- Making of ESCAPE 2 AFRICA
-- Crash Landing
-- African Adventure
-- Jambo Jambo: Swahili Speak
-- Test Flight of Air Penguin Game
-- MADAGASCAR: ESCAPE 2 AFRICA Activision Game Trailer
-- Music Videos: The Traveling Song" Sing Along, "Move It, Move It," "Big and Chunky" and "She Loves Me"
Blu-ray Bonus features include the DVD special features in HD plus Blu-ray Exclusive Content:
-- The Animators' Corner (HD)
-- Trivia Track (HD)
MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER: Volume XIV on DVD
From 1988 to 1999, the hilarious and widely beloved space travelers on The Satellite of Love from MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000 skewered B-movies and in the process made them masterworks of comedy. Hot on the heels of the recent MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 2000 20th Anniversary celebration, Shout! Factory in association with Best Brains, Inc. presents MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000: Volume XIV 4-DVD box set on February 3, 2009.
The 14th collection of the side-splitting Mystery Science Theater 3000 features the show's never-before-released film episodes MAD MONSTER, MANHUNT IN SPACE, SOULTAKER and FINAL JUSTICE, four limited-edition mini-posters, along with a wealth of new bonus content, including brand-new interview with SOULTAKER star and MSTie favorite Joe Estevez; new interview with FINAL JUSTICE writer/director Greydon Clark; Mike Nelson, Tom Servo and Crow T. Robot on ESPN's CHAEP SEATS WITHOUT RON PARKER; and original trailers. Join the banter as Joel Hodgson, Mike Nelson, Tom Servo and Crow T. Robot as they supply their own playful brand of commentaries on some of cinema's most misunderstood "masterpieces" in Shout! Factory's MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000: Volume XIV.
MAD MONSTER
Obsessed with getting revenge on those responsible for the demise of his career, Dr. Lorenzo Cameron concocts a serum that transforms his unsuspecting gardener into a deadly wolf-man. Join hosts Joel Hodgson, Tom Servo and Crow T. Robot as they send up the very best revenge-fueled-wolf-monster-created-by-a-mad-scientist film of 1942! This memorable episode of MST3K also includes the short COMMANDO CODY & THE RADAR MEN FROM THE MOON.
MANHUNT IN SPACE
Launched into space with the mission of rescuing the lovely Vena from a gang of notorious space pirates, Rocky and his copilot Winky are once again ready to fight evil to the very end -- even if it takes them to the furthest edge of the galaxy! Composed of reassembled episodes from the short-lived 1950s television series ROCKY JONES, SPACE RANGER, MANHUNT IN SPACE is unable to escape the cinematic critique of Joel and the 'bots of the Satellite of Love. Also includes the short GENERAL HOSPITAL, segment 1.
SOULTAKER
After four youths are involved in a serious car accident, a mysterious man in black is sent to claim their souls -- but these feisty teens aren't yet ready to pass into the afterlife. Now they must return to their hospital-bound bodies before their parents decide to pull the plug or, worse yet, the SOULTAKER catches them. Starring MSTie faves Joe Estevez and Robert Z'Dar, SOULTAKER is perfect fodder for the sarcastic wit and wisdom of Mike, Crow T. Robot and Tom Servo aboard the Satellite of Love.
FINAL JUSTICE
When tough-as-nails Texas Deputy Sheriff Thomas Jefferson Geronimo captures a member of the Italian mob, only he can successfully get his prisoner back to Italy to stand trial. But the Mafia declares war on Geronimo. That was their last mistake. The hard-hitting crew of the Satellite of Love -- Mike, Tom Servo and Crow T. Robot -- pulls absolutely no punches when riffing on FINAL JUSTICE (starring legendary MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000 antagonist Joe Don Baker), making this one of MST3K's most beloved episodes of all time.
The MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000 series was created by Joel Hodgson and produced by Jim Mallon. After a year on KTMA TV in Minneapolis, its national broadcast life began in 1989 on the Comedy Channel (later to become Comedy Central), where it ran for seven seasons. The show's final three seasons aired on the Sci-Fi Channel. The premise of the series features a hapless man who is trapped by mad scientists on a satellite in space and forced to watch old B-movies of questionable worth. To keep sane, he's built two robot sidekicks, and together they do a running commentary on the films, affectionately mocking their flaws with inspired wisecracks and acting as a demented movie theater peanut gallery. Series creator Hodgson originally played the stranded man, Joel Robinson. When he left in 1993, series head writer Mike Nelson replaced him as the new B-movie victim Mike Nelson, and continued in the role for the rest of the show's run.
OLIVER & COMPANY 20th Anniversary Edition on DVD
Fall in love with OLIVER & COMPANY’s adorable gang of animal outcasts all over again on February 3, 2009 from Walt Disney Studios Home Ent. Disney’s 27th full-length animated film celebrates its 20th anniversary in a special edition DVD with enough fun and laughter for the whole family. Brilliant animation, a fantastic soundtrack and the amazing voice talents of Billy Joel, Bette Midler, and Huey Lewis, put OLIVER & COMPANY on track to win the hearts of a whole new generation.
The 20th Anniversary Edition comes with animated shorts, behind-the-scenes featurettes and an all-new game that the parents and kids will love to play together.
Inspired by the classic Charles Dickens novel OLIVER TWIST, the film boasts a lovable cast of characters and five infectious original songs from top-tier contemporary talents including Billy Joel, Bette Midler, Huey Lewis and Barry Manilow. OLIVER & COMPANY: 20th Anniversary Edition is filled with hilarious animal antics and high-energy adventures as one clever kitten leads a pack of resourceful pups against a would-be kidnapper! This timeless classic lights up the screen with a story of courage and heart, friendship and loyalty and a songbook filled with unforgettable tunes.
Disney presents an unforgettable musical adventure as Oliver, an adorable stray kitten (voiced by Joey Lawrence), takes Manhattan by storm. When Dodger (Billy Joel), a street-smart mutt with a weakness for mischief, befriends the homeless tabby, he introduces his new pal to his pack of pickpocket pooches, run by the nefarious Sykes (Robert Loggia). Just as Oliver is about to begin a life of crime, he is rescued by a rich girl named Jenny, who takes him home to live in luxury with her and her spoiled poodle Georgette (Bette Midler). But when Sykes finds out about Oliver’s new benefactor, he hatches a plot to abscond with the little girl and hold her for ransom. The courageous kitty and his newfound friends must race to the rescue in an electrifying chase through the city's labyrinthine subway system in order to bring Jenny home.
Special Features Include:
-- All-New Game
-- The Making of Oliver & Company
-- Puss Cafe -- A delightful animated short starring Disney favorite Pluto and friends
-- The History of Animals in Disney Films -- A Disney animated featurette
-- Return of a Classic -- A look at the 1996 theatrical re-release of OLIVER & COMPANY
-- Bonus Short: LEND A PAW -- Pluto rescues a kitten and saves the day in an Academy Award winning animated short (1941 Short Subject - Cartoon).
SPACE BUDDIES on DVD and Blu-ray
Disney’s irresistible talking puppies are back in an all-new movie, SPACE BUDDIES, an intergalactic action-adventure coming to DVD and Blu-ray on February 3, 2009 from Walt Disney Studios Home Ent. Packed with more heart, more suspense and more tail-wagging fun -than ever before, the Buddies’ greatest adventure yet takes them to the final frontier -- outer space. SPACE BUDDIES is packed with out-of-this world bonus features including hilarious doggy bloopers and a brand new music video.
Golden Retriever puppies Rosebud, Buddha, Budderball, B-Dawg, and Mudbud return in an epic adventure that takes them farther than they ever dreamed. In a delightful new escapade, the inquisitive pooches travel to the moon in search of a dream, only to realize that what they want is back on earth. Moving at warp speed, dodging asteroids and more, the Buddies and their two new friends, Spudnick, a sweet bull terrier and Gravity, a resourceful ferret, must summon their courage and ingenuity to launch plans for a moon landing and a rocketing trip back home. Will they have the right stuff?
STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE HAPPILY EVER AFTER on DVD
Once upon a time, there was a pint-sized sweet darling named Strawberry Shortcake who enchanted little girls everywhere. Now the spunky Strawberry Shortcake and special friends Angel Cake and Rainbow Sherbet bring to life two "berry" favorite fairy tales when the all-new STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE: HAPPILY EVER AFTER DVD sweetens up store shelves on February 3, 2009 for a suggested retail price of $14.98 from Twentieth Century Fox Home Ent.
The all-new DVD includes free Valentine's Day cards and bonus extras including coloring pages and a fun character memory game.
Strawberry and her friends bring two beloved fairy tales to life in magical adventures filled with berry fun. In "Sleeping Beauty," Brambleberry Fairy (Angel Cake) feels neglected and casts a spell that puts Princess Strawberry Rose to sleep. The Princess's fairy friends (Appleberry, Rainbowberry, Gingerberry, Tangerinaberry and Orangeberry) aren't able to awaken her. It's up to Prince Huckleberry to teach Brambleberry Fairy an important lesson in friendship and listening.
The enchantment continues in "A Princess Named Rap." Princess Rapunzel's (Rainbow Sherbet) teacher is disturbed by her non-royal interests -- especially her fascination with ships and navigation. But when the teacher's rowboat is swept out to sea, "Rap" shows everyone she has the right stuff to rule her kingdom.
Special Features Include:
-- Includes free Valentine's Day greeting cards
-- Free downloadable coloring pages
--Character memory game
TOM AND JERRY TALES, Vol. 6 on DVD
Everyone's favorite cat and mouse duo Tom and Jerry return to DVD in an all-new set of adventures on TOM AND JERRY TALES: Volume 6, which will be released by Warner Home Video on February 3, 2009. The sixth volume of the hit Kids' WB TV series will feature 15 action-packed cartoons showcasing Tom and Jerry's latest adventures.
In this volume of TOM AND JERRY TALES, Tom and Jerry's unending pursuit takes them around the world from Africa to Australia and on. The duo also learns some valuable lessons about history, including an episode where Tom inadvertently turns the Declaration of Independence into a paper airplane and an episode where Jerry has a role in the Wright Brothers first flight at Kitty Hawk. Tom and Jerry are also involved in a number of musical adventures that are anything but harmonious -- Jerry sabotages Tom's efforts to win a Flamenco dance contest and Tom tries to avert his girlfriend's attention from Jerry by singing the blues. Three very cool episodes on this DVD are entirely devoted to the theme of snow and ice. The duo confronts each other on a frozen pond where Jerry wants to skate but Tom plans to play hockey. Tom and Jerry also engage in an all-out snowball battle and later on, find themselves face-to-face with the giant abominable snowmouse.
TOM AND JERRY TALES: Volume 6 offers 15 animated shorts including DECLARATION OF INDEPENDUNCE, KITTY KAWKED, 24 KARAT KAT, WHEN THE SNOWING GETS TOUGH, THE ABOMINABLE SNOWMOUSE, HOCKEY SCHTICK, KITTY CAT BLUES, FLAMENCO FIASCO, DJ JERRY, YOU'RE LION, KANGADOOFUS, MONKEY CHOW, BABYSITTING BLUES, CATFISH FOLLY and GAME OF MOUSE AND CAT. TOM AND JERRY TALES originally premiered on Kids' WB in September 2006 and features characters from the classic Tom and Jerry cartoons in newly-created shorts, which audiences have not seen done in 30 years.
