Woody Woodpecker and Friends (Classic Cartoon Collection)

Finally, The Walter Lantz classics are fianlly being released. This collection includes the first 45 Woody Woodpecker cartoons from "Knock Knock"(1940)to The Great Who Dood-It(1952). These are the cartoons where Woody Woodpecker is really insane with his famous laugh. Besides Woody Woodpecker, this collection also includes the first 5 cartoons of that loveable penguin- Chilly Willy. This collection also includes amny of the "Swing Symphonies" and "Oswald the Lucky Rabbit" Cartoons and 5 choice Andy Panda cartoons. These shorts are all uncut and restored and remastered from the original Universal Pictures Master Negatives. You won't want to miss this set. If this set sells well, there might be a volume 2.

First the packaging. This set is a textbook case of how to make an absolutely great DVD set. No annoying ads when you start the discs. Easy to navigate menu that makes watching individual cartoons easy and fun. Some of the cartoons, however, are simply three stars. The box has a disclaimer that the set is intended for collectors and "may not be suitable for children". "There's a difference between violence and slapstick", Walt Lantz once said. Nevertheless, he edited some of these 'toons when they appeared in 1970 on The Woody Woodpecker Show. These are every bit as violent as vintage Tom and Jerry 'toons, and parents have to make the same call. My view is that kids remember characters, not stories, and have an innate "cartoon sense" which enables them to tell "toons" from "reality. "Toons" are sometimes worse, but often better than "reality". Parents' real concern should be the extreme "live-action" shows on the rest of the airwaves.

That said, parents doing cartoons without cable will find this a perfect set. It's easy to play one cartoon a day as if it were on TV. Both kids and collectors will appreciate the bonuses in this set, which include one full show and six segments from the Woody Woodpecker Show. This innovative program combined live action Lantz and animated Woody in the studio, Lantz showing kids how to draw cartoons. I would love to have that whole series on DVD. This also recalls the approach of the other Walt (Disney), beginning with the Disneyland show, of similarly mixing live action and animated characters. However, the live Lantz makes very clear the difference between the 'toons and the live animators drawing them, and can say, "hey kids, let's watch this cartoon together". The key word is "together". This echoes the live- host format that launched TV cartoons, and which I feel is the way they ought to be shown, with adult hosts "showing" cartoons.

The 75 'toons on three discs in this set seem like a bonanza, especially given the paucity of Lantz material released up until now. There are 45 Woody 'toons (dating from 1940- 1952); 5 Oswald Rabbit from the Lantz studio years (1930- 1933); 5 Andy Pandy (1939- 1949); 5 Chilly Willy (1953- 1956), 5 Swing Symphonies (1941- 1945) and 10 Cartune Classics, the catch-all title for other 'toons (1933- 1955). These 'toons are remastered, which means simply transferred to DVD, not restored, however, they're all very good prints.

This sounds like the full comport until you realize that Lantz made 198 shorts, and start noting what's not here. "Musical Moments from Chopin" (1947) is often considered a high point. It's listed under the "Woody" 'toons in this set, even though it also stars Andy Panda, and was one of four "Musical Miniatures" that played in theaters. There were originally fifteen Swing Symphonies, and 185 cartoons were syndicated in the 1970s.

Shamus Culhane's cartoons like "Barber of Seville" are interesting for their fast- pacing, but as with many other studios, numerous vintage era Lantz 'toons are mostly strung together sight gags. Disney likely was responsible for bringing story and continuity into cartoons, although Chuck Jones also made good use of it in the Michael Maltese stories starring Bugs Bunny, notably the far more developed "Rabbit of Seville", which one cannot help comparing with Culhane's similarly titled 'toon.

If you like the modern era, as I do, this collection merely wets one's whistle, with Tex Avery's "Crazy, Mixed Up Pup (with a voice reminiscent of Huckleberry Hound). The third disc drops off right before "Termites from Mars", one of the best. Annoyingly, the Lantz show segments make reference to these 'toons, which are not included in the set. Nevertheless, this is a beautiful set for collectors, and a long- overdue recognition of the Lantz Studio. Now, where are the Terrytoons?

Woody Woodpecker and Friends Classic Collection dvd set is a must-see, must-own dvd set for every classic cartoon fans. Think about it, You have Woody Woodpecker cartoon with chronological order and some of the finest Walter Lantz studio classics in your hand. This is amazing collection.

Woody Woodpecker is one of animation histories most popular characters. He is manic, funny, violent one of a character. And, who could ever forget that hysterical laughter! If Bugs Bunny said "Ah, What's up, Doc" then Woody Woodpecker don't need words, he just goes crazy mode and laughs! Hysterically funny. Early Woody Woodpecker is especially my personal favorites.

First official Woody Woodpecker cartoon is Knock Knock. Actually it's Andy Panda cartoon, but everybody remembers Knock Knock as Woody Woodpecker's incredible debut cartoon. And he stole every second of it from poor Andy Panda and his father. Several years later Woody Woodpecker cartoon called Barber of Seville appeared, and many fans regarded this as best Woody Woodpecker cartoon of all time. Personally, it's not my favorite Woody Woodpecker cartoon, my candidate for best Woody Woodpecker cartoon is Hot Noon. But, I agree Barber of Seville is one great cartoon. I believe every classic cartoon fans had his or her own favorite Woody Woodpecker cartoon. So, buy this set, and judge for yourselves.

This collection not only have many classic Woody Woodpecker cartoons with chronological order, but other memorable Walter Lantz studio's classics also including this set. Some of them never released any kind of format in home video market before! My personal favorite is short called Musical Moments from Chopin. This Oscar-nominated cartoon is musical themed cartoon, and one of the funniest. Woody Woodpecker and Andy Panda teamed up for piano concert but so many weird things happened, and finally all hell breaks loose! Really amazing cartoon, don't miss it.

This year is really amazing year for classic cartoon fans. Woody Woodpecker and Friends classic collection, Popeye Collection vol.1, and later this year Looney Tunes Golden Collection vol.5 will be releasing. And, don't forget Tex Avery's Droopy: complete theatrical collection (see my review for Avery's Droopy set)

Fellow classic cartoon fans, get ready. This is perhaps best year for classic cartoon fans. We have Woody Woodpecker, Droopy, Popeye and another volume of LTGC series. I love it! Thanks for reading.