Courtesy: Amblin Entertainment/Warner Brothers Home Entertainment
The long wait is finally over, Toonsters. Nearly four years have passed since audiences were offered their last dose of Tiny Toon Adventures episodes. This past Tuesday, Warner Home Video released the long awaited third volume of shorts in its own two-disc set loaded with enough laughs, puns, sight gags, and pop culture references to make any classic cartoon fan happy. Would it have been nice to have a full thirty to thirty-five episode collection as with the previous pair of collections? Yes. But something’s better than nothing, considering how long audiences have waited. And this new set is something. It boasts some of the show’s best episodes. The episodes are just one part of what makes this collection so enjoyable. The original hand-drawn animation will bring back that sense of nostalgia for lovers of classic cartoons, too. And the use of some of the top voice talent in the industry then and now make for even more enjoyment. Altogether, it makes for one more must have for any original Tiny Toon fan and even for any of today’s younger viewers.
Tiny Toon Adventures Vol. 3: Crazy Crew Rescues boasts some of the best episodes from this modern classic cartoon. The show’s original audiences will love seeing classic episodes such as “Kon-Ducki” (which pays a little tribute to The Wizard of Oz and even The Bee Gees), “The Potty Years”, and its own take on the film noir classic, Sunset Boulevard in the episode, “Sepulveda Boulevard.” There is also a fun episode titled, “Toon Physics” which explains the differences between real physical science and that of cartoons. It isn’t the first cartoon to ever poke fun at the incredibility of cartoon physics. But it’s still just as funny as others of its sort. This episode features revered voice talent Maurice LaMarche (Futurama, The Simpsons, Animaniacs, Pinky & The Brain) as a spoof of legendary actor Orson Welles. Instead of Welles, his character here is a whale named—you guessed it—Orson Whales (ba-dump-bump-bump). This set also includes the “controversial” episode, “One Beer” in which Buster, Plucky, and Hampton show young audiences the dangers of drinking and driving. Along those same lines, there is even an episode that teaches the importance of childhood literacy in “Why Dizzy Can’t Read.” These are all just a handful of examples of what Tiny Toon Adventures Vol. 3: Crazy Crew Rescues has to offer both its original fans and their own kids. Everybody will undoubtedly have their own favorites from this set. And even with just two discs, this set boasts more than its share of great shorts.
The episodes alone make for loads of enjoyment for both the show’s now grown-up audience and for their own children. Adding to the enjoyment of this set is the continued original hand drawn animation. So much children’s programming today is not true animation. It is in large part CG-based programming. So unearthing this collection provides yet another reminder for older audiences of what real animation looks like. And it serves as an example for today’s younger audiences the importance of maintaining the classic art of actually drawing animation, rather than relying on technology for everything. The only downside to the animation here is that it isn’t as clear as with the show’s previous releases. It looks like the quality of the transfers with this set weren’t as solid as with the previous releases. But it’s not that bad. So while it does leave at least a little bit to be desired, it’s still nice to have this relic of a bygone era given new life.
The show’s original animation and its equally entertaining episodes make for so much enjoyment for audiences of all ages. The cherry on top for not just this set but also the show as a whole is the inclusion of some of the top voice actors in the industry. As already noted, veteran voice actor Maurice LaMarche is among the show’s ranks of well known actors. Also in the cast are the likes of: Frank Welker (The Real Ghostbusters, Scooby Doo, etc.), Charlie Adler (Aaahh!!! Real Monsters, The Superhero Squad Show, etc.), Tress MacNeille (The Simpsons, Futurama), Cree Summer (The Cosby Show, A Different World, Codename: Kids Next Door) and Don Messick (Garfield & Friends, A Pup Named Scooby Doo, The Flintstones, etc.). The chemistry between the cast was obvious throughout this new set of episodes, just as with the previous releases. Whether for the general comedic timing or the interactions with each other, the voice cast of Tiny Toon Adventures was the perfect choice. It was their interpretations of their characters that put the final touch on what was and still is today one of the best cartoons of the twentieth century. Tiny Toon Adventures Vol. 3: Crazy Crew Rescues is available in stores and online now. It can be ordered online via the Warner Brothers store at http://www.wbshop.com/product/steven+spielberg+presents+tiny+toon+adventures+volume+3+1000311856.do?sortby=ourPicks&from=Search.
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