Beast Wars Transformers - The Complete First Season Review

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(More customer reviews)After haphazzardly releasing the first 12 episodes on two individual volumes, Rhino has decided to go with their G1 Transformers formula by releasing the complete first season of Beast Wars in a nice box set. Quite frankly, I'm delighted. Hopefully they'll include some new special features in this set, with some commentaries perhaps (but I doubt that one). A little "making of" or more 3D animation tests would be cool.
But anyway, Beast Wars came on the scene in 1996 as a totally new 3D-animated Transformers show. Despite mis-givings and apprehensions of die-hard G1 Transformers fans, Beast Wars picked up a cult following of former fans and new alike. One thing to attract this old school Trans-fan was the upscaled fight scenes. The brutality of the fight scenes really gave me a sense that Mainframe Entertainment made this series for aging G1 fans. Gone were the days where robots would shoot at one another and no damage would occur. In Beast Wars robots would literally be blown apart. Fortunately the writers of the show got around this by including a automated repair unit in each of the factions' ship bases.
But where Beast Wars shined was the various homages paid back to the G1 story and time line. This series was sort of a sequal or in essence a prequel to G1 due to that whacky time travel paradox. (Season 2 spoiler - The Maximals find the original Autobot Ark in prehistoric Earth). Another homage to G1 was the 2nd season appearance of Ravage. And then of course numerous dialogue references to G1.
The CGI animation was good for its day, (being made in 1996), and surprisingly looks excellent on DVD. Bright colors with shimmering metallic appearance. Shame the environment was a bit bland. But nonetheless, the series had excellent animation over its 3 season run.
The thing that set Beast Wars apart from its predecessor G1, was the accuracy (or similated accuracy) in robot transformations. Meaning that because this was a 3D animated series, the robot modes had to match the beast modes in size and form. The transformations had to appear as if they were the actual toys being transformed by a child.
After Season 1 is released, I'm betting Rhino will release the shorter second and third seasons (13 episodes each) as one set. And then both 13 episode seasons of Beast Machines in another set.

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Gargoyles - The Complete First Season (Special 10th Anniversary Edition) (1994) Review

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(More customer reviews)First aired in 1994, Gargoyles represented a major shift in the style of Disney's fledgling "Disney Afternoon" block of syndicated TV shows. While originally envisioned as a slightly darker take on The Gummi Bears (itself an excellent Disney TV series), Gargoyles evolved into a harder action cartoon. However, in true Disney fashion, the show followed the footsteps of some of the finest American action cartoons of the preceding decade and a half: Batman: The Animated Series, G.I. Joe, Dungeons & Dragons, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, Blackstar, and Thundarr the Barbarian. Those shows were of a smarter breed, and Gargoyles went even further, going so far as to integrate Arthurian legends and even Shakespeare over the course of its 65 episodes.
This DVD set collects the first 13 episodes of Gargoyles, from the 5-part opening miniseries, "Awakening", to "Reawakening". The episodes are uncut, and unlike recent cable showings, the famous anti-gun episode, "Deadly Force", has not been excised. While there has been no remastering of the series, this isn't necessary, as the transfer here is nothing short of impeccable. The special features, while not as jam-packed as some animation DVDs, are of great quaity, as they include commentaries for the "Awakening" 5-parter (which is heavily laden with spoilers, so be warned if you aren't familiar with the series, or can't recall future events), the original series pitch, and a feature on the show's fanbase.
If you've enjoyed any of the cartoons I've alluded to, or are just interested in a good, smart show, by all means buy this set. And if you're already familiar with Gargoyles, it's safe to say that you know you want it, because it's just that good.

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Experience all 13 thrilling episodes of GARGOYLES' first season in this spectacular 10th anniversary 2-disc DVD set, complete with exclusive bonus features. It's action-packed animation at its very best! For 1,000 years, a race of heroic creatures has been frozen in stone -- the victims of human betrayal. Now, with the magic spell broken, these amazing Gargoyles awaken from their slumber to find themselves transported from the moors of Scotland to the bustling metropolis of New York City. Follow each suspenseful episode to find out if this proud clan of winged warriors will seek revenge on the race that betrayed them.

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