Gargoyles Season One Announced For DVD!

[AwallaceUNC]

TVshowsonDVD.com posted this today: http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/newsitem.cfm?NewsID=2032

Now, I'm not a fan of Gargoyles, but the implications of Disney releasing this are, of course, wonderful. Their animated series are now on the table! The link says that the announcement came from the show's creator, and not yet from Disney, so perhaps they have other unannounced releases up their sleeves? At any rate, I hope this sells well, and I'm sure we have some excited members here!

If you're a fan, December 7th is going to be a very expensive day for you!!!!

-Aaron

[jebsdad]

I saw that announcement also.

I enjoyed Gargoyles when it first came out, but quickly tired of it.

I consider it a bit strange that Gargoyles would get DVD release before the TV Little Mermaid series and the TV Aladdin series. At least I don't recall the Little Mermaid or Aladdin TV series being offered on DVD yet.

[MutantEnemy]

well you know, there is always a chance they will be released after their platinum counterparts are released.

[MickeyMousePal]

Yes, finally Gargoyles is going to be relase on DVD!!!
I'm a big Gargoyle fan and glad it's coming out December 7th.
Now I'm getting the 3 Walt Disney's Treasures and Gargoyles DVD.
I'm so Happy!!!!

[Loomis]

Wow, great news indeed.

To echo others, while I'm not that familiar with Gargoyles, this certainly bodes well for the future of Disney TV animation on DVD.

2-discs is slim, but there are only 13 episodes. The recent Spider-man DVD has an excellent set of extras on a mere 2-discs (and that is also a 13 episode series).

Great stuff.

[AwallaceUNC]

It is a little strange that they picked this series, isn't it? I guess it's a little newer than some of the others, but not so new that it's still not in heavy syndication. I'd like to support it, but I don't see being able to spend extra cash in December for a season set of a show I never watched much. Disney probably knows what they are doing, though. Hopefully it sells well.

-Aaron

[shdwrlm3]

It is a little strange that they picked this series, isn't it?

Not that strange, really. Gargoyles has a huge cult following, as evidenced by the yearly conventions. I also think Disney had some sort of poll on their website asking what TV shows consumers wanted to see released on DVD, and I remember Gargoyles was leading.

For those not familiar, Gargoyles was vastly different than most of Disney's other 90's animation in that it wasn't a comedy. Instead, it was much more like the 90s Batman cartoon (first season just released on DVD, too ^_^) in that it focused on action and adventure. Really a great series, with non-gratuitous violence, excellent animation (although it varies from episode to episode), and well-developed characters and plot. I personally can't wait for it, although having it on only 2 discs makes me wonder about the quality of the video.

And I do hope other Disney TV shows follow soon. I'd love to have Hercules and Darkwing Duck on DVD, not to mention Ducktales, Aladdin, and, well, almost every other Disney TV show made during the 90s. I wonder what the hold-up is?

[AwallaceUNC]

I stand corrected. Any idea what came in 2nd on that poll?

-Aaron

[2099net]

For those not familiar, Gargoyles was vastly different than most of Disney's other 90's animation in that it wasn't a comedy. Instead, it was much more like the 90s Batman cartoon (first season just released on DVD, too ^_^) in that it focused on action and adventure.

A little nit-pick here, but it's not the first season of Batman on DVD - the first season is 60 episodes. It's just the first 27 episodes.

I point this out, not to nit-pick as such, but to show how it's not always possible to release the "first season" on a DVD set. Other Disney TV series have overlong first "seasons" too. Nothing wong with that as multi-disc sets can still offer exceptional value for money and supplements.

When we ask for seasons, we should really be asking for value-for-money collections for a lot of the Disney tv cartoons, hopefully with logical break points between the multi-disc volumes. (Pssst. Disney employees, see my sig).

I know Disney released the whole Spider-Man '67 collection (52 episodes) complete, but looking at some of the later episodes *shudder* it's unlikely they would have sold a second volume had they split it into 2.

[Loomis]

I point this out, not to nit-pick as such, but to show how it's not always possible to release the "first season" on a DVD set. Other Disney TV series have overlong first "seasons" too. Nothing wong with that as multi-disc sets can still offer exceptional value for money and supplements.

When we ask for seasons, we should really be asking for value-for-money collections for a lot of the Disney tv cartoons, hopefully with logical break points between the multi-disc volumes.

This is certainly true of Ducktales, the series I'd like to see the most on DVD, which has a 65/35 episode split on the two seasons. A box set of either season would be silly, and potentially pricey. A reasonable number of quality volumes, as 2099 suggests, would be best for all involved.

Something like The Little Mermaid, on the other hand, which has something like a 14/9/8 split over its 3 seasons could all easily fit into one snack sized volume.

We want the best possible set for a given series, not just season sets because it sounds good.

I also find it amusing that many people who support the release of TV shows on DVD, might also slap down DTVs as "cheapquels" - the latter being of a much higher production value that the former.

[AwallaceUNC]

I'm adding another voice of agreement to Netty and Loomis. For shows like this, where seasons really don't much matter, the important thing is to have them all available in sets that make sense- fiscally and logically. Season sets for shows like this don't always fit that bill.

-Aaron

[shdwrlm3]

A little nit-pick here, but it's not the first season of Batman on DVD - the first season is 60 episodes. It's just the first 27 episodes.

Bah, you're right ^_^ In any case, the Batman set was very well done in terms of splitting up the episodes. I'm glad they didn't go directly with production number or airdate, so the 2-parters actually showed up next to each other. Now, if only they had cleaned the episodes up...

I'm actually wondering how season 2 of Gargoyles will pan out on DVD. During season 2, there was a very long (and I mean looong) story arc that went on for a number of episodes. If they were to split season 2 up (there are 52 episodes, so assuming a 26/26 split), it would cut off the arc in the middle with no reasonable cliff-hanger. Of course, a single set would no doubt be expensive, so I'm really wondering how they'll manage it.

But yes, I completely agree that money-saving volumes are preferrable for most of Disney's TV catalogue. Nothing irks me more than when studios decide to release separate DVDs with 4 episodes each (which is what Disney is inexplicably doing with the 90s Spider-man animated show). Or worse yet, "best-of" compilations.

And did I just read on the front page that there would be commentary for every episode? If so, wow! As far as I know only The Simpsons and Futurama (which, incidentally, benefitted from volumes rather than seasons) have had commentary for every episode.

I also find it amusing that many people who support the release of TV shows on DVD, might also slap down DTVs as "cheapquels" - the latter being of a much higher production value that the former.

Well, that wasn't the case with Return of Jafar Of course, production values have definitely increased since then, and I actually found Lion King 1 1/2 to be really enjoyable. I think the problem isn't so much production values, but a lack of imagination. I personally feel that many of the "cheapquels" ended up being mere rehashes of the movie they were based on, whereas the TV shows generally showed a lot of creativity in terms of story. To me, many of the DTV sequels were basically, "Hey, let's do everything in reverse!". It may may have worked for Toy Story 2 because they managed to make it feel fresh, but with stuff like Little Mermaid 2, it felt like exactly the same thing all over again.

Sigh, all of this talk about Gargoyles and Disney TV shows just reminded me that the planned Atlantis series was supposed to have a crossover episode with Gargoyles. I thought the Hercules/Aladdin crossover was great fun, so I'm disappointed that Atlantis never went beyond the DTV.

[Vertigo1]

I'm actually wondering how season 2 of Gargoyles will pan out on DVD. During season 2, there was a very long (and I mean looong) story arc that went on for a number of episodes. If they were to split season 2 up (there are 52 episodes, so assuming a 26/26 split), it would cut off the arc in the middle with no reasonable cliff-hanger. Of course, a single set would no doubt be expensive, so I'm really wondering how they'll manage it.

At this point, I'll take it any way I can get it. I've been a huge fan of the show since day one and shows with this kind of quality are a rare thing these days, and deserve to be preserved.

And did I just read on the front page that there would be commentary for every episode? If so, wow! As far as I know only The Simpsons and Futurama (which, incidentally, benefitted from volumes rather than seasons) have had commentary for every episode.

Stargate SG-1 has been doing this since the season 4 release, and I believe all of the Babylon5 episodes have commentaries as well.

[Loomis]

Well, that wasn't the case with Return of Jafar Of course, production values have definitely increased since then, and I actually found Lion King 1 1/2 to be really enjoyable. I think the problem isn't so much production values, but a lack of imagination. I personally feel that many of the "cheapquels" ended up being mere rehashes of the movie they were based on, whereas the TV shows generally showed a lot of creativity in terms of story. To me, many of the DTV sequels were basically, "Hey, let's do everything in reverse!". It may may have worked for Toy Story 2 because they managed to make it feel fresh, but with stuff like Little Mermaid 2, it felt like exactly the same thing all over again.

shdwrlm3 - you dislike other sequels for being repetitive, yet you enjoy Lion King 1.5, which was by definition a rehash of the original.

A lot of people (and I don't specifically mean you this time, shdwrlm3) use 'Jafar' and 'Belle's Magical World' as examples of everything that is wrong with the sequels. I'd agree, those two were pretty bad. Many that have come since have been quite good, but you can't accuse the sequels of being cheap and repetitive, and then support the TV series too. The Little Mermaid TV series, which came before the much despised DTV sequel, was just as cheap and repetitive as the sequel movie. The average plot line was "Ariel wants to do something. Daddy forbids it. Ariel does it anyways, gets into trouble, gets out at the lasy minute (sometimes with the help of daddy). Vows never to do it again. Until next week...". Plus, all of the adventures she has in the TV series come before the first film, which kind of cheapens the fact that the film portrays her first "big adventure" and awakening into adulthood.

In fact all of the movie related series - Timon and Pumbaa, Little Mermaid, Aladdin, among others - rehash the movies to a certain extent. If not outright, then they take the "character stereotypes" and condense them into a 22 minute format over several years. Still, this isn't to say I didn't enjoy them - of course I did, because I love the characters and love the originals. I'm just saying, the TV series are cheaper and more repetitve that the official seuqels, so I'm always amused people who disliked Jafar would love to Aladdin the series on DVD (although that is slightly better).

As for me, I enjoyed the series that took existing characters and created a whole other world for them to inhabit: Tail Spin; Ducktales; Chip 'n Dale's Rescue Rangers and to a lesser extent, Goof Troop.

Still, I think Gargoyles is a step in the right direction, and I have no reason to complain about its release.

[2099net]

And did I just read on the front page that there would be commentary for every episode? If so, wow! As far as I know only The Simpsons and Futurama (which, incidentally, benefitted from volumes rather than seasons) have had commentary for every episode.

Actually Futurama was released in seasons (by production). It's just that the American transmissions never matched the production blocks. In the UK the sets are labeled as 'Season x' where as in America they are labeled 'Vol x'. Incidently, the UK got their final season on DVD before all the episodes were even aired in America, Fox were so far behind.

The MTV Spider-Man series also has commentaries on every episode (13, just like Gargoyles) and it also manages to have a slew of additional supplements, so it shows it can be done.

Lot's of UK TV has commentaries for all the episodes when put onto DVD, but of course our seasons (or Series as we call them) are a lot shorter, typically 6-10 episodes. Sets with good commentary content include all releases of The League of Gentlemen, Red Dwarf (soon to have 'fan commentaries' too!), Spaced, Bo' Selecta and the various incarnations of Alan Partridge.

[DisneyChris]

That's great news! I hope Ducktales, Darkwing Duck, Goof Troop, Chip & Dale and The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh will be the next to release season sets.

I actually found Lion King 1 1/2 to be really enjoyable.

shdwrlm3 - you dislike other sequels for being repetitive, yet you enjoy Lion King 1.5, which was by definition a rehash of the original.

Come on, it's just a matter of taste!!! You cannot use logic to explain somebody's taste! You can't say "if you don't like this type of movies, you shouldn't like this movie which is that type" (same with food too ). I, like shdwrlm3, dislikes DTV sequels, but I enjoyed TLK 1.5 too. Although it is a rehash, it is pretty well-made unlike the others.

...but you can't accuse the sequels of being cheap and repetitive, and then support the TV series too.

Why can't I? I dislike the sequels, it's one thing. I like the TV series, it's another thing.

[Jake Lipson]

This is exellent news for any number of reasons. One, Gargoyles is a really great show and I can't wait to have it on DVD; two, I see this as a test by Disney to see how substansial (season, in some cases) set-type releases of their animated TV properties will sell. If Gargoyles sells well, I can concivably see that continuing next year alongside release(s) of Aladdin.

I think it would be smart for them to start with Aladdin as far as their based-on-a-movie series go because the then-still-semi-recent Platinum release of the movie, as well as the inminent releases of the two sequels, will keep Aladdin on people's mind as they roll out the TV series. The Little Mermaid should follow in late 2006/early 2007 in a simmilar fashion, and Hercules will end up coming piggybacking on the eventual SE of it, as well. The others are anyone's guess at the moment; I'dve thought Timon and Pumbaa would be coming out soon to piggyback on the TLK movies. Heck, I was always saying that the pilot episode of that would have made an exellent suppliment to the TLK1.5 disc.

[AwallaceUNC]

I would think that DuckTales and Rescue Rangers has to be very high up on their priority list. The based-on-movies series would be popular too, I'm sure, as you said. I think/hope Darkwing Duck would be a likely choice, too.

Also, I'm not sure who owns the earlier episodes of Doug, but those wouldn't surprise me as releases, either.

-Aaron

[MickeyMousePal]

awallaceunc Wrote

I would think that DuckTales and Rescue Rangers has to be very high up on their priority list. The based-on-movies series would be popular too, I'm sure, as you said. I think/hope Darkwing Duck would be a likely choice, too.

Also, I'm not sure who owns the earlier episodes of Doug, but those wouldn't surprise me as releases, either.

-Aaron

Maybe Disney is testing us if we'll buy the Gargoyle DVD and then if they do great they release the other Disney Toons like Ducktales, Talespin, Darkwing Duck and Chip 'n' Dale: Rescue Rangers.

[Jake Lipson]

Also, I'm not sure who owns the earlier episodes of Doug, but those wouldn't surprise me as releases, either.

Oh, good thought! I hadn't considered that. I *think* Nickelodien (Paramount) owns the earlier ones, and then Disney got the rights to re-launch it as "Brand Spanking New Doug!" or something. But the rights to the older ones might have been transferred over to them. Dunno.

Also, it's just occured to me that it's possible a DuckTales release could either coincide with - or be entirely dependant upon sales of - the Treasure of the Lost Lamp DVD, which I'm betting will hit Region 1 sometime next spring.

The non-based-on-movie ones are cool, and I especially like Rescue Rangers; I just can't see them coming before something like Aladdin, which would allow them crosspromotion with the movies, whereas something like Rescue Rangers would just be sort of random. But, yeah, bring it all on -- can't wait for Rescue Rangers especially, that was always a favorite of mine when we used to get Disney Channel. My Chip & Dale plushes are the Rescue Rangers versions, ie, decked out in their Rescue Ranger outfits.