Classic Media/Sony Wonder DVDs going out of print?

[Jon Cooke]

I have noticed that a lot of the Classic Media DVDs there were released by Sony Wonder have started popping up at close-out stores. For example, today at the Christmas Tree Shop, a bargain chain here in New England, they had bunches of the single-disc "Best of" Ward and Total TV discs (Rocky & Bullwinkle, Boris & Natasha, Dudley, Peabody, Fairy Tales, Tennessee Tuxedo, Go Go Gophers).

Since all the new Classic Media DVDs are now being released through Genius Entertainment, it looks like Sony is unloading their old stock. Now may be a good time to fill in any gaps in your CM collections, since who knows when (or if) some of the more obscure titles that were released with little fanfare (like the Harveytoons and The Mr. Magoo Show box sets) will be reissued through Genius.

[Nelson]

I have noticed that a lot of the Classic Media DVDs there were released by Sony Wonder have started popping up at close-out stores. For example, today at the Christmas Tree Shop, a bargain chain here in New England, they had bunches of the single-disc "Best of" Ward and Total TV discs (Rocky & Bullwinkle, Boris & Natasha, Dudley, Peabody, Fairy Tales, Tennessee Tuxedo, Go Go Gophers).

will be reissued through Genius.

Genius Entertainment?Never even heard of this company before.:confused:

[Daws Butler Jr.]

Is there different material on those single disc Rocky and Bullwinkle DVD's that came out, or is it duplicate material from the box sets?

[dandu]

I have a few DVDs from Genius, typical PD fare but I love their Betty Boop Vol 1 DVD which is full of nice copies of colorized versions with better hues than the NTA tapes that were released in the 1980s. The genius copys arent as faded.

[Madison Carter]

Genius Entertainment?Never even heard of this company before.:confused:

Genius was a non-descript PD bargain bin company until the Weinstein Brothers needed a new home after leaving Disney/Miramax. They made their home there and it got refurbished into a mid-level company, more along the lines of a Lionsgate or so. All the Weinstein stuff goes through them now, they've brought in Classic Media, and have done quite a step up from their beginnings.

[Snowpeck II]

They're R&B shorts in chronilogical order from past the point that the season sets stopped.


Greg

[Jon Cooke]

Genius was a non-descript PD bargain bin company until the Weinstein Brothers needed a new home after leaving Disney/Miramax. They made their home there and it got refurbished into a mid-level company, more along the lines of a Lionsgate or so. All the Weinstein stuff goes through them now, they've brought in Classic Media, and have done quite a step up from their beginnings.

Genius also managed to get the rights to release Sesame Street DVDs once Sesame Workshop's deal with Sony Wonder ended as well.

[MarkTheShark]

Is there different material on those single disc Rocky and Bullwinkle DVD's that came out, or is it duplicate material from the box sets?

A little of both. The various single-disc Rocky & Bullwinkle releases have managed to include a good chunk of the later storylines, but they have been reformatted so it looks like a half-hour show (actually varying lengths depending on the storyline) just has the Rocky & Bullwinkle segments and maybe one or two of the shorter segments like "Mr. Know-It-All."

"The Best Of Boris And Natasha" includes "Pottsylvania Creeper," "Moosylvania" and "Moosylvania Saved."

"The Best Of Rocky & Bullwinkle Volume 1" includes "The Last Angry Moose" (already available on Season 2), "The Three Mooseketeers" (Season 3) and "The Guns Of Abalone."

I should also point out that most of these single-disc releases also include more of the Bullwinkle puppet intros (unfortunately, colorized versions made from B&W prints of segments originally filmed in color anyway...D'oh!) that aren't on the Season sets. Some are specific to a certain character (the Do-Right disc has a bunch of Do-Right intros). They're worth having for what unique material they have, but they're frustrating...do these really sell better than the Season sets?

[Leviathan]

I'm going to assume that Genius will aslo be distrubuting the new George of the Jungle DVD (http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/George-Jungle-Complete-Series/8400) that's coming out in February?

[Jon Cooke]

I'm going to assume that Genius will aslo be distrubuting the new George of the Jungle DVD (http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/George-Jungle-Complete-Series/8400) that's coming out in February?

Wow, great news!

Can't wait to have Super Chicken on DVD. :cool: :foggy:

[FleischerFan]

The "George of the Jungle" set is the best news since the Popeye collections were announced! I will definitely be picking this one up!

I think that also answers the question about whether or not Classic Media is folding.

[Jon Cooke]

I think that also answers the question about whether or not Classic Media is folding.

I think you misunderstood (unless there has been speculation elsewhere about Classic Media folding), I started this thread to alert people that all Classic Media DVDs released under their Sony Wonder distribution deal seem to be going out of print. Sony and Classic Media ended their partnership earlier this year and all new Classic Media releases, like this upcoming George of the Jungle collection, are now being released through a different company called Genius Entertainment.

[Tim Lones]

I think you misunderstood (unless there has been speculation elsewhere about Classic Media folding), I started this thread to alert people that all Classic Media DVDs released under their Sony Wonder distribution deal seem to be going out of print. Sony and Classic Media ended their partnership earlier this year and all new Classic Media releases, like this upcoming George of the Jungle collection, are now being released through a different company called Genius Entertainment.

I just picked up "The Original Christmas Classics" DVD..A nice set of 7 Holiday Specials, Including:

From Rankin-Bass:
Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town
Frosty The Snowman
Frosty Returns
Cricket On The Hearth
The Little Drummer Boy

Plus, from UPA:
Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol

With a bonus Music CD. but appears to be no bonus material to speak up within the programming. Genius Entertainment released this set..
I got this at Wal-Mart for 23.86. Single Volumes of Rudolph, Frrosty, etc. were 13.72..

There was a flier advertising:
Money back offers on single Christmas DVD's with Capn Crunch/Christmas Crunch and Hostess Family size Snack Cakes

"Rudolphs Christmas Town" Figurine set.

"VeggieTales" Videos

The VeggieTales "Pirates Who Don't Do Anything" Movie-To Be released January 2008.

George Of The Jungle.."Swing into The Holidays with George" "As seen on Cartoon Network"..The drawing looks like a "modernized" George of the Jungle as if CN is doing a new series, but I may be reading more into it than there is..CN problably wouldnt be running the classic series..

Edit:Apparently Classic Media IS doing a new "George" series starting in January on Cartoon Network..The DVD release is a tie-in to the new series..

Back Page featuring Rocky and Bullwinkle Seasons 1-3
Ultimate Underdog Volumes 1-3
Felix The Cat DVD set-32 episodes
Gumby "Essentials"
Casper's Scare School-Fairly new release I would guess.

It did seem odd to see "Genius Entertainment" on the package as I knew they had been involved in Public Domain Stuff before..

[Valeyard]

Genius Entertainment use to do nothing but public domain stuff then the Weinstein Company bought up a chunk of their company and switched them over to mainstream stuff. They distribute the Weinstein logo, Classic Media, WWE Home Video, Legend Films, and several other companies.

[Snowpeck II]

Genius also has the Sesame Workshop contract.

Greg

[Madison Carter]

Genius Entertainment use to do nothing but public domain stuff then the Weinstein Company bought up a chunk of their company and switched them over to mainstream stuff. They distribute the Weinstein logo, Classic Media, WWE Home Video, Legend Films, and several other companies.

Yep. Between this and BCI going legit, what's next?

"Now available only through Mill Creek Entertainment: The Criterion Collection!"

[Valeyard]

Yep. Between this and BCI going legit, what's next?

"Now available only through Mill Creek Entertainment: The Criterion Collection!"


:D

Well played.