Harvetoons DVD news and info [Archive]

Leviathan

10-16-2006, 04:37 PM

From the Digital Bits (http://www.thedigitalbits.com/#mytwocents):

I'm pleased today to report one of the best things I've heard in a while: Classic Media has announced that they'll be releasing The Complete Harveytoons Collection on 11/7. That's right, I said THE COMPLETE. This 4 disc set (double-sided DVD-18s), will include ALL 312 classic Harveytoons shorts (1,142 minutes worth!) with digitally remastered picture and sound. Anyone else, like me, old enough to know and love these shorts? Yeah, we're talking Casper the Friendly Ghost. We're talking Richie Rich. We're talking Wendy and Herman and Katnip, Hot Stuff, Baby Huey, Little Audrey and The Modern Madcaps. The set will SRP for just $39.98, and it comes in collectible packaging with an original Casper comic printed inside. Very cool news indeed. Here's a look at the cover art...

In other words, the delay is still in effect, but it looks like the Set will be complete (and for what it's worth, supposedly have restored picture and sound)

mighty mouse

10-16-2006, 05:13 PM

Somehow, i dont think richie rich will be on the dvds.

HisBoyElroy

10-16-2006, 09:07 PM

Ahh, but is it really and truly complete if it doesn't include "Chew Chew Baby"?

Anyone know if Harveytoons purchased that one in the deal, or was it yanked and hidden away long before that?

Thad

10-16-2006, 09:18 PM

Ahh, but is it really and truly complete if it doesn't include "Chew Chew Baby"?

Anyone know if Harveytoons purchased that one in the deal, or was it yanked and hidden away long before that?

Chew-Chew Baby was indeed in bought by Harvey... My VHS copy has Harveytoon titles!

Leviathan

10-16-2006, 10:07 PM

HisBoyElroy

10-16-2006, 10:35 PM

Chew-Chew Baby was indeed in bought by Harvey... My VHS copy has Harveytoon titles!

Wowee! And what's your guess -- included or not?

Incidentally, any idea circa the last time it aired? Or the year it got axed?

Thad

10-16-2006, 10:40 PM

I'm going to hazzard a guess it won't be included. I have no idea when it was removed from syndication (J Lee may know). If you do need a copy let me know.

JPox

10-16-2006, 11:01 PM

Complete?
For that price?
What a deal!
I used to catch the Casper & Friends show on YTV, but it seemed that they repeated the same episodes all the time.
I remember seeing a Buzzy cartoon where he was trying to cure Kat-nip of his smoking problem, funny!

Jon Cooke

10-16-2006, 11:09 PM

That reminds me of another point, i wonder what will become of the Buzzy cartoons and the cartoons that were only presented as "Toon Takes on the Harveytoons Show (Casper's Spree Under the Sea, Little Audrey's Hold the Lion, Please, etc.)

It would also be nice to see the Screen Songs/Kartunes that Harvey owns with the sing-along sections in-tact (they were removed when shown on the Harveytoons Show as Toon Takes).

Classic Media has a Buzzy short on Google Video that has the original audio track, so that may be a good sign for the DVD release. :cool:

Overall, even if the set is less than perfect, the amount of content for the price makes it a must-buy for me! :huey: :buzzy:

HisBoyElroy

10-16-2006, 11:30 PM

That reminds me of another point, i wonder what will become of the Buzzy cartoons and the cartoons that were only presented as "Toon Takes on the Harveytoons Show (Casper's Spree Under the Sea, Little Audrey's Hold the Lion, Please, etc.)

Having no knowledge except for reading the same things everybody does, I am somehow under the impression (no idea why) that these will not be the truncated monstrosities as presented in the half-hour show format. Rather, I am expecting (again, no idea why) at the very least that this will be a good-hearted attempt at decent transfers from the best sources that were readily available to them, i.e., that they could access without killing themselves over it. I'm expecting all things Famous Studios 1950-62. I'll take the marketing reasons why they'd put Casper and the more recognizable characters on the DVD cover (who else, a pygmy?) -- in fact I swallow that gleefully if it subsidizes the other stuff. Because as much as I can appreciate those characters, and want their tunes in the best form obtainable, it's really the more off brand cartoons I seek; the ones where the character is not so established as to make the rest of the cartoon conform to it. For my own taste I feel the more esoteric cartoons gave the studio talent a bit more leash on their creative abilities, sometimes with just enough of a hint of reckless and silly nonsense to make one wonder "what in the world am I watching?" and "who thinks of these things?"

Anyway, that's what I'm expecting. Hope I'm not fooling myself. The price is so great it's making me a bit paranoid.

HisBoyElroy

10-17-2006, 12:04 AM

I'm going to hazzard a guess it won't be included. I have no idea when it was removed from syndication (J Lee may know). If you do need a copy let me know.

Hi Thad -- Somehow I also believe Chew-Chew Baby will be omitted, even if every single other cartoon possible were included. It's like some strange voodoo that's probably outlived whatever FCC witch doctor code got it struck in the first place.

Also, your offer is sincerely appreciated. Let's wait until the DVD release and see what happens. Thanks. - Paul

Daff Doc

10-17-2006, 01:40 AM

I'm confused. Are these pre-packaged half-hour shows, or each individual short? And I'm pretty sure it won't be theatrical prints but hopefully best quality, unedited tv prints they have.

Lets pray for no digital remastering side effects (DVNR, interlacing, overpumped colors and dot crawl, etc.)
:buzzy: :huey: :audrey:

Jon Cooke

10-17-2006, 03:07 AM

I'm confused. Are these pre-packaged half-hour shows, or each individual short? And I'm pretty sure it won't be theatrical prints but hopefully best quality, unedited tv prints they have.:buzzy: :huey: :audrey:

I have a feeling it will be the pre-packaged half-hours...

There were 78 half-hour episodes of the Harveytoons Show each of them had 3 full-length cartoons and a "Toon Take" (usually a clip or cut-down version of another cartoon to fill time). If they are counting the Toon Takes as an individual cartoon ... 4 x 78 half-hours = 312 cartoons.

BUT there were some cartoons that were repeated throughout the 78 shows (many Caspers were repeated since each show had 1 Casper cartoon in it) and some of the Toon Takes were clips from cartoons that were shown in full in other episodes.

I guess we won't know the answers until the set comes out.

merc

10-17-2006, 10:39 AM

The Netflix listing for this set has individual disk listings as:

Disk 1: Episodes 1-14
Disk 2: Episodes 15-28
Disk 3: Episodes 29-40
Disk 4: Episodes 41-52

Sounds like the television show to me.

Leviathan

10-17-2006, 11:34 AM

The Netflix listing for this set has individual disk listings as:

Disk 1: Episodes 1-14
Disk 2: Episodes 15-28
Disk 3: Episodes 29-40
Disk 4: Episodes 41-52

Sounds like the television show to me.

Still, that would mean only 156 cartoons (and 52 Toon Takes for a "total" of 208 cartoons) would be on the set.

This has got to be one of the biggest DVD mysteries ever.

David Gerstein

10-17-2006, 12:23 PM

I've just now been in touch with Classic Media. Evidently, the DVD will contain the cartoons exactly as packaged for the TV show; Netflix is correct.

stupiddimbulb

10-17-2006, 02:44 PM

Okay, but did they say there'd be 52 or 78 episodes?

merc

10-17-2006, 03:10 PM

Okay, but did they say there'd be 52 or 78 episodes?

Netflix only shows 52.

Vdubdavid

10-17-2006, 03:30 PM

I've just now been in touch with Classic Media. Evidently, the DVD will contain the cartoons exactly as packaged for the TV show; Netflix is correct.

Shoot, well then I guess I won't be missing a whole lot by not being around when this is released.

Studio Toledo

10-17-2006, 03:44 PM

Shoot, well then I guess I won't be missing a whole lot by not being around when this is released.
*Yawn* And I was hoping for something a little more decent like using the cartoons in their un-filtered form instead of the previous TV arrangement.

Leviathan

10-17-2006, 03:57 PM

I've just now been in touch with Classic Media. Evidently, the DVD will contain the cartoons exactly as packaged for the TV show; Netflix is correct.

That makes the discrpancy between the DigitalBits and Netlfix descriptions even more puzzling. Why would one source list "312" episodes, and another post a listing suggesting a completely different outcome?

Geezil

10-17-2006, 03:57 PM

That makes the discrepancy between the DigitalBits and Netlfix descriptions even more puzzling. Why would one source list "312" episodes, and another post a listing suggesting a completely different outcome?

(inaudible...) whole animation grapevine's starting to get as fluid and mutable as Wikipedia (...inaudible) :(

Jon Cooke

10-17-2006, 04:48 PM

(inaudible...) whole animation grapevine's starting to get as fluid and mutable as Wikipedia (...inaudible) :(

I think we can thank Classic Media for the confusion.
The most recent official press release (which Digital Bits and other sources quote) mention the "312" cartoons.

HisBoyElroy

10-17-2006, 11:44 PM

That makes the discrpancy between the DigitalBits and Netlfix descriptions even more puzzling. Why would one source list "312" episodes, and another post a listing suggesting a completely different outcome?

Maybe not all of the 312 cartoons were incorporated into the 1/2-hour show, and instead will be in the package as individual cartoons. Also, are these 2-sided DVDs? Maybe they didn't give the flip sides of the discs when they gave the info on which episode numbers are on each disc. Wishful thinking, I know [sigh].

HisBoyElroy

10-17-2006, 11:48 PM

I've just now been in touch with Classic Media. Evidently, the DVD will contain the cartoons exactly as packaged for the TV show; Netflix is correct.

Makes one wonder why they postponed it an extra year in the first place. What was so tough about repackaging the shows?

merc

10-19-2006, 11:44 AM

Maybe not all of the 312 cartoons were incorporated into the 1/2-hour show, and instead will be in the package as individual cartoons. Also, are these 2-sided DVDs? Maybe they didn't give the flip sides of the discs when they gave the info on which episode numbers are on each disc. Wishful thinking, I know [sigh].

14 episodes on disk 1 = 6-7 hours of programming. Sounds like double sided to hold what is advertised by Netflix.

Jon Cooke

10-19-2006, 12:08 PM

14 episodes on disk 1 = 6-7 hours of programming. Sounds like double sided to hold what is advertised by Netflix.

Yeah, I just checked Rocky & Bullwinkle Season 2 (another all double-sided set from Classic Media) and there were about 14 half-hours per double-sided disc on that set too.

So, again, I guess we'll have to wait until the Harveytoons set comes to know exactly what the heck is on it! :confused:

Nelson

10-19-2006, 06:35 PM

My biggest concern, is will this set feature complete begining and end credits?Something that was not included in the recent tv run.

Thad

10-19-2006, 06:48 PM

The fact that Classic Media can't even get out an accurate press release should give everyone an idea what to expect from this set.

THAD

Chow Hound

10-19-2006, 07:00 PM

The fact that Classic Media can't even get out an accurate press release should give everyone an idea what to expect from this set.

THAD

Hopefully it's just their marketing department that doesn't have its act together, and not the ones in charge of producing the disc. Their release info for their new series of Godzilla discs was muddled - they announced a huge boxed set, then retracted that and eventually stated they would do individual releases. But the final product was of good quality (at least the first one was, it's the only one released so far).

Nelson

10-20-2006, 06:07 PM

Boy, I'll tell ya that if this set is a major disapointment, then there should be some major blacklash towards Classic Media on their handling of the Harveytoon collection.

Nelson

10-20-2006, 06:12 PM

Wowee! And what's your guess -- included or not?

Incidentally, any idea circa the last time it aired? Or the year it got axed?

From what i've heard, that when Jerry Beck was putting together the Harveytoons Show, he wanted to include "Chew, Chew Baby", but the Harvey company balked at the idea and thus, the cartoon never aired on the series.

JPox

10-26-2006, 11:14 PM

Jon Cooke

10-26-2006, 11:20 PM

Jerry Beck has confirmed that the Harveytoons set is in fact the TV series he worked on.
And there's a chance to win a copy of the collection!
Read about it here:
http://www.cartoonbrew.com/archives/2006_10.html#002401

Wow, so it's not even the "complete" run of the Harveytoons Show.

Good news: The Buzzy soundtracks are the originals. :buzzy:

harpsichordian

10-27-2006, 02:45 PM

Jerry Beck has confirmed that the Harveytoons set is in fact the TV series he worked on.
And there's a chance to win a copy of the collection!
Read about it here:
http://www.cartoonbrew.com/archives/2006_10.html#002401

Hmm, he mentions "La Petite Parade" which according to the episode guide he links to, was on Episode #61 of the Harveytoons show. It's Episode 40 on the DVD. So everything is out of order.

Dare I hope that "Audrey the Rainmaker," also on Episode #61 of the Harveytoons Show, and the only :audrey: short I've never seen, will be on the set?

Daff Doc

10-27-2006, 03:45 PM

Congratulations Jon!
:audrey: :buzzy: :huey:

Acme

10-27-2006, 04:18 PM

if the set sells well, I hope that Classic Media release more classic Harveytoons on DVD.

Jon Cooke

10-27-2006, 05:30 PM

Congratulations Jon!
:audrey: :buzzy: :huey:

Thanks! :cool:
I will be sure to keep you guys updated about the contents as soon as I get my copy! :huey:

Studio Toledo

10-27-2006, 06:20 PM

Thanks! :cool:
I will be sure to keep you guys updated about the contents as soon as I get my copy! :huey:
Given that I've seen you've won a copy from Jerry! I wish I had the time to respond early to that question or I could've had it, but I'm not hoping for the best given my views of it from seeing it on Fox Family 8 years ago (let along also noticing it was on Boomerang a year or so ago).

Vdubdavid

10-27-2006, 06:26 PM

Leviathan

10-27-2006, 06:36 PM

Thanks! :cool:
I will be sure to keep you guys updated about the contents as soon as I get my copy! :huey:

Will you write and post a review?

Jon Cooke

10-27-2006, 10:33 PM

Will you write and post a review?

Hmmm.... it's a possibility. :tweety:

Studio Toledo

10-27-2006, 10:40 PM

I tip my hat to you Jon! You're one fast typer! Anyway, I don't know what to think. It's the old conundrum: Do we buy the set and support this somewhat scattershot approach, or do we hold out for better treatment for these shorts? I'm talking complete shorts with full titles. What do you guys say?
It's a touch question with no easy answers. I'd like to hold out as well, but often I feel it'll never happen anyway, and eventually give in to such cheapen means such as this. We all can't expect to see the same treatment (in the vain of better compilations put out in recent years). If anything, I'm just glad this isn't knowhere near as bad as the "Casper & Friends" syndie program of the early 90's and what Harvey did to screw with the classics by updating the soundtracks. Boy that was a bad idea from the start.

mighty mouse

10-28-2006, 01:37 AM

Congrats Jon ! The digital bits.com yesterday wrote that the cartoons have never looked better than on this set !What id like more than a review is the list of actual cartoons that wound up on this set .:)

Nelson

10-28-2006, 04:00 PM

Congrats Jon...I just hope that you will not be disapointed in this collection.

mighty mouse

10-30-2006, 12:54 AM

From home theatre forum.com in the tv show on dvd section , these are the running times for each disc on the region 1 harveytoons !Disc 1 side 1, 298 mins,disc 1 side 2 , 298 mins,disc2 side 1, 298mins,disc 2 side 2, 298 mins,disc 3 side 1,251mins,disc 3 side 2 , 251 mins,disc 4 side 1 ,296 mins,disc 4 side 2, 296 mins.When you add all those running times together , you get a whopping 19 hours of harveytoons !Im now convinced to get this around christmas !:huey: :huey: :huey: :huey: :huey: :audrey: :audrey: :audrey: :audrey: :audrey: :buzzy: :buzzy: :buzzy: :buzzy: :buzzy: