Launched in October of 1992, Cartoon Network began as an unassuming repository of animated nostalgia, with the bulk of its early programming dedicated to airing old-school Hanna-Barbera shows. Over the coming years, however, it would grow and change, becoming an entertainment juggernaut by leaning heavily into its own homegrown properties (like those from Cartoon Network Studios and its sister company, Williams Street), introducing an entire generation to iconic anime imports (Toonami), and revolutionizing the adult-oriented programming block (Adult Swim).
Still, perhaps its most important contributions happened as recently as the 2010s, when the network went on a can’t-miss streak, launching series after series that blended humor, pathos, and surrealism in equal measure. Sadly, as streaming changed the very fabric of the entertainment landscape, many of its best titles bounced confusingly from service to service.
But, alas, there is hope. Warner Home Video continues to compile and release these modern classics on good, old-fashioned physical media, with a pair of my personal favorites recently arriving in what I consider their definitive versions.
April of this year saw the arrival of cozy, creepy standout Over the Garden Wall on Blu-ray. This single-disc collection doesn’t exactly pack in the extras (it’s mostly commentary, deleted scenes, and some behind-the-scenes stuff), but it does provide an absolutely stunning transfer of the entire miniseries.
Join Greg and Wirt on their danger-fraught journey through the Unknown. Featuring an unbelievably talented voice cast and lush, evocative animation, it’s an autumnal delight that’s perfect to enjoy any time of year. Definitely several steps up from the 2015 DVD release, Over the Garden Wall on Blu-ray is a must for animation enthusiasts, avid collectors, and anyone in need of a little wonder, whimsy, and more than a hint of danger.
It’s honestly hard to overstate how important and beloved this property truly is, making releases like this one (and OTGW‘s rare ancillary products, like the comic book series) so highly sought after by fans. It is equally hard for me to conceive of a solitary soul who hasn’t yet experienced this masterpiece, and yet I know they are out there. Therefore, to the uninitiated, I say stop what you’re doing and watch this cartoon. Buy the shiny new Blu-ray, scoop up a cheap copy of the older DVD, or simply stream it in the Hulu/Disney+ ecosystem.
Time in the Unknown is time well spent.
While it never seems to get the press of its cohorts like Adventure Time and Regular Show, The Amazing World of Gumball is a family favorite because of its experimental, mixed media approach to animation within the framework of the traditional sitcom setup. The Wattersons are an oddly mixed anthropomorphic animal family—the titular Gumball and his mom, Nicole, are blue cats, sister Anais and father, Richard, are pink bunnies, and pet-turned-adopted-brother Darwin is a goldfish with legs.
The series tells of the continuing exploits of the slovenly stay-at-home dad, workaholic mother, and studious little sister while spending the bulk of its time devoted to Gumball and Darwin as they navigate their way through adolescence at Elmore Junior High. There are crushes, bullies, reality-altering remote controls, and a pocket dimension for all the world’s mistakes. You know, just regular suburban middle school stuff like that.
The 15-DVD set The Amazing World of Gumball: The Complete Series hit retail shelves earlier this month. It contains all six seasons of the original series, plus the spinoff miniseries Darwin’s Yearbook and The Gumball Chronicles. That’s an astounding 254 episodes in all!
The sheer breadth of this collection makes it quite the boon for Gumball diehards, but, unfortunately, its presentation is far from perfect. There are, of course, some sequence differences between broadcast order and the DVD order—which always seems to be the case with long-running series—and the 480p DVD resolution isn’t always as clear as I would’ve liked. There also seem to be recurring audio issues, with some episodes pitched slightly too low while others suffer from infrequent echoing.
I certainly give The Amazing World of Gumball: The Complete Series high marks for content. Even though there are no extras to speak of, it does deliver all the Gumball goodness in one easy package. The wonky audio, however, does give me pause, and that makes what would otherwise be a must-have release more of a completionists-only affair.
Review materials provided by Warner Home Video. This post contains affiliate links. What the what?!
