This three-disc set recalls a glorious era when the Academy Award category for Best Animated Short Subject was every bit as star-studded as those for Best Actor and Actress. Consider the iconic characters contained in these 41 Oscar-nominated ‘toons: Bugs Bunny, Tom & Jerry, Superman, Popeye, Tweety Bird, and Pepe Le Pew, to name a few. Though it is certainly of historic or archival interest that the 15 cartoons on the first disc were each honored with Hollywood's supreme prize, one can't help but feel a bit of a letdown. Bugs' Oscar-winning entry, “Knighty Knight Bugs,” is hardly the wascally wabbit's best work (such masterpieces as “What's Opera, Doc?” and “Duck Amuck” were not even nominated). Carping aside, however, this is still an estimable collection. Of particular interest to animation buffs will be some Chuck Jones rarities, including the Oscar-winning “So Much for So Little” produced for the Federal Security Agency's Public Health Service division, and the wonderful “The Dot and the Line.” Tom & Jerry registered nearly half of the Oscar-winners here (a whopping seven), with “Johann Mouse” being a comparatively non-violent charmer. An onscreen disclaimer cautions viewers about politically incorrect content, found in the Oscar-winning “Speedy Gonzales,” which introduced the border-violating mouse (call Lou Dobbs!), and Tex Avery's wartime classic, “Blitz Wolf,” in which a “No Dogs Allowed” sign is amended to read “No Japs Allowed.” Other DVD extras include the excellent hour-long documentary “Drawn for Glory,” and a bonus short. While the bulk of these cartoons have been previously released across other collections, it's handy to have them all in one set under the Academy banner. Highly recommended. (D. Liebenson)
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Academy Awards Animation Collection
Warner, 3 discs, 323 min., not rated, DVD: $44.98 Volume 23, Issue 3
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Academy Awards Animation Collection
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