Daria, which aired on MTV between 1997–2002, gave sardonic voice to disaffected teenagers through the eponymous animated outcast for whom suburban life was “one smartass joke.” After five seasons (65 episodes in all) and two movies (both included in this eight-disc set), Daria (voiced by Tracy Grandstaff) managed to survive high school with her sense of self uncompromised. Before she got her own show, Daria was a recurring character on Beavis and Butt-head, serving as a brainy foil for the two heavy-metal imbeciles. Daria relocated the teen to Lawndale, introduced her self-absorbed yuppie parents and popularity-obsessed younger sister, and gave her a best friend and kindred misanthropic spirit in Jane Lane (Wendy Hoopes). The broadly drawn high school stereotypes—vapid cheerleaders, fashion-plate mean girls, corruptible administrators, empty-headed jocks—seem unworthy of their contempt, but the series hit satiric pay dirt when it addressed “profound and fundamental moral issues of life,” as in one segment in which Jane joins the track team out of spite but becomes a star, in the process alienating Daria, who is not above enjoying some of the perks of Jane's newfound popularity. When all reverts back to “normal,” Daria remarks, “The system continues, you haven't redeemed yourself, and we're ostracized anyway…hey, they really are preparing us for the real world.” Daria arrives on DVD with almost all of the original music changed due to rights issues, but that shouldn't be a deal-breaker. DVD extras include Daria and Jane episode intros, an animatic version of the pilot episode “Sealed with a Kick,” a retrospective featurette, a Mystik Spiral music video, a never before seen “Mystik Sprial Spin-Off” PDF script, and more. Highly recommended. (D. Liebenson)
Daria: The Complete Animated Series
Paramount, 8 discs, 1,586 min., not rated, DVD: $72.99 Volume 25, Issue 4
Daria: The Complete Animated Series
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