Walt Disney Treasures: The Complete Pluto – Volume
2 (1947-1951)
Picture:
B- Sound: B- Extras: B- Animated Shorts: A-
The Complete Pluto – Volume 2 is one of the four new releases in
this sixth wave of Disney Treasure releases.
This Pluto animated short collection (as the title suggests) offers
shorts from 1947-1951 when the ‘Pluto Shorts’ series ended. This compilation is classically splendid,
especially due to Pluto being this reviewer’s favorite Disney character. Disney first introduced Pluto in 1930 with
his now lovable owner Mickey Mouse in ‘The
Chain Gang,’ where Pluto did not help Mickey but rather chased him down as
an escaped prisoner. Over the years
Pluto has evolved into what fans know today, but this 1947-1951 collection
nicely demonstrates the evolution of Pluto as a founding member of the Disney
Character line-up. Unlike Disney’s other
‘dog’ character Goofy, Pluto is all dog, being unable to talk, walk upright, or
have any other more ‘human like’ characteristics. Though Pluto may not be as ‘evolved’ as Goofy
he has just as much emotion and depth, if not more. The artists that were at Disney in the 30’s,
40’s, and 50’s utilized the art of facial expression and body language to
emphasize Pluto’s emotions where he could vocally express them. In the days before fancy CGI, Disney reigned
as the king of perfection even going as far as to fully animate early sketches
to look for flaws or necessary changes (all of which is viewable on this amazing
set). Great set, great buy.
If nothing
else these collectable sets are excellently put together and presented. The set comes in a collectable tin, the
entire set being a limited edition of 65,000. The set includes a certificate of
authenticity, a 7” x 4.5” poster reproduction on hard cardboard, as well as a
booklet nicely explaining the limited set.
A nice set well worth looking into purchasing for a Disney fan’s
collection.
The
shorts included on this set are as follows, packed on two discs with many
extras:
- Rescue Dog (1947)
- Mail Dog (1947)
- Pluto's Blue Note (1947)
- Bone Bandit (1948)
- Pluto's Purchase (1948)
- Cat Nap Pluto (1948)
- Pluto's Fledgling (1948)
- Pueblo Pluto (1949)
- Pluto's Surprise Package (1949)
- Pluto's Sweater (1949)
- Bubble Bee (1949)
- Sheep Dog (1949)
- Pluto's Heart Throb (1950)
- Pluto and the Gopher (1950)
- Wonder Dog (1950)
- Primitive Pluto (1950)
- Puss Café (1950)
- Pests of the West (1950)
- Food For Feudin' (1950)
- Camp Dog (1950)
- Cold Storage (1951)
- Plutopia (1951)
- Cold Turkey (1951)
- Figaro & Cleo
- Bath Day
- Figaro And Frankie
As you
viewers may have noticed, not only has Disney included the last of the Pluto
Animated shorts but also his cat counterpart, Figaro’s animated shorts. Overall, these Figaro shorts are a nice
inclusion. Before viewing the bonus
episodes on this set (including 1 Pluto short) Leonard Maltin offers a
disclaimer about the now politically incorrect portions of the shorts including
some violent acts, as well as the African American ‘Mammy’ character. This was not distracting at all, Disney doing
the right and tasteful thing by not editing these shorts and including them to
make this a truly complete compilation and show how society as well as
animation has evolved.
The
technicals of this DVD set are quite good.
Disney has taken some time in Digitally Mastering the shorts presented
in this animated DVD compilation and where there is some work to be done on
these shorts, the picture is quite crisp and the colors are bright and not
washed out. The picture is presented in
its original 1.33 X 1 Full Screen format as they were originally produced and viewed,
the main problem being that there remains to be definite visual dirt/dust
debris throughout the shorts that must be corrected. The Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono sound quality is
clear and balanced only having the rare high/low errors.
The
extras are also entertaining and plentiful featuring such great features as “Master Class: Bone Trouble" with
Randy Cartwright, "Master Class:
Hawaiian Holiday" with Andreas Deja, Deconstruction of "Pluto's Judgment Day", Pencil Tests
on "Pluto's Judgment Day"
and art galleries.
In the
end, this set is a must have for all Disney fans. The content, presentation, and quality
overall is refreshing and this set offers a nice addition to any DVD
collection.
- Michael P Dougherty II
