LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures - The Complete Season One (2016/Lucasfilm/Disney Blu-ray Set)

Picture: B+ Sound: B Extras: C+ Episodes: C+

Geared towards a primarily young audience, Michael Hegner's The Lego Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventure series from the Disney XD Network has now found its way onto Blu-ray disc courtesy of Disney and Lucasfilm. Digitally animated, as opposed to the more stop motion animation/digital mix that was seen in Warner Brother's hit LEGO Movie (reviewed elsewhere on this site), the show features original LEGO Star Wars characters and a few classic characters from the Star Wars films including Luke, Lando, Boba Fett, Chewbacca, Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine to name a few. The show is cleverly written and easy to watch but not as impressive as the Star Wars: The Clone Wars or Star Wars Rebels animated series. If you're a parent who is trying to get your kids into Star Wars, this show might be a good starting point to get them familiar with the Universe.

The voice cast for the show includes Vanessa Lengies, Matthew Wood, Grey Griffin, Nicolas Cantu, Eugene Byrd, and Trevor Devall.

Taking place after The Empire Strikes Back but before Return of the Jedi, the series focuses around the scavenger Freemaker family (Vanessa, Nicolas, and Euguene) and their remodeled battle droid R0ger - who is there for comic relief. As they make their way across the galaxy, they encounter several wild (and familiar) characters and planets, build ships, and discover sacred artifacts all the while escaping the clutches of the evil Galactic Empire.

Episodes include A Hero Discovered, The Mines of Graballa, Zander's Joyride, The Lost Treasure of Cloud City, Peril on Kashyyk, Crossing Paths, Race on Tattooine, The Test, The Cyber Saber Crystal Chase, The Maker of Zoh, Showdown on Hoth, Duel of Destiny, and the finale episode Return of the Cyber Saber. The season spans two Blu-rays and totals 299 minutes in length.

Presented in 1080p high definition with a widescreen aspect ratio of 1.77:1, the show looks clean on Blu-day disc with excellent detail in the animation with detail seen in the shadows of characters and designs of the sets that all maintain the trademark LEGO appearance. The sound mix is an English Dolby Digital 5.1 track that isn't too amazing but does the animated show justice. Many familiar Ben Burtt sounds from the original trilogy, the trademark sound effects of Star Wars, are heard throughout - everything from lightsabers to TIE Fighters to Carbonite Chambers. Fans will definitely dig the sound design and the decent score that mimics the work of John Williams appropriately.

Special Features include...

Freemaker Salvage and Repair

Meet the Freemaker Family featurette

Collectible magnet set featuring a few main characters

Not just a gimmick to sell toys, this LEGO Star Wars adventure has some heart to it in addition to clean looking animation that will entertain kids and adult Star Wars fans alike.

- James Lockhart

https://www.facebook.com/jamesharlandlockhartv/