The Funniest Of The Planet’s Funniest Animals (3-DVD Set) + Holiday Spectacular (Single DVD-Video)

 

Picture: C+     Sound: C+     Extras: C/D     Episodes: B-/C+

 

 

Everyone loves animals and they can do amusing and unexpected things.  This especially occurs when they have been around humans too long and especially in domestic situations.  That is the idea that powers The Planet’s Funniest Animals series.  Now like similar shows, I always wonder if any of the animals are being manipulated or abused somehow, something that animal rights purists in particular would object to.  Some of them to the point that they do not like shows like this at all.

 

However, though I share their concerns, shows like this still serve as a record of our over-mediated times and there are times the animals get out of control to the human’s detriment.  Each regular disc has about an hour’s worth of highlights, while the Holiday disc is only 41 minutes, but is no better to worse than the regular shows.  The only question is, how much of this is too much.  You decide.

 

The 1.33 X 1 image on all discs originate on professional NTSC analog videotape, though the submissions wildly vary in quality depending on how they were shot and what they were shot on.  This would include Beta, VHS, 8mm and DV tapes of all kinds and brands.  Title graphics fare best.  The Dolby Digital 2.0 is simple stereo for the main audience and voice over work, while the audio from the submissions is various, often has a monophonic like quality and is sometimes even hard to hear.  Extras on all discs are brief outtakes never before broadcast, which will be a bonus to fans.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo