Fat Albert’s Halloween Special (1977/Genius DVD)

 

Picture: C+     Sound: C+     Extras: C     Main Program: C+

 

 

Though the first DVDs were issued by a rival company, Fat Albert is now being issued by Genius Entertainment and Fat Albert’s Halloween Special is first up among their releases.  From the previous licensee, we had several titles, including a later 1980s Easter Special:

 

http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/2304/Fat+Albert's+Easter+Special

 

 

The holiday specials were made a while after the show was initially a hit and may have lost some momentum in this respect, but the fact they were made at all is good and the shows are amusing.  They were among the first to involve African American characters of any kind in or out of animation.  Though both are entertaining, I like the Halloween Special a bit more because it has a better flow and is a little more entertaining.  It also captures a certain sense of fun about going out to get candy on Halloween some have forgotten.

 

The 1.33 X 1 and Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono are of the same quality as the previous releases, extending to the two bonus episodes (The Prankster and The Jinx) included here as extras.  You can refer back to the review for more information about how the shows were fixed up for DVD, though they will need new transfers for Blu-ray.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo