‘Lippy the Lion and Hardy Har Har: The Complete Series’ Blu-ray Review (Warner Archive)
Warner Archive Collection has been on a roll with its Hanna-Barbera Blu-ray releases, and these aren’t just old cartoons slapped onto disc. Each set is carefully restored, resulting in transfers that genuinely look stunning.
The latest arrival is Lippy the Lion and Hardy Har Har, which completes the 1962-63 syndicated series The New Hanna-Barbera Cartoon Series, which brings together three classic shorts: Touche Turtle and Dum Dum, Wally Gator, and Lippy the Lion and Hardy Har Har. With this release, all three cartoons from the series have now received full, complete-series Blu-ray sets, making it a real win for Hanna-Barbera fans and physical-media collectors alike.
Talk about odd couples The zippy, happy-go-lucky Lippy the Lion (voiced by Daws Butler) is always looking for action. Hardy Har Har (voiced by Mel Blanc) is a hangdog, hapless hyena who never laughs. So, naturally the pair are inseparable. Constantly on the lookout for the next big score, the always-optimistic Lippy leads a skeptical Hardy into a multitude of misadventures despite Hardy’s “worry-wartin.”
As a huge fan of The Odd Couple TV series, it’s a real treat to see Hanna-Barbera’s spin on that classic dynamic – reimagined here as a lion and a hyena. Hardy Har Har is unmistakably voiced by the legendary Mel Blanc, while Lippy the Lion is brought to life by Daws Butler, and together their performances elevate the cartoons enormously. Their vocal work adds a rich layer of personality and comic timing that makes the viewing experience a genuine pleasure.
Warner Archive Collection have restored and transferred Lippy the Lion and Hardy Har Har to Blu-ray in 1080p, presented in 1.33:1. The audio track is a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. Finally, there is the option for English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing.
Warner Archive’s restoration of this cartoon is simply spectacular. Watching Lippy the Lion and Hardy Har Har on Blu-ray – with all 52 episodes spread across 2 Blu-ray discs – is a wonderful experience. Hanna-Barbera’s classic animation really benefits from the restoration. But I must be honest. I would have liked to see some bonus features: some interviews, a retrospective or some featurettes would have made this great Blu-ray that much better!
The New Hanna-Barbera Cartoon Series is now complete on Blu-ray with the release of Lippy the Lion and Hardy Har Har, Wally Gator and Touché Turtle and Dum Dum. This is truly a Hanna-Barbera cartoon fan’s dream come true.
***** 5/5
If you love Hanna-Barbera cartoons, your collection is not complete until you have Lippy the Lion and Hardy Har Har on Blu-ray on your shelf. Head over to Amazon and order your copy today
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