‘Spaceballs: The Complete Animated Series’ DVD Review (MVD Rewind)
Featuring the voices of: Mel Brooks, Daphne Zuniga, Joan Rivers, Tino Insana, Rino Romano, Dee Bradley Baker | Created by Mel Brooks, Thomas Meehan
Mel Brooks’ talent for spoof comedy is unmatched, with no genre ever off limits to his sharp sense of humour. Over the years he’s taken aim at everything from westerns and historical epics to Alfred Hitchcock thrillers, adventure films, horror, and even sci-fi – the latter giving us one of his most beloved parodies, Spaceballs.
After decades of speculation and fan wish-fulfilment, Spaceballs 2 is finally set to arrive in 2027. That may still be some way off, but thankfully MVD Rewind Collection has given fans something to enjoy in the meantime with the DVD release of Spaceballs: The Complete Animated Series.
From a galaxy not so far away come these hilarious animated adventures based on Mel Brooks’ 1987 comedy ‘Spaceballs’ – the greatest sci-fi spoof of all time! Join Yogurt, President Skroob, Lone Starr, Barf, Princess Vespa, and the dastardly, dorky Dark Helmet for a blast of interstellar insanity! Directed and voiced by comic genius Mel Brooks and featuring voices from the film’s original stars Daphna Zuniga and Joan Rivers, SPACEBALLS: THE ANIMATED SERIES pokes fun at everything under the sun, from pop culture and politics to megahit movies and more!
Like all of Mel Brooks’ spoof work, this series takes aim at a wide range of pop-culture favourites, parodying everything from the Star Wars universe and The Lord of the Rings to Jurassic Park, Spider-Man, Grand Theft Auto, and plenty more along the way.
Mel Brooks, Daphne Zuniga and Joan Rivers all return to the roles they made famous in the original film, while other characters had to be recast. Tino Insana steps into the role of Barf following the tragic passing of John Candy, Rino Romano replaces Bill Pullman as Lone Starr, and Dee Bradley Baker takes over as Dark Helmet, a role originally played by Rick Moranis.
The animation is fairly primitive by today’s standards, and both the stories and the comedy can be hit-and-miss throughout the series. That said, I still found myself enjoying it for what it is. It never reaches the heights of the original movie, but that was never really the expectation, so the overall experience remains a fun, lighthearted return to the Spaceballs universe.
MVD Rewind Collection presents the series across two DVD discs, with all episodes shown in their original 1.33:1 aspect ratio. Audio is provided in English Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo, with optional English subtitles available for the deaf and hard of hearing.
Given the show’s fairly primitive animation style, the DVD transfer looks surprisingly good. The image is clean and sharp throughout, with no noticeable digital artefacts, while the audio remains clear and free from any obvious issues. Alongside all 15 episodes collected here, the set also includes a selection of bonus features, adding a little extra value for fans of the series – including…
Special Features:
- Spaceballs (1987) Theatrical Trailer
- Spaceballs 2 (2027) Teaser Trailer
- Collectible Mini-Poster
- Limited Edition Slipcover (First Pressing Only)
As you’d expect, the extras include both the original trailer and the recently released 2027 teaser, and as with all Rewind Collection releases, the included mini-posters are a real highlight. These are perfect for framing – something I’ve already done with several from previous releases. MVD has also made good use of the inside sleeve, printing a complete episode guide on the reverse, which is a nice touch for collectors.
One thing worth noting is that this is a DVD release housed in a Blu-ray case. At first glance, you could easily think you’re buying a Blu-ray, but the discs themselves are standard DVDs. In all honesty, this isn’t a major issue, and given the show’s simple animation style, it’s unlikely a Blu-ray upgrade would have made a significant difference anyway.
This might be an unpopular opinion, but I found the animated series fairly entertaining. The animation isn’t exactly anything to write home about, the replacement voice cast can take some getting used to, and the stories lean into a slightly raunchier tone than you might expect – even by Mel Brooks standards – yet there’s still enough charm here to make it an enjoyable watch for fans of Spaceballs.
***½ 3.5/5
If you are a completist like me, then Spaceballs: The Complete Animated Series will look great alongside the movie release in your collection. So head over to Amazon and order your copy today.
______
