‘Woody Woodpecker and Friends: The Golden Age Collection’ Blu-ray Review
What comes to mind when I say classic cartoons? Most would probably say Looney Tunes or Tom and Jerry. But just as classic and just as iconic as these would be the little bird with the big personality. Of course, I am talking about Woody Woodpecker.
Woody Woodpecker was so much fun to watch as a kid. And who, as a ki,d didn’t try the icon laugh? Universal Home Entertainment have now restored 25 classic cartoons and released them on Blu-ray on a set entitled Woody Woodpecker and Friends: The Golden Age Collection.
Woody Woodpecker, everyone’s favorite wacky red-headed bird, returns in with more hilarious and crazy adventures in The Woody Woodpecker and Friends Golden Age Collection! Join Woody and his friends in hours of side-splitting fun with these 25 classic theatrical cartoons from renowned cartoonist Walter Lantz.
Many viewers today are likely rediscovering Woody Woodpecker thanks to his regular airings on MeTV. This Blu-ray collection gathers 25 classic cartoons, including two that are not shown on MeTV due to concerns over outdated racial stereotypes. Regardless of where you stand on those inclusions, one thing is undeniable: all 25 cartoons here remain hugely entertaining.
All 25 cartoons have been transferred to Blu-ray in 1080p and are presented in the 1.33:1 aspect ratio. The audio track is an English DTS-Digital Surround Sound 2.0. There are also English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing.
These cartoons have been beautifully restored and look and sound absolutely spectacular. I certainly don’t remember them looking this good when I watched them as a kid. The picture is crisp and clean, free from scratches, debris, or digital artefacts, while the audio is equally spotless with no anomalies to speak of. Watching these shorts on Blu-ray is an absolute pleasure.
And in a move that once again highlights why physical media still matters, Universal has included a selection of bonus features—something you simply won’t get from streaming services. Here’s a look at what’s included:
Special Features:
- Cartoonland Mysteries
- Spook-a-Nanny
- Drawing Woody and Andy
- Directing Animated Cartoons
- Timing a Cartoon
- Character Movement
- The Animators Job
- Using Backgrounds
- Drawing with Walter Lantz
- Storyboarding Woody Woodpecker
So not only do you get 25 hilarious cartoons, but also shorts and featurettes, which amount to almost 3 hours of entertainment on one disc. That is a lot of bang for your buck. Definitely a good addition to an animation fan’s collection.
***** 5/5
If this Blu-ray of Woody Woodpecker and Friends: The Golden Age Collection seem like a release you need, you can order your copy on Amazon today. You won’t be disappointed.
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