DVD Review: Ducktales – Volume 3

Writer: Carl Barks (Characters), Various
Director: Steve Clark, Fred Wolf
Cast: Alan Young, Russi Taylor, Terence McGovern, Joan Gerber, June Foray, Hal Smith, Frank Welker, Brian Cummings, Miriam Flynn, Tony Anselmo
Rating: Not Rated
Studio: Walt Disney Video
Release Date: November 13, 2007

I still know all the words to theme song for Ducktales. The show was one of my favorite Disney television shows. I loved watching Ducktales, Talespin, Chip and Dale Rescue Rangers, The Gummi Bears, and Darkwing Duck. This line up was daily fare in my house. After school was out, Disney had some of the best shows on for kids. These cartoons have remained in the hearts of those of us who watched the show regularly and now we’re introducing them to our own children thanks to the re-release of these Disney shows on DVD from Walt Disney Video and Buena Vista Entertainment.

Ducktales featured some of the best and most entertaining Disney storylines with mayhem, mystery and a lot of fun involved. Who didn’t want to be related to the cantankerous Uncle Scrooge, who just happens to secretly have a big and caring heart? I know that after the show was over, I’d often pretend I was off on my own adventure, just like Huey, Dewey, and Louie. I was only six when the series started and it was on until I was a pre-teen. I got to enjoy the full series, without getting too old and no longer being able to admit I appreciated the comedy presented in each half-hour episode.

Release Information:
Ducktales first aired on the Disney Channel on September 11, 1987. The show ran for at least four years and two extremely long seasons of over 65 (season 1) and 35 (season 2) episodes consecutively. By the time the show was coming to an end, in 1990, the popularity of Ducktales was still so great that a full length movie, Ducktales: The Movie – The Treasure of the Lost Lamp was produced and released in 1990.

In 2005, the first set of Ducktales DVDs was released by Walt Disney Home Entertainment. This was Ducktales – Volume 1. On November 14, 2006, Volume 2 was released. This year, the release of Ducktales – Volume 3, by Walt Disney Video occurred on November 13, 2007. This DVD set consists of 3 DVDs full of Ducktales fun.

The Ducktales – Volume 3 Plot
For those who never had the privilege of seeing Ducktales, the story follows three small duck triplets, Huey, Dewey, and Louie (Russi Taylor). These are the sons of Donald Duck. Donald leaves the boys with their Uncle Scrooge McDuck (Alan Young), who acts as their Guardians and teaches them many life lessons. Donald does make the occasional appearance throughout the series, though his part is relatively minor overall. Uncle Scrooge is pretty much the epitome of a Scrooge except for the fact that he cares about the boys and his friends, the crash pilot, Launchpad McQuack (Terence McGovern), McDuck’s housekeeper, Mrs. Betina Beakley (Joan Gerber) and the crazy inventor, Gyro Gearloose (Hal Smith).

Uncle Scrooge has so much money. He’s the richest duck in town. He’s also incredibly thrifty with his money. He runs his own company McDuck Enterprises. He enjoys teaching the boys about the value of money and diving in his self-made pool filled with gold coins at his vault. Like any very rich person he has enemies. One of them is Magica De Spell (June Foray), the swindling sorceress, who sounds kind of like Natasha from Rocky and Bullwinkle (which is probably because the two characters were both voiced by Foray). The other is DuckWorth (Chuck McCann) who would love to see Scrooge go broke.

In Ducktales – Volume 3, there are plenty of great adventures spread out over this three disc set. In total, there are fifteen episodes. The episodes included in this set are as follows: “Duck to the Future”, “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. McDuck”, “Once Upon a Dime”, “Spies in their Eyes”, “Dime Enough for Luck”, “Duck in the Iron Mask”, “Jungle Duck”, “Launchpad’s First Crash”, “The Uncrashable Hindentanic”, “Ducky Horror Picture Show”, “Till Nephews Do Us Part”, “Time is Money”, “Super Ducktales”, “The Status Seekers”, “Nothing to Fear” and “All Ducks on Deck”.

Throughout these episodes, we have Scrooge being forced to the future with no for sure way to get back and rectify one very big mistake in the past that leads to a very different future world, Scrooge trying to fit in with the other rich folk despite enjoying a traditional Saturday football game with Huey, Dewey, and Louie, and enjoying peanut butter sandwiches, and plenty of crashes in various flying apparatuses with Launchpad there to guide them through each crash safely. Favorite episodes include the “Ducky Horror Picture Show” and “The Duck in the Iron Mask”.

Storyline/Plot:
Replayability:
Acting:
Directing:

Audio/Visual:
I was impressed by the video quality presented on Ducktales – Volume 3. It looked fantastic with very few flaws and only minor coloration problems. Otherwise, the full frame transfer at an aspect ratio of 1.33:1 is perfect. I was surprised just how good the transfer was. It didn’t look like the typical 80s cartoon, with its retro transfer and discolored, washed out appearance. This was the best surprise on this disc.

As for the audio, the Dolby Digital stereo sound is to be expected with an older, cartoon release. The sound has nothing audibly wrong with it, but it certainly isn’t as impressive as it could be had it been made in recent years. Nevertheless, the quality of the audio has no effect on the enjoyment you will receive while watching each episode of Ducktales on this DVD.

Visual:
Audio:

Bonus Features:
Sadly, there are no bonus features included on the Ducktales – Volume 3 DVDs. Disney really needs to consider adding bonus features to appease fans. For the most part, the Disney movies have a general lack of bonuses, especially where their TV show releases are concerned. A “Making Of” and/or a “Behind the Voices” featurette would be much appreciated. Hopefully, future releases will include bonus features.

Bonus Features:

Bottom Line:
Despite not having any supplemental features, Ducktales – Volume 3 is still worth the purchase. For fans of the Disney show, who grew up with it like I did, this is a must have DVD. If you want to take a stroll down memory lane this is the way to do it. Ducktales – Volume 3 has many episodes that signify exactly why Ducktales was and is as popular today by a new generation of audiences who are getting to see the show for the very first time.

Overall Rating:

Technorati Tags: Ducktales, Volume 3, Cartoon, Walt Disney, 80s cartoon, Uncle Scrooge McDuck, Huey, Dewey, Louie

Written by Dominick Evans - Visit Website
---
Dominick is in his late 20s. He lives in Michigan with his life partner, Ashtyn, their 14 year old son Robert, and their Shih-Tzu, Oliver. Dominick is a writer and the head editor for both LI Kids and Literary Illusions. He enjoys composing music and is an aspiring director/screenwriter. In his free time he enjoys spending time with his family, playing and watching sports, playing video games, watching movies, and singing.

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!