Christmas is right around the corner. This year there have been a number of fabulous DVD releases for movies and television. Rather than trying to lump them all together we put our heads together and came up with a list of the top 12 hottest television sets and we did the same for movies, too.

This list is all about the family-friendly cartoons and live-action comedy shows that we know kids and families will be able to enjoy throughout the New Year. Kids should love each of these sets and many adults will enjoy them, too.

We offered a nice mix of some new, popular shows alongside a number of timeless classics that the whole family can enjoy. So, if you’re still on the hunt for some gifts and you don’t know what to buy, sit back and check out our family friendly TV guide. You might just find the perfect gift right under your nose.

1. The Flintstones - The Complete Series: The great thing about The Flintstones is that no matter how old you are you can enjoy this show. This is perfect for kids and adults and would be a fabulous family gift. This amazing set features all of the episodes of the show plus tons of special extras and perks that make it worthwhile.

Classic cartoons do not get much better than this and this new set will be sure to make any cartoon lover happy! At this point most everyone is familiar with Fred and the gang, but on the off chance your little ones are new to the show, this will be the perfect set for them, because once they see an episode they will definitely want to see more!

The Box Set for The Flintstones: The Complete Series can be purchased at Amazon for under $90!

2. Avatar - The Last Airbender: The Complete Book 3 Collection: This is by far one of the best cartoons (geared towards older kids and teens) to be released in recent years. Not only is it well written, it’s always entertaining, and it comes with a message. It was a sad day when Avatar: The Last Airbender was cancelled and the final episode was aired. Still, this final Book 3 Collection would be a perfect addition to any fan’s DVD library.

This offers the closing of the show and would be a great way to revisit the series, so your kids can remain interested while waiting for the upcoming live action movie. If you know someone is a fan, but doesn’t have all of the sets you might want to seek out a bundle pack or pair this with the first and/or second season of the show.

The Avatar: The Last Airbender - Complete Book Three Collection is available for less than $45 through Amazon.

Also, feel free to check out our Avatar - The Last Airbender: The Complete Book 3 Collection DVD Review.

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Written by Ashtyn Evans - Visit Website
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Ashtyn lives in her home state of Michigan with her life partner, Dominick, her 14 year old son, and her baby, the Shih-Tzu, Oliver Twist. Ashtyn is in college, going for a degree in Psychology. She plans to get her Ph.D and work as a therapist in the field of human sexuality. Ashtyn is an experienced and talented chef. She also excels at writing and has worked as a professional writer for the past five years. Ashtyn enjoys spending time with her son and four year old nephew, watching movies, listening to music, and writing works of fiction.

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Walt Disney Treasures Wave VII is being released with November 11, 2008 releases of The Mickey Mouse Club Presents: Annette, The Chronological Donald: Volume Four, and Dr. Syn: The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh. Check out the clips below to see some of what you will be in store for with these fabulous DVD releases.

Paying the Piper (Mickey Mouse Club bonus)

Trouble Shooter (Chronological Donald bonus)

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Written by Janey - Visit Website
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TV Show Info:
Cast: Mel Blanc, Various Others
Studio: Warner Bros

Release Info:
DVD Box Set Release Date: October 21, 2008
Online Availability: Amazon for $44.99
Episodes: Four discs filled with classic cartoon shorts

This set of Looney Tunes shorts is definitely meant for the diehard Tunes fan in the family. There is something for everyone here. The entire family will enjoy some of the more common, popular character-driven shorts in the bunch. The adults and history lovers will like the war shorts that focus on WWII, when they were made. It stands to reason that some may not like these, but they are certainly interesting to watch at least once. In addition to the shorts there are a wide range of special features that add to the collection in all the right ways.

The major detraction for purchasing this set may just be the price. This set sells for around $50 at most stores, sometimes more. This can be a lot to pay for a series of cartoons shorts. If you decide you do not want to spend that much, you might want to look for the Looney Tunes Spotlight Collection, which offers some of the same great shorts in the Golden Collection with less frills and a lower price.

If you decide to purchase this set you won’t have any real need to pick up the Spotlight Collection. The main difference between the two sets, no matter the volume, is that the Golden Collection is the more complete set of the two. So, if you pick up the Spotlight set and find that you like it, you might want to go for the Golden if you find there is something here that you’re missing out on.

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Written by Ashtyn Evans - Visit Website
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Ashtyn lives in her home state of Michigan with her life partner, Dominick, her 14 year old son, and her baby, the Shih-Tzu, Oliver Twist. Ashtyn is in college, going for a degree in Psychology. She plans to get her Ph.D and work as a therapist in the field of human sexuality. Ashtyn is an experienced and talented chef. She also excels at writing and has worked as a professional writer for the past five years. Ashtyn enjoys spending time with her son and four year old nephew, watching movies, listening to music, and writing works of fiction.

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TV Show Info:
Cast: Mel Blanc, Various Others
Studio: Warner Bros

Release Info:
DVD Box Set Release Date: October 21, 2008
Online Availability: Amazon for $19.99
Episodes: A less expensive pairing of episodes from the Golden Collection

A few years back Warner Bros began releasing Looney Tunes on DVD. In most cases people were more than willing to shell out the dough for the highly anticipated Looney Tunes Golden Collections. These collections are chalked full of popular episodes that were made throughout the years. Of course, they are expensive and there were people that just could not afford to pay for the various collections. This brought about the Spotlight Collections. Each of the Spotlight Collections is just a rehashing of the Golden Collection without the frills. This allows people to enjoy the shorts at a cheaper cost. Since the cartoons are really the most important thing, the Spotlight Collections work best for most people because you don’t have to pay as much (they are under $25) and you usually get the best cartoons out of the bunch.

As a kid I loved watching Looney Tunes. I was obsessed with Tweety. I remember that I would always end my Saturday morning cartoons ritual with The Bugs and Daffy Hour. It was a great show that probably introduced a lot of 80s kids to the Looney Tunes. I have to imagine that these collections are going to be best for adults missing the days of good cartoons.

I don’t say that because these cartoons are not child friendly. I say that because I could see the soccer mom’s complaining about the violence that often occurs in the Looney Tunes shorts. Most adults these days grew up with these cartoons and I like to think we did just fine, but some parents shy against the best cartoons for their own reasons.

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Written by Ashtyn Evans - Visit Website
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Ashtyn lives in her home state of Michigan with her life partner, Dominick, her 14 year old son, and her baby, the Shih-Tzu, Oliver Twist. Ashtyn is in college, going for a degree in Psychology. She plans to get her Ph.D and work as a therapist in the field of human sexuality. Ashtyn is an experienced and talented chef. She also excels at writing and has worked as a professional writer for the past five years. Ashtyn enjoys spending time with her son and four year old nephew, watching movies, listening to music, and writing works of fiction.

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TV Show Info:
Writers: Peter Fernandez, Tadashi Hirose, Tatsuo Yoshida
Creator: Tatsuo Yoshida
Cast: Peter Fernandez, Corinne Orr, Jack Grimes, Jack Curtis
Rating: Not Rated
Studio: Lions Gate

Release Info:
Original Air Dates: September 23, 1967-March 15, 1968
DVD Box Set Release Date: October 7, 2008
Online Availability: Amazon for $42.49
Episodes: All 50+ episodes from the original, classic Speed Racer series

“Here he comes! Here comes Speed Racer! He’s a demon on wheels…”

I have had that theme song in my head for the past week or so, ever since I started watching Speed Racer: The Complete Classic Series Collection. It is quite the catchy tune, isn’t it? I have learned a considerable amount about the classic cartoon series and its history, all from doing this review. You know what though? I can truly see why Speed Racer has some strangely addictive power that makes you want to keep watching these episodes.

I knew Speed Racer was a cartoon from the 1960s. I knew that I used to watch reruns of the cartoon in the 1980s. I also knew that people really liked calling me “Speed Racer” because I’m in a wheelchair. A bit cliché, I know, but those are the facts! What I did not know was that Speed Racer was originally a Japanese anime and manga called Mach GoGoGo! or Mahaa GoGoGo!. The manga was originally available in the Shōnen Book from Shueisha. The manga was designed by Tatsuo Yoshida, and was modeled after his Pilot Ace series.

In 1967, Mach GoGoGo! premiered on Japanese television as an anime. It wasn’t long before Trans-Lux bought the rights and the show was brought to the United States as Speed Racer. Not much was removed from the Japanese version. It was slightly more violent, but the characters all had a westernized look because that was Yoshida’s vision for the characters. Essentially, they looked similar to other cartoons from the 1960s. The characters were also dubbed, of course, because the original cartoon was in Japanese. Also, the name of the characters were changed. For example, the main character was Go Mifune in the Japanese version and Speed Racer in the American one.

So, through all of the things I’ve learned I’ve concluded that, Speed Racer is addictive. It’s violent, but not in an obvious way. While watching an episode of the show, as villains try to kill Speed, the morbidity of this show totally struck me, and I like it! Does that make me morbid, too? It doesn’t really matter, because all I can do is recommend this cartoon. I feel this is something safe to watch for kids, merely because the violence is subtle enough that they probably won’t pick up on it (or they’ll see it as Looney Tunes-style violence. Speed Racer is also violent enough to keep adults interested in the series. Sure, some of the characters (like Spritle) are annoying), but the annoyance is actually endearing.

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Written by Dominick Evans - Visit Website
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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.

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Movie Info:
Writer: Various
Director: Various
Cast: Ross Bagdasaruab Jr., Janice Karman, Dody Goodman, Frank Welker, Nancy Cartwright, Tress MacNeille
Rating: Not Rated
Studio: Paramount Home Entertainment

Release Info:
Original Air Dates: September 17, 1983 – December 21, 1990
DVD Release Date: September 16, 2008
Online Availability: Amazon

The 80s brought forth some of the best cartoons that have ever aired. Especially when compared to do, the 80s leave a lot of parents missing the days of entertaining children’s programming. While there are a few shows out there that I enjoy watching with my child and nephew, nothing compares to the days of the 80s for me. That’s why this month and the coming months will be especially enjoyable with all of the numerous Chipmunk releases on DVD.

I recently reviewed Alvin and the Chipmunks Go to the Movies and while this was not one of my favorites of the series (the movie episodes came in the final season of the show) this collection and the holiday themed episodes such as Alvin’s Thanksgiving are some of my favorites. These episodes offer the best of The Chipmunks. They show Alvin, Simon, and Theodore in top form.

If your kids are new to the troublesome trio of chipmunks that look like a cross between the animal and little boys this is the perfect set to acquaint them with the fun show. This two disc set gives them plenty of episodes to see the best there is about Alvin and the Chipmunks. Some of my favorite episodes are included in this set.

As an adult they are just as fun to watch as they were when I was a kid. The animation feels homey, being that was what I grew up with, and the comical voices are both familiar and dynamic enough to do their job well. Parents won’t have to worry about violence or inappropriate behavior like in some of the other cartoons that have been available in the past.

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Written by Ashtyn Evans - Visit Website
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Ashtyn lives in her home state of Michigan with her life partner, Dominick, her 14 year old son, and her baby, the Shih-Tzu, Oliver Twist. Ashtyn is in college, going for a degree in Psychology. She plans to get her Ph.D and work as a therapist in the field of human sexuality. Ashtyn is an experienced and talented chef. She also excels at writing and has worked as a professional writer for the past five years. Ashtyn enjoys spending time with her son and four year old nephew, watching movies, listening to music, and writing works of fiction.

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TV Show Info:
Writer:John Derevlany
Director:Riccardo Durante
Cast: Mark Rendall, Denise Oliver, Tara Strong, Martin Villafana, Lisa Ng, Julie Lemieux, Kedar Brown, Jason Marsden, Jayne Eastwood, Terry McGurrin
Rating: Not Rated
Studio: Nickelodeon/Paramount

Release Info:
Original Air Dates: June 25, 2007-Present
Season Air Dates: June 25, 2007 – December 24, 2007
DVD Box Set Release Date: August 19, 2008
Online Availability: Amazon for $17.99
Episodes: 13 episodes from Season One

I reviewed Wayside: The Movie last year when it first came to DVD. I had heard buzz about a television show being planned. At the time I wasn’t sure if I was going to be a fan or not. In cases like that, where I am not fond of a cartoon, I usually let my girls decide. If they like it, I will begrudgingly watch it for them, but that doesn’t mean I look forward to the process. However, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that I like Wayside School a lot more than I did the movie version.

The premise of the show is still the same, based on a series of books that offer a unique spin on the classroom environment. Kids really do seem to like this and after giving it a second try I have to admit it’s not a bad show. The main difference between the movie and the show is that many of the voice actors are different. The most noticeable difference is the teacher; Mrs. Jewls is no longer voiced by the talented Kathy Najimy. The new Mrs. Jewls, Julie Lemieux, is equally as amusing, but it would have been nice to see Najimy stick around.

The Wayside School: Season One Plot
Rather than take about the inner workings of the plot, I have decided to offer a plot synopsis for each episode. This gives you, as parents, the chance to see what each show is about and it will help you decide if you feel the show is right for your kids.

“Pull My Pigtail”/”Class Cow”: Dana wants to force Todd to love Maurecia because it’s Valentine’s Day. She plans to make Todd fall in love by having him pull on Maurecia’s ponytail. Next up, Mrs. Jewls is away from class on a faculty retreat and while she’s gone a cow wonders into class! The students assume that it is their substitute teacher and wouldn’t you know it, they end up learning more from the cow than their own teacher!

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Kassidy received her degree in Journalism in 2002. She lives in the Midwest with her husband of six years, Jason, their two little girls, Madison (6) and Emma (3), and four month old, Little J (Jason Jr.) . The couple is very excited to welcome their first son. Passions in life for Kassidy include painting, writing, being a Mommy, watching romantic comedies, and dancing.

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Writer: JD Murray, Christopher Yost
Director: Ginny McSwain
Cast: Rino Romano, Alastair Duncan, Evan Sabara, Danielle Judovits, Kevin Michael Richardson, Tom Kenny, Richard Green, Grey DeLisle
Rating: Not Rated
Studio: Warner Home Video
Release Date:July 8, 2008

It’s an indisputable fact that Batman is one of the biggest superhero franchises worldwide. There have been plenty of movies, successful comic adventures, animated shows, merchandise, and more fans than you can imagine. While other superheroes find success in comics and sometimes in movies, animated television shows can be touch and go. The Batman goes above and beyond any other superhero cartoon that I can remember. Maybe it’s because I am partial to Batman. Maybe it’s because I’ve always viewed him as the coolest of the comic entities. Either way, The Batman was something special, and it’s sad to see this show end after just five small seasons.

One of the main things that sets The Batman apart from other animated series about the Dark Knight, is that the show didn’t follow one set storyline in the comics. It also strayed from looking or acting like other Batman animated series. The final season dropped the familiar presence of Batgirl and Commissioner Gordon. While these two are shown on occasion, the Dynamic Duo teamed up with members of the Justice League, more often than in previous seasons. Regardless of the slight changes, The Batman offers an amazing fifth season. In fact, the only thing wrong with it is that it’s over.

Release Information:
The Batman aired on the Kids WB lineup Saturday mornings from 2004-2008. In that time the series gained quite a following and secured some Emmy nominations and wins. The series was so popular that a spin-off comic book was created for younger readers. The Batman Strikes! had a 50 issue run and will release the final comic book in October 2008.

The final season of The Batman offers thirteen episodes and a couple of farewell bonus features. The set is currently available through both online and offline retailers. The set became available in stores on July 8, 2008. If you are interested in purchasing <em>The Batman: The Complete Fifth Season</em> you can pick this up at Amazon for $13.99.

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Written by Ashtyn Evans - Visit Website
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Ashtyn lives in her home state of Michigan with her life partner, Dominick, her 14 year old son, and her baby, the Shih-Tzu, Oliver Twist. Ashtyn is in college, going for a degree in Psychology. She plans to get her Ph.D and work as a therapist in the field of human sexuality. Ashtyn is an experienced and talented chef. She also excels at writing and has worked as a professional writer for the past five years. Ashtyn enjoys spending time with her son and four year old nephew, watching movies, listening to music, and writing works of fiction.

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Writers: John Esposito, Richard Elliott, Amy Wolfram, Simon Racioppa, Melody Fox, Rob Hoegee, George Perez, Bob Kane
Directors: Michael Chang, Ben Jones, Matt Youngberg
Cast: Hynden Walch, Scott Menville, Greg Cipes, Khary Payton, Tara Strong, Glenn Shadix, Ashley Johnson, Ron Perlman, Kevin Michael Richardson, Wil Wheaton
Rating: Not Rated
Studio: Warner Home Video
Release Date: July 8, 2008

Cartoon Network is nearly as bad as the primetime networks. Any time a show seems to be interesting it is canceled. Instead, other, less desirable cartoons are played over and over on the channel. My son won’t even watch the network anymore. I can’t say I necessarily blame him. I really liked Teen Titans. While it definitely had its corny moments, I’m not ashamed to say I could watch it with the kids or on my own. This show was funny, action-packed, and overall entertaining. By default, that meant Cartoon Network just had to cancel it.

I don’t know who is more disappointed at the somewhat abrupt ending with the unresolved Season Five episode, “Things Change”, the kids or me. I wanted to know what happened to Beast Boy, if Terra was back and what the heck that villain was made of that they couldn’t seem to defeat. I wanted to see the Teen Titans go out on a high note. By jove, I wanted to know what was in Robin’s suitcase! The finale didn’t give me any of that. I feel robbed and so do many other fans who didn’t want the series to end.

Release Information:
Made in part by Cartoon Network and Warner Bros. Animation, Teen Titans premiered on Cartoon Network on July 19, 2003. The show ran for five seasons before being canceled unexpectedly following the fifth season. The fifth season ran for 13 episodes from September 24, 2005 to January 16, 2006. The last show featured a rather open-ended sequence that left many fans disheartened by its lack of finality. The series also aired many of its episodes on Kids WB, which is when my son (and I) first started watching the show.

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Written by Dominick Evans - Visit Website
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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.

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Writers: Various
Directors: Various
Cast: Tim Allen, Patricia Richardson, Zachery Ty Bryan, Taran Noah Smith, Richard Karn, Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Earl Hindman, Debbe Dunning, William O’Leary, Megan Cavanagh
Rating: Not Rated
Studio: Touchstone & Walt Disney
Release Date: June 10, 2008

Home Improvement is one of those shows nearly everyone has seen, especially if they were alive in the 1990s (or happen to really like Nick at Night). I was a teenager throughout the shows’ eight year run. I watched plenty of episodes of Home Improvement in my youth. I remember when the cast came back to do the eight season of the show. They all knew it was going to be the last season so all of the episodes, especially the last one, were rather bittersweet.

Over the years, some of the humor from Home Improvement had lost its edge. Of course, the show was still worth watching. The last season the episodes were exceptionally well written and even with middle son, Randy (fan favorite, Jonathan Taylor Thomas), gone from most of the episodes, fans huddled around the TV each night the show was on knowing they’d soon be saying goodbye to Tim the Tool Man and his family. This was one of the last great family sitcoms and it holds a place in the hearts of those who grew up with the show, especially with the death of the sitcom, which has become a reality of the 21st Century.

Release Information:
Home Improvement’s first season showed episodes from September 1991 to May 1992. The show ran for eight seasons. This review is of Home Improvement: The Complete Eighth Season. This was the shows’ final season. It ran for 28 episodes. The half-hour long episodes are spread out across four discs and feature all of the latest, greatest moments of the last season for a show that had been nominated for multiple Emmys and Golden Globe Awards (and actually won).

The Home Improvement: The Complete Eighth Season Box Set is released courtesy of Touchstone and Buena Vista Home Entertainment (Walt Disney). This DVD set became available on June 10, 2008. You should be able to find it, and all of the previous seasons of Home Improvement at nearly any online and offline retailer selling DVD Box Sets. At Amazon, you can pick up a copy of the Home Improvement: The Complete Eighth Season DVD Box Set for $19.99 USD.

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Written by Dominick Evans - Visit Website
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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.

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