Walt Disney Treasures - The Complete Pluto Volume 1

Rating:
Summary: German dude is right,...
Review: ...the tins this year have a pretty tacky paper back cover instead of the attractive printed-on covers that were done in Italy. The last wave of treasures was delayed due to problems at the Italian facility; in order, to make the Christmas rush, they probably went plan B on our current treasure wave, though its nice to see them housed in white double Alpha keepcases. I don't really care if the edition numbers are stamped on the can: the more collectible low-numbered cans would have been hoarded anyways and truly collectible items sell in the mere thousands (not 130,000). The Roy Disney autograph band went with Roy himself when he resigned from the Disney board to protest Michael Eisner's leadership. I'm not a Pluto fan (the MM club is the best one), but at these prices, all treasures are a steal.

Rating:
Summary: PLUTO FINALLY GETS THE TREASURE TREATMENT
Review: In the latest offering from the Disney Treasures collection, pluto gets his chance to shine in 28 classica animated shorts. Since this is not all of them there will certainly be a volume two.

Among the Gems in this collection:

"The Chain Gang" featuring Plutos first appearance.

"The Army mascot" A classic from WWII, Pluto longs to be an Army mascot (especially after he sees how well they are fed) so he hatches a plan to take the place of the real mascot.

"Private Pluto" another WWII classic, Pluto is in the infantry guarding a pillbox from saboteurs.

"Pluto Junior" - Pluto's young son wants to play and fight to the exasperation of Pluto who only wants to take a nap.

"Canine Caddy" Mickey goes golfing with Pluto as his caddy.

As with the other sets there's a slew of extras: Leonard Maltin introductions, "The Life and Times of Pluto", "Pluto 101", Pluto's Picture Book (Excerpt from "A Story of Dogs"), Pluto's Pal Fergy, Still Frame Galleries.

More classic animation from Disney.

Rating:
Summary: Every Dog Has His Day.
Review: It was rather predictable that Pluto would be the next of Disney's 'Big Five' to get the Treasures treatment now that Goofy's back-catalogue has been exhausted. Mickey has had all of his colour cartoons released under this series and this new wave of 'treasures' will complete his black and white releases. We are still waiting for Donald to appear in the second (of possibly four?) volumes.
After Donald and Mickey, Pluto was the most prolific of the Disney cannon and the problem that may arise, as it already has done, is on over-lapping other titles. Pluto is the definate star of such cartoons as Pluto's Christmas Tree and The Simple Things and yet they, and many others, appear in the Mickey volumes. Hopefully this will be more of a companion piece to the existing titles.
With Disney floundering with it's new output, it has really grasped with both hands the profit in it's archival stuff but obviously this is limited. There is definately more room for further Silly Symphony releases but how about a volume devoted to Ludwig Von Drake's appearances on the Disney TV shows? Chip 'n' Dale shorts (although limited and starring other head-liners)? Or Disney's True Life Adventures? That another of this year's releases is The Mickey Mouse Club, I worry that some 'barrel-scraping' has already begun.
Although I value and look forward to the new Disney Treasures releases, I can't help but worry that the true treasures will soon be exhausted. And that would be a pity.

Rating:
Summary: Pluto, Pluto, Pluto
Review: The contents of this DVD set has been released, so all 48 official Pluto cartoons will not be in Volume 1.

Disc 1 contents:

The Chain Gang (1930 Mickey Mouse black and white cartoon)
On Ice (1935 Mickey Mouse color cartoon)
Beach Picnic (1939 Donald Duck color cartoon)
Cartoons below listed as #1, #2, #4, and #6 through #12.

Bonus Features:
Leonard Maltin Introduction
The Life And Times of Pluto
Pluto 101

Disc 2 contents:
Cartoons below listed as #3, #5, and #13 through #25.

Bonus Features:
Leonard Martin Introduction
Leonard Martin From The Vault Introduction
Pluto's Picture Book (excerpt from the December 1, 1954 Disney TV show "The Story Of Dogs")
Pluto's Pal Fergy
Still Frame Galleries

This leaves 23 official Pluto cartoons (1947-1951) to be released in a year or two in Volume 2 - #26 through #48 on the list below. Additional cartoons with Pluto appearances and specials on Pluto may also be in this Volume 2.

Here is a list of the 48 official Pluto cartoons with their release year.

1. Pluto's Quin-Puplets 1937
2. Bone Trouble 1940
3. Pantry Pirate 1940
4. Pluto's Playmate 1941
5. A Gentleman's Gentleman 1941
6. Canine Caddy 1941
7. Lend A Paw 1941
8. Pluto, Junior 1942
9. The Army Mascot 1942
10. The Sleepwalker 1942
11. T-Bone For Two 1942
12. Pluto At The Zoo 1942
13. Pluto And The Armadillo 1943
14. Private Pluto 1943
15. Springtime For Pluto 1944
16. First Aiders 1944
17. Dog Watch 1945
18. Canine Casanova 1945
19. The Legend Of Coyote Rock 1945
20. Canine Patrol 1945
21. Pluto's Kid Brother 1946
22. In Dutch 1946
23. Squatter's Rights 1946
24. The Purloined Pup 1946
25. Pluto's Housewarming 1947
26. Rescue Dog 1947
27. Mail Dog 1947
28. Pluto's Blue Note 1947
29. Bone Bandit 1948
30. Pluto's Purchase 1948
31. Cat Nap Pluto 1948
32. Pluto's Fledgling 1948
33. Pueblo Pluto 1949
34. Pluto's Surprise Package 1949
35. Pluto's Sweater 1949
36. Bubble Bee 1949
37. Sheep Dog 1949
38. Pluto's Heart Throb 1950
39. Pluto And The Gopher 1950
40. Wonder Dog 1950
41. Primitive Pluto 1950
42. Puss-Cafe 1950
43. Pests Of The West 1950
44. Food For Feudin' 1950
45. Camp Dog 1950
46. Cold Storage 1951
47. Plutopia 1951
48. Cold Turkey 1951

Although I'm not a big fan of the character Pluto and would not be interested in watching several Pluto cartoons in a row, many of his cartoons are fun and funny. Most of the shorts were well-animated with interesting stories. Lend A Paw (#7, 1941) won an Oscar for Best Cartoon.

I am disappointed that all the 48 cartoons are not in this set and I will have to wait a year or two for the remaining Pluto cartoons, since several of my favorite Pluto cartoons are in the last cartoons.

Rating:
Summary: Packaging gets cheaper every year
Review: This series is a dream come true since the first day of DVD. But this year the back cover is not printed on the tin but only a piece of paper poorly sticked to the box so it immediately falls apart! Also the "bond" around the tin was not included anymore. Beginning last year they stopped hammering the number into the metal. Cheap treatment for a prestige article.