Jungle Book, Moral Orel on DVD

Powerpuff Girls, Care Bears, Afro Samurai also coming to shelves

Here's a round-up of what movies and television shows are coming to DVD in the coming months.

-Disney's The Jungle Book will be the next animated classic to get the Platinum Edition treatment. The two-disc set gets a remastered, restored and remixed movie, along with a whole disc-full of extras. Due October 2nd. (P.S.: Look for the 1961 animated version of 101 Dalmations to be the next Platinum Edition, coming in March of 2008. After that comes The Aristocats)

Warner Home Video will release Moral Orel: The Unholy Version Volume 1. The claymation show, which has been airing on Adult Swim since December of 2005, will show 15 episodes from the first and second season in glorious fullscreen and Dolby Digital 2.0. There are several bonus features on the DVD, including unedited director's cut versions of "God's Chef," "Charity," "Maturity" and "The Best Christmas Ever!," a behind-the-scenes featurette, original opening and end credit animation sequences. It hits DVD shelves April 24th.

As I've mentioned before, Superman: Doomsday brings the 1993 "Death of Superman" comic-book arc to feature length, direct-to-DVD. Extras include "Clash of the Juggernauts" (a mini-doc about the original comic book storyline), a making-of featurette and sneak peeks at Justice League: The New Frontier and Defeat Doomsday: Battle Challenge game. It comes out September 18th.

Warner Home Video also brings The Powerpuff Girls: The Complete First Season to DVD. The two-disc set will include all 13 debut season episodes featuring Blossom, Buttercup and Bubbles. Bonus bits include select audio commentaries, set top challenges and an Apples In Stereo music video.

Lionsgate Home Entertainment tries to keep Happily N'Ever After alive by releasing it on DVD. The box office bomb comes in an anamorphic widescreen transfer and Dolby 5.1 surround sound. Extras include customizable good and evil menu screens, audio commentary with director Paul J. Bolger, deleted scenes, an alternate ending, three making-of featurettes and "Games From the Department of Fairy Tale Security," including "Choose Your Own Fairy Tale Ending" and "Mambo's Memory Mix-Up" (both DVD only), "Munk's Fairy Tale Fix," "Mambo and Munk's Magical Matchmaker" and "Create Your Own Witch's Broom." That comes out May 1st.

MGM Home Entertainment rolls out The Care Bears Movie: 25th Anniversary Limited Edition. Apparently, it's a 25th Anniversary edition despite the flick coming out in 1985. Go figure. Bonus bits include a "lost" episode: "Professor Cold Heart and the Freeze Machine," which hasn't been available since its original broadcast, and a trailer for the upcoming CGI feature Care Bears: Oopsy Does It. That comes out March 20th; also check out Care Bears: Care-A-Lot Adventures (vol. 1) and Care Bears: Forest Of Feelings (vol. 2).

On the other end of the animation spectrum comes FUNimation's Afro Samurai, the DVD flick featuring the voices of Samuel L. Jackson, Ron Perlman and Kelly Hu. This is a two-disc Director's Cut, which includes commentary with producer Eric Calderon, an RZA Music Production Tour, an "In The Booth" voice talent featurette, "Animation Production: Gonzo Studios Japan" featurette and an interview with Afro Samurai creator Takashi Okazaki. It comes out May 22nd.

Marvel also gets in the DVD game with the hit series Fantastic Four: World's Greatest Heroes Vol. 1. There's 4 episodes in this set, including "Doomed," "Hard Knocks," "World's Tiniest Heroes" and "De-Mole-Ition."

Warner Home Video gets even more busy with the DVD release of the Oscar-winning Happy Feet. The feature film comes in 2.40:1 anamorphic widescreen, along with a Dolby Digital 5.1 EX track. Bonus bits include two new animated sequences ("Mumble Meets a Blue Whale" and "A Happy Feet Moment"), "Dance Like a Penguin: Stomp to the Beat" featurette, "I Love to Singa" classic WB cartoon, two music videos and trailers. Coming March 27th.

20th Century Home Entertainment tries to cut its losses by releasing Everyone's Hero on DVD. Another victim of the CGI movie glut, this disc includes both anamorphic widescreen and fullscreen transfers, each with Dolby Digital 5.1 tracks. A commentary by directors Colin Brady and Dan St. Pierre and writers Jeff Hand and Rob Kurtz, making-of and "Tribute to Christopher and Dana Reeve" featurettes, and theatrical trailers round out the experience. Due March 20th.

Yet another release from Warner Home Video: The Venture Bros.: Season 2 comes to DVD. All 13 second season episodes come in a 2-disc set. Bonus bits include audio commentaries on all episodes, deleted scenes and "Tour of Astro-base Go!" featurette. Coming April 17th.