DVD Corner

Futurama Volume 6 Blu-ray and DVD Reviews

“Futurama” is a shell of its former self.

Fry, Bender, Professor Farnsworth, Leela, Zoidberg, Amy and Hermes are back for another season of the cult classic series “Futurama”. In these 13 episodes, expect to see zany plots about Bender entering a witness relocation program, whale hunting, Fry becoming a police officer, Bender replication, a secret mission, a Bender ghost, gender changing, Leela going Hollywood, a monster, time travel to the American revolution, the common cold, a Godlike Bender, and an episode featuring multi-animation styles.

In its original run, “Futurama” was a fresh, funny, and clever animated series. Upon its resurrection for the films and the new series airing on Comedy Central, however, “Futurama” seems to be suffering the same problems that plague “The Simpsons” and “Family Guy” in that the show has grown stale. Not only are Ideas being retread, but the once loveable character Bender has been overexposed ad nauseum. Once your go-to character becomes annoying, you know the show is in trouble.

Complaints aside, the sixth volume does boast one highlight with the “Reincarnation” episode that features anime, Fleischer, and 8 bit animation styles. It was a nice change of pace for the series and seeing an anime style Zoidberg is hilarious.

Summary: If you’re still a “Futurama” fan, you should check out the Blu-ray or DVD. If you are having trouble getting into the new “Futurama” material, I wouldn’t recommend checking it out. Stick with the original run instead.

Video/Audio:

Both the Blu-ray and DVDs are presented in the 1.78:1 aspect ratio. While the CGI animation looks good on the DVD, it doesn’t hold a candle to the Blu-ray transfers. The colors are so much more vibrant on the Blu-ray.

The Dolby Digital 5.1 audio track on the DVD sounds as sharp as can be when it comes to the music, sound f/x, and dialogue, but the DTS-HD 5.1 audio track on the Blu-ray has more depth.

Blu-ray and DVD Extras:
* 15 minutes of deleted scenes.
* Commentary on every episode. Expect to see the following commentators pop up: Matt Groening, David X. Cohen, Michael Rowe, Josh Weinstein, Billy West, Maurice Lamarche, Eric Rogers, Frank Marino, Peter Avanzino, Claudia Katz, Lee Supercinski, Tress Macneille, Stephen Sandoval, Patric M. Verrone, John DiMaggio, Crystal Chesney-Thompson, Raymie Muzquiz, Eric Horsted, Dawnn Lewis, J. Stewart Burns, Edmund Fong, Lauren Tom, Dwayne Carey-Hill, Ken Keeler, and Dan Vebber. These commentaries are very talkative and laidback. Fans will enjoy them.
* “Professor Farnsworth’s Science Of A Scene”- A look at the various components of production for the episode “Overclockwise”.
* “Reincarnation Explained!”- Director Peter Avanzino talks about the 3 styles of animation in the “Reincarnation” episode
* “Futurama F.A.Q.”- Matt Groening, David X. Cohen, and others answer fan questions.

The Blu-ray release also has exclusive BD-Live features.

January 23, 2012 - Posted by nicklyons1 | Blu-Ray review, DVD review | Bender, Fry, Futurama Volume 6 Blu-ray Review, Futurama Volume 6 DVD Review, Zoidberg