First Men in the Moon on VHS. Movie starring Edward Judd, Martha Hyer, Lionel Jeffries. Directed by Nathan Juran. With special effects by Ray Harryhausen. 1964.
From the VHS box:
Category: Animation
The Head Saves The Earth
MTV’s The Head on VHS video. Starring Gordon Barnett, Jason Candler, Patricia Bibby. Created by Eric Fogel. With Mike Judge. 1994.
From the VHS box:
At Last, A Cartoon-Super-Hero Who Really Uses His Head.
Jim (The Head) is an animated mutant super-hero with an insanely large cranium. A freak encounter left him with a problem. A big one: he’s got an alien named Roy living inside his oversized dome. Plus, he’s got the added headache of having to deal with an impending invasion of Earth by a fiendish army of evil parasitic aliens.
Jim and Roy are feverishly assembling the Anti-Invasion Machine, whose five pieces have been scattered throughout the world. Will Jim and his skull-dwelling companion have the skill to save the Earth? Only The Head knows.
Macross Plus: The Movie
Macross Plus: The Movie on VHS. English Subtitled Version. Starring Rica Fukami, Banjô Ginga, Shô Hayami. Directed by Shôji Kawamori. 1995.
From the VHS box cover:
Contains never before seen footage!
Macross Plus scores with its triple-play of dynamic mecha action, dramatic characters and rock music elements creating a visual bonanza with whirlwind air combat scenes that leave you mesmerized.
In 2040 A.D., on the colonial planet Eden, the Ministry of Defense is testing a transforming super-stealth aircraft to counter alien attacks. Join in on the action when rival pilots Isamu and Guld battle for aerial supremacy and the affection of the beautiful Myung. This dramatic, visually superb and complex Japanimation feature is certain to become a favorite with Manga fans everywhere.
From The Director – Shoji Kawamori:
“…There have been many events over time with this title and finally we have been able to release this movie edition. I would like to personally thank all the people who sent us letters of support. When we were making the film, my intentions were to make an animé that was appealing for both fans and the general public. I hope that you liked it…”
Upgrade to DVD: Macross Plus Movie Edition on DVD
Stick to VHS: Macross Plus The Movie on VHS
The Fool and the Flying Ship
The Fool and the Flying Ship on VHS video. Starring Robin Williams. Illustrations by Henrik Drescher. Based on a Russian Folk Tale. Adapted by Eric Metaxas. Directed by C.W. Rogers. 1991.
From the VHS box cover:
Rabbit Ears Presents
Robin Williams’ menagerie of voices and The Klezmer Conservatory Band’s spirited melodies combine hilariously in this wacky retelling of a famous Russian folktale in which a country fool and his crew of superhuman “moujiks” unite to win the hand of the Tsar’s daughter.
DVD “upgrade” (it’s a DVD-R and short): The Fool and the Flying Ship, Told by Robin Williams with Music by The Klezmer Conservatory Band
Stick with VHS: The Fool & The Flying Ship [VHS]
Watch now: The Fool and the Flying Ship, Told by Robin Williams. Music by The Klezmer Conservatory Band
Patrick Stewart Narrates The Planets
Patrick Stewart Narrates “The Planets” on VHS. Starring Patrick Stewart. Music by Tomita. Directed by Don Barrett. 1993.
From the VHS box cover:
From the moment you hear the rich voice of actor Patrick Stewart, you know you’re in for an adventure. While Stewart is best known as Captain Jean Luc Picard of “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” this time he’s our guide on a journey that takes us beyond the world of sci-fi. This time, our space odyssey is real. It’s an enterprise that gives us a window seat from real spacecraft — starships with names like Pioneer, Mariner, Viking, Voyager, Galileo and Magellan. We see an awesome array of NASA images — from lunar sunrises to digital moonscapes, and lava lakes to solar flares. Stewart’s dramatic narration helps us appreciate the mysteries of our universe as we fly over Mars at 200,000 miles per hour, and on through Saturn’s gossamer rings.
“The Planets” cosmic show is made all the more dazzling by the popular music of its soundtrack. The acclaimed electronic musician Tomita has created a modern version of Holst’s classic suite, “The Planets,” and its power fuels the excitement of our trip.
A hit music score, breathtaking vistas and a great voice to guide us — “The Planets” has all the right ingredients. Fascinating, factual and fun, it evokes a wide-eyed sense of wonder in us all.
Upgrade to DVD: Patrick Stewart: Narrates the Planets Epoch 2000
Tomita: The Tomita Planets CD
Holst: The Planets Gustav Holst (Composer), Charles Dutoit (Conductor)
The Nightmare Before Christmas
Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas on VHS video. Starring Danny Elfman, Chris Sarandon, Catherine O’Hara, William Hickey, Glenn Shadix, Paul Reubens, Ken Page. Written and produced by Tim Burton. Directed by Henry Selick.
From the VHS clamshell case:
Enter an extraordinary world filled with magic and wonder — where every holiday has its own special land… and imaginative one-of-a-kind characters!
The Nightmare Before Christmas tells the heartfelt tale of Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town and all things that go bump in the night. Bored with the same old tricks and treats, he yearns for something more, and soon stumbles upon the glorious magic of Christmas Town! Jack decides to bring this joyful holiday back to Halloween Town. But as his dream to fill Santa’s shoes unravels, it’s up to Sally, the rag doll who loves him, to stitch things back together.
This critically acclaimed movie milestone captured the heart and imagination of audiences everywhere with its Academy Award-nominated stop-motion effects, engaging Grammy-nominated music, and the genius of Tim Burton. The Nightmare Before Christmas — a delightful treat the whole family will enjoy!
DVD upgrade: The Nightmare Before Christmas
Watch now (Amazon Instant Video): Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas
Bring the Nightmare home (and display it on the shelf): Tim Burton’s the Nightmare Before Christmas Trading Figure Series 1 Set of 6
Yellow Submarine
The Beatles: Yellow Submarine on VHS video. Starring John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Paul Angelis, John Clive. Directed by George Dunning. 1968.
From the VHS cover:
Once upon a time… or maybe twice, there was an unearthly paradise called Pepperland — a place where happiness and music reigned supreme. But all that was threatened when the terrible Blue Meanies declared war and sent in their army led by a menacing Flying Glove to destroy all that was good. Enter John, Paul, George and Ringo to save the day! Armed with little more than their humor, songs, and of course, their yellow submarine, the Fab Four tackle the rough seas ahead in an effort to bring down the evil forces of bluedom.
DVD upgrade: Yellow Submarine
CD Upgrade: Yellow Submarine [Enhanced, Limited Edition, Original recording remastered]
Lunch: Vandor 64269 The Beatles Yellow Submarine Shaped Tin Tote with Embossing, Multicolored
Akira
Akira on VHS. Starring Nozomu Sasaki, Mami Koyama, Mitsuo Iwata. Directed by Katsuhiro Otomo. 1988.
From the box:
Neo-Tokyo Is About To Explode!
In the 21st century, 30 years after a devastating global nuclear war, mankind is once again on the brink of total annihilation. In a world populated by rival motorcycle gangs and petty politicians, a powerful psychic force, known only as “AKIRA,” suddenly resurfaces in Neo-Tokyo. Tetsou — a young, inexperienced biker — driven beyond the boundaries of sanity by the power of AKIRA, is forced to conjure up demons laying within his subconscious.
AKIRA redefines the very essence of the medium… a mindboggling film unlike anything seen before… a milestone in the history of Japanese animation.
DVD upgrade: Akira: 25th Anniversary Edition (DVD)
Fantastic Planet
Fantastic Planet aka La Planete Sauvage on VHS. Starring Barry Bostwick, Cynthia Alder, Jennifer Drake, Eric Baugin. Music by Alain Goraguer. Animation by Roland Topor. From the book by Stephan Wul. Directed by Rene Laloux. 1973.
From the VHS box:
This acclaimed animated science-fiction/fantasy classic from France weaves a spell with its colorful imagery and strange beings. The inhabitants, 39 feet high Draags, have tiny human looking creatures called Oms, as pets. Education is obtained electronically through headsets. When one on the Oms escapes with the educational device, he rallies the others to resist the giant Draags.
Upgrade the Fantastic Planet: Fantastic Planet on DVD
Read the Fantastic Planet: Fantastic Planet Paperback by Stephan Wul
Listen to the Fantastic Planet: La Planete Sauvage Soundtrack by Alain Goraguer
X-Men
X-Men: The Animated Series on VHS. Episodes: Night Of The Sentinels Part 1 & 2 and Days Of Future Past Part 1 & 2. Starring Cedric Smith, Cathal J. Dodd, Norm Spencer, Iona Morris. Directors: Larry Houston and Richard Bowman. 1992.
Days Of Future Past Part 1 & 2
Part 1: Word of a future where mutants are hunted down and terminated by murderous sentinels, leads the X-Men and a time-traveling bounty hunter, Bishop, to Washington D.C. to prevent the murder of Senator Kelly.
Part 2: Convinced Gambit is the assassin, Bishop and the X-Men find themselves battling who they assume to be Gambit’s new allies, the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants.
Night Of The Sentinels Part 1 & 2
Part 1: When a pretty young mutant named Jubilee is attacked in a shopping mall by huge search-and-destroy robots known as Sentinels, Rogue, Storm and Gambit unleash all their X-Men powers to rescue her. With Professor Xavier’s help, the X-Men discover that the Sentinel assault is part of a sinister program to exterminate all mutants!
Part 2: In order to protect a sinister plot to track and eliminate all mutants from succeeding, the X-Men break into the Mutant Registration Office to destroy the files. But, Beast is apprehended while trying to escape. Gyrich and Trask, the renegades responsible for the Sentinels, kidnap Jubilee, hoping she can lead them to the rest of the X-Men.
DVD Upgrade: X-Men: Volume One (Marvel DVD Comic Book Collection)
Watch Now: Marvel Comics X-Men Season 1
