Search - ALF: Animated Adventures - 20,000 Years in Driving School and Other Stories on DVD

Finally!

dr_shred | Tempe, AZ | 04/10/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I've been waiting for this a long time. I even wrote DIC entertainment 4 years ago to find out when ALF Tales and The ALF animated series would be released. There was no answer. Now my prayers have been answered. It may sound like hyperbole, but the ALF cartoons rank with Rocky & Bullwinkle and other Jay Ward/Bill Scott creations - Fractured Fairy Tales, Mr. Peabody, Dudley Do-Right, George of the Jungle, et al - as some of the funniest cartoons ever created. Not in the same genre as cartoons from the golden age of the movie studios - MGM, Tex Avery, Warner Bros. etc. - but of same limited animation as R&B where story and dialog count as the essential elements, these mini-masterpieces have done more than achieve a high level of hilarious, dead-on satire, but have also captured the spirit of the time in which they were created."

An Underrated Classic

G. Gaona | 08/01/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Finally! After years of wishful thinking, it's happened. I'm so glad that animated Alf has seen the light of day! Over the years I managed to find a few PAL videotapes which I transferred to NTSC, but having so many episodes finally available on DVD is great. As was mentioned, the Alf animated series ranks up there with other modern classics. I've never understood why it didn't develop more of a following among animation fans, maybe these two releases will change that. Even folks who aren't fans of the 'flesh and fur' Alf owe it to themselves to check out the animated series. It is quite different from the primetime TV show, it has much more of an edge...very bizarre at times. The writing is excellent, as is the voice characterization. Awesome stuff all around, highly recommended!"

Ahead of Its Time - Great Gratuitous Detail

Dan Williams | Newark, DE United States | 10/01/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I, too, been waiting for this. I watched the series when I was in my 30's, and I was thrilled that the writers had gone to the trouble of creating a whole planet from scratch and had gone far beyond the call of duty in filling in the gratuitous details. Every element of Melmac is its own. Every cup and saucer is non-earthly. Alien words are abundant. Some of the background music is jaw-droppingly unfamiliar, while some of it is filled with jazz saxophone. There are lots of "Wow!" moments.

And of course, at the same time, it's a great satire of American culture (and the military). For instance, TV commercials pop up constantly (on perfectly circular Melmac TV screens). In other words, this is true science fiction. All begun a decade before "Futurama" (and a year before "The Simpsons" started).

This DVD contains the first 9 of the two seasons' 26 episodes. I hope enough people buy Vol. 1 to justify Vols. 2 and 3, because there are episodes I'm still craving.

I also have to admit that it's somewhat hard to watch. The animation is cheap: sometimes when something moves, it changes shades of color back and forth. And the directing is awful. For instance, there's often an awkward silence when they want you to focus on something visual. And visual jokes sometimes go on too long. I guess these criticisms apply to "Rocky and Bullwinkle" somewhat, too, but that show wasn't as hard to watch."

ALF Reigns!

M. McMann | Houston, TX USA | 02/07/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I am really glad that the ALF presentations are out on DVD. I missed the little guy."