If you are fan of Hanna-Barbera cartoons then this DVD is a must. It has one episode of seven classic HB cartoons and will give you a 116 minute trip down Memory Lane. My nearly three old has suddenly developed a love of The Flintstones and keeps asking to watch ?Fred? so I have watched parts of this DVD over and over and over again to the extent that I am all ?Fredded out?.

It was funny watching the old cartoons again just to see how far animation has come in the last forty years but it was also good to see some of my old favourites again too: Scooby Doo, Top Cat and The Jetsons. Unfortunately you can?t see classic cartoons anymore unless you have cable television and The Cartoon Network. Even though the animation may have improved over the years doesn?t necessarily mean the cartoons have.

Anyway, a basic run down of the seven episodes is as follows:

The Flintstones (The Swimming Pool) Fred and Barney are fighting over some dinosaur steaks but Fred quickly forgives Barney once he realizes that Barney is installing a swimming pool. Fred encourages Barney to have half of the pool in his backyard so they can share it but poor Fred?s nose is again put out of joint when Barney monopolizes the pool by loaning it to the YCMA (That?s the Young Cave Man?s Association). Fred decides to get even by getting a friend to dress up as a policeman and give Barney a scare but of course the whole plan backfires when Barney organizes a surprise party for Fred and a real policeman turns up to spoil the party. This episode runs for 25 minutes.

This episode just didn?t feel right. It looks like it was a very early episode, there was no Bam Bam or Pebbles (which was a blessing) but there was also no familiar opening theme song either. Some of the voices sounded differently from what I remembered. I am sure they could have picked a more popular episode to include on the DVD. There wasn?t even any sign of Fred?s boss, Mr Slate.

The Jetsons (A Date with Jet Screamer) I am still waiting for the technology on The Jetsons to come into fruition. When are we going to be flying cars and having conveyor belts in our homes? Anyway, this episode sees George cop a speeding ticket and Judy winning a song writing competition (thanks to her Dad) and a date with her pop idol Jet Screamer. Poor George, the over protective father, decides to spy on them and follows them to Jet Screamer?s gig. He ends up playing the drums and winds up being a fan of Jet Screamer as well. This episode runs for 25 minutes.

I was most dismayed to see George smoking a cigarette on a children?s cartoon. That?s the sixties for you! There is no sign of Astro or Rosie either. Overall, this is a very good episode and exactly what I expected of The Jetsons. The space dancing (The Swivel) is just sensational too. I just wish I could prepare meals as easy as Jane Jetson.

Scooby Doo (Jeepers, It?s the Creeper) On their way to a School Dance in an old barn the Mystery Machine Gang come across a bank guard lying on the side of the road and his car has been ransacked. The guard tells them ?the flame tells all? and hands them a blank piece of paper. The bank president tells them it must be the work of The Creeper, a phantom who has been robbing the bank in the dead of night. Apparently he can walk right through walls. The gang find themselves being pursued by The Creeper (for the blank piece of paper), meet a weird hermit along the way, and of course they solve the mystery and guess what ? the flame will tell all. You will never guess who The Creeper is!

This is a pretty standard episode of this classic cartoon. Velma loses her glasses again and all Scooby and Shaggy want to do is eat ? lots and lots. When will Fred run out of those Scooby Snacks? I was a big fan of the dancing and the music on the Scooby Doo cartoons is always catchy. My young critic even had a bit of a boogie. This episode runs for about 20 minutes. The other bonus of this episode was that there was no sign of that annoying Scrappy Doo.

Huckleberry Hound (Spud Dud) I wasn?t really a big fan of this dog, I must admit, but luckily the episode wasn?t all that long (only 7 minutes). This southern drawl was a tad annoying. On a farm in Idaho a potato has developed a brain, arms, legs and eyes (of course) and plans on eliminating the animal kingdom and causing devastation. He keeps growing bigger and bigger and has become a real threat. Huckleberry has been called on to save the day and to make the potato spits chips (pardon the pun)! Nothing too exciting here.

Yogi Bear (Bear-faced disguise) The Park Ranger has dressed up as a bear (a Polar Bear in Jellystone Park ? Hello!!) in an attempt to catch Yogi in the act of stealing a picnic basket so he can kick him out of the park. Yogi is on to him because after all he is ?smarter than the average bear? (Boo Boo seeing the bear without his head on helped a little) and won?t be fooled into stealing anyone?s picnic basket. Another plan bites the dust!! This episode only runs for 7 minutes.

Pixie and Dixie (and Mr Jinks) (Heavens To Jinksy) The mice are being pursued by Mr Jinks just for something different and he hits his head. He nearly dies, the poor cat, but is told by the forces above that if he turns over a new leaf and leaves the mice alone, he will be saved and eventually go to heaven. Jinks then has to go out of his way to be nice to the mice and go against all his animal instincts. That is until he realizes he still has eight lives left to create havoc. A fairly standard episode and it only runs for about 7 minutes.

Top Cat (Maharaja of Pookajee) Top Cat would have to be a favourite of everybody, I mean who could resist cute little Benny and the terrific opening theme song. This time Top Cat is charging 10c for people to see his daring trapeze act but of course Officer Dibble ruins that money making scheme. Time to come up with another plan! A rich Maharaja with plenty of rubies will soon be in town and Top Cat wants to get his paws on some of his gems and so all the gang masquerade as the Maharaja and live in the lap of luxury in his hotel room. People are so easily fooled!! That is until the real Maharaja turns up. Another plan backfires! This episode runs for about 24 minutes.

Overall, this DVD is well worth the investment. Many of the jokes will not make sense to the younger generation but the cartoons should still entertain them anyway. Many of these cartoons were shown during prime time on television so they certainly have many fans out there eager for a Hanna-Barbera fix. At the rate my daughter is watching this DVD, it wouldn?t surprise me if it becomes the first DVD ever to wear out.

Lets be honest, they just don?t make cartoons this good anymore. Kids are being bombarded with Pokemon, Sailor Moon and the like these days so these cartoons would be a breath of fresh air. This DVD would be a welcome addition to anyone?s DVD collection.

THE EXTRAS

Scene Selection is available but you can only choose between the episodes. On the Special Features menu you can also see The Flintstones? pilot (The Flagstones). The animation is quite rough and there are many imperfections throughout the cartoon. The colours are all wrong as well. This is actually ?The Swimming Pool? episode as it was first pitched to the executives. The voices have been improved though for the benefit of this DVD. This only runs for just under 2 minutes.

CONCLUSION

Seven classic cartoons from the Hanna-Barbera animators should appeal to their avid fans and may even attract some new ones. There is one episode of each of the following cartoons on this DVD? The Flintstones, The Jetsons, Scooby Doo, Huckleberry Hound, Yogi Bear, Pixie and Dixie and Top Cat. This DVD is a trip down Memory lane for many, and a chance to reminisce about when cartoons were actually enjoyable and free of violence and commercialisation. They just don?t make cartoons like this any more. There is over 116 minutes of animated magic in total.

This DVD is probably worth purchasing as if you don?t have cable television you won?t get the chance to see these cartoons any other way. This is a valuable addition to anybody?s DVD collection.