Adventures Of The Galaxy Rangers: The Collection - Volume 1 DVD Credits:

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Adventures Of The Galaxy Rangers: The Collection - Volume 1 DVD Release Date: 12th May 2008

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Adventures Of The Galaxy Rangers: The Collection - Volume 1 DVD Review:

Ever seen the show Firefly? If you have (and were a fan), you may remember being wowed by a variety of qualities that the show had, one of which was its unique genre melding of science fiction and western. I don’t know about you, but I always thought that the whole idea of cowboys in space seemed so original and inspired. Well, it turns out that the cartoon television show, Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers, had already done the whole “cowboys in space” thing twenty years before. In fact, Firefly’s creator Joss Whedon could very well have been inspired by this television show in his younger years. Oh well, Firefly still rocks.

Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers: The Collection – Volume 1 (how’s that for a mouthful) gathers together the first thirty-two episodes of the show, for the first time ever in chronological order with all continuity and storylines intact. This is a very well-constructed collection that long-awaiting fans of the series should be more than happy with. The episodes are in excellent condition, the bonus features are of the highest quality (even if they’re lacking in quantity), and the actual packaging for the set is handsomely put together (except my review copy came squished and cracked, boo-hoo!).

In 2086, two peaceful aliens journeyed to Earth, seeking our help. In return, they gave us the plans for our first hyperdrive, allowing mankind to open the doors to the stars. We have assembled a team of unique individuals to protect Earth and our allies. Courageous pioneers committed to the highest ideals of justice and dedicated to preserving law and order across the new frontier. These are the Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers.

Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers is one of those classic 1980s cartoons that just make you feel all warm and cozy inside when you watch them. They feel so of their time, and there’s nothing made like them anymore, so you can’t help but get an overwhelming feeling of nostalgia as you watch them. When the show first came out, it was released amidst a dozen other shows of its type that were all being released as marketing tie-ins for kids toys. There was a sort of backwards-thinking marketing system in place in which the toy developers would create and release a specific toy and then the television networks would develop a cartoon show to coincide with the release of the toy. Given the marketing mentality of this system, it’s surprising that most of those cartoon shows turned out as well as they did. Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers was different though, as it was one of the first cartoon shows in awhile to actually be original in thought and not tied to some toy product. Granted, the inevitable line of action figures were eventually released, but the genesis of the show was pure.

As previously mentioned, the sci-fi/western vibe that the show has going for it is one of its strongest points. The universe that the show takes place in, although owing a fair amount to Star Wars (and what science fiction opus didn’t?), is unique and well thought-out. It feels rundown and lived in, and even the politics contained therein have a logical foundation for existing. Back during the old west, we were exploring uncharted territory thanks to manifest destiny, and in Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers the characters are doing the same thing again, only this time in space. As such, there are the outlaws and the bandits and the do-gooders that you’d come to expect. The show’s parallels to history ground it in reality in a way not seen in most cartoon shows, which is one of the reasons why it’s still so enjoyable today.

The special features on the DVD are all of the highest quality, even if they’re lacking a little in quantity. First up is the never-before-seen pilot/demo reel which tells the opening of the story in a truncated form. It’s interesting to see what changed and what survived to the final version of the first episode. Next up is an on-camera interview with series creator Robert Mandell, who is full of interesting details about the show’s creation. There are four episode commentaries from various individuals, all of which are worth listening to. You’ll also find the original music tracks and “No Guts, No Glory” music video. Lastly, there’s a recreated slideshow of the vintage talking storybook “Tortuna, The Outlaw Planet.” Although it’s not an extra on the discs themselves, the insert included with the DVD deserves an honorable mention, as it’s a 32-page “Visual Guide to Character” Collectable Booklet. It’s full of great art and historical background on the characters and the universe, and it rounds out the package nicely.

Fans have been waiting for this set for a long time now. So far, only sporadic episodes have been released on DVD, so it’s great to finally have a definitive collection of the first thirty-two episodes. Volume 2 should be coming down the pipe sometime later this year. For now, there’s a lot to enjoy in this DVD collection of Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers, so pick this one up and enjoy some late night cartoon viewing just like when you were a kid.

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Adventures Of The Galaxy Rangers: The Collection - Volume 1 DVD review written by: Anthony Berk