Gumby Essentials
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By Cyril Pearl -- Video Business, 9/3/2007
CLASSIC IMAGES/GENIUS
Street: Sept. 4
Prebook: now
> Well-priced and smartly supplemented collection of the famed TV clayboy’s most popular episodes.
This latest Gumby anthology compiles 15 digitally remastered episodes from the Gumby TV shows of the ’50s, ’60s and ’80s. The key selling point is that the original soundtracks have been restored and the ’50s episodes have been re-edited to their original 11-minute running time (they were chopped down to six minutes). Of the impressive supplemental content, the most fascinating inclusion is the 1956 bonus short Gumbasia, a construction of animated clay shapes that abstractly twist and turn to a jazz score. An obvious take on a similarly colorful sequence in Fantasia, Art Clokey’s clay work might not be Disney-quality, but it reportedly intrigued MPAA president Samuel Engel enough to help in the financing of what would become the pilot films for the original Gumby Show.
Shelf Talk: Animation and TV nostalgia buffs have a soft spot in their hearts for Gumby (and his bronco buddy Pokey), and they’re sure to be interested in this well-priced compilation. But don’t be surprised if the price also is right for younger audiences who’ve been turned on to Gumby via his exposure on YouTube and AOL’s In2TV, not to mention the remastered director’s cut of the 1995 film Gumby: The Movie, which premiered at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival.
Family animation, color, NR (nothing offensive), 142 min., DVD $16.93
Extras: pilot episode, 1955 short film Gumbasia, remastered ’60s Gumby theme song, Gumby bumpers
Director: Art Clokey
First Run: TV, 1957-88
