Beatles Cartoons DVD - Brainmade Films?
drake...@gmail.com
Been researching the Beatles Cartoons lately, and stumbled upon this
set:
(NO, it's NOT my auction - I'm just REFERENCING it)
Four digipak volumes of Beatle cartoons, supposedly from "original film
rolls." Claims to be the "most complete collection," however there are
a lot of gaping holes; The episodes are also not paired together, the
singalongs seem to appear at random intervals, and some episodes are
missing entirely (#1, 2, part of 3, 5, the "episode" part of 6... it
goes on). The saving grace is that it does NOT appear to be just
another cruddy fan-made DVD-R, but has equally as cruddy artwork.
Has anybody seen these? I got a line on a set from a local
"collector's shop," and will post a review when I finally get them
(they're on 'backorder,' and much cheaper than buying them individually
from eBay). I'm always surprised what bootleggers are able to turn up,
so I wouldn't be surprised if this is a great transfer. I also have
been surprised at how BAD some stuff is out there, so I won't be
disappointed when it turns out to be crap.
Any idea why the eBay sellers ALWAYS seem to have the WORST tapes EVER
of the Beatles Cartoons put on DVD? Why didn't anybody bother taping
them from Nickelodeon or MTV in *SP* ?
hoping to hear from somebody,
drake d.
Beatletoons
I am Mitch Axelrod author of Beatletoons - The Real Story Behind The
Cartoon Beatles. The cartoons have NEVER been released officially by
Apple, who owns them. I would stay away from all internet auctions
that claim to be the most complete collection. I have seen SO many of
these and they are NOT complete. Unless this person has the reels that
are the full half hour shows, they will most likely not include the
openings for all three seasons, especially the rare 2nd season opening
using the song Help! There may not also be the in-between bits about a
word from our sponsor and also what is coming up next week. It seems
to me that someone may have a bunch of 16mm reels that they are
randomly putting together. Especially since you've said that they are
not in order. Also, a lot of TV station prints were not in color
because the stations did not have the capability to show them in color.
You should check that too. And 16mm reels that are 30 and 40 years
old may have had their color fade, etc. Just be wary. This is the
40th anniversary of the premiere of the series on ABC and Apple has
begun licensing great merchandise for the cartoons so hopefully that
means a near future release of them on DVD.
You can always check out my book. I guarantee you will never have to
go any farther for any research and it has a complete episode guide.
I hope this helps. I'm curious to know how you made out after you get
them. Let me know.
Mitch
Nowhereman
Beatletoons
of the master tapes from MTV when they showed them in 1986 and 1987.
But the tapes from MTV, if those are the ones YOU have, are NOT
complete either. They DO have all of the episodes, all 78 of them and
the sing alongs, but not all of the openings nor the other stuff I
mentioned in my prior e-mail. The ONLY way to get all of the COMPLETE
shows is if someone has the full 39 16mm reels converted to DVD, which
I doubt anyone does, or if Apple releases them. I was involved in
sending them the complete episode list when they acquired the series
from King Features in 1995, so they DO have them all in 35mm prints.
It's about time they get released!
Mitch
drake duck
I appreciate your reply. I was actually at Beatlefest (Chicago) when
your book first "hit," and spent a lot of my time reading through one
or four of them on the dealer floor. I learned more from that book
(obviously) than ever watching the show. I have a copy on order from
Amazon.com, and will be reading it raw in the next few days!
I'm well aware Apple's never put out the series on DVD ... as of yet
... and I KNOW supporting bootleggers means I support murder in the
third world and rape, however I can never resist when people put enough
effort in to a bootleg product to actually have it pressed on "factory"
DVDs instead of DVD-Rs. The set looks pretty shoddy, really,
especially judging by the content of the four discs, however I am
always curious to see what the bootleggers have got a hold of THIS
time... Perhaps it's old television prints! Perhaps it's old film
reels with washed colors! I guess I'll have to wait and see.
It claims to have 'bumpers, trailers and outtakes,' however it's so
difficult to imagine 'outtakes' from an animated series - - everything
is so deliberately done!
Also, Mitch, do you sell the book directly from... well, you? I'd
hate to give my cash to Amazon when I could give it directly to you.
It's not too late to cancel my order!
I certainly will post my review of the "Brainmade" DVD set. A majority
of the set's content comes from episodes 20-38, with a smattering of
content from 4, 6, all of 10, 11, and 16. It's straight up missing
content from part or all of 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17,
18, 19, 21, 32, and 39.
Eventually, I'll cave and buy what eBayers call a "complete" set for
like $14 at some point.
regards,
drake
Beatletoons
Keep the Amazon order and then you can send it to me and I will
definitely sign it for you!
Contact me off line at Beatl...@aol.com and we'll type then!
Take care,
Mitch
Nowhereman
drake duck
Cartoon-land? What's the quality like on your set?
You're a real nowhere man. Leaving all these one-line nowhere posts...