Review of Creature Comforts: Vol. 1

Introduction

Ah those lovable comforting creatures. Those of you of a certain age will remember the original Creature Comforts (1990), Nick Park`s first Oscar winning animation, and the series of commercials that also used the characters (Frank the Tortoise and the Heat Electric campaign for example). Since then Park and Aardman Animation have gone from strength to strength with the excellent Wallace and Gromit (currently becoming big screen heroes in their first feature film), as well as Rex the Runt and the last Aardman big screen outing, Chicken Run.

You may also know their other work such as the BBC Three Blobs, Angry Kid, PG Tips adverts and the worms for the Big Read campaign. They`re also creating some new stuff for MTV right now.

The DVD contains six of the 10 minute themed episodes from the recent ITV series of Creature Comforts, which went out from October 2003. The series pretty much carries on in the same vein as the original short film, but with improved technology and animation.

Video

A 1.78:1 anamorphic transfer, as first broadcast. And it all looks just as good if not better than the original broadcast. The image looks good, colours come across nicely and there`s very little wrong with it.

It`s mostly stop-motion clay work as with much Aardman stuff, but there`s also a little CG animation mixed in here.

Audio

A DD2.0 stereo soundtrack, again pretty much as broadcast. It`s all clean and crisp and it`s all audible, and there`s not much else to say about it.

Features

A few little extras too, including a couple of features which go behind the scenes and look at the making of the programmes, as well as interviews with all the main protagonists. Very interesting to watch, and interesting to see how things have moved on since the original Creature Comforts.

There`s also rehearsal footage of the animators acting out the scenes that they need to animate, which is also a nice insight into how it all gets put together. You can then play a very easy DVD game matching some of the characters to their habitats. And then you can look through some trailers.

DVD ROM owners get some sound files and desktop wallpaper.

Conclusion

The idea behind Creature Comforts (loveable plasticine animals speaking words from humans) still works today - just. It`s not a new idea, people have been doing it for ages, but it`s the way that the Aardman team do it that gets them viewers. The interest here is in the animation as ever, and with seeking out what`s going on in the background, and what the characters are up to when they`re not talking to the camera.

I didn`t catch the series when it aired on ITV (since I only watch ITV when there`s any football on), but it was nice to have caught up with it in on DVD. However, I think this DVD is a little mean, as you get just an hour of episodes and a couple of interesting extras. If the RRP was lower, this would be acceptable, but at 17.99 (and most of you won`t pay that I know) it`s not really good enough. Given the fact that the other episodes are bound to be released in Creature Comforts Volume 2 sometime, it just smacks a little of Xmas cash in. If you can pick it up cheaply then Aardman fans should find plenty of interest. Maybe there`ll be a 2 disc set when the second volume is released?

A highly competent DVD, just a shame there`s not more on it for your money.