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Gift Guide: DVDs For The Kids

Movies and specials to delight kids of all ages.

By Scott Huver
|  Friday, Dec 21, 2012  |  Updated 3:50 PM PDT
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Gift Guide: DVDs For The Kids

Merida from Disney's "Brave"

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"Brave"
The tale of Pixar’s first action heroine Merida cannily featured plenty of elements evoking Disney’s classic princesses, though the bow-toting Scots lass is perfectly capable of pursuing her own happy ending. The Ultimate Collector’s Edition – a five-disc 3D combo pack is a highland fling filled with amazing extras, including an alternate opening, an analysis of the character’s accented English, and the beautiful animated short “La Luna.”

"Arthur Christmas 3D"
Those who may have missed Sony Pictures Animation and Aardman Studio’s utterly charming and decidedly snarky take on Santa Claus’ clan – with his klutzy youngest son Arthur weathering family dysfunction in a bid to, of course, save Christmas – will be delighted to discover this holiday-classic-in-the-making, which also features extras like an Elf recruitment film and even Justin’s Bieber’s take on “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town.”

"Finding Nemo"
One of Pixar’s most beloved films is still making a big splash – after a welcome return to theaters earlier this year in a richly detailed 3D version, the modern animated classic swims into the Blu-Ray format for the first time, available in a variety of configurations. The five-disc Ultimate Collector’s Edition delivers the full aquarium, with the 3D Blu-Ray edition, a standard Blu-Ray version and bonus features, a DVD and a digital copy – plus the short film “Partysaurus Rex,” the wildest “Toy Story Toon” to date.

"Looney Tunes Platinum Collection Vol. 2"
Cartoons don’t come any faster or flat-out funny than the 50 timeless, still-hilarious and painstakingly remastered shorts – assembled from Warner Bros. legendary Looney Tunes stable, starring Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Elmer Fudd (in their legendary Hunting Trilogy) and the rest of the madcap creations that burst forth from the minds of brilliant animators including Chuck Jones, Tex Avery and Friz Freleng, (who receive their own spotlights in the many extra features – plus bonus cartoons from Avery’s even crazier stint at MGM).

"Pixar Short Films Collection, Vol. 2"
This follow-up volume to the earlier collection of groundbreaking shorts from the masters of computer animation features a dozen instances of the filmmakers’ most creative and accomplished short work to date – such brilliantly executed confections as the magical “Presto,” the endlessly inventive “Night & Day” and the beguiling “La Luna” – as well as short tales set in the worlds of “Toy Story,” “Cars,” “Up,” Wall-E” and “Ratatouille.” Even better: early student work by Pixar wizards John Lasseter, Pete Docter and Andrew Stanton.

"Ice Age: Continental Drift"
A decade after their debut, prehistoric heroes Manny (Ray Romano), Diego (Denis Leary) and Sid (John Leguizamo) – as well as saber-toothed squirrel Scrat – continue to go with the ice flow in their fourth Paleolithic opus – and second in 3D. It's filled with interactive activities, songs and accompanying videos featuring some of the biggest names in pop music, and a sing-a-long mode featuring interpretation in American Sign Language.

"Cinderella: Diamond Edition"
One of Walt Disney’s bona fide masterpieces and perhaps the most potent fairy tale fantasy of the past century gets the Bibbity-Bobbity-Blu-Ray treatment for the very first time, emerging as magical and vibrant as ever. The 1950 gem is available in a variety of combo packs, the most lavish of which is a six-disc limited edition jewelry box complete with accompanying storybooks – none of which turns into a pumpkin at midnight.

"Madagascar 3"
The wildly popular third installment in the saga of the mismatched zoo creatures from the Big Apple – including Alex the Lion (Ben Stiller), Marty the Zebra (Chris Rock), Gloria the Hippo (Jada Pinkett Smith) and Melmen the Giraffe (David Schwimmer) may be the best of the bunch, and the Blu-Ray debut comes with extras like a hilarious collection of deleted scenes, and, for a real 3D experience, your own wearable rainbow wig.

"Secret of the Wings"
Decades after her Disney-fied debut in “Peter Pan,” Tinker Bell continues to soar in popularity. In her very own direct-to-video fairy franchise, Tink comes face to face for the first time with her sister Periwinkle. Tink’s first 3D adventure features the voices of Anjelica Huston, Lucy Hale, Timothy Dalton, Lucy Liu, Raven-Symone and many more.

"The Muppet Christmas Carol"
Twenty years ago Kermit, Miss Piggy, Gonzo and the rest of Jim Henson’s raucous cast of characters tweaked the Dickens out of the venerable story of the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge, played with panache by token human Michael Caine, and the results continue to charm as a holiday must-watch. Top among the extras: the “cluck-along” featuring holiday standards performed by Muppet Chickens.

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Posted Dec 11, 2012
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