The Chipmunks

[Drtooth]

There were rumors circulated once that The Alvin Show WAS going to have a complete series release, but those were debunked, and all we got was like the pilot episode of that series on a single DVD release; then of course, there's the infamous Chipmunks Go to the Movies episode that 90% of the entire fandom wants to see released on DVD, and all because Simon and Jeanette kiss.

I call BS on the Alvin Show thing. There is NO EXCUSE for that not to be complete and on DVD. They're clearly having problems with royalties with the 80's show, but the music used (with maybe one or two exceptions) is either public domain or owned by the Chipmunk copyright holders. I swear the plans were dropped because they have a deal with Paramount, even though they probably keep suing them.

The ALLLLVIN collection was the only one worth buying. I didn't even get the animated movie yet, but other than that, I really could care less. 3 episodes on a 10-15 dollar disk? I've said it too many times to count, but companies have to step up. Heck, when Mill Creek got partial license to Filmation/Classic Media stuff they were able to release the ENTIRE 65 episodes of Bravestarr for about 20 bucks SRP (and SRP is well over what they charge, so it could even be cheaper).... I can even look away that the disks are in envelopes for 20 bucks for 65 episodes. DVD sales are drooping BECAUSE kiddy releases are stuck in the 1999-2002 era.

I hope an even better edition of the animated movie comes out when the possibly gonna be a trainwreck 3rd movie comes out. It ticks me off to no extent that Sony had the animated Transformers movie in print for less than a year, and haven't managed to re-release it for THEIR possibly gonna be a train wreck 3rd movie.

 

[D'Snowth]

The only issue I can think off the top of my head is one episode has them singing "Puttin' On the Ritz", and from what I understand, the estate of Irving Berlin is almost as bad as Bagdasarian Productions as far as people using Berlin's songs or lyrics without permission; I heard someone got sued once for printing part of the lyrics from one of his songs in his/her memoirs or something.

And if the animated movie you're refering to is The Chipmunk Adventure, I did manage to get that one, and it's actually a pretty good buy, if only because the entire movie was restored and remastered beautifully (I had taped it off Disney Channel from the mid-90s and it looks terrible), plus the ONE special feature showing storyboard panels, conceptual art, animation cels, etc is pretty interesting, and it gives a look into how the movie WOULD'VE turned out, since there were a lot more scenes that were in the script that were dropped because they were about to miss the deadline to complete the movie, and Ross and Janice wanted so much in the movie, animators were literallybeing hospitalized for cramped hands. But I mean, a commentary or something would've sufficed as well... there are production notes on the official Chipmunks site that clearly show how dedicated those two are to the project (more like how dedicated Ross was and basically mercilessly drug Janice around the entire process).

Actually, come to think of it, we haven't had a DVD release of the cartoons in a while, I wonder what they're up to?

 

[Drtooth]

The only issue I can think off the top of my head is one episode has them singing "Puttin' On the Ritz", and from what I understand, the estate of Irving Berlin is almost as bad as Bagdasarian Productions as far as people using Berlin's songs or lyrics without permission; I heard someone got sued once for printing part of the lyrics from one of his songs in his/her memoirs or something.

Music rights are BS completely, but estates are even WORSE. They're mostly mismanaged, they're completely humorless when it comes to licenses... they all think that because the actors/musicians are dead they all have to be grim serious all the time. Unless there's a LOT of money, and they go over the family's head and let companies rewrite their songs to sell Viagra. If it's the family, it's one thing... but it's usually some dower lawyer that just wants to jump on some dead person so they can get a huge cut of the profits. I've heard nothing but bad things about John Denver's estate. That's why we're likely never to see Rocky Mountain Hoilday ever again.

Actually, come to think of it, we haven't had a DVD release of the cartoons in a while, I wonder what they're up to?

I hate that. They give us all this stuff, then all of the sudden, these companies leave. Maybe they got sued by them too many times to care? Seriously. Not that I wouldn't want a complete series of the 80's show, but I REALLY want the Alvin show!

 

[D'Snowth]

I'm not sure I'd want the complete series of the 80s show... those DiC episodes were really cheapened in many ways (they must have lost a lot of money on TCA); the character designs were slightly improved, but the animation was "liquidy", the backgrounds were simplistic, they only had ONE person doing all of the additional voices, and he wasn't even a voice actor, he was a producer, etc.

 

[Drtooth]

I'd wonder if a complete 80's series WOULD include the DIC or Murikame(SP?) Swenson ones. I'd tend to think the 80's series would just be the Ruby Spears episodes. But, ironically, I'm sure the MS ones would be released on DVD because I remember those having original songs on them.

But above all The Alvin Show NEEDS to be released commercially on DVD! That stuff's FUNNY! I mean, especially the Clyde Crashcup segments. heck, I think I want those MORE than the Alvin show segments.

 

[D'Snowth]

I've noticed the only release so far to have a mix of different episodes was the ALVINNN!!! edition, which was mostly Ruby-Spears episodes, and one MWS episode. Well, I THINK that Cinderella DVD must have a mix, because I know the main episode of that release is RS, but the "bonus" episodes I believe are MWS epiodes. Other than that, the holiday specials have pretty much all DiC episodes as "bonus" cartoons, while the miniscule best of Chipettes set was all RS.

 

[Drtooth]

Personally, after The Alvin Show, I'd rather see them do the RS episodes... but we all know that's impossible due to the rights.

Still, I wish they got the Mr.T episode for the ALLVIIIN collection.

 

[D'Snowth]

SPeaking of rights, don't tell me I'm the only one whose noticed that none of the Ruby-Spears episodes that have been released on DVD actually retain the original Ruby-Spears logo, meanwhile most of the DiC episodes (with some exceptions) have... that would be funny to see the shoe being on the other foot and have Ruby-Spears sue Bagdasarian Productions over that, lol.

 

[D'Snowth]

Bagdasarian Productions have made additional rounds since this morning, so now, there's basically NOTHING left, AT ALL. No Alvin Show, no 80s cartoon, no soundtrack postings... it's a miracle a repost of Neil Cicerega's fandub has survived (though he's said himself his original was removed years ago, and he was given a strike on his account as well).

I'm thinking that in this case, they pretty much ARE looking for 'em.

 

[D'Snowth]

I don't remember if I mentioned this before or not, but I've noticed that when it comes to merchandising, The Chipettes always get the short end of the stick; they're not licensed nearly as much as The Chipmunks are.

Even back in the 80s when they were cranking out all kinds of expensive licensed products (RML reference), they did have those creepy-looking vinyl-headed dolls, and that's about it. They came out with a figurine line, that consisted of several different variations of Alvin, Simon, and Theodore, from wearing their signature outfits, to wearing countless different outfits like ball players, cowboys, etc, whereasThe Chipettes had their signature outfits, and cheerleader outfits, and that's it. Every year at Christmastime, The Chipmunks have novelty decor items, like a hula hooping Alvin, or what I saw last year with them popping out of a snowman singing "The Chipmunk Song", but nothing with The Chipettes. All six of them, naturally have Ty beanie baby merchandising with that Squeakquel (sent Jeanette to a friend of mine for Christmas, then got one for myself).

The animated Christmas novelties are the best-looking merchandise I've yet to see as far as soft/plushie stuff goes, I'd really like to see them do something with The Chipettes in that department.