Product Details

• Actors: David Jason, Terry Scott, Edward Kelsey, Brian Trueman, Jimmy Hibbert
• Directors: Brian Cosgrove
• Writers: Brian Trueman, Brian Cosgrove, Mark Hall, Mike Harding
• Producers: Brian Cosgrove, Mark Hall
• Format: Animated, Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo)
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 2
• Rated: Unrated
• Studio: A&E Home Video
• DVD Release Date: May 31, 2005
• Run Time: 306 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0007WFUGA
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #111,104 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Danger Mouse - The Complete Seasons 1 & 2" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The first two seasons (1981-82) of British television’s deliciously witty cartoon starring the world’s smallest superhero come to DVD in this two-volume set of 17 uproarious episodes. Brian Trueman and Mike Harding are the masterful writing team behind the tongue-in-cheek humor of Danger Mouse, "the great guardian of peace and justice in the world" (voiced by David Jason), and his earnest yet bumbling assistant, Penfold. Taking orders from Colonel K, the intrepid duo strives to save the world from the dark deeds of Baron Silas Greenback, whether it means seeking cover from giant chickens, explosive cans of custard, or a renegade Martian. Classic episodes include "The Day of the Suds," when an army of washing machines soaks London in sinister soap bubbles, and "The Dream Machine," where the good guys are "cloud-napped" by a mysterious machine that causes their worst nightmares to come true. With nary a bland story in the bunch, adults will savor the sophisticated parodies inspired by Monty Python, Dr. Who, and Sherlock Holmes, while youngsters will relish DM’s outrageous antics and crime-fighting gadgetry rivaling James Bond. Bonus material includes a never-aired pilot episode, "The Mystery of the Lost Chord," when the arch nemesis was Baron Greenteeth before being renamed Greenback. (Ages 8 and older) --Lynn Gibson

Product Description

Here comes the uproarious toungue-in-cheek adventures of danger mouse & his timid hamster sidekick penfold. London-based the intrepid duo receives orders from their walrus boss commander k. Their mission - to save the world from crazed villains like the toady baron silas greenback & his henchman crow stiletto. Studio: A&e Home Video Release Date: 05/31/2005 Run time: 306 minutes

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I Toad You So, September 21, 2005

By 

Gord Wilson "alivingdog.com" (Bellingham, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Danger Mouse - The Complete Seasons 1 & 2 (DVD)

Who's behind these nefarious deeds but none other than that prince of pandemonium, Baron Von Greenback? I toad you so. That's not a real bit from the show, but if that sort of humor evinces a wince and a groan, you'll probably like Danger Mouse. For at last on DVD, here are 17 episodes (seasons one and two) of Britain's intrepid rodent, Danger Mouse, and his sidekick hamster, Penfold. This surrealistic serial, for the deprived who haven't seen it, combines one part Monty Python, one part James Bond, one part Dr. Who and many more random bits in an entirely original, animated cartoon that gets it right, using its limited animation budget to design unforgettable characters, with minimalist, cut-out paper backgrounds.

But we must backtrack, because 17 episodes is a misnomer. The first season consisted of eleven long, single episode stories, sometimes shown with another Brit toon, "Bananaman." Launching in the UK in 1981, DM appeared three years later stateside on Nickelodeon. But the second season moved to the cliff-hanger format, with six shows consisting of five five minute segments per show (here called an "episode"). Each segment recaps all the other segments so far, which works well on the show but on the DVD is slightly annoying. Nevertheless, it's a brilliant limited animation move, allowing the producers to reuse bits over and over, and landing the show securely in the long, distinguished line of episodic, cliff-hanger cartoons from Crusader Rabbit and Ruff and Reddy to The King and Odie and the kings of the cliff-hanger (which even showed them falling off a cliff), Rocky and Bullwinkle.

But as the daffy, depraved fans who have seen it know, DM's other great draw is narrator David Jason who, starting off small in season one, really gets going in season two. Once again, this puts DM in a great lineage of limited animation 'toons driven by great narrators, from Gary Owens of "Laugh In" in Roger Ramjet to William Conrad reporting the saga of Moose and Squirrel. The last episode of season two also introduces Count Duckula, who had his own spinoff cartoon on Nick. A bar in New York had a sign urging silence during the Huckleberry Hound Show. What must it be like in a UK pub during Danger Mouse?

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not just penguins, Penfold ... MECHANICAL VAMPIRE PENGUINS!!, April 23, 2005

By 

C. ANZIULEWICZ "Chuck Anziulewicz" (Spring Hill, WV USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Danger Mouse - The Complete Seasons 1 & 2 (DVD)

Although this cartoon has been available as a DVD set in England for several years, the PAL format is all but unwatchable here in the United States. And up to now all WE'VE had available are some poorly-packaged episodes on VHS ... and honestly, who bothers buying VHS anymore? But at last this beloved cartoon (which ran on Nickelodeon back in the early 1980s) has been given its U.S. DVD release, and I couldn't be happier.

"Danger Mouse" is a British cartoon about the world's greatest secret agent. With the help of his timid hamster assistant, Penfold, Danger Mouse is constantly saving the world from the villainous toad, Baron Silas Greenback, who in turn is assisted by his crow henchman, Stiletto, and his cute but mischievous pet caterpillar, Nero. The humor here is often very British and very dry. Example:

Danger Mouse: "Penfold, do you know how angry I am with that toad?"
Penfold: "No, but if you'll hum a few bars, I'll join in on the second chorus."

Fans who used to watch this cartoon on Nickelodeon may find the voice of Stiletto a bit puzzling. This DVD collection has Stiletto's original Italian accent. Apparently Nickelodeon was concerned that Italian-Americans might be somewhat offended by a "Mafioso" stereotype, so the voice of Stiletto was re-dubbed with a cockney accent for the U.S.

Not much in the way of extras here, just some character files and the unseen pilot episode, which is interesting but not particularly valuable.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Grinning like an idiot!, August 15, 2005

By 

Michael J. Henson "arachnojava" (High Ridge, MO USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Danger Mouse - The Complete Seasons 1 & 2 (DVD)

I've searched and I've waited for years, and finally my prayers have been answered -- Danger Mouse has hit the U.S. on DVD! As I sat watching, captivated and grinning like an idiot, I simply felt that I needed to do my part to spread the joy of Danger Mouse.

So what makes DM so special? Plenty! Though the episodes are very short which limits the depth of the stories, the show compensates in countless ways. For one, the characters remember their past. For instance, when Agent 57 and Buggles the Pigeon return in later episodes, DM and Penfold mention in adequate detail the last time they saw them. This adds a feeling of continuity to the series and, ironically, makes the characters seem more "real".

Then there's the humor, where the brilliance of the show truly shines through. Ridiculous slapstick at one moment can be followed immediately with a clever (and sometimes subtle) pun or cultural reference in the next. I believe this is why the show appeals to all ages.

The show's greatest strength, however, has to be in the dialog. It's nothing short of brilliant. If you have a "punny" sense of humor, then every episode will give you something to laugh about. The characters (especially Penfold and Colonel K) also tend to take things out of context and respond in hilarious though completely understandable ways. It may take a moment to realize just how Penfold interpreted the statement to which he's responding, leading to a little "ah ha!" experience followed by a fit of laughter.

I simply cannot praise this show enough. It has stuck with me in my memory and in my vocabulary for over 15 years. To me, that's a testament to this brilliant and unforgettable cartoon.