Product Details

• Actors: Willie Aames, Adam Rich, Donny Most, Frank Welker, Jennifer Darling
• Directors: Various
• Format: Animated, Box set, Color, Full Screen, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 3
• Rated: Unrated
• Studio: Mill Creek Entertainment
• DVD Release Date: August 25, 2009
• Run Time: 686 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (251 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B002DH20Q0
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,414 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

An enchanted roller coaster delivers six youth into the magical realm of Dungeons & Dragons. There, each of them gains magical talents and abilities, all the better to survive their time in the Realm. The bow-shooting ranger, the acrobat, the thief, the cavalier, the boy wizard and the barbarian are soon joined by a baby unicorn and tutored by the mysterious and inscrutable Dungeon Master. Opposing them is the evil sorcerer Venger, as well as various ogres, demons, bounty hunters, dragons, lizard men, skeleton warriors and more; all intent on keeping the kids from getting back home!

Dungeons & Dragons was one of CBS's (1983 - 1985) most popular animated series and was later broadcast on NBC (1990), FoxKids (1992), Jetix (2006) and ToonDisney (2006). Featuring the voice talents of Willie Ames (Eight is Enough), Adam Rich (Eight is Enough) Donny Most (Happy Days) and veteran voice actors Frank Welker, Jennifer Darling and Peter Cullen. All 27 episodes from this entertaining series can be found in this exciting DVD set from Mill Creek Entertainment!

Episodes:

• The Night of No Tomorrow
• The Eye of the Beholder
• The Hall of Bones
• Valley of the Unicorns
• In Search of the Dungeon Master
• Beauty and the Bogbeast
• Prison Without Walls
• Servant of Evil
• Quest of the Skeleton Warrior
• The Garden of Zinn
• The Box
• The Lost Children
• P-R-E-S-T-O Spells Disaster
• The Girl Who Dreamed Tomorrow
• The Treasure of Tardos
• City at the Edge of Midnight
• The Traitor
• Day of the Dungeon Master
• The Last Illusion
• The Dragon's Graveyard
• Child of the Stargazer
• The Dungeon at the Heart of Dawn
• The Time Lost
• Odyssey of the 12th Talisman
• Citadel of Shadow
• Cave of the Fairy Dragons
• The Winds of Darkness

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

424 of 435 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A long-time fan says: Make sure you buy the version released by Mill Creek Entertainment. Here's why... December 6, 2006

By Red Demon

Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase

This was my #1 favorite cartoon series when I was eleven years old in 1983. I watched it religiously on TV back then, and when we got our first VCR, I recorded every re-run and watched those videotapes until I wore them out. Naturally, I was excited to hear this show was finally coming out on DVD. I bought the complete series box set released by BCI right away. All the episodes look great in terms of picture quality. Not to mention, the special features are surprisingly plentiful for an old, mostly-forgotten Saturday morning cartoon, and it really brought back some great memories.

Then I discovered a very disappointing problem. And I'm going to sound like a real nit-picker here - but I gotta state my case...

Any dedicated fan of this show is familiar with the episode "The Dragon's Graveyard" - generally considered to be the best episode of the entire series. That's the one where the kids decide to destroy Venger (the ultimate, evil bad guy) once and for all. They plan to do this by convincing Tiamat (the ultimate, evil 5-headed Dragon) to help them. It's a very cool story, because the good guys basically team up with one arch villain in order to settle their grudge match with another arch villain. As a kid in the 80's, I videotaped this series and "The Dragon's Graveyard" was one episode that I went back and watched repeatedly. So, I know that episode almost by heart. One of the things I always loved about that episode, and which I still remember clearly, was its powerful musical score. Especially during the scene where Venger throws fireballs at Uni, the baby Unicorn, nearly killing her, and the scene at the end, where the kids have their final, climactic battle with Venger, pin him against a rock, and lead hero Hank has to make the ultimate decision whether to kill Venger, or let him go. From watching and re-watching this particular episode to death on videotape, I remember very clearly that during these scenes the music had a fast, chaotic, rushing quality - a theme not heard frequently in other episodes - which racheted up the energy and took the drama way beyond typical Saturday morning cartoon fare.

And yet, while watching this same classic episode on the BCI-released Dungeons and Dragons DVD set, I noticed that this music had been completely replaced with slower, formulaic sections of music that can be regularly heard elsewhere in the series. This change in the music made the scenes described above considerably less effective, severely weakening the emotional impact of this episode.

Allright, now - yes - I realize how trite and ridiculous it must sound for a 30+ year old man to be nit picking the DVD quality of one single episode of a Saturday Morning cartoon show he loved when he was eleven. But the whole reason I bought this DVD set in the first place was to re-experience the innocent fun of those childhood memories, and instead I got a diluted version of that experience.

As a matter of fact, in the "Episode Trivia" section, it even mentions that another version of "The Dragon's Graveyard" episode exists, with a completely different musical score... and when I read that, all I could think was, "Yeah, no kidding, and you bozos put the weaker of the two versions on the DVD set. Thanks a lot!"

So... that's my one huge disappointment with the BCI set, and I'm guessing other fans who are total geeks for this show, will notice and be bothered by it, too.

NOW HERE IS THE GOOD NEWS... In 2009, Dungeons and Dragons was RE-RELEASED in a new DVD set, by a company called Mill Creek Entertainment. I had heard rumors that this new release RESTORED ALL of the ORIGINAL MUSIC used on the show, thus presenting every episode AS IT APPEARED, WHEN IT WAS ORIGINALLY SHOWN on TV in the early 1980's. At first I wasn't sure if I should believe the rumors... Then I saw that the Mill Creek release was selling for a surprisingly lower price than the BCI set... Low enough that I decided it was worth giving it another shot.

So, I ordered it, and let me tell you as a knowledgeable fan, that yes - the Mill Creek Entertainment release DOES include all the episodes with their original music. THIS is "The Dragon's Graveyard" as I remember and love it. Be advised, the Mill Creek release contains no Special Features, which is unfortunate, but I find myself not caring about that. The important thing is to have all the original episodes in their original form. And again, the price on the Mill Creek set is also a lot cheaper than the price on the BCI set, so it's hard to complain about the lack of "extras".

Bottom line - this is a great cartoon series. But if you want to experience this show in its original form - do yourself a favor: Snub the BCI set, and buy the Mill Creek Entertainment set. Take if from a long time fan of this show. I was deeply disappointed with the BCI set, and very, very happy with the Mill Creek set.

203 of 214 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Gone But Not Forgotten! October 15, 2006

By S. R.

Format:DVD

After two decades, all 27 episodes of the classic 'Dungeons & Dragons' animated TV series are finally available on DVD! This was a Saturday morning staple for many who have anxiously awaited its arrival on DVD for some time. BCI (who was also responsible for the exemplary He-Man & the Masters of the Universe DVD sets) has released not only the complete series, but a ton of extras in this beautifully remastered 5-disc boxed set. For the uninitiated, this series tells the tale of six kids who, after riding the Dungeons & Dragons rollercoaster, mysteriously get sucked into its fantasy world. There, each of them gains magical talents and abilities, all the better to survive their time in the Realm. The bow-shooting ranger, the acrobat, the thief, the cavalier, the wizard, and the boy-barbarian are soon joined by a baby unicorn, and tutored by the mysterious Dungeon Master. Opposing them is the evil sorcerer Venger, as well as various monsters and entities all intent on keeping the kids from getting back home. This was one of CBS' most popular animated series, airing from 1983-1986, and later on the Fox Kids network as reruns. Created by the legendary Marvel Productions, the series was based on the popular TSR role-playing game created in 1974, which spawned an entire industry. Here are the special features;

*All-new half hour documentary, 'Entering the Realm of Dungeons & Dragons' featuring interviews with the show's production team, writers, animators, and network executives

*Two commentary tracks for episodes 'Night of No Tomorrow' & 'The Dragon's Graveyard' with producer Bob Richardson, story editor/ voice director Hank Saroyan, writers Mark Evanier & Michael Reaves, and CBS executives Ted Field II & Judy Price

*Radio show-style presentation of the unaired final episode 'Requiem' featuring select original voice cast members

*Full length animated storyboard with interactive episode comparison for Episode #16 'The Girl Who Dreamed Of Tomorrow'

*'Choose Your Own Adventure' DVD Game & 'Uni's Fun Facts' Trivia

*50 characters, creatures & artifacts profiles with bios, images & clips, plus extensive gallery of original model sheets & memorabilia

*Short live-action film by fan Sean Kennedy

*Alternate and rare footage plus hidden easter eggs

*DVD-ROM features including scripts for multiple episodes (including the un-produced series finale script), complete storyboards and the original series bible

*Episode guide booklet with show's synopsis, writers and original air dates

*Official 'Dungeons & Dragons' hard-cover game supplement created exclusively by Wizards of the Coast featuring 32 pages of character profiles and stat blocks. The adventure is a prelude to the episode 'The Dragon's Graveyard' and is designed to bridge the game and the animated TV series. The characters and world within the animated series are now playable with the traditional RPG game.

It is unfortunate that some uninformed adults originally feared that the game and show promoted occult activities (a claim that seems ludicrous in retrospect). Eventually, it was not magic that led to the show's premature cancellation in 1986, but rather sagging ratings. But thanks to this DVD release, fans can relive all these great adventures anytime they want. For a small company, the now defunct BCI showed unparalleled commitment to modern cartoon classics through their beautifully remastered DVD sets and extensive supplemental material that were second to none. Fortunately for fans, BCI released a slew of classic cartoons on DVD before closing its doors for good.

81 of 85 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars For Cost-Conscious Fans July 4, 2009

By S. R.

Format:DVD

In 2006, Dungeons & Dragons- The Complete Animated Series was released in a handsome 5-disc boxed set by BCI Eclipse. In addition to having all 27 episodes beautifully remastered, the set featured a ton of bonus content including featurettes, audio commentaries, a hardcover game supplement, a radio-style presentation of the final unfinished episode, and so much more. The set quickly became a fan favorite and helped set a new standard for modern cartoon classics on DVD. However, not long after, BCI encountered financial problems and was forced to close down operations for good. This meant that all of their DVD releases were now or would soon be out of print. In 2009, Mill Creek Entertainment acquired the rights to many of BCI's TV properties including the 'Dungeons and Dragon' animated series, which has been repackaged as a bare bones 3-disc set collecting the complete run of the series. For hardcore fans, this means that none of the supplemental material from the previous release will be carried over (thus, the one star rating deduction). However, for casual fans, the incredibly inexpensive retail price of this new collection makes it a more enticing purchase.

For the uninitiated, this series tells the tale of six kids who, after riding the Dungeons & Dragons rollercoaster, mysteriously get sucked into its fantasy world. There, each of them gains magical talents and abilities, all the better to survive their time in the Realm. The bow-shooting ranger, the acrobat, the thief, the cavalier, the wizard, and the boy-barbarian are soon joined by a baby unicorn, and tutored by the mysterious Dungeon Master. Opposing them is the evil sorcerer Venger, as well as various monsters and entities all intent on keeping the kids from getting back home. This was one of CBS' most popular animated series, airing from 1983-1986, and later on the Fox Kids network as reruns. Created by the legendary Marvel Productions, the series was based on the popular TSR role-playing game created in 1974, which spawned an entire industry. Here are the episodes on this set;

1. NIGHT OF NO TOMORROW- The kids meet the wizard, Merlin, who offers Presto an apprenticeship position.
2. EYE OF THE BEHOLDER- The gang enlist the aid of the knight, Sir John, who may not be a hero after all.
3. HALL OF BONES- The kids discover that their weapons are running out of power and must be recharged.
4. VALLEY OF UNICORNS- The gang must stop a wizard who wants to harness the power of unicorn horns.
5. IN SEARCH OF THE DUNGEON MASTER- The kids must save the Dungeon Master from a bounty hunter.
6. BEAUTY AND THE BOGBEAST- The gang must find a cure for Eric, who has been changed into a beast.
7. PRISON WITHOUT WALLS- The kids go to the Swamp of Sorrow to free a prisoner held by a spellbinder.
8. SERVANT OF EVIL- Bobby befriends the reluctant giant Karox to free his friends from Venger's grasp.
9. QUEST OF THE SKELETON WARRIOR- The kids help a former celestial knight who is now Venger's slave.
10. GARDEN OF ZINN- Bobby has been poisoned and the gang must find the foot of a yellow dragon to cure him.
11. THE BOX- The Dungeon Master tells the kids that using Zandora's box to free Zandora will get them home.
12. THE LOST CHILDREN- The gang meet a band of children with a mysteries ship that might taken them home.
13. P-R-E-S-T-O SPELLS DISASTER- Presto must rescue his friends after bungling yet another spell.
14. GIRL WHO DREAMED TOMORROW- The gang meet an Earth girl trapped in the realm who dreams the future.
15. TREASURE OF TARDOS- The kids travel to the walled city of Tardos to save its queen and free her people.
16. CITY AT THE EDGE OF MIDNIGHT- The gang learn of a city where children are being held captive.
17. THE TRAITOR- The kids are suspicious of Hank, who they fear may be hiding the truth of Bobby's kidnapping.
18. DAY OF THE DUNGEON MASTER- Eric is made Dungeon Master for a day after stating the job is easy.
19. THE LAST ILLUSION- The gang must regain their weapons from Venger and rescue an illusionist.
20. THE DRAGON'S GRAVEYARD- The kids decide to disobey the Dungeon Master and stop Venger for good.
21. CHILD OF THE STARGAZER- The gang help a man who has been imprisoned by a queen afraid of his power.
22. DUNGEON AT THE HEART OF DAWN- Eric accidentally frees Venger's master, an entity of pure evil.
23. THE TIME LOST- Venger's spell brings a World War II pilot to the Realm, where he befriends the gang.
24. ODYSSEY OF THE 12TH TALISMAN- The kids teams up with an orphan in their quest for the Stone of Astra.
25. CITADEL OF SHADOW- The gang finds themselves in a bitter family feud between Venger and a relative.
26. CAVE OF THE FAIRIE DRAGONS- The kids must free the fairie dragon queen and help her people.
27. WINDS OF DARKNESS- The gang enlists the aid of a reluctant woman in rescuing the kidnapped Hank.

It should be noted that in addition to this complete series set, Mill Creek has also released Dungeons & Dragons: The Beginning on DVD. That collection consists of only the first 9 episodes and hardly seems worth it when one can simply spend a few dollars more and own the entire series. As for the show, it is unfortunate that some uninformed adults originally feared that the game and cartoon promoted occult activities (a claim that seems ludicrous in retrospect). Eventually, it was not magic that led to the show's premature cancellation in 1986, but rather sagging ratings. But thanks to this latest DVD release, fans can relive all these great adventures anytime they want.