Product Details

• Actors: Mel Blanc, Paul Frees, Rich Little, June Foray, Athena Lorde
• Directors: Art Leonardi, Arthur Davis, Bob Richardson, Brad Case, Cullen Blaine
• Format: Animated, Closed-captioned, Color, Full Screen, NTSC, Subtitled
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono)
• Subtitles: Spanish, French, Portuguese
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 5
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
• DVD Release Date: January 31, 2006
• Run Time: 797 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (140 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0009S4J2I
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #12,091 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• Learn more about "The Pink Panther Classic Cartoon Collection" on IMDb

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

One of the unforeseen (and hugely profitable) benefits of the first Pink Panther movie was the popularity of the cartoon cat from that film's classic credits sequence. Added on a hunch by director Blake Edwards and concocted by the DePatie-Freleng animation team, the slinky pink feline immediately spawned his own series of cartoons, first for theatrical release and later for television. The saga is gathered in The Pink Panther Classic Cartoon Collection, five discs of 124 cartoons, plus extras. This would have to be considered the ultimate such collection, and more than the average fan could handle in a few sittings (or a few dozen). But they're all here.

When United Artists commissioned David DePatie and Friz Freleng (whose new company was born from the eclipse of the old Warner Bros. cartoon unit) to make freestanding Pink Panther cartoons, their first effort struck gold. Literally: The Pink Phink won the Oscar for best animated short subject, and is still a prime example of circa-1964 line drawing and visual humor. Most of the early shorts display a sure sense of timing and a cheeky feel for the era; they were directed by Freleng and Hawley Pratt (Pratt's design for the Pink Panther had been selected by Blake Edwards from dozens of offerings at the time of the first feature). In two of the first handful, Sink Pink and Pink Ice, the Pink Panther himself speaks stray lines of dialogue, a mistake that would not be repeated later. One unwelcome aural intrusion: some of the cartoons here have a laugh track from the TV series, even on the Oscar-nominated Pink Blueprint.

Animation voiceover veterans of the era chimed in with narration or voices for other characters; for instance, the indefatigable Paul Frees does the narration on Phinkfinger, a funny spoof of 007-style spy movies. But most of the cartoons are wordless, which is one reason they remained popular internationally for so many years. The main reason is the slinky character of the Panther, a mischievous hipster who could be either the instrument of chaos or the victim, depending on the cartoon. The plots tend toward the cartoon verities: the necessity of catching a mouse or silencing an alarm clock, for instance. A documentary, Behind the Feline, gives a fine account of the history of the character; it is also bundled on a previous boxed set, The Pink Panther Film Collection. Useful new extras include a portrait of Friz Freleng by his daughters, an illuminating interview with animator-director Art Leonardi, and a delightful vignette with Leonardi instructing us on how to quickly draw the Pink Panther. The opening-title sequences from five Pink Panther movies are included. Throughout the cartoons and the extras, you will be reminded of one incalculable boost to the series: Henry Mancini's lithe, foxy theme music, which surely had much to do with the character's enduring fame. Mancini gets an onscreen shout-out in Pink, Plunk, Plink, in which the Panther tries to inject his theme into an orchestral performance of Beethoven's Fifth. --Robert Horton

Product Description

The Pink Panther is - paws down - the world's grooviest cartoon star. In 1964, this pink-inked feline slinked onto the opening credits of Blake Edwards' caper film by the same name and threatened to steal the entire show. Sleek, sophisticated and witty, the animation, produced by Friz Freleng and David H. DePatie, was a stylish departure from its contemporaries…and an instant hit. A subsequent short film, The Pink Phink, would go on to win* an Oscar® and spawn a celebrated series of six-minute cartoons featuring the sly cat. Now, for the first time, 124 cartoons produced by Freleng and DePatie between 1964 and 1980 are collected here in a swingin' 5-disc set. With over 14 hours of "pink comedy," you can't help but lick your whiskers!

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

395 of 409 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars 5 disc release has 2 more discs that the single releases July 17, 2005

By Paul J. Mular TOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:DVD

This great collection of classic Pink Panther Cartoons will feature 5 discs. The single disc releases will only be the first 3 discs from this set. However, if you only like the better earliest cartoons from this series, then you may want to consider that option.

These cartoons were produced in 3 waves:

1964 to 1969 - 62 classic cartoons were produced at this time for theaters. These are the best of the batch and truly creative, some winning awards. In 1969 the Pink Panther was retired and sold to Television with The Inspector for a half-hour Saturday Morning show on NBC. (Remember that classic Pink Panther car shown in the opening titles?)

1971 to 1977 - 30 more cartoons were produced for theaters, bringing the Pink Panther out of theatrical retirement. These were a little more hit & miss that the first wave of cartoons. Still being produced for theaters, they had more time & money to produce these than the next wave. The same first wave directors worked on this wave. These also got sprinkled into the Saturday Morning TV show after their theatrical run.

1978 to 1980 - 32 cartoons were produced for the 1978 Pink Panther TV show on a limited budget & short time period. New directors were brought in to assist the original directors with the increased one year work load. The drop in quality shows on these shorts, you feel like you are watching a Saturday Morning cartoon. These quickly made, low budget cartoons were then re-packaged to theaters over three years.

Non of these cartoons were ever shot widescreen, so it is good that this DVD will be presented full frame.

Some improvements over the previous "Jet Pink" DVD cartoon collection:
All 1960's cartoons have improved fidelity soundtracks.
PINK PHINK has the original theme song restored on the end credits.
JET PINK has vast picture & sound improvements & original titles are restored.
IN THE PINK OF THE NIGHT has the correct colors in the opening titles.

Some bad notes:
1) A sampling of some of my favorite cartoons revealed some to have the TV laugh track: PINK BLUEPRINT, PSYCHEDELIC PINK, PINK TUBA-DORE. There are probably more. The DVD capabilities should have allowed us to watch each cartoon with either soundtrack as an option! Also a 'music only' sound track would have been nice.

2) You will need Jerry Beck's "Pink Panther Ultimate Guide to the Coolest Cat In Town" book (sold here on Amazon.com) to guide you through the cartoons you want to watch. The title list on this DVD with the generic "Pink ...." titles that these cartoons have will not help you find that 'toon you want to watch.

3) The storage case is poorly designed, disc 2 rests on top of disc 3 & disc 4 rests on top of disc 5. If you want to view Discs 3 or 5, you have to take the top disc off first (find a safe non scratching place to put it) and then remove the disc you want to watch. Then replace the above disc so that it doesn't get damaged.
You may want to invest in some extra cases to save the discs from future damage.

HINT: PLACE DISCS 4 & 5 UNDER DISCS 2 & 3, they have the later 1970's cartoons that you will probably not watch much. This way they are out of the way.

178 of 190 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Greatest Cartoons on DVD December 27, 2005

By Ardeal VINE™ VOICE

Format:DVD

DVD Features:

- "Behind the Feline: The Cartoon Phenomenon" Documentary

- "Pink Patter With Art Leonardi: The Story Behind the Animation" Featurette

- "Remembering Friz: A Tribute to Friz Freleng" Featurette

- "Think Pink: How to Draw the Pink Panther" Featurette

- Page to Screen: The Making of Two Cartoons

- Animated Main Title Sequences From Five of the Feature Films

Pink Panther - Classic Cartoon Collection (DVD)

*************************************************

This is a list of the original Pink Panther theatrical short cartoons with the year of release:

1964

The Pink Phink (Friz Freleng, Hawley Pratt) Pink Pajamas (Friz Freleng, Hawley Pratt)

1965

We Give Pink Stamps (Friz Freleng, Hawley Pratt) Dial 'P' for Pink (Friz Freleng, Hawley Pratt) Sink Pink (Friz Freleng, Hawley Pratt) Pickled Pink (Friz Freleng, Hawley Pratt) Pinkfinger (Friz Freleng, Hawley Pratt) Shocking Pink (Friz Freleng, Hawley Pratt) Pink Ice (Friz Freleng, Hawley Pratt)

The Pink Tail Fly (Friz Freleng, Hawley Pratt) Pink Panzer (Hawley Pratt) An Ounce of Pink (Hawley Pratt) Reel Pink (Hawley Pratt) Bully for Pink (Hawley Pratt)

1966

Pink Punch (Hawley Pratt) Pink Pistons (Hawley Pratt) Vitamin Pink (Hawley Pratt) The Pink Blue Print (Hawley Pratt)

Pink, Plunk, Plink (Hawley Pratt) Smile Pretty, Say Pink (Hawley Pratt) Pink-A-Boo (Hawley Pratt) Genie with the Light Pink Fur (Hawley Pratt) Super Pink (Hawley Pratt) Rock A Bye Pinky (Hawley Pratt)

1967

Pinknic (Hawley Pratt) Pink Panic (Hawley Pratt) Pink Posies (Hawley Pratt) Pink of the Litter (Hawley Pratt)

In the Pink (Hawley Pratt) Jet Pink (Gerry Chiniquy)

Pink Pardise (Gerry Chiniquy) Pinto Pink (Hawley Pratt)

Congratulations! It's Pink (Hawley Pratt) Prefabricated Pink (Hawley Pratt) The Hand is Pinker than the Eye (Hawley Pratt)

Pink Outs (Gerry Chiniquy)

1968

Sky Blue Pink (Hawley Pratt) Pinkadilly Circus (Hawley Pratt)

Psychedelic Pink (Hawley Pratt) Come on In! The Water's Pink (Hawley Pratt) Put-Put, Pink (Gerry Chiniquy)

G.I. Pink (Hawley Pratt) Lucky Pink (Hawley Pratt)

The Pink Quarterback (Hawley Pratt) Twinkle, Twinkle Little Pink (Hawley Pratt) Pink Valiant (Hawley Pratt)

The Pink Pill (Gerry Chiniquy) Prehistoric Pink (Hawley Pratt)

Pink in the Clink (Gerry Chiniquy) Little Beaux Pink (Hawley Pratt) Tickled Pink (Gerry Chiniquy) Pink Sphinx (Hawley Pratt)

Pink is a Many Splintered Thing (Gerry Chiniquy) The Pink Package Plot (Art Davis) Pinkcome Tax (Art Davis)

1969

Pink-A-Rella (Hawley Pratt) Pink Pest Control (Gerry Chiniquy)

Think Before You Pink (Gerry Chiniquy) Slink Pink (Hawley Pratt)

In the Pink of the Night (Arthur Davis) Pink on the Cob (Hawley Pratt) Extinct Pink (Hawley Pratt)

1971

A Fly in the Pink (Hawley Pratt) Pink Blue Plate (Gerry Chiniquy) Pink Tuba-Dore (Art Davis) Pink Pranks (Gerry Chiniquy) The Pink Flea (Gerry Chiniquy) Psst Pink (Art Davis)

Gong with the Pink (Hawley Pratt) Pink-In (Art Davis)

1972

Pink 8 Ball (Gerry Chiniquy)

1974

Pink Aye (Gerry Chiniquy) Trail of the Lonesome Pink (Gerry Chiniquy)

1975

Pink DaVinci (Robert McKimson) Pink Streaker (Gerry Chiniquy)

Salmon Pink (Gerry Chiniquy) Forty Pink Winks (Gerry Chiniquy)

Pink Plasma (Art Leonardi) Pink Elephant (Gerry Chiniquy)

Keep Our Forests' Pink (Gerry Chiniquy) Robolink Pink (Gerry Chiniquy) It's Pink But Is It Mink? (Robert McKimson) Pink Campaign (Art Leonardi) The Scarlet Pinkernel (Gerry Chiniquy)

1976

Mystic Pink (Robert McKimson) The Pink of Arabee (Gerry Chiniquy) The Pink Pro (Robert McKimson) Pink Piper (Cullen Houghtaling) Pinky Doodle (Sid Marcus) Sherlock Pink (Robert McKimson) Rocky Pink (Art Leonardi)

1977

Therapeutic Pink (Gerry Chiniquy)

1978

Pink Pictures (Gerry Chiniquy) Pink Arcade (Sid Marcus)

Pink Lemonade (Gerry Chiniquy) Pink Trumpet (Art Davis)

Sprinkle Me Pink (Bob Richardson) Dietic Pink (Sid Marcus)

Pink U.F.O. (Dave Detiege) Pink Lightning (Brad Case)

Pink Daddy (Gerry Chiniquy) Cat and the Pink Stalk (Dave Detiege) Pink S.W.A.T. (Sid Marcus) Pink and Shovel (Gerry Chiniquy) Pinkologist (Gerry Chiniquy)

Pink Press (Art Davis) Pink in the Drink (Sid Marcus)

Pink Bananas (Art Davis) Pinktails for Two (Art Davis)

Pink Z-Z-Z (Sid Marcus) Star Pink (Art Davis)

1979

Pink Breakfast (Brad Case) Pink Quackers (Brad Case)

Toro Pink (Sid Marcus) String Along in Pink (Gerry Chiniquy)

Pink in the Woods (Brad Case) Pink Pull (Sid Marcus)

Spark Plug Pink (Brad Case) Doctor Pink (Sid Marcus)

Pink Suds (Art Davis)

1980

Supermarket Pink (Brad Case)

53 of 55 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars More Pink for Your Buck March 23, 2006

By mwreview

Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase

I bought the three individual DVDs of the Pink Panther Classic Cartoon Collection not realizing this set has two additional discs with more cartoons and extras like "Behind the Feline." Not only that but, through Amazon, it's only a few bucks more, so now I am seeing red,...er, pink. If you really like PP, don't make the same mistake I did. Get this collection. If you don't want to invest in quite so much pink, get disc 1 individually. It has "Pink, Plunk, Plink" which includes a cameo appearance by Henry Mancini, and "Sink Pink" and "Pink Ice" that has PP speaking! The reason I am dropping a star is because, as other reviewers have noted, The Inspector and The Aardvark cartoons are not included. I remember them when I watched PP reruns as a kid. I particularly remember The Inspector because I have a viewmaster reel of one of their cartoons. Those shows added variety to the PP show and, to be complete, they should have been included. If they were, I would have bought this set when it was first released. Another thing annoying about this set, and it's not really the fault of the set, it was just how the cartoons were made, is the laugh track on a handful of them. PP was a mildly amusing cartoon. It didn't have roll-on-the-floor humor but was laid-back (especially the ones without voices, compare these to the in-your-face cartoons of today) with the cool background music that could produce a chuckle here and there. It was certainly more restrained than Bugs Bunny. A laugh track just doesn't fit. It is fun to see how un-PC the cartoons were back in the day. PP smokes and there is plenty of guns, violence, and a little racial humor sprinkled in. I can't describe all the cartoons as that would make this review longer than Amazon permits, but here are a few highlights and lowlights:

The Pink Phink: According to the box, this ep. won an award. PP makes life miserable for a painter to ensure his new home is pink.

Pink Pajamas: PP crashes at the home of an alcoholic who calls his sponsor after seeing PP (probably a worse sign than seeing a pink elephant).

Dial P for Pink: PP foils a safe burglar. At the beginning, the burglar turns the dial on the safe and it turns on like a radio. He has to unplug it.

Sink Pink: The first episode with voices. A hunter in the safari hopes to build another ark to round up 2 of every animal-but he's missing a PP, which would make a great rug for the misses. PP, himself, speaks in this one.

Pickled Pink: (V) An alcoholic brings home PP and has to hide him from his nagging wife. He hides him in the fridge at one point and, when he comes back, he finds PP has turned blue ("Oh, hi Blue Panther, have you seen a Pink Panther?")

Pinkfinger: (V) The first with a disembodied voice. This one encourages PP to be a secret agent. I'm not sure if it's edited, but it ends weird (how did the voice end up in an underground cellar with a lion and why was PP so bummed at the end after getting his man?).

Shocking Pink: (V) (LT) The first with a laugh track which I find annoying. The disembodied voice berates PP for being lazy ("Why pay $7.50/hour for a plumber?").

Pink Ice: (V) PP the miner competes with two bumblers mining for diamonds. Another rare one where PP speaks!

Pink Panzer: Disembodied voice turns PP and his neighbor against each other.

An Ounce of Pink: PP buys a talking scale/fortune teller.

Reel Pink: PP goes fishing and uses an uncooperative worm and encounters a cantankerous crab.

Bully for Pink: PP tries out as a toreador. Why does the bull sound like an elephant?

Pink Punch: (Laugh Track) This ep is annoying. PP tries to advertise his beverage but a green asterisk insists on being the dot in the "i" in "Pink."

Pink Pistons: PP buys a little blue bug (don't worry, he paints it pink) and gets into a race with Granny Flash. Can you believe PP was able to get his money back from a used car salesman?

Vitamin Pink: PP's wild west vitamins give an escaped convict enough strength to break into a safe. PP is made sheriff to recapture him.

Pink, Plunk, Plink: PP joins a symphony orchestra and insists on playing his theme song. Henry Mancini is seen in the audience (actually, he's the only one in the audience!).

Super Pink: One of my favorites! Even with the laugh track, it's funny. PP decides to be a superhero and keeps trying to save the same poor little old lady who must have the worse luck in the world.

Rock-A-Bye Pinky: PP hounds a snoring camper who keeps blaming his poor, loyal dog for his misfortunes (this storyline would be used in several PP eps).

Jet Pink: I remember this ep well because it is featured on Viewmaster reels I had as a kid (and still have). PP tries his hand (uh, paw) at being a pilot.

Pinto Pink: Another ep featured on my Viewmaster reels. PP tries to ride a hilarious horse.

Congratulations, It's Pink: PP sets out to steal a picnic basket but gets a baby in a basket instead. At one point, he leaves it with an Indian couple and the husband becomes irate and attacks the white trading post guy. Definitely not PC!

The Hand is Pinker Than the Eye: PP sneaks into a magician's home and encounters magic props and an amorous rabbit.

Pink Out: Weak ep. Just various clips that end with a pink screen.

Pinkadilly Circus: After a man removes a nail from PP's foot, PP is so grateful, he insists on being the man's slave. The man finds good use for PP against his nagging wife.

Psychedelic Pink: (LT) Very strange ep, hence the title. PP visits the Bizarre Book Shop and wants to read "The Love Life of the Panther" (that's funny). From there, the ep goes all over the place.

The Pink Quarterback: PP chases after a rolling quarter that could buy him a hot dog or a hamburger (it must be the 1960s).

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Pink: PP builds a house in the view of an observation telescope.

Pink Valiant: A favorite of mine. A king hires PP to rescue his kidnapped daughter (who just runs around screaming). The kidnapper ends up as the one who really needs saving.

The Pink Package Plot: PP is forced to deliver a ticking package to the Slobvanian embassy.

Pinkcome Tax: PP (in Robin Hood style) tries to save a man imprisoned for his inability to pay taxes.

Pink-a-Rella: PP gets his paws on magic witch's wand and turns a poor, plain Jane into a princess so she can win a date with Pelvis Parsely. Funny part: Pelvis tries the slipper on PP.

Extinct Pink: (LT) This may be the worst PP ep ever. All it is is PP, a caveman, and dinosaurs competing over a bone.

Gong with the Pink: (LT) PP is a waiter at Gong Ho Restaurant and bangs the gong for orders which is next door to a glass shop. Full of Asian stereotypes. Definitely not PC!

Pink-In: (V) PP reads an old pal's letter and reminisces. This is a flashback ep with clips from Pink Package Plot, Pink Pajamas, and Pickled Pink. Weak.

Pink Aye: (LT) PP is a stowaway on the Luxitania (yes, that's the name) and becomes an opera singer's stole. It has a weak ending with the old lounge chair gag.

Pink Da Vinci: PP keeps changing the mouth of the Mona Lisa.

Salmon Pink/Pink Elephant: These two eps have the same premise. PP feeds an animal (fish and elephant) and each winds up his pet. The writers must have been running out of ideas.