Filmation's Ghostbusters - The Animated Series, Vol. 1

One of Saturday morning's mainstays during the 70's was Filmation Studios' THE GHOST BUSTERS, a live-action show starring Forrest Tucker and Larry Storch (of F TROOP fame) as Jake Kong and Eddie Spencer, paranormal investigators teamed with "Tracy," a supersmart gorilla (Bob Burns in a suit) who hunt down and dematerialize ghosts. Combining a limited budget, Tucker and Storch's vaudevillian shtick and some rather imaginative storytelling, THE GHOST BUSTERS became one of the most oft-remembered shows of the '70's Saturday Morning experience.

One decade later, at the height of Akyroyd and Company's GHOSTBUSTERS craze and coming off the success of HE-MAN and SHE-RA, Filmation revived the idea into FILMATION'S GHOSTBUSTERS, a syndicated animated series now reintroduced on this DVD set, which gives us the first half of FGB's 65-episode run. Showcasing colorful, much-improved animation and an even more imaginative turn at comedic storytelling that brought in elements of science fiction and time travel, FILMATION'S GHOSTBUSTERS continues the legacy of Spencer, Tracy and Kong with their sons, Eddie Jr. and Jake Jr., taking over the family business with Tracy. Armed with more ghost weapons besides their updated and venerable Ghost-Dematerializer, a number of revolving allies (such as intrepid reporter Jessica Wray and flirtatious future sorceress Futura) and the cantankerous transforming Ghost Buggy, Jake, Eddie and Tracy go into battle with the bad-tempered Prime Evil, a robotic, Darth-Vaderesque ghost who runs the spook-filled HauntQuarters in an alternate dimension. The gang's continuous mission is to stop the various schemes of Prime Evil and his gang of ne'er-do-well ghosts, who read like lost children of WACKY RACES (among them the neurotic-robotic skeleton ScaredStiff, bullying future werewolf Fangster, the Terry-Thomas-like Haunter, moronic jokester mummy Airhead, who literally lives up to his name, and the egotistical self-obsessed sorceress Mysteria). The ghost gang are often the major cause of Prime Evil's defeats; all are lazy, extremely self-promoting and somewhat incompetent at teamwork.

Occasionally, some of the jokes wear thin: Eddie's constant bungling, Ghost Buggy's continuous criticism of the Busters, and Prime Evil's inability to say "Ghostbusters" without wincing are all pretty much one-note jokes. Despite this, the series shines as one of Filmation's finest efforts, and the transfers on this DVD set are excellent, with scripts, commentaries on episodes and original artwork all featured. Also on this set is "The Maltese Monkey," the first episode of the live-action GHOST BUSTERS series, soon to follow on its own DVD set release. Volume II of the animated series will be out soon as well.

If you like good storytelling and would enjoy seeing another take on the notion of "ghost busters," this set would be an excellent buy. If you're an animation fan and, in particular, a Filmation completist, this set is a must-have.

Not to be confused with "The Real Ghostbusters," the animated series based on the 1984 hit film, Filmation's "Ghostbusters" was actually based on the 1975 live action Saturday morning series "The Ghost Busters" starring Forrest Tucker and Larry Storch [of "F Troop" fame] as ghost busters Jake Kong and Eddie Spenser respectively. Along with Tracy, their gorilla played by Bob Burns, Jake and Eddie fought the ghosts of historical villains. Both versions of the show were produced by Filmation.

Filmation's 1986 animated Ghostbusters series featured Jake Kong Jr. and Eddie Spenser Jr., the sons of Jake and Eddie assisted by Tracy the gorilla, Jessica the reporter, Belfry the bat, and Futura the sorceress. From their Ghost Command headquarters, they battled ghosts and phantoms from fairy tales, present-day and future. Whether traveling through time and space in their transforming Ghost Buggy, or battling the evil spooks of Prime Evil at his Haunt-Quarters, the Ghostbusters would always answer the call to action with their battlecry "Let's Go Ghostbusters!" The battlecry much like He-Man's transformation scene, albeit to a lesser extent, was that scene in the show I always looked forward to, and never got tired of.

I almost didn't bother to watch Filmation's Ghostbusters back in first-run because [at the time] I felt it was trying to steal The Real Ghostbusters' thunder--which it was, sort of. It's all relative however as neither animated series would've been produced if it weren't for the success of 1984's "Ghostbusters" film. Columbia Pictures (who owned the film and spin-off cartoon) settled a lawsuit with Filmation for an undisclosed sum in order to use the title in the film, but that didn't preclude Filmation's own animated attempt to capitalize on poltergeist popularity. With all of that in mind, I did watch both shows in first-run and had found there to be plenty of ghostbusting fun to be had from both shows.

Hopefully, the folks at Sony who produced those infuriating Real Ghostbusters 4-episode volumes will take notes from BCI's Ink & Paint, and sometime soon package The Real Ghostbusters into a set as bountiful in episodes and extras as this Filmation Ghostbusters set.

Filmation's Ghostbusters - Volume One is a 6-disc set featuring the show's first 32 [of 65] episodes in Full-Frame (1.33:1) video, plus the following Special Features:

* Creator interviews with producer Lou Scheimer, writer Robby London and directors Tom Tataranowicz and Tom Sito
* Ghostbusters anti-drug spot
* Original 10 min. presentation of the promo pilot
* Slideshow storyboard for episode 22 "Laser and Future Rock"
* Image gallery of Ghostbusters heroes including the original model sheets and sketches
* English & Spanish audio for all 32 episodes
* Easter eggs and series trivia
* Ink & Paint trailers
* DVD-ROM material: the complete five-episode script for the Ghostbusters "origin story"
* Bonus episode: "The Ghost Busters" live action series episode #1 - "The Maltese Monkey" featuring ghost busting trio Forrest Tucker, Larry Storch and Bob Burns "Yeah!"

Episodes:
1. I'll Be a Son of a Ghostbuster (Part 1)
2. Frights of the Roundtable (Part 2)
3. No Pharoah At All (Part 3)
4. The Secret of Mastadon Valley (Part 4)
5. The Ones Who Saved the Future (Part 5)
6. Witch's Stew
7. Mummy Dearest
8. Wacky Wax Museum
9. Statue of Liberty
10. The Ransom of Eddie Spenser
11. Eddie Takes Charge
12. The Great Ghost Gorilla
13. A Friend in Need
14. No Mo Snow
15. Prime Evil's Good Deed
16. Cyman's Revenge
17. The Headless Horseman Caper
18. Banish the Banshee
19. Rollerghoster
20. He Went Brataway
21. The Looking-Glass Warrior
22. Laser and Future Rock
23. Runaway Choo Choo
24. Dynamite Dinosaurs
25. Ghostbunglers
26. My Present to the Future
27. The Beastly Buggy
28. Belfry Leads the Way
29. The Battle for Ghost Command
30. Going Ape
31. The Haunting of Gizmo
32. Ghostnappers

Ghostbusters - Volume One:
Feb. 27th!

Ghostbusters was fun to watch. A little old fashioned as to the quality of the scripts but they are still good for a little entertainment after a hard day at work. It makes you laugh and relax. I would recommend them to others who are always watching cartoons. No swearing and just fun antics.

I would give this item a 4 star rating because I recieved this dvd opened. Not sure if the USPS opened it, but I know it wasn't a neighbor because I saw the mailman leave it himself. The 5 star rating is because the condition of the dvd was in exellent shape and because it was one of those gifts that put a huge smile on my hubby's face. The price was well worth it. Thanks.

This is a very good cartoon. I remember watching and loving it when I was a kid and I forgot all about it until now. The theme song came back to me after a couple of episodes which brought back memories. Some of the stuff they try to pull doesn't make sense now that I'm an adult but that makes it all part of the fun watching them all over again and pointing them out to myself. I was so gullible back then--LOL.

classic I just wish vol.2 was in print. WHY NOT!!!! come on!!!

I used to watch these as a kid (and the Real Ghostbusters). I was able to play these episodes while they were still on Prime and my kids LOVED them LOL

I remember watching this as a kid!.. Haven't seen this show in years! Love this show!!