I ♥ Dr. Seuss. I always have, even when I was a young girl. I even have most of my Dr. Seuss books from when I was a child – not copies, but the actual books from my youth. They may be tattered and torn, but the the stories are still just as wonderful and as entertaining as they were 35+ years ago.
I was excited when the movie companies came out with updated versions of classic Dr. Seuss stories like The Grinch Who Stole Christmas (2000), Horton Hears a Who (2008) and The Lorax (2012). While these films were entertaining (I’m not a big fan of the Grinch movie), they don’t compare to the original movies from long ago – the ones that aired on TV, not in the theaters. I like the originals more then the remarks because they evoke a sense of nostalgia and remind me of my childhood years.
Thanks to Warner Bros. Home Entertainment (WBHE), the classic Dr. Seuss specials are now available on Blu-ray and DVD. What a great way to introduce classic Dr. Seuss to a whole new generation. It’s called the Hats Off to Dr. Seuss Collector’s Edition.
Here is the official press release, plus more details on the specials found in the collection.
Prepare to enter into the magical, whimsical world of Dr. Seuss with Warner Bros. Home Entertainment (WBHE) release of Hats Off to Dr. Seuss Collector’s Edition, a must-own collection featuring five of the author’s most beloved animated classics, which are available together on Blu-ray™ and DVD in deluxe editions for the first time. Set for release on February 19, 2013, this compilation will include such all-time-favorite TV specials as The Lorax, Green Eggs and Ham and Other Stories, How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, The Cat in the Hat and Horton Hears a Who! along with loads of original enhanced content. All five specials are re-mastered for brilliant picture and sound quality. Blu-ray edition of this release will retail for $59.99 SRP and the standard edition DVD will retail for $44.98 SRP.
WBHE pays tribute to Theodor Geisel, known to most as the beloved Dr. Seuss, with the release of Hats Off to Dr. Seuss Collector’s Edition. For the first time, the studio is bringing together some of the celebrated author’s most cherished television specials in one, must-own-collection. Throughout his distinguished career, Dr. Seuss wore many different hats and captured the hearts of many by sharing his multifaceted talents as author, sculptor, political cartoonist, artist and visionary. WBHE celebrates Dr. Seuss’s legacy by putting together the most comprehensive collection of his animated television specials to date.
Included in the set, is a highly collectible booklet that showcases rare artwork from Dr. Seuss and a sneak peak at photos showcasing some of his hats from his secret hat collection, which illustrate the author’s appreciation of classic humor and love of art. The original artwork featured in this booklet can be enjoyed by consumers at “Hats Off Exhibitions,” which will be held at select galleries nationwide from January to December 2013.
Dr. Seuss’s drive to create, compelled him to wear many hats throughout his brilliant career. What better way to celebrate his multi-layered genius than with a collection that offers fans a deeper look into his exceptional body of work?
“Dr. Seuss and his work are cherished by generations of fans,” said Mary Ellen Thomas, Vice President Family & Animation Marketing and Partner Brands. She added, “He has touched the lives of both adults and children with his unforgettable characters and his uplifting, inspiring, and consciousness-raising stories. We’re delighted to celebrate Dr. Seuss’s remarkable legacy with this beautiful collection. Hats Off to Dr. Seuss Collector’s Edition is the one-stop, go-to source for some of the most outstanding and entertaining stories in children’s literature.”
How the Grinch Stole Christmas!:
Magnificently narrated by Boris Karloff (Frankenstein, The Mummy) and directed by animation genius and cartoon legend Chuck Jones (Looney Tunes,What’s Opera, Doc?), How the Grinch Stole Christmas! tells the story of the miserable Grinch, who wants to sabotage Christmas for all the Whos in Who-ville.
The Grinch thinks that by stealing the Whos Christmas trees and presents, he’ll succeed in stealing their joy. However, when Christmas morning arrives, The Grinch is taken by surprise when he notices the Whos greet the day joyously singing Christmas carols regardless of the fact that their village has been completely stripped of holiday gifts, decorations and treats. The cheerful attitude of the Whos prompts the Grinch to ponder the true meaning of Christmas and he slowly comes to realize the spirit of the season is not generated by material possessions. Will the Grinch have a change of heart and consider returning the Whos Christmas gifts?
Dr. Seuss’s The Lorax:
Dr. Seuss’s The Lorax is the classic TV special that tells the tale of how an enterprising but greedy villain named the Once-ler, strips a forest of its lush Truffula trees, bringing them to near extinction for the sake of profit.
The Once-ler becomes obsessed with the Truffula trees’ potential to make him rich. Bewitched by the beauty of the trees, he greedily chops them down so he can mass produce versatile garments, called “Thneeds” out of the Truffula’s colorful, softer than silk tufts.
The Lorax, an endearing and wise little forest creature, whose job it is to “speak for the trees,” continuously warns the Once-ler that his greed is making him crazy and is causing him to destroy the beautiful Truffula forest, thereby jeopardizing the home of various wildlife including Brown Bar-ba-loots, the Swomee-Swans and the Humming-Fish.
As the trees swiftly disappear, so do the Brown Bar-ba-loots, the Swomee-Swans and the Humming-Fish. What will it take for the Once-ler to realize how much damage he’s caused? Will the Truffula trees become extinct or will there be hope for regeneration?
Green Eggs and Ham and Other Stories:
In Green Eggs and Ham, Dr. Seuss serves up laughs and important lessons. Viewers will join Sam-I-Am and his persistent attempts at introducing a reluctant fellow to a most delectable dish. Their escapades take them across a zany landscape while assembling a cast of characters that only the imagination of Dr. Seuss can bring to life. Will Sam-I-Am convince his new friend to take a chance and finally try something new? Find out in this timeless tale the whole family will enjoy.
Then meet The Sneetches, who teach us that being yourself is the best way to fit in while the story of The Zax reminds us that there is nothing to gain from being stubborn. So bring an appetite for a full course meal of fun that will fill your heart and mind!
Dr. Seuss’s The Cat in the Hat:
Dr. Seuss’s The Cat in the Hat tells the story of Dick and Sally, who are stuck indoors on a dull, rainy day, with nothing to do. Their dreary afternoon takes an unexpected turn when they’re paid a visit by a charismatic, six-foot tall, hat-wearing Cat, who invites himself in to search for his misplaced “moss-covered, three-handled family gredunza.”
The children help the Cat in the Hat look for his missing keepsake but in the process, leave the house in a mess. Mr. Krinkelbein, the family’s wise pet goldfish, protests the Cat in the Hat’s shenanigans and orders him to leave. The Cat in the Hat however, preoccupied with finding his missing “gredunza,” only manages to bring the house into further disarray.
Unfazed by the chaos that’s slowly unfolding around them, Dick and Sally are captivated by the Cat in the Hat and his madcap, whimsical ways. They pass the afternoon in sheer delight and don’t notice their house has been turned into a complete mess! That’s until Dick and Sally hear their mother coming home. How in the world will they clean up the enormous mess before she walks through the front door?
Horton Hears a Who!:
Directed by Academy Award®-winning animator Chuck Jones, Horton Hears a Who! brings to life the delightful story of a charming Elephant named Horton, who while bathing in the jungle, hears a faint plea for help coming from a tiny speck of dust drifting through the air.
The plea comes from Dr. Hoovey, resident professor of science of Who-ville, a tiny planet no bigger than a speck of dust, which is inhabited by the microscopic Whos. Horton happily obliges to take care of the all the teensyWhos in Who-ville, proclaiming “after all, a person is a person, no matter how small,” and tenderly rests the tiny speck of dust on a clover blossom.
Horton’s jungle companions however, claim Horton has “flipped his lid.” They enlist the Wickersham brothers to steal the clover from Horton, and arrange to then pass it along to the black-bottomed eagle, who finally drops the clover in a great big patch of clovers over 100 miles wide. Will Horton keep his promise to protect the Whos and search through the entire field to help prevent their demise?
Nothing beats the classic How the Grinch Stole Christmas. We watch it at least 2-3 times every holiday season. We also have it on DVD. Now that I have this special Dr. Seuss collection I can give my other copy of How the Grinch Stole Christmas to someone else. The original animation, in my opinion, is a million times better then the updated version with Jim Carey.
My husband and I quibble about the original Lorax movie often. I think it’s a great story and it really makes you think about our environment and what we are doing to destroy it and what the consequences will be. My husband thinks it’s a depressing movie and doesn’t see the entertainment value in it because of that. I think he’s just totally missing the point of the film. He thinks the updated version is funny, but I don’t think it holds a candle to the original.
The original Lorax rarely airs on TV so it’s great to have a copy of the movie that we can watch whenever we want.
Horton Hears a Who has always been a favorite of mine too. I think Horton is adorable. When I was younger I wish I had a Horton plush animal I could snuggle with. A few years ago I found one at Sears during the holiday season (it was their holiday plush for that year). I just had to pick one up. I also found another Horton plush a few years later in Kohls. My kids think I’m nuts to have these stuffed animals, but I don’t care. They make me smile. 🙂
The Cat in the Hat and Green Eggs and Ham were fun to watch because they brough two of my beloved books to life.
I have the Blu-ray edition of the Hats off to Dr. Seuss Collectors Edition. There is A LOT more Dr. Seuss then what was featured in the press release. The Blu-ray bonus features include other Dr. Seuss stories including;
- Daisy-Head Mayzie
- The Hoober -Bloob Highway
- Pontoffel Pock and his Magic Piano
- Butter Battle Book
These are lesser known stories. In fact, the only one I have seen before was the Butter Battle Book. The other episodes were new to me. I can say this… Dr. Seuss certainly had a fantastic imagination. His characters are so unique and his use of rhymes is so fun and whimsical.
The Blu-ray also has a small booklet inside featuring some Dr. Seuss artwork (the Cat in the Hat shown on the back is rather creepy!).
For the little ones there are puzzles and sing-alongs in the bonus section too.
My favorite of all the bonus features is In Search of Dr. Seuss. Kathy Najimy stars as Kathy Lane, a reporter who is trying to interview Dr. Seuss. Instead she finds herself on an imaginary adventure with a lot of interesting twists and turns. She also meets with plenty of unique characters.
If you are a Dr. Seuss fan, or if you would like to introduce your child or grandchild to the wacky and creative world of Dr. Seuss, this is the perfect collection to have.
Hats Off to Dr. Seuss Collector’s Edition will be available where most Blu-rays and DVDs are sold on February 19, 2013.
If you would like to learn more about Dr. Seuss visit www.Seussville.com and www.Fcebook.com/Dr.Seuss.
Fore more Warner Bros. Home Entertainment titles please visit www.WHVDirect.com.
Kimberly
*I received a free screener copy in order to do this review. There was no compensation. The opinions expressed are my own and were not influenced in any way.
Tanya says
I have made it my goal to collect all of his books that I had as a kid for my son. I use to love reading all of his books growing up.