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If you've ever seen "Wallace and Gromit"
or "Chicken Run" then you’re
familiar with the work of Nick Park's Aardman
Studios. Most of Park's early work was in
the area of claymation shorts, most of which
have won various awards. Once the original
short for "Wallace and Gromit"
broke out and became a huge hit, it opened
the doors for other projects, all of which
have been major successes for the studio.
"Creature Comforts" started out
life the same way. Park created a short
which featured claymation animals moving
and talking to dialogue recorded during
interviews with everyday people, as opposed
to actors in a studio.
The short won an Academy Award in 1990,
then went on to become a series on British
television. Thinking it would work over
here, an American version was created, but
unfortunately only three episodes aired
before it was pulled.
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Sony / Columbia Tristar is releasing all seven
episodes that were produced on DVD this month,
which actually offered me my first chance to check
it out. Though Park did not direct these episodes,
I still love the unusual style and found the series
charming at first. Listening to average people
on the street talking about everything from personal
grooming to eating preferences all, but watching
it come out of the mouths of polar bears and birds
was really kind of funny. The only problem I started
having was that the episodes seemed to go on too
long. The humor started to dwindle as the interviews
went on, occasionally becoming long winded rambles.
The DVD also includes a few bonus interviews that
weren't included on any of the episodes, a few
of the actual live action interviews, some promos
and compilations of some of the better characters.
The idea was great and I commend Park for a job
well done, but I think it belonged more in the
arena of short films as opposed to a half hour
show.
Extras: Bonus Interviews with Your Favorite
Creatures, Deleted Scenes, On-Air Promos, Creature
Comforts Character Comps
Specifications: Widescreen (1.78:1), Dolby Digital
5.1 Surround Sound
Studio: Sony / Columbia Tristar
Release Date: 10/9/2007
Region 1
MPAA Rating: NR
Website
Website
We'll give Creature Comforts America a C+.
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