"Black Panther (Animated)" DVD Talkback (Spoilers)

[James Harvey]

Bringing the complete animated/motion comic series to home video!

Black Panther
Studio: Shout! Factory
Release Date: January 18th, 2011

Synopsis: Deep in the heart of Africa lies Wakanda, an advanced and unconquerable civilization. A family of warrior-kings possessing superior speed, strength and agility has governed this mysterious nation as long as time itself. The latest in this famed line is young King T’Challa, the great hero known worldwide as the Black Panther.

Special Features:
-Looking Back at Black Panther with Reginald Hudlin
-Exclusive Music Video
-Trailers

Please post only comments about the DVD release in this thread, as this thread is only for discussion of the actual DVD release. To discuss the included episodes, please use the talkbacks linked below.

Episodes Included:
#6. Episode Six
#5. Episode Five
#4. Episode Four
#3. Episode Three
#2. Episode Two
#1. Episode One

Discuss This DVD!

Note: We appreciate and encourage discussion. Please keep your posts the thoughtful, relevant and insightful. Please do not post any improper or inflammatory material. We will issue warnings if we believe it necessary. Please keep discussion ON-TOPIC!

Despite being labeled as a motion comic upon its home video release, this series was originally announced and considered an 'animated series' and will be treated as such.

[Aaron]

HOLY HANNAH!!
I forgot this came out!
I'm off to buy it now! So that I can watch the final episode, finally, and rate it. I loved this. So pissed it was canceled.

[Hypestyle]

just ordered this from Amazon-- looking forward to watching it, should be good.. Glad they have some extras in the set..

[Aaron]

just ordered this from Amazon-- looking forward to watching it, should be good.. Glad they have some extras in the set..

The Music video is the best part.

Let me know if yours has the interview with Djimon Hounsou.
'Cause it's listed on the features on the site, but not on the case and it's not on the DVD.


In response to the original post/subject, here's what I thought of the this Black Panther feature:

The actual DVD comes in a little slim-case like what marvel has done for their Motion Comic releases. Now I understand that this is done in Motion Comic style, but it is not a Motion Comic. It's a TV Show. And it's certainly not what I think of when I think Motion Comics. I think of "Astonishing X-Men" or "Spider-Woman" or "Batman Black and White". With really stiff, slow animation. Now "Astonishing" is the best motion comic I've ever seen, with it's pseudo 3D models moving around. But this is nothing like that. To me this looks more like animated shows like "Archer".
So, in short (too late) I'm rather annoyed at the flimsy little case, and wish that it had a real DVD slip-case.

Also, I guess this isn't the fault of anyone but the marketing people. But most sites I've seen list an interview with Djimon Hounsou as one of the features. It's not on my DVD case, or on the DVD. That ticks me off.

But anyway. The actual feature was good.
I don't know if I can talk about it here, instead of the episode section.
Because, I'm not addressing them individualy, but the feature as a whole as it can be viewed on the DVD.

I really liked the visual style of this show. The somewhat slow/stiff bodies reminded me of the really lousy (but neat) 60s Marvel cartoons mixed with like Johnny Quest. And the actual action scenes and fights are pretty swift and fast paced. I really enjoyed how they copied the comic book art style.
I also like (for the most part) how the subject matter was handled. Very mature, though a bit heavy-handed at times.
I've heard a few people talk about how this show is racist and biased against white people in various reviews, but I absolutely do not agree. There are good characters, bad characters, nice guys, and buttholes, regardless of race in this show.
For instance, at the beginning we get a general (Stan Lee's cameo) calling Wakandans savages, and all the other white people in the room go silent and recoil from him in PC shock. But later we have a member of the Wakandan council calling the rest of the world barbarians and nobody bats an eye.
The majority of Wakandans shown in this show are just as hateful, narrowminded, and racially biased as everyone else. Even the former King T'Chaka. He is presumptuous and spiteful and condescending toward all of the outsiders he meets.
And some of my favorite bits come from a French Assassin, who is very respectful toward Africa, and the Wakandans (he's only there for the money), and Juggernaut dissin' the French (and their little argument).
I'm sad that it's only 6 episodes, especially because of how it ends. I wish it could have continued.

After watching it again, I have mixed feelings.
I think the misuse of some of the characters, and the lack of use from other characters, was annoying. The show seems to be a little too preachy at times. But over all it's great. I really loved the voice acting, and the music, and the visuals.

But the BEST part of the show and the DVD...
the theme music. And the music video that features the extended version. Oh yeah!!! I admit, I'm rather addicted to this song.

[Rick Jones]

The actual DVD comes in a little slim-case like what marvel has done for their Motion Comic releases. Now I understand that this is done in Motion Comic style, but it is not a Motion Comic. It's a TV Show. And it's certainly not what I think of when I think Motion Comics. I think of "Astonishing X-Men" or "Spider-Woman" or "Batman Black and White". With really stiff, slow animation. Now "Astonishing" is the best motion comic I've ever seen, with it's pseudo 3D models moving around. But this is nothing like that. To me this looks more like animated shows like "Archer".
So, in short (too late) I'm rather annoyed at the flimsy little case, and wish that it had a real DVD slip-case.
.

I was a little upset when I realized that it was going to be a slim-case, too. I'd forgotten that this was how Astonishing X-Men was released when I saw it on sale in the store (I don't own any of the Marvel Knights motion comics). There's a slight turn-off I get when I purchase something that's not in a regular amaray case that's most likely due to just wanting the stuff on my shelf to have a uniform look.

I only ordered my dvd two days ago so hopefully it's in the mail by Saturday.