Synopsis
Nine more SpongeBob episodes, including the double-length “Christmas Who?” Not all theepisodes are Christmas, or even winter, related. “Procrastination,” for instance, showsSpongeBob desperately trying to write an essay (amusing enough, but not a patch on RichardCondie’s animated short “Getting Started”). All in all good-humoured fun, though I keep beingreminded of Ren and Stimpy with the edge removed.
Audio
The sound is much the same as that on the…other SpongeBob DVDs. You’ve got your 2.0mix, with perfectly clear and undistorted dialogue. The bright and (literally) bubbly music comesoff best in this mix, and is omnipresent, so there are essentially no surround sound effects.Perfectly acceptable TV sound all the same.
Video
As ever, the picture is sharp and extremely bright. The colours blaze, and the contrasts areoustanding, with terrific blacks. There is no grain, and this disc seems to confirm that if there isone type of TV show that will transfer beautifully to DVD, it’s the cartoon. There is some edgeenhancement visible around the lettering of the credits, but is generally undectable. The aspectratio is, of course, fullscreen.
Special Features
Creator Stephen Hillenburg and voice-of-SpongeBob Tom Kenny do the commentary for“Christmas Wish.” There is some good behind-the-scenes stuff here, but a lot of silly filler too. Astoryboard sequence for that episode runs with the sound of the finished product. The otherextras are a passel of ads for other Nickelodeon DVDs and games. The menu’s main page andintro are animated and scored.
Closing Thoughts
Not the most feature-packed SpongeBob disc, but not the barest either. And we certainlycouldn’t have SpongeBob no join in on the Christmas releases, now could we?
Special Features List
- Audio Commentary on “Christmas Who?”
- Storyboard for “Christmas Who?”
- Trailers
