Walt Disney Treasures: The Chronological Donald, Vol. 4 - 1951-1961 (Collector's Tin) [DVD]

This completes my collection of ‘Chronological Donald’ series of four. Unbeatable animated comedy!

Even if you didn't get the first three volumes of The Chronological Donald, there's a good reason to get this last one. Along with thirty other cartoons from 1951-1961 is what's universally regarded as the best educational cartoon ever made, "Donald in Mathmagic Land" (1959). In this featurette animated by Hamilton Luske and other Disney animators, the Spirit of Adventure leads Donald to discover mathmatical wonders of music, the Golden Section, the secret of billiards, and other intriguing ideas against lush backgrounds of '50s era Disney at its modernist best. To their credit, the animators don't modernize Donald, who's his irrascible, impetuous self on this mystery tour far from Duckburg.As Amid Amidi details in his book, Cartoon Modern, Cartoon Modern: Style and Design in 1950s Animation, the '50s marked a high point in animation design, with the Disney studio borrowing some of the stark, modern look of UPA. Some of the other cartoons in this collection rank among Donald's best: the most memorable Chip and Dale 'toons, including "Out of Scale" (1951) and "Donald Applecore" (1952). Some of the best of the duck's nephews are also included: "Lucky Number" (1951) and Don's Fountain of Youth (1953). As Leonard Maltin notes in his audio commentary, most theatrical cartoons had been discontinued due to mounting costs, but Walt still insisted on full-quality Donald cartoons for theaters throughout the '50s. "Chips Ahoy" (1956) was the last theatrical feature, after which Walt moved to TV, beginning with the Disneyland TV show.Speaking of Maltin, his intros on the Disney treasures usually consist of short disclaimers as to the politically incorrect nature of some cartoons, usually listed separately as "From the Vault". Here, however, he gives longer, engaging introductions, perhaps because he's as much a Donald fan as we are, and there's also commentary from animation historian Jerry Beck, making this set an animation fan's delight. "Donald in Mathmagic Land" originally aired on The Wonderful World of Color with an intro by Ludwig Von Drake about light and color in which he continually notes that viewers with black and white sets will have to imagine what he's talking about, as they can't experience "living color". This was clearly propaganda to sell TV sets (as was the show's title), but which is very interesting in retrospect. Hopefully it makes it out in a Ludwig Von Drake collection.Reviewers have been suggesting that the quality of the packaging of the Disney Treasures sets is falling, and this one is no exception. The Chronological Donald Vol. Two had a swing out flap for one of the two discs. On Vol. Four, the discs are merely snapped, one overlapping the other, on the inside back of the case, and there's barely room to do that. This is one time when registering for the Disney disc replacement program might come in handy. Another annoying feature that has not gone away is a schlocky Disney ad that opens the disc. It really is unwatchable, but there's a booklet slipped in the case about Blu-ray, what it is, why you should get it, and, it follows, go get all the Disney Blu-ray releases, that is actually helpful. All in all. The Chronological Donald Vol. Four easily lives up to the name "Disney Treasure".

Great !!!

Maybe only Yosemite Sam comes close to the irascible Donald Duck in the cartoon world. Donald was the first thing i ever remember seeing at the cinema when I was 4 years old in a short called "Up a Tree". So i was pleased to see that this cartoon was included in the last of the "Chronological Donald" Treasures completing all of his long frustrating adventures on DVD. I have been a fan of Donald for 54 years now, and unlike some people who say they can't understand what he says (or squawks), it's never bothered me if I can't decipher every word in his tantrums. Anyway, the DVD has got subtitles for those who wish to understand the tempestuous duck. There are a lot of generous extras on the 2 discs, including some very rare cartoons that belong to educational subjects but are still funny. See how Donald copes with the invention of the wheel or tries to understand mathematics!A great bonus is some Donald shorts in full Cinemascope and stereo sound to preserve how they were first shown. Add a couple of commentaries by Leonard Maltin and what you've got is a real "Walt Disney Treasure" that generations will still enjoy!

For some unknown reason amazon has mixed up Donald and Annette and while I have nothing against Annette I do not want her DVD I want the Duck. I have written several emails to amazon re this mixup and received several in return all contending the issue has been resolved which, as you can see, it has not, and the last email I received reasured me not to worry I would be getting Annette!!! Needless to say I am a wee bit frustrated at the lack of communication and therefore have ordered this DVD from Walmart to ensure I get Donald Duck and NOT Annette.Frankly I am surprised this is such a problem for amazon, I actually thought my first email would have been enough to ensure the graphics and info matched; alas, it was not to be.So if you don't care which one you get, by all means order from amazon but if you want Donald Duck you need to order from somewhere else to be on the safe side.

It is definitely very difficult to find these products in perfect condition, however, the one I got comes very close. Package and product protection MUST IMPROVE EXPONENTIALLY when shipping such delicate and expensive products.