DUNGEONS & DRAGONS THE ANIMATED SERIES: INTO THE MAGICAL REALM
Felix Vasquez Jr.

 

Mill Creek Entertainment releases a nine episode edition of the criminally underrated fantasy series "Dungeons & Dragons" a series that is your typical kids show about fish out of water transplanted in to the past with a diverse young cast, and a cliche comic relief animal sidekick, but what it lacks in originality it makes up for in some rather entertaining fantastical elements that creators Marvel Entertainment injects in to its series providing an admirable Rankin-Bass/Ralph Bakshi feeling to it. Anyone looking to relive the fantasies of their youth while indulging their children will be wise to enjoy this classic show presented in a three hour presentation of nine particular episodes, all of which involve our characters trying to thwart their evil enemy and his countless minions all with the help of the weapons granted to them by the Dungeon master some of which can grant them an invincible shield, a cloak of invisibility, and a magical bow and arrow.

After a dark rollercoaster ride brings them in to the realm of magic, six children spend most of the series looking for a way back home, always detoured by their call to help a local village or stop an evil entity thrown on to them by Venger who looks to keep them in the Magical Realm for as long as possible while hoping to infiltrate reality. The sometimes controversial series still holds up to this day with some masterful animation and entertaining if simplistic plot lines that will keep fantasy buffs happy and smiling for most of the time.
 

Mill Creek offers up the series episodes in their original format and uncut with the full length opening sequence that was trimmed down in syndication upon airing on network television and even gives fans the original closing credits, which were taken out in exchange for a more generic closing credits sequence. "Dungeons & Dragons" is as classic as nostalgia and fantasy can be and makes for a damn good time with enthusiastic voice work, and often creative plots that involve kings, and damsels distress all the while the Dungeon master always teaches his soldiers a lesson in the end. Sadly, there are no special features, which is the one main downfall to this release. As well, Mill Creek doesn't really restore the episodes, so every installment is fuzzy and seemingly converted from a VHS release or untouched master copy.

 

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