The CBC has released a four-disc DVD collection of the exceptional work of animator Frédéric Back. Included are in-depth interviews with Back and various collaborators, as well as his short films, including The Man Who Planted Trees, Crac!, All Nothing, Abracadabra and The Creation of Birds. This collection offers decisive insights into Back’s striking, Chagal-esque animation style.

A show I might be forgiven for not having heard of (it ran for only one season in ’60) but had a helluva lot of fun getting acquainted with is Courageous Cat & Minute Mouse, new to DVD in a 720 minute compilation.

The show was created by Batman’s Bob Kane, and what’s so funny about watching is getting every joke the man was making. In effect, this less-than-dynamic duo are clearly a gentle mockery of Batman and Robin themselves. Featured is a Cat-gun, which does virtually anything the two need, while hometown Empire City provides no shortage of villains, many of them suitably ridiculous. But the best bits are the wacky one-liners, usually coming out of Minute Mouse’s mouth. This rodent rules! Then there’s that crazy jazz score. Recommended at your next video party; show two five-minute episodes prior to feature presentation. Your guests will be thrilled! :

» Matthew Hays