We reviewed the first season of DuckTales a few months back, and loved it, and we just recently had an opportunity to dive into selected episodes of the show with DuckTales: Destination Adventure, and it was impressive. I know the show is probably just gearing up for new episodes, so it’s not like it’s the first season again, but this release seems more than out than typical releases of its type. DVD releases like this are themed for specific reasons, sometimes it’s simply a cash grab, where re-packaging episodes and labeling it ‘XYZ’ makes it different and special. This isn’t the case with DuckTales: Destination Adventure. Just like what Cartoon Network did with Adventure Time and Regular Show on various DVD home releases, where maybe a theme or character was focused on throughout the entire release, this DVD carries a specific theme of world adventuring that is carried throughout the entire experience. It makes sense.
Now, specifically this release does a good job of providing some different and unique backdrop episodes from the show. For example, the first episode focuses on the Beagle Boys and the inner-city of the show. The next episode digs into a pyramid and Egyptian background. After that, the release shifts to the crew in a Mount Everest setting. The episodes move back and forth to different landscapes, which offer up different worldly adventures for Scrooge and crew. That certainly provides a good amount of variety, while keeping focused on the ‘world traveling’ theme, as well as showing that the release wasn’t just slapped together for no reason. Most popular shows, such is the case with DuckTales, certainly don’t have to try hard to sell the show in well-planned releases, but this is the very case with DuckTales: Destination Adventure. The overall package seems planned and substantial enough to warrant a separate release.
Beyond just a good show DVD structure, the shows are actually well-written and meaningful. For example, the first episode of the release is actually one of the more unique of the bunch, as it doesn’t feature Scrooge, rather chooses to focus on Webbigail Vanderquack (Kate Micucci) and her strengths. It’s unique because typically they don’t give a lot screen time to Vanderquack in other episodes, as she is usually a sideshow to the team. This episode is pretty much all about Vanderquack, which is fantastic and interesting because she gets to show off her brave and wonderful side. You get to know her and her bravery a bit more than usual and she feels less like a gloss-over. Her adventure revolves around crumbling the Beagle Boys’ family from the inside-out in a Warriors-like fashion, and is amazingly built and really helps to add some dimension and personality to her character. Anyway, it’s a great episode and a glorious way to start out the DVD release, but a good example of solid substance.
Overall, this release has heart, shows off some of the more interesting adventures for the crew to go on and it features some fantastic writing/acting. The three-act narrative is definitely thick in the episodes included, engage and keep the interest of the viewer, and the variety of locales for the group to go and ‘save the day’ make it incredibly entertaining.
Outside of the show, you also get some extra classic DuckTales shows on this DVD release. While I can’t say they fit the mold of the new show, as the writing is very 80s/90s, it is neat seeing the old show again. It’s a good special bonus for a very good DVD release.
