Two collections of episodes from two different Warner Brothers cartoon series are given the DVD treatment. While one serves very nicely as a fun nostalgia trip, the other is a supreme example that animation isn't just for kids anymore, and how good modern television cartoons can be. Both discs offer fun extras which will definitely appeal to fans.

"Challenge of the Superfriends" - This disc contains four episodes from the popular Saturday morning cartoon series from the 70s, and almost anyone over thirty is likely to be familiar with its premise. The Justice League of America, consisting of various DC Comics superheroes, collectively do battle with the dreaded Legion of Doom on a weekly basis. The Legion of Doom spends a majority of their time and energy plotting the demise of the Justice League, such as stealing the toys which give them their powers, or traveling back in time to erase their existence (it makes you wonder when they find time to make any money to bankroll these schemes, but never mind). "Challenge of the Superfriends" is a good example of the state of TV animation in the 70s, both good and bad. While lots of familiar comic book heroes and villains are here, such as Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman, Green Lantern, Lex Luthor and the Scarecrow, they are blandly rendered, with no distinct personalities of any kind (the only real differentiation between the characters comes from whomever is voicing them). The stories are ludicrously simple, with most of the exposition done through insanely banal dialogue rendered by the characters, whom often narrate the action you're watching. Then there's the animation, which is typical of most assembly-line cartoon shows of the time. It's awful, often consisting of the same shots repeated ad-nauseum (only with different backgrounds, depending on the situation) in order to cut budgetary corners. The attitude back then was that the audience consisted mainly of undemanding kids, and little effort was ever put into character and plot development, or even compelling imagery. In fact, during the DVD intros for these episodes, story editor Jeffry Scott mentions that the shows were aimed squarely at children. Ironically, those same children who grew up with the Superfriends are more likely to appreciate this disc a lot more than their own kids. Watching this is like traveling back in time; it's impossible to hear the voice of Casey Kasem (a perennial 70s cartoon voice-over, who plays Robin in this one), and NOT start grinning. Other familiar voices, as well as the limited animation and over-reliance on voice-over narration, all add to the charm of this disc, which will make folks wax nostalgic for a time when Saturday morning meant getting up at the crack of dawn and plopping before the TV with a bowl of Cocoa Puffs. An added bonus is the absence of the Wonder Twins, two of the most annoying recurring characters in the history of animation (aside from Scrappy Doo). "Justice League" - This show, currently running on Cartoon Network, is easily one of the best animated programs on television (the lone exception, in my humble opinion, being "The Simpsons," to which comparisons can't really be made, since both are of different genres). In a nutshell, the premise of "Justice League" is very similar to that of "Superfriends": assorted comic book superheroes who band together to fight evil. The similarities end there, though. "Justice League" benefits from the same art-deco, film-noir style that made the resurrection of the "Batman" cartoon franchise such a rousing success. In addition, the stories are darker and much more compelling, with equal doses of heavy action and droll humor that was missing in similar shows of the 70s. Equally impressive is the character detail. These aren't simply comic book characters re-rendered for an undemanding kiddie TV audience; they are complex individuals, with the same insecurities and personality quirks as any live-action character you can think of (The Flash, for example, is wonderfully realized as an easy-going smart-ass). We learn that the pasts of these characters (such as Wonder Woman) have an immediate impact on the present actions they take, and the consequences of those actions aren't always positive. This disc consists of a couple of two-part episodes, and you'll definitely be anxiously waiting - with sincere anticipation - for what happens next (it's like watching the movie serials of old, except you don't have to wait a week to discover the outcome). Creators of "Justice League" understands, in the 21st Century, when animation isn't simply a form of dumbed-down kids' entertainment, that the audience for these programs is very diverse. It is a cartoon for people who don't think they like cartoons.

Regarding the overall picture quality of the "Superfriends" disc...the picture isn't very good (there are a ton of scratches and blemishes), but that has less to do with the transfer than the condition of the original master. The transfer for "Justice League", however, is outstanding. The colors and black tones are all terrific, with no blemishes or scratches. The sound quality for both discs is pretty good, too, though offered in limited formats.

Fans are sure to appreciate the extras included on these discs. There's no commentary accompanying either one, but each episode to introduced by individuals involved in their initial production. The "Superfriends" disc features intros by story editor Jeffrey Scott, while the "Justice League" episodes are introduced by producer Bruce Timm. Also included on both discs are tidbits of information about various recurring characters (nothing new here for long-time comic book fans, but a wealth of interesting stats for everyone else). There are also other features, such as a trivia game on the "Superfriends" disc, and a more-compelling "Escape from War World" interactive challenge on the "Justice" disc. Also included on the "Justice League" disc is a very short featurette which offers some cool details about the creation of the show's villains.

For nostalgia buffs and baby-boomers, it's hard to go wrong with the "Superfriends" disc, for it offers as much gloriously cheesy fun as the original series did 25 years ago. Fans of cutting-edge, modern animation will surely enjoy the "Justice League" disc. While both offer good family fun, the latter DVD is more likely to appeal to everyone in the family. "Superfriends" belongs in a time capsule, and that isn't such a bad thing, either.