The Best of Roger Rabbit

After the wonderful film WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT, Disney Pictures experimented by making several short cartoons starring Roger Rabbit and they were shown before feature films--much like the original purpose of classic Warner Brothers, MGM and Disney toons. Unfortunately, Disney also chose to pair these amazing shorts with some of the worst films of the era--virtually guaranteeing they would never see the light of day! Today, the only way you can see them is on this out of print videotape entitled "THE BEST OF ROGER RABBIT". It is NOT available on DVD nor does it appear it will be.

Now as to the quality of these cartoons, it is amazingly violent and insane--even more so than the typical Tex Avery cartoon of the 1950s. Because the characters are so funny, the animation quality so superb and the action so intense, this is one of the greatest cartoon shorts you can find---period. Too bad the powers that be at Disney were idiots who didn't realize they had gold on their hands!

I rented this and laughed all of the way through. The part with Roger in the elevator was the best. I'm over 20 now and I haven't laughed at a kid's cartoon like this since I was 16. Rent it, especially with the kids. You won't regret it.

As soon as I saw this video for sale at the dollar store, I knew it was coming home with me.

Here we see the Disney animators effectively saying, "t'heck with it" and having FUN! So help me, they are enjoying themselves while making cartoons! Unbelievable!

If I have onle complaint about this video, it's that it's too short. They made only three Roger Rabbit cartoons. There is evidence on the video as to why this was so: too much legal red tape. I counted at least four different studio logos preceding each cartoon.

It's interesting to note that the more insane moments in these cartoons probably wouldn't raise an eyebrow in the golden age of cartoons, where double entendres, bodily harm, explosions and other general mayhem were almost expected in each cartoon. In the early 90's, however, these gags were so old, they were new again (or maybe it's better to say that the Roger Rabbit cartoons are Tex Avery cartoons cranked to 11). Today, there's no way in you'd get away with this stuff without somebody having a fit. Perhaps, that's another reason why Roger hasn't been heard from since. I should note, however, that this video should be considered as having an unofficial "PG" rating.

The Roger cartoons, which rate a ten as a whole, are preceded with an odd music video starring "the Lion King"'s Ren and... (ahem) Timon and Pumbaa, which is pointless save for it adding considerable fuel to the "Are they or aren't they?" debate.

Since I'm a big fan of the movie (yes, I still am!)... I saw all of these cartoons in the theaters. Tummy Trouble was with Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (was a good movie), Roller Coaster Rabbit was with Dick Tracy (that movie was okay) and Trail Mix-up was shown with A Far Off Place (it was okay too). I laughed until my sides hurt! I jumped for joy every time I heard that Roger, Jessica, Baby Herman and Droopy were going to be in another cartoon. I jump for joy less now because Disney and Amblin are not getting along. Disney is slowly omitting Roger from their parks... This saddens me further. These cartoons appeal to all ages and they still appeal to me. The sound track of my tape is degrading so I can't watch it as much as I'd love to. I give these cartoons a perfect 10!!!! I hope that the petition will help these companies to compromise for the sake of us fans and future fans! I'd LOVE to see Roger, Jessica, Baby Herman and Droopy in MORE cartoons!!! As I've said... Rabbit habits are hard to break!!

I bought my DVD copy of "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?"'s Vista Series Edition and the cartoon shorts are included.

I wish we could all see more Roger Rabbit cartoons and especially the sequel to the movie.