“Inspector Gadget” is a great trip back to my childhood and I suspect there are many others born and grew up in the 1980s feel the same way. No the show wasn’t a masterpiece and the humor often forced, but man I had a wonderful time revisiting the series. With both seasons being released on DVD for the first time, it’s the perfect opportunity to reintroduce the character to a new generation.
“Inspector Gadget”: Season One, Volumes 1-3 (1983)
Purchase from Amazon.com:
VOLUME ONE | VOLUME TWO | VOLUME THREE
REVIEW NAVIGATION
The Movie | Special Features | Video Quality | Audio Quality | Overall
Genre(s): Animation, Comedy
Cinedigm Entertainment | NR – 1463 min. total – $24.95 each | October 8, 2013
MOVIE INFO:
Directed by: Various
Writer(s): Jean Chalopin, Andy Heyward, Bruno Banchi (created by)
Voice Cast: Don Adams, Cree Summer, Frank Welker, Dan Hennessey
DISC INFO:
Features: None
Number of Discs: 9 (3 per volume)
Audio: English (Dolby Digital 2.0)
Video: Full Frame 1.33
Subtitles: None
THE SEASON – 3.5/5
The popular “Inspector Gadget” animated series only ran for two seasons from 1983 to 1985 but it’s lived on through reruns and a few one-off specials and in the hearts and minds of those of us who grew up in the 1980s. No, animation wise it’s nothing spectacular and the plots are, to put it mildly, weak tackling the same storylines one episode after another. However, despite all of this, it’s still a fun show spurred on by the voice talents.
Plot Outline: Each episode has Inspector Gadget (voiced by DON ADAMS) receiving his latest mission from Chief Quimby (DAN HENNESSEY) undoubtedly involving Dr. Claw (FRANK WELKER) and his M.A.D. (or Malevolent Agency of Destruction) organization. But Gadget being the bumbling, yet loveable, idiot that he is unknowingly receives help from his young niece Penny (CREE SUMMER) and his loyal dog, Brain (FRANK WELKER), who he often mistakes as a M.A.D. agent.
For the first time, Cinedigm is releasing all 86 episodes spread across 12 discs. I was given the first season in three volumes (3-discs each) and revisiting it for the first time in many, many years, it was a lot of fun and think it would still resonate today so it’s nice getting every episode on DVD given, from what I’ve seen, is no longer in syndication.
Episodes
Volume 1:
1. Gadget in Winterland aka Winter Olympics (The Pilot)
2. Monster Lake
3. Down on the Farm
4. Gadget at the Circus
5. The Amazon
6. Health Spa
7. The Boat
8. Haunted Castle
9. Race to the Finish
10. The Ruby
11. A Star is Lost
12. All that Glitters
13. Movie Set
14. Amusement Park
15. Art Heist
16. Volcano Island (Gadget Goes Hawaiian)
17. The Invasion
18. The Infiltration
19. The Curse of the Pharaoh (Poot-Ta-Foot’s Curse)
20. M.A.D. Trap
21. Basic Training
22. Sleeping Gas
Volume 2:
23. Gadget’s Replacement
24. Greenfinger
25. Gadget Goes West
26. Launch Time
27. Photo Safari (Black Devil)
28. The Coo-Coo-Clock Caper
29. Bermuda Triangle
30. The Japanese Connection
31. Arabian Nights
32. Clear Case
33. Dutch Threat
34. Great Divide
35. Eye of the Dragon
36. Double Agent
37. Plantform of the Opera
38. Don’t Hold Your Breath
39. Gone Went the Wind
40. King Wrong
41. Pirate Island
42. M.A.D. Accident
43. No Flies on Us
44. Luck of the Irish
Volume 3:
45. Prince of the Gypsies
46. Old Man of the Mountain
47. The Emerald Duck
48. Do Unto Udders
49. Did You Myth Me?
50. A Bad Altitude
51. Funny Money
52. Follow That Jet
53. Dry Spell
54. Semldorado
55. Quimby Exchange
56. Weather in Tibet
57. Unhenged
58. Snakin’ All Over
59. In Seine
60. Tree Guesses
61. Birds of a Feather
62. So it is Written
63. Fang the Wonderdog
64. School of Pickpockets
65. Quizmaster
SPECIAL FEATURES – 0/5
No features have been included.
VIDEO – 3.5/5
As one would expect, this 30 year old cartoon might not be pristine but it doesn’t look too bad. There are some dirt and scratch marks, especially in the early episodes, but colors seem to be bright and clean enough.
AUDIO – 3.0/5
The Dolby Digital 2.0 track isn’t anything astounding but it gets the job done providing clear enough audio throughout. The first episode of the series is the worst cutting in and out, after that, however, it’s fairly consistent.
OVERALL – 3.0/5
Overall, “Inspector Gadget” is a great trip back to my childhood and I suspect there are many others born and grew up in the 1980s feel the same way. No the show wasn’t a masterpiece and the humor often forced, but man I had a wonderful time revisiting the series. With both seasons being released on DVD for the first time, it’s the perfect opportunity to reintroduce the character to a new generation. The Cinedigm sets aren’t anything special lacking any bonus material but the audio/video transfers are at least adequate.
Published: 10/17/2013
Did you also notice that they replaced the pilot intro with the regular intro, but the ending pilot credits are intact. I have a feeling that when they did that, it could have caused those horrible audio drop outs. I tried contacting the company about it and they said they saw and heard no such problems, which both you and I know is a load of BS. No one checked it. Also there are horrible tracking errors in the bottom of the first 10 plus episodes.
Yeah, not terribly surprising, though the company could’ve just said what I suspect happened: the source material wasn’t there so they supplemented what they could. The series is 30+ years old after all and I doubt the originals were handled with the best of care. I mean, as fun as it was, it’s no Godfather in terms of historical importance.
I have the Shout Factory set and the pilot intro and credits are intact and the episode looks pretty good. I did compare both pilot episodes from each set, and the picture on the shout set was brighter. The picture on the mega set looks better as it wasn’t brightened. It just doesn’t make any sense why the intro was replaced, unless someone thought the intro would confuse people. I just really want to know why they decided to cut and replace it, there was no call for it.
Interesting. Yeah, who knows why. It could be what they got and didn’t know or, like you said, didn’t want to confuse people with the original pilot intro.
BTW, and it was a long time since I watched this series, but I’m so glad they ditched his mustache. Just really weird.