Suffice to say, not every studio is going to get it right every single time. Hanna Barbera has some of the most classic cartoon characters in its stable like Yogi Bear, The Flintstones, The Jetsons, Scooby-Doo, and so many others; but they’ve got a few misfires under their belt, and they’re easy to forget. Though, it was easier to forget them when they were locked away in Warner Brothers’ vault, not having seen the light of day since the transition from VHS to DVD and digital mediums. Sometimes you can revel in the retro cartoons just because they’re truly bizarre and goofy (like its recently rereleased Thundarr the Barbarian), but in the case of Wheelie and the Chopper Bunch, there’s nothing much to be said for the dusty television fossil except that it should have been left buried.
Filled with puns (including the very premise “car-toons”), Wheelie and the Chopper Bunch is a series of disconnected, haphazard adventures had by a guy and a girl car that suffer from lackluster animation (lacking the charm of Hanna Barbera’s typical style) and can only be said to have any redeeming value thanks to the presence of voice actor pros like Don Messick, Frank Welker, and Paul Winchell. Unless you’re a diehard collector of classic cartoons, it’s hard to make an argument for purchasing this 13-episode set.
The voice cast features Paul Winchell, Don Messick, and Frank Welker.
DVD Bonus Features
Considering it’s a special order DVD set culled from old prints and can only be purchased at Warner Brothers’ Online Shop (that Amazon link is for the tapes – not this DVD set), there were no extra features made for this release.
"Wheelie and the Chopper Bunch: The Complete Series" is on sale January 25, 2011 and is not rated. Animation, Children & Family. Directed by Charles A Nichols. Written by Larz Bourne, Len Janson. Starring Don Messick, Frank Welker, Paul Winchell.
