“Captain Planet: The Complete Franchise” DVD Release – Review

The DVD release of Captain Planet: The Complete Franchise took me on an enjoyable nostalgia trip. However, while I’m glad such an animated show is available in its entirety for the first time ever in physical form, I do feel such a release warranted some kind of bonus material.

I was provided with a free copy of Captain Planet: The Complete Franchise on DVD for review by Warner Bros Discovery Home Entertainment. The opinions I have shared are my own.

As a ’90s kid, I grew up watching Captain Planet on TV. So, of course, when I got the opportunity to check out the upcoming DVD release, I had to go for it. This hefty 15-disc set contains all 113 episodes from the Captain Planet and Planeteers franchise spread across six seasons. And yes, I watched them all. The show holds up, for the most part, and that’s why I have my fingers crossed that the newer generation of kids will get to know about it, too, and be educated about saving the planet from pollution and other unfortunate occurrences.

From creators Ted Turner and Barbara Pyle, the premise of the show is easy to understand. Gaia (Whoopi Goldberg & Margot Kidder) notices that the Earth is dying and thus decides it’s time to summon five teenagers and bestow upon them five Power Rings to save the planet. We have team leader Kwame (LeVar Burton) with the power of Earth, Wheeler (Joey Dedio) with the power of Fire, second-in-command and tech-savvy Linka (Kath Soucie) with control over Wind, Gi (Janice Kawaye) with Water, and Ma-Ti (Scott Menville) with the power of Heart. Sticking to the planetary theme, our heroes are from different regions of the globe and the series also explores their backstories. I mean, certain manbabies would throw an online fit if such a diverse animated show was released today. 

Anyway, the teens – or Planeteers – are quickly thrown into their first mission as they try to fight Hoggish Greedly during the pilot episode. Due to them still getting used to their Power Rings and the team dynamic, things don’t go as planned and they quickly realize the need to combine their powers to summon Captain Planet. I liked how the pilot episode did a lot to establish the rules of the Power Rings along with Captain Planet’s strengths and weaknesses. The narrative also gave the Planeteers a role in saving Captain Planet during the fight, establishing that while the summoned superhero is quite OP, he and the teens remain dependent on each other.

Over the course of the long-running series, the writing team tackled numerous issues while ensuring that the animated show retained its educational vibe. The episodes even concluded with a little tip to help conserve energy and save the planet in real life.

Also, kudos to the show’s writing team for addressing serious topics including HIV/AIDS and drug addiction. People die in this show. It gets dark and quite real. But still manages to hold onto hope.

Another thing I appreciated about this series was the Planeteers getting some nice character development as the show continued to run. Being the team leader, Kwame displayed doubts about his mission after he saw how little other people cared about Earth. Linka gets addicted to a dangerous substance (that entire storyline had me stressed out as a kid). She also gets an episode where she realizes that even if she has to bid farewell to her family, staying with the Planeteers allows her to save numerous people.

With the power of Heart not appearing visually fancy like the others, Ma-Ti gets to understand the importance of the empathic power given to him. Gi stops herself from succumbing to hate and doing something awful while seeking revenge. Wheeler accepts his mission as a Planeteer and also deals with a very abusive father and childhood.

That’s some good stuff!

So, while I enjoyed rewatching the animated series, my only gripe would be that such a first-time DVD release should have included some bonus content for longtime fans. I would have loved a cast and creator commentary track for the pilot episode. I would have also liked some cast and creator interviews revisiting the show and how it still relates to the present. 

With most physical releases by Warner Bros Discovery Home Entertainment being accompanied by extra material, Captain Planet and the Planeteers: The Complete Franchise on DVD does come across as quite bare bones.

@thegeekiary

Thanks to Warner Bros Discovery Home Entertainment for sending over the “Captain Planet and the Planeteers” The Complete Franchise release on DVD for free for unboxing and review… available on October 15, 2024… #captainplanet #captainplanetandtheplaneteers #dvd #warnerbrosdiscoveryhomeentertainment #dvdcollection

♬ original sound – retroplugkid

As for the physical release itself, the discs come encased in a thick plastic box secured by a cardboard slipcase. The front of the cover depicts a flying Captain Planet while the Planeteers cheer him on. The back of the cover has an image of the main cast along with two screenshots from the series. The text displays a synopsis. And as mentioned, there’s no list of extras. Getting rid of the slipcase, the plastic box has the same imagery.

Opening the box, you will find a piece of paper talking about the Captain Planet Foundation and how you too can be a part of it to better your community and help Earth. Established by Ted Turner and Barbara Pyle, the foundation has funded over 3,700 projects worldwide, supporting hands-on environmental education and activism.

The inside of the plastic case has the episode list across the six seasons. Seasons one, two, and four are on 3 discs each while seasons three, five, and six are on 2 discs each. The discs for each season are also color-coded. Season one is green, two is red, three is yellow, four is dark blue, five is orange, and season six is light blue.

Talking about the video and sound quality, it’s your standard DVD presentation. The animation is okay for a ’90s cartoon. However, there are scenes where the animators just didn’t add detail, or the camera kind of cuts away to have certain actions occur offscreen. But hey! What can you do? It’s still a good cartoon.

If you are a fan of the Captain Planet series, I would suggest considering purchasing this DVD. You get the entire show in one box. However, again, the nonexistence of even a single extra is disheartening.

Did you grow up watching Captain Planet? Are you excited about the DVD release?

Let us know.

Author: Farid-ul-Haq

Farid has a Double Masters in Psychology and Biotechnology as well as an M.Phil in Molecular Genetics. He is the author of numerous books including Missing in Somerville, and The Game Master of Somerville. He gives us insight into comics, books, TV shows, anime/manga, video games, and movies.

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