Redwall Season Two Slipcover – Front
Two weeks ago, FUNimation Entertainment released Redwall – Season Two on DVD– a new two disc set containing episodes 14 thru 26 of the series (better known to the fans as simply Mattimeo). The first seven episodes of this season have been reviewed in-depth on RWTV: Redwall on TV, with the remaining six reviews forthcoming, so I won’t get into specifics here. We’re here once again to show you what the set looks like and what is included on it, in case you’re still iffy on the purchase.
Once again, the release boasts an attractive slipcover that mimics the look of an aged leather book. While it’s actually simple cardboard, with no top or bottom, the illusion is nonetheless impressive. Where Matthias was “embossed” into the cover of the first set, Season Two gives us Mattimeo holding up Tess Churchmouse. The spine in this case reads “Brian Jacques’ Mattimeo a tale of Redwall Season Two”. The back of the slipcover is almost a mirror image of the first set, a piece of parchment rolled out against the leather. It lists the titles of each episode, the extras, and includes a quote from Brian Jacques (the same quote from the first set, at that). It should be noted that subsequent shipments of Season One have appeared without the slipcover, so if you want to be sure your copy will have one, pick it up ASAP.
Slide the slipcover off, we find the traditional DVD package, of Cornflower in Martin’s armor flanked by Stryk Redkite, Constance, Abbot Mordalfus, Mrs. Churchmouse, Baby Rollo, and Foremole while General Ironbeak looms overhead and Mangiz and the other birds watch from the windows. The back contains a description of the show over a curious image of Nadaz standing before Redwall, next to a sidebar of six screenshots (see below).
The inside of the set is a different story from its predecessor– this time there is an insert. Unfortunately, it’s just a general pamphlet from FUNimation, advertising their various anime series (if you look hard, though, you can find both Redwall Season One and Redwall Season Two listed on their release schedule). Whereas the Season One set separated the discs, with disc one on the left and disc two on the right, the Season Two set places both discs on the right side of the case, stacked on each other so that the bottom of disc one overlaps the top of disc two. Artwise, the first disc shows Matthias and Basil in Mossflower, flanked by Redwall Abbey. Disc two shows the familiar shot of Matthias holding his sword, looking up while the enslaved dibbuns are off to the left and Slagar’s mask looms overhead. Divvying up the episodes, disc one contains episodes 14 thru 20, disc two contains episodes 21 thru 26.
Redwall Season Two Slipcover – Back
DVD extras are the same as with Season One, only updated with Season Two material. Disc one contains “Meet the Characters of Redwall”– six text biographies next to a picture of the character in question. Auma, General Ironbeak, Mattimeo, Orlando the Axe, Slagar the Cruel, and Tess Churchmouse are the six characters honored this time.
On disc two, we have “The Artwork of Redwall”, which is another image gallery of promotional RWTV artwork. Eight pieces are featured. The first has Mattimeo and Vitch rolling around fighting next to an image of Matthias, all over Cornflower and Basil playing with some dibbuns. The second has Slagar grabbing Mattimeo by his tunic, while below we find Matthias, Basil, and Jess tracking in the woods and Cornflower holding Baby Rollo. The third piece is simply Matthias and Basil in the woods– the full version of the image used for disc one. The fourth piece is of Slagar and his gang looming over Matthias & Co. running (this image was used as the cover art for the first UK volume of Mattimeo). The fifth piece is of Slagar looming over Matthias and the slaves– the full version of the image used for disc two. The sixth piece is the cover art for this release (Cornflower in armor and whatnot). The seventh piece shows Nadaz standing before the statue of Malkariss set over Mattimeo holding Tess while Matthias and the others fight the oncoming horde. Finally, the last piece has Matthias fighting the Wearet over Basil and Cheek, who are set next to an image of Mattimeo and the other slaves lining up.
Rounding out the discs are previews for other titles from Nelvana/FUNimation. Once again, most of these are of no interest to Redwall fans. Disc one’s rundown still includes a preview for The Redwall Movie, which consists of a short scene (Cluny taking over the Abbey) and a title card. On disc two’s rundown, we find a preview for Redwall Season One, which consists of that season’s opening animation. Sadly, no peek of Season Three was offered.
As for the episodes themselves, picture and sound quality is great and vastly superior to any VHS copy out there. The opening and credits air with each episode, rather than simply bumpering the first and last ones, for all you completists out there.
RWTV Season Two is another nice release and a great way to see the show. Keep an eye out for it.
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