Review of Danger Mouse: Volume 3

Introduction

On your bike, 007. Move over Austin Powers. The greatest secret agent of all time is out on DVD. Dangermouse and his cowardly sidekick Penfold face six of the most diabolical schemes of their careers.

Voiced by David Jason (Dangermouse) and Terry Scott (Penfold), the series is one of the most fondly remembered of the Cosgrove Hall animation series. In the 1980`s, Brian Cosgrove and Mark Hall were the major force in tv animation in Britain, producing programmes for Granada and Thames. Other memorable stablemates to Dangermouse were Duckula, Chorlton and the Wheelies, and of course the award winning Wind In The Willows.

Dangermouse was a one-eyed white mouse who carried out investigations and missions for the British government with the help of his exceptionally meek assistant Penfold. Behind the schemes to take over the world was almost inevitably megalomaniac toad Baron Greenback and his crow assistant Stiletto.

This third disk in the Dangermouse collection contains six adventures, although it should be noted that these adventures have been previously available packaged as "The Tower of Terror" (I sense the intervention of Disney lawyers here). As extras are two little gems - an interview with Brian Cosgrove and the untransmitted pilot episode of the series. Trivia fans may be interested that Dangermouse was originally voiced by William (Sch - you know who) Franklyn and Penfold was voiced by Brian Trueman doing a Welsh accent.

Video

The animation is colourful, and there are few digital artifacts visible, but the source material is showing its age and its 16mm-looking origins.

Audio

Again, the sound is what you might expect for a 1983 childrens` programme. A little on the rough side. No awards for innovation here.

Features

The aforementioned Brian Cosgrove interview and the pilot episode.

Conclusion

Another one for nostalgia-freaks rather than something to keep the kids quiet during the holidays.