Now that 2018 has come to a close I thought it would be a good time to share my favorite physical releases of the year. I am a big supporter of physical media and will continue to support it. I like owning my movies that I can hold, not in some cloud somewhere. I love box art. This year was a great year for exclusive Steelbooks at Best Buy. Some of them will make my list. In deciding the number I fell on the most obvious one, 18.

Number 3 is a total cheat not only was it released in 2017, but it is also a DVD. It’s the stunning release from Warner Archives, Porky Pig 101!

Before you say, “You Cheater!” Hear me out. This amazing set was released in September of 2017 and it took me into 2018 to watch all of Porky’s first 101 cartoon shorts, so technically I couldn’t review it until this year. This set deserves to be in everyone’s collection.

Porky Pig 101 brings together Porky’s first cartoons. Only two of them are in color and Porky goes through some changes. At first he is voiced by an actor who really had a stutter, Joe Dougherty. Porky also starts a little porkier, it takes a little time for Porky to start looking like the Porky we know and love. In his earliest ‘toons he is a farmer, a little pig, a prospector and a pilot. Due to Dougherty’s real stutter it made it hard for the animators to properly anticipate and sync Porky’s voice. Although he was eventually overshadowed by the greatest cartoon vocalist ever, Dougherty’s Porky was still enduring and funny.

In 1937’s Porky’s Duck Hunt, the amazing Mel Blanc took over the vocal duties for Porky. But not only is this a significant cartoon in Porky’s history, it’s also the debut of another cartoon great, Daffy Duck.

Not all the cartoons are classics, however they are all magical. They all will have you chuckling. This is such a significant release because sets like this almost never happen. Not only are the shorts in chronological order, but they are also uncensored. That is such an important part of this collection as these need to be seen as they were originally presented. There is a disclaimer on the package that says it’s intended for the adult collector, but I never saw anything too offensive. What also makes this collection so special is some of these films have not been seen in a long time, some I have never seen making Porky Pig 101 a historic release as well.

For a DVD release of cartoons, some of them over 80 years old the picture is really solid. Some dirt flecks, and scratches pop up, but nothing that distracts the viewer from enjoying these splendid cartoons.

On the audio side, Porky sounds good. Again this is a DVD release of cartoons that are over 80 years old, but they do sound great. Porky’s voice is clear and funny. The music is manic and crystal clear, everything I want in a Looney Tune.

Surprisingly there are some really great features spread out on the 5-discs. If I counted right there are 15 commentaries by animation experts and director Joe Dante pops up on one as well. Included as well are some storyboards and a really cool “Porky’s Breakdowns of 1939”, brief but awesome. The commentaries are first rate and a must listen.

Porky Pig 101 needs to be in your collection. As cartoon fans we need to support these releases. I don’t want these classic, funny cartoon shorts to be lost or forgotten. We need to embrace these physical releases so we can continue to enjoy these cartoons forever. On a personal note, Porky was my grandfather’s favorite cartoon character. He is also one of mine. Every time a watch Porky cartoons I think of growing up and sitting in my Grandpa Leon’s living room, laughing and sharing memories that I will cherish forever.

Film: A+

Video: A

Audio: A

Extras: A+

Overall: A+