The television classic The Addams Family hit in a new way in the 70s, when an animated version of everybody’s favorite kooky, ooky characters came to life. Though a short run, the Hanna-Barbera touch was unmistakable, and the animated model allowed for the family to set out on a journey filled with their own particular brand of high-jinx, rather than having all the fun come to their iconic home.
Built around the idea of a family vacation, the family loads up the RV, stylized after their house, including a few new tricks and pets, and take to the open road. Visiting a wide variety of locations, the Addams family finally gets to thrust themselves into normal life, instead of having to wait for people to wander into their home.
As you might imagine, considering the Hanna-Barbera legacy, the writing is superb, and frequently hilarious. Though true to the generalities of the theme and characters of the original show, the animated series created its own entity, largely by way of more attention to the children, and the broader scope of situational plots, which include focuses on the locale du jour.
The creepy fun of these bizarre plotlines (freeing the animals from the Central Park Zoo is especially fun) will be loved by fans of the show, and are as crazy and laugh-inducing for newcomers as they ever were. Few things are as timeless as anything by Hanna-Barbera, and this thoroughly niche offering is no exception.
The quality of the DVD release is perhaps not the best you’ll come across, and this one has not been remastered or restored, but in watching through these again, I’m not sure that isn’t part of the beauty of the thing. The video is not so bad as to really compromise the viewing experience, and in fact is surprisingly good, all things considered, and I’m not sure this particular title really needs the effort. On the other hand, it might have been nice to have some sort of special feature, especially considering the wide world of extras that might have found there way to this one.
Still, this is another quirky treasure from the Warner Archive, and one that delivers.
Own it on DVD today from the Warner Archive!
Be delightfully miserable with the Addams Family as they take to the road in their Victorian-styled RV for spooktacular cross-country quests only they can conjure. From Nashville to New Orleans, New Mexico and Hawaii, these peculiar parents – Gomez and Morticia – treat their family to misadventures, including outwitting a band of gold thieves, freeing the animals from New York’s Central Park Zoo and racing a horse in the Kentucky Derby. They even win a piece of the moon and with Uncle Fester’s rocket, the trip will be a blast! You may remember them as “altogether ooky,” but the spirit of this family is contagious! Scream with joy over this 4-Disc, 16-Episode The Addams Family: Season 1!
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