In May of last year, Disney released the first two volumes of their It's a Small World of Fun! DVD. Now, we have the next two volumes in the series that repackages classic Disney shorts which have appeared in more expensive, comprehensive compendiums, into more affordable, smaller collections. Walt Disney's It's a Small World of Fun!: Volume 4 gathers together five vintage Disney animated cartoons under a loose unifying theme of adventures all over the world. Donald Duck and Goofy, among other characters, appear, with comical trips to the South Pole, Mexico, Great Britain, Greece, and the continental U.S.A. serving as the colorful backdrops.

Beside the artistic merit of the cartoons included in Walt Disney's It's a Small World of Fun!: Volume 4, and the quality of their transfers, I would imagine the main point of discussion for this series is whether or not it's a worthwhile expenditure for the animation buff or for the casual consumer. I know that there are Disney fanatics out there (and I'm one of them) who want to own everything put out by the company. They'll collect these DVDs regardless of whether or not the cartoons are repeated on other collections. There are also Disney animation fans who deride repackages like Walt Disney's It's a Small World of Fun!: Volume 4 because they see them as a crass way for Disney to make more money off established shorts, when other unseen or "forgotten" titles (Song of the South - are you listening, Disney?) languish in the famed Disney vaults. And then there are the casual consumers of Disney products who will probably see Walt Disney's It's a Small World of Fun!: Volume 4 on a shelf in Target, and think, hey, this is a perfect gift for my nephew. They may not be aware of the earlier, more expensive cartoon collections - or they just may not care.

I can understand and sympathize with all three groups. I own all the celebrated Disney tins that are gathering together the most requested classic Disney shorts. But I do like to own anything Disney puts out, regardless of repeat releases. I also dislike the fact that Disney would spend the time and effort to put out Walt Disney's It's a Small World of Fun!: Volume 4 when other requested titles remain off the store shelves (again, Disney - Song of the South, if you please). However, I can identify with those consumers who may not be as wrapped up in all things Disney as I and other collectors are, so that a seemingly innocuous collection like Walt Disney's It's a Small World of Fun!: Volume 4 only appears to be a perfect choice for a birthday present, and not some indirect insult to all the amateur Disney archivists out there. So, to put it simply: whatever group you find yourself in, buy accordingly. Rapid collectors will of course buy these DVDs; it completes their collections. Animation collectors will stay away; they already own these shorts, and aren't interested in product for product's sake. And the casual buyer who's looking for a nice gift or a fun way to entertain their child, would do well to buy Walt Disney's It's a Small World of Fun!: Volume 4.

As to the artistic merit of the shorts included in Walt Disney's It's a Small World of Fun!: Volume 4, it should already be apparent, after reading the above, where I stand on classic Disney animation. These shorts are, as with almost every single other classic Disney short, class personified. The very best hand-drawn animation, combined with well thought-out gags and tasteful production, spell quality that no other animation studio ever came close to imitating. The Looney Tunes may have been wilder and crazier, and Fleischer may have been more politically edgy, but Disney is still the recognized standard bearer in animation, and the Walt Disney's It's a Small World of Fun!: Volume 4 collection provides yet another example of this fact.

The Reluctant Dragon
Originally released theatrically in 1941 as part of the live-action film of the same name, and previously released on the Disney Treasures Behind the Scenes at the Disney Studio DVD. A tea-drinking, poetry-reading gentle dragon frightens a town, and charms a small boy, but for the good of the villagers, he must pretend to be mean. This charming short appeared in the Robert Benchley-starring The Reluctant Dragon, Disney's first live-action feature.

Polar Trappers
Originally released theatrically in 1938, and previously released on the Disney Treasures Chronological Donald Volume 1 DVD. Donald and Goofy go to the South Pole to trap penguins and walruses, but as usual, they wind up in more trouble than their intended prey. Donald and Goofy are a magical team.

The Goddess of Spring
Originally released theatrically in 1934, and previously released on the Disney Treasures Silly Symphonies Volume 2 DVD. Greek underworld god Hades captures Spring Goddess Persephone and keeps her in his lair, hoping to make her his bride. Fantastic early Silly Symphony, with an amazing, delicate pastel Disney color design.

For Whom the Bulls Toil
Originally released theatrically in 1953, and previously released on the Disney Treasures Complete Goofy DVD. Add matador to Goofy's extensive list of occupations. Actually, he's a tourist in Mexico, and it's a funny, action-packed case of mistaken identity for the Goof.

The Little House
Originally released theatrically in 1952, and previously released on the Disney Treasures Rarities DVD. Based on the marvelous Virginia Lee Barton classic, this wonderful little short sports a typically engaging narration by Sterling Holloway. The highlight of the collection.

The DVD:

The Video:
I've read a lot of complaints about how Disney doesn't do justice to all of its DVD offerings, even going so far as to not use remastered prints when they're readily available. Considering the likely buyer of Walt Disney's It's a Small World of Fun!: Volume 4, they won't care one bit if these are remastered prints or not. The full frame transfers are the same ones used on the original compilations, and for the most part, they look fine -- for most people.

The Audio:
The Dolby Digital English 2.0 stereo mixes certainly don't reflect the original theatrical presentations, and they're all the more welcome for that fact. The mixes are strong and lively. A French mono track is also available.

The Extras:
There are no extras for Walt Disney's It's a Small World of Fun!: Volume 4.

Final Thoughts:
I don't really see anything heinous or duplicitous about Disney releasing these repackaged collection of their celebrated animated classics. Collectors will have already bought the more expensive, more comprehensive gatherings, so who cares if these come out? Yes, the effort and money that went into the production of these collections could have gone into new DVDs with unreleased material. But just think: the success of these additional repackagings may provide the interest and capital to put out more of the hidden Disney gems we all crave. So, if you already own these individual cartoons, don't buy Walt Disney's It's a Small World of Fun!: Volume 4. But if you're looking for a great way to introduce a small child to vintage Disney animation, and you don't particularly care about being a completist, by all means, I recommend buying Walt Disney's It's a Small World of Fun!: Volume 4.