Originally making his first appearance in Aardman Animation's Wallace and Gromit: A Close Shave (1995), the inquisitive and clever Shaun the Sheep has become one of the company's most popular supporting characters. Unfortunately, Shaun didn't make an appearance in the duo's first feature-length adventure---but Aardman hadn't forgotten fans of the woolly hero. Later that year, a television series featuring Shaun hit the British airwaves, with Region 1 eventually catching up a short time after. Produced in the company's trademark style of expert stop-motion animation, the aptly-named Shaun the Sheep reminds first-time viewers of classic Wile E. Coyote and Tom and Jerry cartoons: it's wordless in a technical sense, utilizing clever sight gags and music to tell each seven-minute story.

Away from the bustling atmosphere and invention-fueled excitement of Wallace and Gromit, Shaun's world is a non-descript farm with green pastures and wooden fences. Along with a flock of considerably less clever and athletically-inclined sheep, a strict but lazy guard dog, a somewhat witless farmer and a trio of mischievous pigs, Shaun tends to make the most of each day. Whether leading the flock in morning exercises, organizing a game of soccer, wrestling with the pigs or simply munching on grass (when the farmer's around, of course), our hero's bravery is sometimes outmatched by his own clumsiness---but more often than not, Shaun saves the day. Although this series is clearly aimed at younger audiences, it's perfectly acceptable fare for those who enjoyed Wallace and Gromit, Creature Comforts...or, let's face it, pretty much the entire Aardman back catalogue.

As mentioned earlier, each wordless seven-minute short is packed with laughs---and with such a strict timeframe, these adventures don't overstay their welcome. Eight brief adventures are included here: "Off the Baa!", "Timmy in a Tizzy", "Buzz Off Bees", "Who's the Mummy?", "Fleeced!", "Mower Mouth", "Shaun Shoots the Sheep" (with a camera, don't worry), "Mountains out of Molehills", and there's not a bad one in the bunch. Culled almost randomly from Shaun the Sheep's first season, this is only a fraction of what's already available: Shaun and company have already completed their second season, with 40 shorts already in the bank. Fans across the pond have waited patiently for the woolly wunderkind to reach us on disc...but as time has taught us, there's nothing like the sting of disappointment if our hopes are too high.

In other words, Lionsgate hasn't made much of an effort in bringing the flock to Region 1. Dubbed "Shaun's first DVD collection" (despite over half a dozen Region 2 releases already available), the technical presentation and bonus features on display here are nowhere near the level that Aardman fans have come to expect. All told, this is a truly disappointing release, made even more frustrating by the strength of the series itself. Let's take a closer look, shall we?

Presented in cropped 1.33:1 aspect ratios, the pan-and-scan presentation isn't the only problem on display here. According to international sources, Region 2 Shaun the Sheep DVDs maintain the series' original 1.78:1 aspect ratio---but since this release is aimed at the younger crowd, I guess Lionsgate didn't bother with quality control. The color palette doesn't exactly pop off the screen, while notable amounts of edge enhancement and interlacing can also be spotted along the way. Obviously enough, this disappointing visual effort shouldn't be tolerated by Aardman fans of any age demographic.

The Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround mix fares better, featuring good channel separation and clear "dialogue". Inquisitive bleats fill the soundstage on many occasions. The playful music also comes through loud and clear, rarely fighting for attention and typically anchored up front. Closed Captions are included for these eight shorts, but not during the bonus features.

All bonus features are presented in a curious mix of 1.33:1, non-anamorphic and enhanced widescreen formats. As mentioned earlier, Closed Captions are not supporting during any of these extras.

There's no doubt that Shaun the Sheep continues Aardman's tradition of flawless stop-motion animation, cracking comedy and clever sight gags. Even with less than an hour of content to its name, it's forgivable when the content is this entertaining from start to finish. Unfortunately, Lionsgate hasn't put much effort into this DVD release: cursed with a pan-and-scan visual presentation and a lack of substantial bonus features, even the low price tag makes Off The Baa! nearly impossible to recommend. Die-hard disciples of Shaun may simply want to import the widescreen Region 2 releases, while new fans should give this a weekend spin at the very most. Either way, there's no excuse for this great series to be treated with such a lack of respect. Rent It.

JUST A FOOTNOTE: This title will also be available as a $20 two-pack, paired with Wallace and Gromit: Three Amazing Adventures. At that price, it's a cheap enough investment for casual Aardman fans.