As a classic children's book and beloved animated film, Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas remains a perennial holiday favorite for kids of all ages. Featuring the visual talents of Chuck Jones, voice work by Boris Karloff and June Foray, music by Albert Hague and vocals by Thurl Ravenscroft, this 26-minute story is much more than the sum of its parts. There aren't many folks who haven't experienced How the Grinch Stole Christmas in one form or another, but rarely do a book and its film adaptation complement each other so well.

Though he partly began his professional career as a children's book author, Theodor Seuss Geisel turned to political cartoons shortly thereafter, also writing short films and documentaries during World War II. Dr. Seuss eventually returned to children's fare when he and his wife moved to La Jolla, California around 1950; this would prove to be a very prolific decade for the author, who completed a number of now-classic books like "If I Ran the Zoo", "Horton Hears a Who", "The Cat in the Hat" and "How the Grinch Stole Christmas". The latter book was completed in 1957, with the small-screen adaptation arriving roughly nine years later. Though Seuss would continue to write until his death in 1991, How the Grinch Stole Christmas remains one of his most enduring and popular works.

Despite the fact that so many folks contributed to the animated version, How the Grinch Stole Christmas still feels like a singular vision. Dr. Seuss' colorful world of Whoville---introduced earlier in "Horton Hears a Who", though in a slightly different form---is a perfect match for Jones and company, who treat this world with the care and skill evident in so many classic Looney Tunes and Tom & Jerry shorts. Seuss was also involved in the animated production, lengthening the narration by a few verses and beefing up the epilogue. Yet the original story---about a grumpy old creature who lives on a mountain, determined to take Christmas from the peaceful folks living below---remains completely intact.

Originally released on DVD in 2001 (separately by MGM, and then Warner), this new "50th Birthday Deluxe Edition" only offers an upgrade in the video department and one new bonus feature. As with earlier releases, the main feature is paired with the 1970 animated adaptation of "Horton Hears a Who"; both look and sound quite good for their age, while the extras provide plenty of support for the former. Overall, this modestly-priced package is a fine choice for fans of Seuss' work, emphasizing the merging of talents to create a truly excellent finished product. Enjoy it again and again!

Presented in its original 1.33:1 aspect ratio, How the Grinch Stole Christmas has been newly scrubbed to near-perfection. This is a fantastic transfer overall, boasting a vivid color palette and fine clarity; only the reds tend to bleed slightly, but there are no major digital problems (edge enhancement, combing, etc.) to be found. Though no direct comparisons are available, those who own the previous release should be pleased with the improvements.

The Dolby Digital Mono mix (also available in French and Spanish) is crisp and lively, featuring clean dialogue and music cues. Only Boris Karloff's narration---and his interpretation of the Grinch, of course---is a bit thin and hollow, but it's hard to imagine it sounding otherwise. No optional subtitles are included, though Closed Captioning is available.

Fortunately, the related "Songs In the Key of Grinch" (7:59) keeps things more grounded; featuring comments by the film's composer Albert Hague and Thurl Ravenscroft, this music-related featurette is lightly peppered with interesting stories and trivia. Also of note is "Grinch Song Selections", a handy shortcut to the four major musical breaks in the film.

Also here is TNT's How the Grinch Stole Christmas: Special Edition (19:17, below right), featuring an additional round of comments from the creative team, cast and noted fans of the film. Hosted by the late Phil Hartman, this program includes separate chats with Audrey Geisel, Chuck Jones, Thurl Ravenscroft, Danny Elfman and Tim Burton, not to mention a few glimpses of sketches and rough animation sequences. There's a bit of overlap with the two other featurettes, but we still get a good overview of the film and its legacy.

Winding things down are "Who's Who in Whoville", a series of short text biographies for Dr. Seuss, Chuck Jones, Boris Karloff and June Foray, as well as a whopping three Pencil Tests and a few Previews for upcoming Warner Bros. family releases. All bonus features are presented in 1.33:1 and non-anamorphic widescreen formats; unfortunately, none include subtitles or Closed Captioning features.

Note: all extras from the previous release seem to have been ported over, except for the audio commentary with animator Phil Roman and June Foray (which was nice, but not terribly interesting). While some may balk at the slim upgrades offered here, most will find the visual upgrade to be worth the price of admission alone.

There's no doubt that Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas is a genuine holiday classic, whether it's in book form or on the small screen. The latter looks better than ever, boasting an excellent technical presentation and a good assortment of extras. Paired with the loosely-related Horton Hears a Who, it's a solid one-two punch of classic animation that Seuss lovers shouldn't miss. The modest retail price makes it an easy choice for owners of previous releases, whether it's a gift for yourself or the animation fan in your life. Recommended.