Though Aardman Animation is commonly known for the incredibly popular adventures of Wallace and Gromit, the creative staff has made it a point not to limit its formula for success. While Rex the Runt wasn't quite my cup of tea and Chicken Run was a mild disappointment, it's hard not to love Creature Comforts, an unusual but highly entertaining short film and subsequent TV series created by W&G mastermind Nick Park. If you've never seen either incarnation, Creature Comforts proves to be unlike most anything else out there...animated or otherwise.

The original stop-motion short (1990) won an Oscar for its brilliant portrayal of animal life behind-the-scenes, created and produced while "A Grand Day Out" (Wallace and Gromit's debut adventure) neared completion. Presented in a mockumentary format, Creature Comforts showed us---and continues to show us---what goes on inside the minds of everyday people, channeled through curious critters. The visuals of the original short were at or above the level seen in "A Grand Day Out"---and though they look a bit rough compared with these new incarnations, it's hard to complain when the foundation worked so well.

Since England was, is and always will be the home of Creature Comforts and Aardman, it makes sense that a regular series would catch on quickly across the pond. It's enjoyed a popular run in Great Britain during the past few years, delivering a dozen or so 10-minute installments each and every season. From top to bottom, much of what made the original Creature Comforts so memorable is still on display: interesting dialogue, clever sight gags and expressive animation, among other qualities. The dry humor is still slightly off-color at times---and this certainly isn't a complaint, especially since the deliberately talky Creature Comforts probably wouldn't hold the attention of younger viewers anyway.

I was initially apprehensive when the news of a domestic adaptation surfaced, but Aardman has done exceptionally well with Creature Comforts America. The animation is as polished and pitch-perfect as ever; in fact, the only things that have changed are the folks behind the microphone. Instead of the Great British Public, we now hear from a cast of colorful characters across the United States---and like previous versions of Creature Comforts, hundreds of hours' worth of audio has been whittled down to a more manageable 169 minutes. From top to bottom, this proves to be fantastic material and has survived the conversion with flying colors.

Unlike the shorter stand-alone episodes of the British version, these 22-minute episodes often combine two or more themes apiece. Tackling subjects like "Secrets & Lies", "Animal Magnetism", "Art", "Fears & Phobias", "Pet Peeves", "Pets at the Vet" and more, the atmosphere and wit of the original has been preserved perfectly. It's safe to say that fans of the original Creature Comforts will certainly enjoy this domestic incarnation, even though it never quite caught on during the short broadcast run. In fact, Creature Comforts America only lasted about two weeks in prime time earlier this year, even though seven full-length episodes were commissioned (and luckily, they're all accounted for). Insert cynical comment about the state of American broadcasting here.

Presented on DVD by Sony Entertainment, Creature Comforts: The Complete First Season (or "The Complete Series", most likely) follows suit with previous releases: since this isn't a large amount of material, two discs proves to be more than enough. The episodes themselves feature a solid technical presentation, while a small assortment of bonus features has been included to round out the package. Let's take a closer look, shall we?

Presented in its original 1.78:1 aspect ratio and enhanced for 16x9 displays, Creature Comforts America looks fantastic from start to finish. Colors and image detail are typically strong---and though some scenes appear murky (depending on the environment depicted), these imperfections seem to be completely intentional. Only a few hints of edge enhancement can be spotted along the way, but this is a great-looking transfer in all respects. Even the included bonus features are presented in anamorphic widescreen, earning this release a high visual rating overall.

Though it's technically a Dolby Digital 5.1 mix, this dialogue-driven series is mostly anchored up front. The voices are clean and clear, never fighting for attention with the music and background gags. Occasional atmospheric touches fill out the rear channels nicely, while strong front separation keeps the environments lively. Optional English subtitles have been included during the main feature only.

Next up is a small chunk of Live Action Video (6:38), which shows members of the Aardman crew acting out interview segments for the animators' benefit. Though footage of the actual interviewees would've been preferable, it's possible they were excluded due to rights issues. If nothing else, this serves as an interesting "storyboard to screen" comparison piece.

Our last bonus feature is a lengthy collection of Character Comps (11 sections, 40:06 total), which exhibits a "highlight reel" of the series' more colorful critters. Though it's great to see a few of these segments back-to-back, what's here is mostly recycled material in a slightly different format. It's certainly worth a look, but the actual episodes flow more smoothly.

All bonus features are presented in anamorphic widescreen, though optional subtitles have not been included. While it would've been nice to see a few behind-the-scenes featurettes, die-hard fans may have already gotten their fill during the British releases.

Final Thoughts

Easily as colorful, clever and creative as its British counterpart, Creature Comforts America is another win for Aardman Animation. This amusing collection of interviews has been painstakingly whittled down and combined with masterful plasticine animation to create an atmosphere unlike any other: it's equal parts comedy and social commentary, easily digested in small doses or heaping spoonfuls. Sony's DVD presentation follows suit with past Creature Comforts releases, combining a solid technical presentation with a few interesting bonus features. All things considered, Aardman lovers should find this small but mighty collection worth every penny. Highly Recommended.