Creature Comforts: Vol 1

The extras on this DVD are, by and large, excellent, with something on offer for all the family.

By far the meatiest is the Creating Creature Comforts, which follows the creative process through from the original interviews right on to the finished result. It is very well directed and a fascinating programme in itself, explaining how they make the models and act out each scene themselves so that they get the lip-sync of the characters spot on.

Nick Park, whose character seems a curious combination of boyish enthusiasm and shyness, talks about how the series first began and why he loves it so much, while everyone, from director Richard Goleszowski to the artists who make the models, discuss there roles. If it hasn't been on a TV near you yet, it soon will be and rightfully so.

With up to just three seconds of final film being made in a day by each set of animators, this featurette offers an insight into the creative process. While it may be a little long to keep very young children happy, older ones will certainly be engaged, as it is intercut with plenty of clips from the series and moves along at a fair pace.

Bringing Creature Comforts To Life demonstrates how the animators act out the scenes before shooting them and is shown in split screen so that you can view the end result simultaneously.

Who's Missing is a children's game, rewarding successful placing of characters in their correct homes with a biography. However, with only three characters present, it seems very short and somewhat pointless.

Also on the DVD is the original Oscar winning Creature Comforts short. Despite the fact that animation techniques have improved since, there is something lovely about the textures created on this original, as Park altered them laboriously by hand. This extra is in 4: 3 from the original print.

The rest on offer is the usual mash of trailer and game plug along with a view website links - if you want to know more about the series, try www.creaturecomforts.tv, etc.

Technically, the print is excellent, with good colours and no artifacting that I could spot. The sound, too, is great and the animated menus terrific.

Overall, my only real gripe with this DVD is the fact that Aardman has chosen to release the series in two halves. Does the phrase, money-grabbing, spring to mind?