The Pink Panther Cartoon Collection: Volume 4 Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		3.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.5

The Pink Panther Cartoon Collection: Volume 4 Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf February 6, 2019

With “The Pink Panther Cartoon Collection: Volume 4,” the titular animal with an insatiable desire for mischief enters the 1970s, facing a world where things are changing in comedy and culture, forcing the production team at DePatie-Freleng to possibly rethink future adventures for the theatrical short star. However, old habits die hard, and this latest assembly of brief adventures showcasing just how comfort the producers were with routine, trying to keep their star busy with random shenanigans that slowly depart from any earthbound logic, going fully cartoon at times just to give something for Pink Panther to do as ideas for these little slices of animated nonsense dry up.

While it’s weird to criticize a cartoon series for strangeness, there are few shorts in “Volume 4” that showcase perhaps how desperate DePatie- Freleng were becoming when putting these adventures together for distribution. The Pink Panther doesn’t change much over the course of these selections, but his activities do, with “Gong with the Pink” perhaps the oddest offering on the disc. Here, Pink Panther is hired by a Cantonese restaurant to manage their gong-based ordering system, while in the very same building, a proprietor of glassware is setting up shop, becoming a mess of nerves and anger when his merchandise is destroyed by violent soundwaves. It’s a classic set-up of peace interrupted by total destruction, but a bizarre premise nonetheless. “Pink Streaker” finds the character inadvertently making life hell for an amateur skier, at one point casually tossing a cake donut to the ground, which becomes a major snowball that flattens the sporting newcomer. The cartoon elasticity of the series remains, and many shorts score laughs with crazy encounters and calamitous chases, but every now and then there’s an idea presented that feels like the creators just wanted to go home early that day, putting anything on film as long as it was silly enough.

Shorts:

“A Fly in the Pink” (6:13) Enjoying an afternoon of eating fruit, Pink Panther is attacked by a fruit fly infestation. Battling the insects inside his home, Pink Panther causes tremendous destruction while trying to destroy a persistent pest.

“Pink Blue Plate” (6:19) A diner owner has trouble keeping up with the lunchtime rush from a nearby construction site. Requiring help, he hires Pink Panther to work in the kitchen, finding his new cook incapable of making edible food, angering the hungry workers.

“Pink Tuba-Dore” (6:23) In a small village, a tuba player looks for a quiet place to practice after being kicked out by the locals. Resettling in a nearby forest with his dog, the musician rudely awakens Pink Panther from a deep sleep, and he won’t tolerate any interruptions.

“Pink Pranks” (6:10) Traveling to Rome on an airplane, Pink Panther is mistakenly dropped into Nome, soon facing a collection of mischievous, lonely, and angry cold weather creatures, along with hunter who wants to collect animal skins for clothes.

“The Pink Flea” (6:08) Stopping to pet a friendly dog one afternoon, Pink Panther picks up a flea looking for a new home. Thinking of ways to get rid of the pest, Pink Panther endures all types of washing methods and trickery to kill the unwanted visitor.

“Psst Pink” (6:15) While out on a leisurely drive, Pink Panther is forced to deal with a flat tire, soon experiencing a lengthy chase through city streets and buildings to retrieve an errant spare tire.

“Gong with the Pink” (6:16) Taking a waiter job at the Gong Ho Restaurant, Pink Panther prepares for his first night of work, dealing with a gong-based ordering system, which isn’t welcomed by a glassware proprietor preparing to open inside the same building.

“Pink-In” (6:30) Feeling nostalgic, Pink Panther goes through his old letters, finding one from pal Loud Mouth Louie, which brings back memories of his time with the army, his jobs with the railroad and a messenger service, and his experience with an apartment building.

“Pink 8 Ball” (6:24) Failing to properly wrap a gift of a basketball, Pink Panther begins to chase the bouncing ball all over town, speeding through a zoo, city park, and a department store to collect his present.

“Pink Aye” (6:22) Sneaking onto a cruise ship, the S.S. Luxitana, Pink Panther tries to remain out of sight, accidentally interrupting travel comforts arranged for an opera star.

“Trail of the Lonesome Pink” (6:18) Jacques and Jules are fur trappers setting up shop in a forest, placing foothold traps around the area. When his tail is caught in these metal teeth, Pink Panther decides to get revenge, using a team of snapping turtles to make life miserable for the invaders.

“Pink DaVinci” (6:20) In Leonardo da Vinci’s studio, the painter is finishing work on the Mona Lisa, but can’t decide on a mouth for the masterwork. Pink Panther, passing by, decides to finish the painting, driving the artist mad.

“Pink Streaker” (6:19) Visiting a ski resort, Pink Panther encounters an amateur skier who’s constantly in the wake of the animal’s attempts to enjoy his vacation.

“Salmon Pink” (6:19) After feeding a hungry fish while enjoying time at a lake, Pink Panther is surprised to find the creature has followed him home, trigging all sorts of mischief as the pair try to spend time with each other, including a visit to a movie theater.

“Forty Pink Winks” (6:21) Homeless, Pink Panther is looking for a cozy bench to sleep on for the night, only to be edged out by others. Searching for another place to rest, Pink Panther slips inside a hotel, soon mixing it up with a Fez Convention and hotel management.

“Pink Plasma” (6:26) Hiking through Transylvania, Pink Panther ends up in Dracula’s castle looking for a place to stay. Dealing with the creatures of the night, Pink Panther gradually grows aware that something isn’t right, soon facing Dracula’s attempts to attack him.

“Pink Elephant” (6:11) Visiting a zoo, Pink Panther focuses on the feeding of a hungry elephant. When the elephant isn’t ready to let his peanut-tossing pal go, he escapes from his enclosure, forcing Pink Panther to find ways to hide his large pal from his easily angered neighbor.

“Keep Our Forests Pink” (6:16) Employed as a forest ranger, Pink Panther tries to keep his area tidy with help from the local animals. When a park visitor and his dog arrive and promptly destroy everything they touch, Pink Panther tries to protect the forest in his own special way.

“Bobolink Pink” (6:20) Encountering a tiny bird that needs help traveling south, Pink Panther goes to extraordinary lengths to help his friend find a way to fly.

“It’s Pink, But Is It Mink?” (6:20) At peace with his jungle community, Pink Panther is faced with the wrath of Tarzan, who’s looking to secure special pink fur for his wife, Jane.

“Pink Campaign” (6:21) Trying to relax in his home, Pink Panther is confronted by the destructive ways of the Acme Lumber Company. Following one driver, Pink Panther is hoping to achieve his revenge, working to make the man’s home uninhabitable.

“The Scarlet Pinkernel” (6:17) Witnessing a dog catcher nab a helpless pooch, Pink Panther decides to become a costumed hero, collecting an outfit before attempting to rescue the dog.

The Pink Panther Cartoon Collection: Volume 4 Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.33:1 aspect ratio) presentations tends to fall in line with the other "Pink Panther" releases. Detail is satisfying, identifying animation artistry and even labor at times as the overall look of the shorts is shaped. Cartoon mishaps and signage are clear, while character design is distinct. Primaries are alert, offering bright blues and reds, while the titular star's pink is fully displayed. Stranger environments bring out deeper purples and oranges. Delineation is never challenged. Source is in decent shape, with some mild scratches and speckling, and a sporadic spotting of judder. The main titles on "Pink Streaker" are taken from the DVD release.

The Pink Panther Cartoon Collection: Volume 4 Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA offers few surprises, with a straightforward assembly of cartoon warfare between Pink and his enemies. Sound effects take top priority, and various bells, bonks, and whooshes are preserved with enjoyable clarity. Scoring is reliably defined for the most part, contributing to the heightened tone of the shorts. While a rare event, spoken language is distinct. While the majority of the shorts have no significant audio issues, "Pink Plasma" and "Trail of the Lonesome Pink" offer older, scratchy tracks; "Psst Pink" has a thin, hissy sound; and "Pink Blue Plate" has a muddier tone, with shifting volume levels.

The Pink Panther Cartoon Collection: Volume 4 Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentaries include filmmaker Greg Ford ("A Fly in the Pink," "Keep Our Forests Pink," "Pink Campaign," and "It's Pink, But Is It Mink?"), author Mark Arnold ("Pink 8 Ball," "Pink Tuba-Dore," "Pink Aye," and "Pink Plasma"), historian Jerry Beck ("Pink-In" and "Pink DaVinci"), and cartoon writer William Hohauser ("Trail of the Lonesome Pink" and "Salmon Pink).

• "Pink Patter" (14:57, SD) discusses "The Pink Panther" with animation director Art Leonardi (from 2005), recounting the origin of the character and his first jobs while working for DePatie-Freleng. Leonardi discusses the evolution of Pink Panther, his credit designs, time inside the "snowball sessions" and the overall creative journey of the shorts, and his relationship with his bosses.

The Pink Panther Cartoon Collection: Volume 4 Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Some creative fatigue aside, "Volume 4" should please completists working to assemble their own Blu-ray journey through the highs and lows of "The Pink Panther," Here, the comedic creature is all over the place, taking jobs, preserving forest health, encountering racial stereotypes, and in one inadvertently chilling offering, he deals with homelessness. It's all in the name of good fun, and "The Pink Panther Collection: Volume 4" provides that more often than not.