Dexter’s Laboratory: The Complete Series DVD review
Jun 23, 2024- Permalink
Dexter’s Laboratory was a Cartoon Network series created by Genndy Tartakovsky. Four pilots originally aired between 1995 and 1996, when the show finally got a series order. It originally ran for two seasons and fifty-two episodes beginning on April 27, 1996. Tartakovsky left after the airing of a TV movie, Dexter’s Laboratory: Ego Trip, in December of 1999. In November of 2000, the show was renewed for two seasons and twenty-six episodes with showrunner Chris Scavino. Dexter is a boy-genius who just happens to have a secret laboratory of hidden in his bedroom. He hatches up various plans and schemes but often finds himself at odds with his hyperactive sister Dee Dee or challenged by classmate and fellow boy-genius, Mandark. Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has just released Dexter’s Laboratory: The Complete Series on DVD and I had a chance to take a look. The WB likes disclaimers, so here goes: Though Warner Brothers provided me with a copy of this release to review, the thoughts and opinions below are mine.
Though the series ran for four seasons, the included episode listing booklet has the show divided in six seasons. Though the set does include the Dexter’s Laboratory: Ego Trip movie, it does not include the banned episodes Barbequor and Rude Removal.
The 78 episodes are spread out over 12 discs and are presented in the original 4:3 aspect ratio. The animation looks clean, the colour palette pops and with about seven 22-minute episodes on each disk, compression issues do not seem to be a factor either. It’s a really nice video presentation for the DVD format.
On the audio side of things, you have the choice of an English or Spanish Dolby Digital 2.0 soundtrack. Subtitles are available for English SDH or Spanish. The sterep soundtrack does a nice job presenting the audio. Music is bright and clear and the audio is well prioritized in the mix.
The Dexter’s Laboratory: The Complete Series DVD does not come with a digital code nor are there any featurettes or behind-the-scenes extras.
With the show currently only available on streaming platforms, the Dexter’s Laboratory: The Complete Series DVD gives fans of the show a chance to own it and not worry about the whims or fortunes of another entity. If you’re a fan of the show or its creator, you might want to add this to your collection.