Aristsocats
Disney

Artistocats has aged well–sort of the feline answer to 101 Dalmations. This new edition looks great. The songs–some by Disney legends The Sherman Brothers–are jazzy and even swingin’, and the voice talents, which include the great Phil Harris and Eva Gabor in the leads, are a delight. Set in Paris, an aging rich woman wills her estate to her cats, but greedy butler Edgar has other ideas. Mom cat and her three kittens find themselves in the French countryside and make their way back home with the help of street-smart Thomas O’Malley. Along the way, they meet the hep Scat Cat and his hepcat crew. This new special edition includes bonus features on the making of the 1970 film, a new game, and more. As they say, get it before it’s back in the vaults.

Jakers! Treasure Hunt on Raloo Farm
PBS/Paramount

Around our house, we LOVE Jakers!, the CGI animation adventures of Pigglywinks and friends–Ferdie the little boy bull, Dannon the girl Duck, as well as Piggly’s little sister Molly. Framed from the point of view of grandpa Piggly in the U.S., spinning tales for his grandsons of his young life in Ireland on Raloo Farm near the town of Tara, the episodes here–”Treasure Hunt,” “Dannon Does a Jig,” “Our Dragon’s Egg,” “Growing Pains”–offer little life lessons that don’t hammer young kids over the head. There’s plenty of charm and whimsy. The sheep are the few animals that are animals and don’t dress and act like people, though the leadership talks, voiced by the wacky Mel Brooks. Jakers!

Snow Buddies
Disney

This cute, direct-to-DVD release is the sequel to last years’s Air Buddies, as pups Budderball, rappin’ B-Dawg, stylish RoseBud, mellow Buddha, and messy MudBud return for an adventure that takes them to the arctic to meet new pals, everything culminating in a dogsled race where they’re, ah, yes, the underdogs. Especially good for young grade-schoolers and even toddlers, it’s pure Disney safe. Also note the American Humane Society was present at locations. Features include an audio commentary from…the dogs! plus a fun blooper reel and a behind-the-scenes “dog-u-mentary,” from the perspective of some of the pooch stars in the film.