Walt Disney Treasures: The Complete Goofy
March 2003 Reviewed by: Josh Barber Format: DVD	(all ratings out of 5): Overall Enjoyment Picture Quality Packaged Extras Sound Quality

If there is one thing Disney loves, it's mining its heritage for a fast buck. While that can result in something as terrible and unnecessary as Return to Neverland, the approach sometimes comes up with a winner.

With some of its oldest copyrights coming to the end of their term, Disney decided to produce archival editions of the material before it entered the public domain. The Walt Disney Treasures series collects important works and informative commentaries in stylish collector’s packaging.

In 2001, the line debuted with four volumes: Mickey Mouse in Living Color, Davy Crockett, Silly Symphonies, and Disneyland USA. Three more volumes appeared in late 2002: Mickey Mouse in Black and White, Behind the Scenes at the Walt Disney Studio, and The Complete Goofy.

Goofy has taken a backseat to his two usual companions. Mickey was the leader and Donald was the hothead, but Goofy was, well, a good-natured goof. He was invisible. But that invisibility turned out to be his strength. Goofy was a perfect fit for almost any role, whether athletic neophyte or harried family man.

This two-disc set presents all 46 of Goofy's starring roles from 1939 to 1961, as well as three brief documentary features and three galleries. Film critic and historian Leonard Maltin introduces all the segments, speaking at length about the history and appeal of Goofy, and even conducting an interview with Bill Farmer, current voice of the Goof. You can choose to view the cartoons in alphabetical or chronological order, but there's no way to play them all straight through; the Disney Treasures don't make good background entertainment, as you'll have to fidget with the menus every few minutes.

What Disney does best on this set is package the right extras with the cartoons. While the video and audio on the animated shorts are the best they can be (obviously, no one was planning for digital presentation in 1939), the bonus features really accent the work. We can learn about Pinto Colvig, the original voice, as well as Art Babbit's examination of Goofy's character, both as a cartoon and as an actor. In the galleries, we get Goofy's own commentary on selected images.

The two-disc set comes packaged in a stylish, metal collector's box. The outside features an image of Goofy and Wilbur, the grasshopper from his first solo outing. The Walt Disney Treasures emblem is embossed on the tin, as is the set's placement in the 125,000-piece run. The clamshell package inside the tin repeats the artwork and design, and the set includes a reproduction of the original theatrical poster for Goofy's 1942 short The Olympic Champ screen-printed on sturdy card stock.

Goofy really has proven himself a champ. From his humble beginnings as "Dippy Dawg," he grew from a background character to sidekick to main attraction. He headlined his own syndicated half-hour cartoon in the early '90s and even had a surprisingly successful theatrical film. There is just something about a seeming simpleton that appeals to audiences. Disney is aiming for these fans with their Treasures release, but the set will appeal to anyone who has ever laughed at Goofy's pathetic yodeling yell.

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