Having still been in the midst of my formidable years during the 1990s, I can still hear the theme song in my head as the different Planeteers join their forces together to form Captain Planet. It seems apt that, nearly 15 years after Captain Planet and the Planeteers stopped producing new episodes, with all of the discussion (and denial) about climate change and green energy, this eco-friendly kids show would be getting the DVD treatment now.
For all of you who managed to miss out on this phenomenon:
Poised to attract an audience of kids, as well as the parents and educators who grew up with the television series in the 1990s, each episode of Captain Planet and the Planeteers finds the Planeteers on a new quest. Whatever the problem, from garbage dumping to rainforest destruction, the Planeteers are ready to take action. With the aid of rings given to them by Gaia, the Spirit of Earth, they each control one special element of nature – Earth, wind, water, fire and heart. The Planeteers use their powers to take on environmental disasters created by the eco-villains. “You must have faith in yourselves,” Gaia tells her newly recruited Planeteers. “You’re fighting for the good of the whole world.” When the situation becomes critical, they join their powers together to summon Captain Planet.
Shout! Factory – a company that has been announcing many older titles getting new life in the digital era – teamed up with Cartoon Network Enterprises to release Captain Planet and the Planeteers: Season One, which includes all 26 episodes with quite a star-studded cast of voice talent: LeVar Burton, Whoopi Goldberg, David Coburn,Meg Ryan, Martin Sheen, Dean Stockwell, Jeff Goldblum, and Sting.
And, as you should expect from a cartoon about environmentalism, this 4-disc set comes with a specially designed, eco-friendly package made of 100% recycled paper. Save the earth while you’re watching people save the earth. Brilliant.
Captain Planet and the Planeteers: Season One hits shelves on April 11th and will retail for $29.93.