Gift Guide 2017: Best of Blu-ray and DVD animation

Here’s a selection of top gift ideas for the Blu-ray and DVD-loving, cartoon-watcher in the family.

DC Universe: 10th Anniversary Collection (Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, rated PG-13 and R, 1.78:1 aspect ratio, $199.99) — DC Comics celebrates the translations of its popular superhero mythologies into the animated format with a premier Blu-ray collection offering every direct-to-disc cartoon released from the collaboration between Warner Bros. Animation and DC Entertainment in the last decade.

That translates into 30 full-length films and five shorts spread out among 32 discs adapting such classic sequential-art stories as “All-Star Superman,” “Batman: Year One,” “The Dark Knight Returns” and “Teen Titans: The Judas Contract.”

Besides the quartet of well-received films above, the best of the bunch also includes “Superman: Doomsday,” “Batman: Gotham Knight,” “Batman: Under the Red Hood,” “Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths,” the anthology “Green Lantern: Emerald Knights,” and commemorative editions of “Justice League: The New Frontier” and “Wonder Woman.”

Movies from original stories include the pretty great “Justice League: Gods and Monsters” and not-so-great “Batman and Harley Quinn.”

Many animated efforts also feature a celebrity voice-over cast, such as Tim Daly as Superman; Anne Heche as Lois Lane; Lucy Lawless as Wonder Woman; Jason Issacs as Sinestro; Bryan Cranston as Lt. James Gordon; Ed Asner as Perry White; Neil Patrick Harris as Nightwing; and, most importantly for the pop culture geek in the family, Mark Hamill as the Joker (in an adaptation of Alan Moore’s “Batman: The Killing Joke”).

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SEE ALSO: Gift Guide 2017: Best of DVD, Blu-ray and 4K UHD television

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Extras are plentiful on each disc, culled from the original releases, and often contain optional commentary tracks; hours of featurettes covering the production and hero mythologies; and dozens of episodes from DC Comics-based television shows, including “Batman: Brave and the Bold,” “Superman: The Animated Series,” “Justice League” and “Batman: The Animated Series.”

Additionally, a bonus disc of extras offers content such as a nine-minute recent interview with Mr. Hamill as he discusses his career and voicing the Joker; a 50-minute educational look at the origins and myths of the hero (with plenty of great comic art); and a 45-minute San Diego Comic-Con panel paying tribute to the DC-animated universe.

The packaging of the limited edition set (only 20,000 available) is also sure to please comic-loving gift receivers.

The large purplish rectangular enclosure with a superhero group illustration has a magnetic clasp on the lid and contains a book with hard cardboard pages loaded with comic book art and sleeves to hold the discs.

The package also holds a 40-page adult coloring book and three metallic coins with the faces of Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman.

Samurai Jack: The Complete Series (Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, rated TV-MA, 1.78:1 and 1.33:1 aspect ratio, $112.99) — Genndy Tartakovsky’s complete Cartoon Network, award-winning masterpiece arrives in a boxed set, giving fans a dazzling display of animation in a high-definition format.

The tale of a Japanese warrior named Jack looking to return to the past to reshape the future after being forced on a time-traveling journey by his nemesis, a shape-shifting creature named Aku, offered a study in minimalist design and maximum beauty over its initial four years back in the early 2000s.

Mr. Tartakovsky’s added closure to the adventure with a fifth season this year, and now lucky gift receivers can get all 62 episodes on five Blu-ray discs with the first four seasons remastered in 1080p for the very first time and a decent supply of extras.

Specifically, two commentary tracks feature Mr. Tartakovsky’s biographical information, his work as the creator, a look at the evolution of the lead character, background on the show’s martial-arts style, and a lost artwork gallery (with more commentary from the creator).

However, best of the bunch are tied to the fifth season and offer a quintet of “pitch movies” highlighting Mr. Tartakovsky using storyboards and narration to explain his vision during the pre-production process. He makes some amusing sound effects during the pitches.

As far as the slip-box packaging, open it up to find the discs as well as an enamel-painted, metal art print (5 inches tall by 6.5 inches tall) perfect for framing and highlighting Jack and Aku in mid-battle.

Drawn Together: The Complete Collection (Paramount Home Entertainment, rated TV-MA, 1.33:1 aspect ratio, $22.99) — Definitely a gift for the “naughtier than nice” mature family member, this set offers the Comedy Central show that ran in the mid-2000s featuring a group of raunchy cartoon characters living together under one roof.

Specifically, eight cartoon archetypes are heavily parodied in the reality television genre.

They included: musician mystery-solver Foxxy Love (think “Josie and the Pussycats”); washed-up 1920s cartoon star Toot Braunstein (think Betty Boop); chauvinistic superhero Captain Leslie Hero (Superman); the bizarre Wooldoor Jebediah Sockbat (a remnant from “Ren and Stimpy”); racist Princess Clara (a Disney princess); the hypersensitive Xandir P. Wifflebottom (a gay “Legend of Zelda” star); the babbling Ling-Ling (a Pokemon reject); and sophomoric Spanky Ham (Porky Pig with issues).

The 36 episodes and 2010 full-length movie in the set offer something to offend everyone as they cover a range of politically incorrect topics peppered with some nudity, violence, profanity and fun musical numbers.

Unfortunately, the series arrives on seven DVDs, making the resolution looking rather aged compared to any high-definition releases.

Still, considering the risqué material animated in a “Super Friends” retro-style, the digital visuals make the shows look even more crude and seamy, a plus for the devoted fan.

Making up for the lack of visual quality are the extras led by about a dozen hilarious optional commentary tracks often with creators Dave Jeser and Matt Silverstein as well as cast and crew. Expect a party-like atmosphere with plenty of laughs from the group offering content sometimes better than the episodes being discussed.

Other extras include some karaoke and sing-along options for the musical numbers and featurettes on the voice cast discussing the show.