Fraggle Rock - The Complete Series

"Fraggle Rock: The Complete Series" 35th Anniversary Collector's Edition, an updated edition just released on Blu-ray (September 25th), is a 12-disc treasure trove – certainly geared toward fans of the series, but also enjoyable for first-time viewers. "Fraggle Rock" originally aired on HBO between 1983-87 and went into syndication afterward.

Generally speaking, the show explored themes that are still relevant today – tolerance, diversity, spirituality, the value of friendships, and environmental consciousness. The late Jim Henson, creator of the show, describes the fictional world of Fraggle Rock as a "whole new world" designed to present our real world to children in a "more positive light." As art often does, stepping outside of our reality in order to see it from another perspective feels somewhat relevant to these chaotic times.

The show contains three different types of characters – the Fraggles, the Doozers, and the Gorgs. Henson characterized the Fraggles as loving to explore, swim, and have races; they work 30 minutes per week but they mostly like to dance and sing. By contrast, the Doozers live to work, mining and grinding radishes into a building material called Doozer sticks, of which they use to build intricate crystalline structures all over Fraggle Rock, structures that the Fraggles eat. Doozers are also short, only measuring up knee-high to a Fraggle. Finally, the Gorgs are giants and think of themselves as rulers of the universe, living above Fraggle Rock. The only entrance into the world of Fraggle Rock is through a wall in the workshop of an inventor named Doc (Gerry Parkes).

In addition to the 96 episodes from the show's four seasons, this edition includes nearly eight hours worth of special features including the 13 episodes of the animated version. These features are extensive, providing a comprehensive look at the series. Among the many highlights are:

- "Life on Set: Moments With Jim Henson" – a new feature specific to this 35th anniversary edition. Essentially, this a blooper reel of Henson attempting to talk about the show, lighthearted and conveying Henson's warmth;

- "Archival The Today Show Segment Featuring Uncle Travelling Matt" – also new to this edition, promoting the release of the series on VHS in 1993, an interview with Katie Couric (who joins in on the fun with questions like "what's a Doozer?" and humorously asking Uncle Travelling Matt, "you aren't related to Gene Shallit, by any chance?");

- "Let the Music Play: An Interview with Phil Balsam and Dennis Lee" – a feature on how music, in a wide variety of genres, plays a big role in this show.

- "Fraggle Songs" – a generous montage of different musical segments from the series;

- "The Inner Gorg: An Interview with the Performers Inside the Costumes" – a lengthy interview feature, with discussion between Gord Robertson (Pa Gorg), Trish Leeper (Ma Gorg), and Rob Mills (Junior Gorg), from their history performing as mimes to being cast in the series;

- "Celebrating Fraggle Rock: Excerpts from the Wrap Party" – probably geared more toward die-hard fans of the show, footage from the wrap party on May 17, 1986; it is humorous, and conveys a sense of warmth the cast and crew felt for one another and for the show;

- "You Cannot Leave the Magic: Excerpts from the Last Day of Shooting" – behind-the-scenes footage of the last day of shooting on May 16, 1986;

- "Designing the Puppets: An Interview with the Puppet Makers" – an insightful look at how the puppet makers designed and crafted the puppets, also putting a little of themselves into their creations. The process also entailed puppet makers conferring with the performers, using their feedback to assist in the creation of the puppets, and how the set also informed puppet making;

- "Dance Your Cares Away: The Evolution of the Theme Song" – composer Philip Balsam talks about how the theme song came about with lyricist Dennis Lee. Music was important to the show, and many of the composers' songs were tailored to the scripts. But, as Balsam states, the theme song had to encapsulate what the entire series was about. We see how the theme song went through various iterations, changing in style, before landing on the final version, which eliminated the verse and kept only the chorus. Balsam also elaborates on the process of figuring out which characters would sing which parts in the opening montage;

- "Down at Fraggle Rock: Behind the Scenes" – a 48-minute feature filmed in 1987, begins with Jim Henson describing the series as "one of the happiest shows that I've ever been a part of" before launching into a description of how the series was created and how it evolved. This is another feature that highlights the importance of music. Also included are interviews with the puppeteers;

- "Archival HBO Promos" – a handful of "on the next episode of Fraggle Rock" clips;

- "Directing the Fraggles: An Interview with Eric Till and George Bloomfield" – discussion between the show's directors and their behind-the-scenes experience;

These are only a few of the many special features, which should satiate the appetites of diehard fans and amuse new viewers. If there is a criticism to be made, it is the somewhat tedious manner in which the special features are presented. For example, Disc 1 lists special features that are actually on Discs 2 and 3. When clicking on these special features, we are instructed to insert the disc on which a given feature is presented. This also holds for Disc 12. It doesn't really make a lot of sense to list features that are not contained on a given disc. I would personally prefer menus to list only what is contained on a given disc. That said, this is a relatively minor issue.

In addition to the wealth of bonus material, the packaging is elaborate and beautifully appealing. Described in promotional materials as "scrapbook" packaging, it really does take the form of a book, sturdy enough to sit nicely on a shelf. The inserts holding each disc are decorated with on-set and behind-the-scenes photos, relics such as letters and drawings by the creators in the initial stages, a map of Fraggle Rock, background on the main characters (i.e., "Things We Know About..." for the characters Gobo, Wembley, Red, Mokey, Boober, Uncle Travelling Matt, the Doozers, Doc & Sprocket, and the Gorgs). It's an impeccable design, very clearly a product of care that is as lavish as it is fun. I'm sure Jim Henson would have been proud overall.

"Fraggle Rock: The Complete Series" 35th Anniversary Collector's Edition
Sony Pictures
$48.59
http://www.sonypictures.com