Overview: One of the most popular European classic comic strips of all time tells stories of the heroic escapades of youthful reporter Tintin and his loyal canine companion Snowy!

DVD Verdict: My goodness, this was one fun, brain-tripping ride back to a time when, well, I was a child back in the UK! I used to watch this show on TV growing up, not quite understanding it, but never missing an episode!

Based around the origins of a comic that first appeared in 1929 by Belgian artist Herge, these delightful adventures were spun into books, magazines, TV series, radio programs and theater productions down the years. But, the TV show 'The Adventures Of Tintin' (that, sadly, only ran from 1991 to 1993) was by far the perfect way to enjoy a Saturday morning cup of tea and a bowl of Frosties!

For those not in the know, the show follows Tintin and Snowy in solving mysteries closely related to the much-loved original stories. A colorful cast of characters is along for the ride, including the salty Captain Haddock, handy Professor Calculus and clumsy Thomson & Thompson! The all set out to explore the globe, solving mysteries as they go, and always searching for truth and justice.

The animation is simple but effective, and the "live" action aspect brings something new and fun to the stories. The cartoons don't have the same immersive, mesmerizing effect as the books, but they are fun and won't disappoint most longtime Tintin fans (or their Tintin-fan parents!)

Also nice is that each episode is presented in both English and French versions, which is a great educational tool for anyone who wants to learn French. The voice-overs are generally good, although I think the French voice actors are better (Captain Haddock, in particular) and the graphic design is strong, taking its cues pretty closely from the Herge originals.

And now with a Hollywood movie about to pounce upon us, well, this is perfect timing (of course!) from Shout! Factory to get these season one box-sets out and onto the shelves. (FYI - The upcoming major motion picture actually intertwines elements of two episodes included here in this 2-disc box-set - 'The Secret Of The Unicorn' and 'Red Rackham’s Treasure'!) This is a Full Screen Presentation (1:33.1) enhanced for 16x9 TVs.

www.shoutfactory.com