The Toon Talk Top 10 of 2002
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#5 - Newsies
Collector’s Edition DVD

An unsung Disney live action musical, previously relegated to Internet cult status, Newsies finally got the much deserved respect it has been waiting for for over ten years with this high-energy release. Aside from its DVD debut, the film is celebrated with such great features as a Kenny Ortega-led audio commentary, several ‘making of’ featurettes, and a totally cool optional ‘sing along’ track. Keep carrying the banner!

#6 - Swiss Family Robinson
Vault Disney DVD

Possibly the best family adventure film, Disney or otherwise, of all time, Swiss Family Robinson transferred beautifully into a widescreen home video delight. Aided by extensive involvement from the film’s cast (most notably, eldest brother James MacArthur) and director (a candid Ken Annakin), this disc provides extensive behind the scenes coverage of the film’s troublesome production on the remote island of Tobago, some of the best of its kind; pretty impressive for a film over six decades old.

#7 - Monsters, Inc.
Collector’s Edition DVD

Featuring a pristine, direct digital transfer of the Pixar hit, along with an industrial-sized second disc of extras, this monster-sized set collected every bit of Inc.-related minutiae imaginable, including animation both new (the hysterical Mike’s New Car short), rare (the bizarre Ponkickies 21) and priceless (the so-accurate-it-hurts company play, Put That Thing Back Where It Came From Or So Help Me!).

#8 - The Lion King
IMAX/Large Format Release

Such joy rediscovering a classic, seen uncountable times before in various incarnations over the years; and it was found in such an unlikely source as this special edition … especially considering the mixed results of the similar Beauty and the Beast release at the beginning of the year. Worth the ticket price for the visual and aural splendor of the “Circle of Life” sequence alone.