“Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Very First Alvin Show” DVD Review

• Release Date: September 8, 2009
• Publisher: Paramount
• Price: $10.99 on Amazon.com 
• Rating: Not Rated
• Run Time: 74 minutes
• Special Features: None
• Genre: Animation, Family

Paramount goes all the way back to the very first episode of “The Alvin Show” for their newest DVD release. Since the show first aired in October 1961 and I don’t normally like older shows as much as newer ones, you might think I disliked this DVD. However, I actually liked the episode, possibly even more than the more modern “Alvin and the Chipmunks” episodes I’ve seen. Hopefully this will be the first of many “Alvin Show” DVD releases.

“The Very First Alvin Show” includes three episodes, the classic first episode from the original series as well as two more modern episodes from the ’80s and ’90s. The first episode has the chipmunks helping an eagle get over his fear of flying. The second part of the episode brings the chipmunks to France. The other two episodes are “Rockin’ Through the Decades” (a documentary look at the Chipmunks’ past hosted by Will Smith) and “A Chipmunk Reunion” (an episode where the Chipmunks set off to find their real mother who abandoned them as babies).

The first episodes is obviously the main draw of this DVD but I also liked the other two episodes as well. The pilot has some really hilarious animation that you have to see to believe. “Rockin’ Through the Decades” should appeal to a lot of viewers because of Will Smith and the Chipmunks singing a lot of classic songs. “A Chipmunk Reunion” is a very sad episode that could have headlined its own DVD release.

Like all these “Alvin and the Chipmunks” DVD releases, the video quality on this one isn’t that great. I can somewhat excuse the first episode of the series since it aired in 1961 and was stored on 35mm film until it was converted for this release, but the other two don’t look that good either. I think a little effort could have been done to restore these episodes but since these are probably the best transfers we’ll ever see, don’t refuse to pick up this release just because of video quality.

“The Very First Alvin Show” has three really good “Chipmunks” episodes so even though I was a little disappointed with the video quality, I have to recommend it.