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MJ and the boys' toons have a DayGlo vividness to them, but they're duds nonetheless....
DreamWorks Classics / 506 Minutes / 1971 / Unrated / Street Date: January 15, 2013
Anything even marginally associated with MJ is being monetized now, which explains this Jackson 5ive cartoon Blu-ray set, a high-def release that brings to vivid life these bubbly yet vacant animated endeavors. When the Jacksons were on fire, everything they touched turned to gold, so it comes as little surprise that they would have turned toward the giant cash machine of television entertainment, but these shows simply aren't much fun.
They play with an almost melancholy feel, actually, in light of our recent moonwalking loss. One can almost imagine the child-like glee a young Michael Jackson would have felt having the opportunity to have his and his brothers' visages appear in an animated medium. It goes without saying that these early-70s toons have a goofy retro charm to them, but a little goes a long way - with the exception of the music (which is better than ever), about ten minutes is all most of us will be able to stomach here.
But boutique box sets like this one don't come to market to engage the eyes and ears of a public at large - they're meant for superfans, and while as a high-definition set Jackson 5ive: The Complete Animated Series comes up a little short, there's no question in my mind that if you had an Off the Wall poster on your bedroom wall for many years, a Blu-ray edition like this one will scratch at your curiosity at least a little bit.