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Not to be confused with the live action sequel 102 Dalmatians, 101 Dalmatians II is the latest Disney direct-to-video animated sequel slash shameless cash cow. In our latest installment, cute little Patch is all on his own in the land of the Brits and Big Ben. Dreaming of becoming a "One-Of-A-Kind Wonder Dog" like is fave TV pup star, Thunderbolt, Patch accidentally gets separated from his clan (which seems hard to do, as there's 100 of them). Meanwhile, Cruella Deville has become a patron of the arts(!), admiring the "spotty" work of London's eccentric new star artist Lars. But Lars needs inspiration, so Cruella decides to kidnap all of the other Dalmatian puppies. So guess who Patch drafts in to help him rescue his family and stop Cruella once and for all?

Charming little flicks like 101 Dalmatians II are hard to review, because they are great for the kiddies but don't offer too much for us adults. But this one is one of the best of the lot in a long while, and not nearly as grating as some of Disney's other, more message- minded direct-to-video sequels such as Tarzan & Jane. It's just a slight, innocuous romp that has it's share of laughs and rather suspenseful action setpieces. The all-star voice talent is also a cut above: Jason Alexander, Barry Bostwick and, best of all, Martin Short act as if this were a first-rate theatrical feature, not a DTV sequel. Also inspired is Thunderbolt, who is quite a likable new character, and I suspect we'll see more of him in future adventures.

101 Dalmatians II is certainly not anywhere near the same league as the original, but it's a fun diversion that the kids will love.

Video: How Does The Disc Look?

Presented in what looks to be 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen despite being labeled as 1.66:1 on the packaging, in typical Disney direct-to-video fashion this looks terrific. The animation is below par for the studio (the constant use of cheap CGI foreground overlays is particularly distracting) but quite a cut above most other animated efforts. Every aspect of this transfer is first-rate: Colors are bold and clean, blacks excellent and contrast superb. Detail is very strong, with no edginess or annoying halos to distract. The complete lack of any noticeable compression artifacts is the icing on the cake, and 101 Dalmatians II is a 101% all-around great transfer.

Audio: How Does The Disc Sound?

Just like the video, Disney doesn't skimp in the audio department. Including both Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1 surround tracks, this is topnotch for a direct-to-video production. There isn't that much going on sonically compared to a Disney A-title theatrical feature, but there's still plenty of activity in the surrounds. Dynamic range is very good despite the sometimes chintzy feel of the score, and overall envelopment is quite nice. The big action scenes benefit the most from a noticeable presence in the rears, and low end is nice and punchy. This is hardly a reference-quality soundtrack, and I couldn't tell a whiff of difference between the DTS and Dolby tracks, but this is a perfectly fine presentation given the material.

Also included is a French Dolby 2.0 surround track, English subtitles and English Closed Captions.

Supplements: What Goodies Are There?

Along with the sharp video and audio, Disney has also included a small but welcome number of supplements. First up is the 7-minute Making-of Dog-umentary. Hosted by a barking sextet of dogs (yes, dogs), this is a good-natured tour of the Disney animation process with directors Brian Smith and Jim Kammerud, and includes visits with the animation staff and the voice talent. It's very, very basic, but perfect for the 6 year-old target audience.

More fun for both kids and adults alike is Thunderbolt: An Inside Look. An interactive map of Thunderbolts trailer, click on the various icons and you'll find stills, fan mail, bloopers and commercials. Really charming. Also fun is the Lost in London interactive game. A series of trivia questions about the London locales and history as seen in the film, it's also pretty easy for adults but very nicely done, complete with an easy-to-understand video intro.

Rounding out the package are some promotional items, including music videos for "You're the One" by LMNT and "Try Again" by "Pop Idol winner Will Young. (From top of the UK charts to singing love songs about puppies. Maybe they can draft in Kelly Clarkson for 101 Dalmatians III.) Last but not least are the usual bevy of Disney video promo spots, but no actual theatrical trailers.

DVD-ROM Exclusives: What do you get when you pop the disc in your PC?

Unlike most bigger Disney animated titles, there isn't any real ROM extras, only a custom interface that pops up with basic DVD controls and the usual weblinks to various Disney websites.

Parting Thoughts