As Hanna-Barbera was transitioning from cartoon shows about funny animals to adventure stories, Frankenstein Jr. and The Impossibles initially ran Saturday mornings from September 10, 1966 – January 17, 1967. Each half-hour block featured three cartoons with The Impossibles bookending Frankenstein Jr. The characters only interacted in a bumper between cartoons. The Warner Archive Collection presents all 18 episodes of Frankenstein Jr. and The Impossibles on The Complete Series.
Buy Frankenstein Jr. and the Impossibles: The Complete Series Blu-rayResembling the Japanese anime Gigantor (1963), which first appeared on U.S. television in January 1966, Frankenstein Jr. told the adventures of the titular robot (voiced by Ted Cassidy) who was controlled by young scientist Buzz Conroy (voiced by Dick Beals) as they battle villains of Earth and from outer space. The Birdman they battle is not the one who starred in Hanna-Barbera’s Birdman and the Galaxy Trio.
The Impossibles are a trio of superheroes. Coil-Man’s (voiced by Hal Smith) limbs turn into stretchable springs. Fluid Man (voiced by Paul Frees) can turn himself, entire body or portions, into a liquid. Multi-Man (voiced by Don Messick) can create duplicates of himself. All their powers are limitless, able to access as much as needed. Tapping into the times, the Impossibles are also a popular Beatleseque rock ‘n’ roll group. They fight various supervillains, including a few who make return appearances.
The video is available in 1080p/MPEG-4 AVC displayed in its original aspect ratio: 1.33:1. Colors appear in vibrant hues. Blacks are inky and whites look accurate. The image is mostly clean with occasional specks and smudges in the original artwork. There is also noticeable film grain. The audio is available in DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. Dialogue is clear. Effects and music are strong and balance well in the mix. The lone Special Feature is “Monster Rock: Frankenstein Jr. and The Impossibles” (5 min). It previously appeared on the Saturday Morning Cartoons: The ’60s DVD.
Frankenstein Jr. and The Impossibles is a fun show, definitely geared towards a young audience. While certainly imaginative, the stories are simple and silly, from the schemes of the villains to the actions of the heroes with the latter always coming out on top. The Blu-ray’s high-definition presentation is pleasing.
