The Amazing Chan and the Chan Clang on DVD

There is a character from the old serials known as Charlie Chan, The Amazing Chan. In 1972, Hanna Barbera transitioned Charlie to their animated realm in the one season, sixteen episode series The Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan. Together with his ten children, whom Mr. Chan is raising as a single father, the Chan Clan solves mysteries.

The Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan will definitely be compared to Scooby-Doo. After all, there are kids in a van, with a dog, solving mysteries. Some of the music used in this series is a play off of Scooby-Doo music. Scooby himself even makes a cameo in the first episode, likely as a homage to the show's roots.

On the other hand, there are also a number of differences. For one, including Mr. Chan produces a different dynamic. Mr. Chan, a very patient and loving father, usually knows who the culprit is early on in the episode, and the kids, trying to help, trip him up and get in his way, before finally helping solve the case. Because of Chan's knowledge, there is more of a focus on the how of the crime and the method of catching the criminal, rather than the identity of the villain. The Chan kids play in a band in each episode, adding a musical element. Also, the dog looks like a cat, and the van can magically transform into other vehicles.

The van's appearance changes are "explained" away by the "science" of the smart member of the family, who supposedly built the thing. But there is a flash, and the hunk of metal is drastically altered, so there really is no real explanation here.

Like Scooby-Doo, chase scenes, schemes, and costume changes defy any sense of reality. But the point of The Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan is not to present a realistic look at a family of crime solvers; it's to entertain children. In that, it does a fine job, giving enough characters for any kid to relate to, as well as being genuinely amusing, in a juvenile sensibility. "Wham-bam, we're in a jam!" may be corny for adults to hear over and over, but surely the younger viewers will repeat it incessantly. It is a show I wouldn't mind letting my future children watch, and expect they would enjoy it quite a bit.

Since I mentioned the multitude of characters, it must be said that The Amazing Chan and Chan Clan does a fantastic job of balancing all of the various family members. Each has a clearly defined personality trait, whether it is being a leader, master of disguise, feminist tomboy, overeager youngster, or genius. In this way, by picking one trait to latch onto for each kid, they all get to participate, and become handy from time to time. Often, the show splits the kids into groups, making them easier to keep track of. Combined with simple plots and no real danger, it works.

Does one wish The Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan were a little more original? Of course. Plenty of kids shows can also be innovate and fresh, and this one isn't, not even in its own time. But that doesn't necessarily make it terrible, and if you're a fan who has grown tired of Scooby-Doo, this may be just enough twist to hook you in.

The Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan deserves some credit for its treatment of race. Keye Luke (Gremlins, Kung Fu), who was one of Chan's sons in some live action versions, is the first Asian-American person to play the Chinese-American character. And while many of the kids' voices were re-dubbed when their accents proved too thick, they are kids growing up in an environment where they would lose, or begin to lose, their accents, so it feels natural. And there really aren't too many racist stereotypes and jokes, showing a very positive view of people who look a little different than most of the cartoon characters at the time.

Besides Luke, the voice cast includes Oscar Winner Jodie Foster (The Silence of the Lambs, Contact), Lennie Weinrib (Voltron), Brian Tochi (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), Janet Waldon (The Jetsons), Lisa Gerritsen (Phyllis), Robert Ito (Quincy M.E.), and Don Messick (Tiny Toon Adventures, Scooby-Doo), among others. So it is a talented bunch of people.

Check out The Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan The Complete Series, on sale now.

Check out my new website, JeromeWetzel.com. If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Review first published on TheTVKing.com

Sealab 2020 The Complete Series now on DVD

"This is the year two thousand and twenty. The place is the Challenger Sea Mount, the top of an underwater mountain, a complex beneath the sea. Two hundred and fifty men, women and children live here. Each of them, a scientist pioneer. For this is our last frontier, a hostile environment which may hold the key to tomorrow. Each day, these oceanauts meet new challenges as they build their city beneath the sea. This is Sealab 2020."

This is the voice over that opens every episode of Warner Brother's 1972 animated series, Sealab 2020. Not to be confused with Adult Swim's Sealab 2021, which uses the same animation, but is drastically different, Sealab 2020 is an educational adventure set in and around an underwater community with a classic Hanna Barbera feel. The DVD set has extremely clear picture and decent sound, collecting all thirteen episodes together for the first time.

Many things can go wrong when living deep below the ocean's surface, and all of them seem to in a mere baker's dozen episodes. Radiation leaks near the base, people get lost, a crewman comes down with Green Fever (a psychosis caused by missing land), sharks circle, a giant squid messes with equipment, and much more! To make matters worse, as we're frequently reminded, the residents can't just swim for the surface to safety, as they would get the bends.

What's odd is that, despite these crazy, exciting dangers, the series actually comes across a bit boring. Perhaps it's because there's a lot more talk than action. Or maybe it's the flat personalities, that never show too much emotion, even in the face of the worst crisis. Sealab 2020 fails to convey a sense of dread or threat in any one of these situations.

Now, that could be a good thing. After all, the show is made for kids, and is completely family appropriate. However, even taking the young audience into consideration, there is a lack of enthusiasm that just doesn't make for very entertaining programming.

There are positives, too. Sealab 2020 is educational. Along with the weekly "adventures," a number of facts and scientific principals are explored. There is always time during an emergency to discuss what is going on, and the safety tips the crew needs to remember. Plus, kids will learn a lot about undersea life, studying it along with the scientists.

Especially in the first few episodes, the children on the series take center stage. Captain Murphy's grandson, Bobby (Josh Albee), is frequently involved in the plot. He is a relatable kid, great for the target audience. He may not always think through his actions ahead of time, but he's guided by strong morals, compassion, and he's also pretty smart. Bobby is usually more of a help than a hindrance.

Sealab 2020 does its job in promoting diversity by including characters of different ethnicities working side by side as equals. There is definitely a balance. Yes, the characters are all a bit white-washed, with no individual personalities or traits. But that's true for the white people as well as the minorities, so it seems fair enough.

What's sad is the show's treatment of women. Sally (Pamelyn Ferdin) is little more than a sidekick for Bobby. Gail (Ann Jillian) is a scientist, but she doesn't demonstrate the same level of professionalism as her peers. For instance, in one episode the men laugh off her claims to have seen something in the depths of the ocean. In another, she falls in love with a dolphin, fawning over it like a mother, and neglecting her responsibilities to take care of it. It's really disappointing to see such a negative stereotype, considering how advanced the stories are in other areas.

Also a regret is the lack of bonus features. There are none on the DVD. It's a shame that no one tells the story that happened behind the scenes, or includes the unaired episodes that Wikipedia mentions.

Overall, Sealab 2020, while not groundbreaking, is a family-friendly, educational series that is set in a spectacular world under the sea. It will make you wish the place was real! Sealab 2020 The Complete Series is on sale now.

If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Article originally published as Sealab 2020 The Complete Series now on DVD at TheTVKing.com