Around The World With Willy Fog Vol.4 - Episodes 16-20 (DVD)

...to the challenge of travelling around the world in 80 days, Fog also has to contend with Transfer (evil trickster and master of disguise hired by Sullivan to ensure that Fog fails), and Inspector Dix from Scotland Yard who thinks that Fog is the Bank of England thief.



=== Buying the DVD ===

I bought each DVD as it came out (back in 2004) at approximately £3 per DVD, although now it can be purchased as ...
...There are precisely halfway around the world, and we learn all about time zones and how while it's midday here it's midnight in London. Very educational! Rigadon has a run in with Inspector Dix and Bully. Transfer is up to his old tricks and as a result they have to make an unscheduled stop in Hawaii. On Hawaii they find that there is trouble and the Princess of Hawaii is ill. Romi says she can cure her, but if she doesn't the King will throw her ... more

For those who have already read my reviews of volumes 1, 2 and 3 of "Around the World With Willy Fog" this will be starting to get a bit boring, and I apologise. Especially as after this there is still volume 5 to come!

For those of you who haven't, my previous reviews can be found if you copy and paste the addresses below. Please note, if you are reading this as you are considering buying the DVD I would suggest that you read my review of volume 1 rather than this one, and make an overall suggestion that you purchase the box set rather than the volumes on their own. Volume 4 will not work as a stand alone DVD.

http://dvd.ciao.co.uk/Around_The_World_With_Willy_Fog_Vol_1_Animate d__Review_5614546

http://dvd.ciao.co.uk/Around_The_World_With_Willy_ Fog_Vol_2_Animated__Review_5770827

http://dvd.ciao.co.uk/Around_The_Worl d_With_Willy_Fog_Vol_3_Animated__Review_5779283

Ok, now that's cleared up!

Introduction to Willy Fog

"Around the World With Willy Fog" was first shown in the UK in 1987, and most people who saw it will remember its catchy theme tune (which actually goes on for a minute and a half) "Hey now the story must go on, cos a lot of time has gone, we must be ready to go away….." It was a 26 part animated series based upon Jules Verne's "Around the World in 80 days" using animals as the characters.

An introduction and details of the first 15 episodes can be found in my previous three reviews (mentioned above). To summarise the introduction (copied from my previous reviews):

There has been a robbery at the Bank of England. The owner of the bank (Mr. Sullivan) suggests that the thief is probably still in London. Lord Guinness (an elderly goat in a wheelchair) disagrees and thinks that a thief could already have got as far as India (a report by a London newspaper has suggested that one could travel round the world in 80 days. Mr Sullivan thinks that this is ridiculous. As Lord Guinness cannot prove that it is possible (due to his old age and failing health), Willy Fog (a lion) challenges Sullivan to a bet. Five others also bet that it cannot be done, and the bet is accepted.

Willy Fog with his new manservant Rigadon (and Tico) set off round the world. But in addition to the challenge of travelling around the world in 80 days, Fog also has to contend with Transfer (evil trickster and master of disguise hired by Sullivan to ensure that Fog fails), and Inspector Dix from Scotland Yard who thinks that Fog is the Bank of England thief.

Buying the DVD

I bought each DVD as it came out (back in 2004) at approximately £3 per DVD, although now it can be purchased as a box set (containing all 5 volumes) available currently for approximately £10 on Amazon, which works out much cheaper. Unless you are reading this having already purchased volumes 1, 2 and 3 (which is unlikely as you'll probably just have taken the chance and bought volumes 4 and 5) then go for the box set!

Willy Fog Volume 4

Episode 16 - "Hawaiian Party" - Fog is still unaware that he is suspected of the bank robbery. Currently Fog is travelling across the Pacific with his friends, and they're having such a lovely time that they sing the theme tune! There are precisely halfway around the world, and we learn all about time zones and how while it's midday here it's midnight in London. Very educational! Rigadon has a run in with Inspector Dix and Bully. Transfer is up to his old tricks and as a result they have to make an unscheduled stop in Hawaii. On Hawaii they find that there is trouble and the Princess of Hawaii is ill. Romi says she can cure her, but if she doesn't the King will throw her and the others onto the volcano. Can she cure her? Of course she can!

Episode 17 - "A Trip in a Balloon" - Fog and his companions are scheduled to arrive in America two days ahead of schedule and are back on track to get round the world in 80 days. Transfer interferes by setting the ship on fire. The ship cannot make it to San Francisco, and without sails the ship drifts to Mexico. The ship is too badly damaged, so they must find another way to continue the journey. Luck strikes and a hot air balloon comes their way!

Episode 18 - "The Showdown" - With only 19 days left before 80 days have gone, the reform club are eagerly following his progress. Fog and his companions are heading to San Francisco in the balloon, with Dix and Bully on board (who don't quite make it). They are welcomed to San Francisco by the sheriff. However, Transfer has also arrived. And it seems that San Francisco isn't as safe as it first seemed when the hotel owner tries to sell them guns, and there's further trouble when the Dingo Kid arrives. But they manage to board the train towards New York - but it's a hard journey ahead!

Episode 19 - "Moment of Truth" - Fog and his companions are on board the train, where they meet the main who supposedly completed the railroad (railway). As ever there are problems cause by the evil Transfer, a herd of buffalo crossing the track, and then the Medicine Bow Gorge bridge is sabotaged. Will they manage to get across anyway? Of course they will!

Episode 20 - "Warpaint in the West" - Only 14 days to go, and Fog and co are still on the train. Unfortunately they are crossing Injun territory and there is an attack, lucky Rigadon bought the guns after all! But once the Indians are defeated, there's still Transfer to deal with. The locomotive and train get disconnected, with Tico and Rigadon on the locomotive and the others on the train. Fog continue without his friends, so he must find them!

The animation is tacky as ever, as is the singing and dancing from Fog and his companions in each episode. There are some funny moments from an adult's perspective, and it's educational for children - what more could you want?!

Extras

As in volume 3 the song words are printed inside the DVD case.

Again, as in volume 3, there is an episode of "Arthur and the Square Knights of the Round Table", a cartoon which I have no recollection of. The episode is called "New Armour for the King".

There is an episode selection…and that's about it really!

Conclusion

"Around the World With Willy Fog" is a classic series, educational as well as entertaining. I doubt it will appeal so much to children today as the animation and picture quality are dated. But it will certainly appeal to those who saw it when it was originally shown and will bring back memories.

As I've said before, if you want to get it, don't buy the individual DVDs, buy the box set - volume 4 does not work on its own!

Other

The DVD lasts approximately 120 minutes, and is rated PG (although some of the DVDs are rated U - it's all very strange!)

Look out for my review of volume 5 coming soon! 

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