The shorts gathered together for the Walt Disney Animation Studios Short Films Collection run the gamut from silly to somber. While Frozen Fever and Tangled Ever After are tie-ins to two popular Disney films and will attract buyers—which isn’t a bad thing—the real gems on the set are films that some viewers haven’t ever seen or heard of.

The Blu-ray release of the Walt Disney Animation Studios Short Films Collection features twelve animated shorts. Next to each title I’ve included the members of the creative team who introduce their work before it begins:

  • John Henry: director Mark Henn (10:19) – Written by Broose Johnson, Tim Hodge and Shirley Pierce in 2000, this is a musical retelling of John Henry, the classic tale about a man who, using only his strength and his hammer, races to build a railway tunnel against a steam-powered drill to prove man’s supremacy over machines.
  • Lorenzo: director Mike Gabriel (4:50) – Written and directed by Mike Gabriel in 2004, this is the story of a nasty cat who dotes on his tail, only to be cursed by a reviled black cat. This leaves the kitty desperate to get rid of his once treasured tail. It is based on an original idea by Joe Grant, who started working on the film in 1949, but it was eventually shelved.
  • The Little Matchgirl: colorist Dave Bossert, music supervisor Tom MacDougall (6:40) – Directed and co-written by Roger Allers (with four others), this sad tale based on an 1845 Hans Christian Andersen story, concerns a young Russian girl trying to keep warm with her last remaining matches, all the while remembering happier times with her deceased grandmother. As sad as this story is, it’s one of my personal favorites from this collection. It originally appeared on The Little Mermaid Platinum Edition DVD in 2006.
  • How to Hook Up Your Home Theater: directors Kevin Deters, Stevie Wermers-Skelton, writer Ian Gooding (6:20) – After surviving the dizzy experience of shopping for the ‘perfect’ home theater components, Goofy turns his home into an electronic hodgepodge of cables, remotes and manuals. Oh, how I can relate!
  • Tick Tock Tale: writer-director Dean Wellins (6:03) – In this short from 2010, the clocks in a small shop come to life after the owner leaves for the night. When a thief breaks in, it’s a slow-running clock that stops him.
  • Prep & Landing – Operation: Secret Santa: writer-directors Kevin Deters, Stevie Wermers-Skelton, producer Dorothy McKim (6:55) – In this short that premiered on ABC in 2010, elves Wayne and Larry are sent by Mrs. Claus (voiced by Betty White) on a top secret mission: to retrieve a box from a secret room hidden in Santa Claus’ private office.
  • The Ballad of Nessie: writer-directors Kevin Deters, Stevie Wermers-Skelton, producer Dorothy McKim (5:32) Co-directed by Kevin Deters and co-director/co-writer Stevie Wermers-Skelton Billy Connolly narrates this sweet tale of Nessie, a shy, friendly creature and her best friend a rubber duckie. Released in 2011, this adaptation of the origin of the Loch Ness Monster, was another personal favorite of mine.
  • Tangled Ever After: writer-director Nathan Greno, producer Aimee Scribner, head of story Mark Kennedy (6:29) – See Maximus and Pascal hijinks as the two ring-bearers lose Rapunzel and Flynn’s rings at the wedding. The animals must recover the rings before the couple’s vows are done. Released in 2012, this one is cute.
  • Paperman: producer Kristina Reed (6:35) – An Oscar winner in 2013, Paperman concerns an accountant separated from the would-be love of his life. With the help of numerous paper airplanes, he just might get the chance to reconnect with her. Directed by John Kahrs, Paperman is brilliant from start to finish.
  • Get a Horse!: producer Dorothy McKim, directors of animation Eric Goldberg, Adam Green (6:01) – 1920’s Mickey & friends meet their present selves, as they break the fourth wall, transforming from black and white traditionally animated drawings into 3D characters on a theater stage. Directed by Lauren MacMullan, this short premiered in 2013.
  • Feast: director Patrick Osborne, producer Kristina Reed (6:12) – A lucky dog gets to share in his master’s food… until his master falls in love and gets married to a woman who doesn’t share her husband’s love for treats. But then, they have a baby…Written by Nicole Mitchell and Raymond S. Persi, Feast won an Academy Award.
  • Frozen Fever: directors Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee, producers Peter Del Vecho, Aimee Scribner (7:57) – Suffering from a terrible cold, Elsa labors to prepare an awesome birthday for Anna.

The Walt Disney Animation Studios Short Films Collection features a number of excellent animated shorts, chief among them The Little Matchgirl, Paperman and Feast. The only real downside to the collection is the fact that some of the shorts have been previously released as extras on other Blu-ray titles, making this feel like a double dip of sorts. Nonetheless, with Pixar having previously released two volumes of their short subjects, it is apt that the Disney Animation Studios’ arm of the company have its own Blu-ray release of animated short subjects.

Aside from a small amount of line twitter in John Henry and some slight banding in Lorenzo, these 1080p transfers are universally excellent. Sharpness is spot on, colors are vivid and contrast is perfectly saturated.

The shorts are shown in various aspect ratios: 1.66:1, 1.78:1, 2.35:1.

The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 sound mixes which accompany the shorts are all solid. Music is well placed in the fronts and rears, and atmospherics are used to nice effect. Dialogue in those shorts which contain it has been superbly recorded and has been placed in the center channel.

English SDH, Spanish, French and Portuguese are included.

The following extras are extras are available:

  • Filmmakers’ Introductions: The brief introductions before each short can be skipped by choosing the proper selection from the main menu. You may also choose to watch all the shorts at once or choose each of them separately.
  • @DisneyAnimation: The Short Story About Shorts (HD, 7:18) Big Hero 6 voice actor T.J. Miller hosts this behind the scenes Disney Animation roundtable, which looks at the relevance of animated short film, technological innovations involved, and the development of some of the studio’s work.
  • DVD/Digital Copy: disc and code sheet enclosed in the case.