The Pink Panther Show - April Date for 'Inspector,' 'Crazylegs Crane,' 'Ant/Aardvark' on DVD, Blu

Last June, we passed along word from Kino Lorber's page on Facebook that they were bringing out DVD and Blu-ray Disc collections of various cartoons from DePatie-Freleng, especially those noted for being shown as part of The Pink Panther Show. In an update to that story, we further passed along word that the first three titles were planned for release in November...but that didn't happen on time. Now odvdo.com has added pre-order listings for DVD and Blu-ray Disc sets for those first three titles, and all three are slated for April 26th:
The Inspector: The DePatie-Freleng Collection on DVD and Blu-ray
The screen s most comically inept detective wreaks havoc on the boulevards of Paris as he, with the help of his sidekick Deux Deux, wages a single-minded (and narrow-sighted) battle for justice. Initially presented as theatrical attractions, the cartoons gained a much greater audience when they were broadcast as part of the Pink Panther animated television series. This special edition collects all 34 episodes of The Inspector, on two discs.

Bonus Features: Commentaries for selected episodes by Friz Freleng (compiled from archival interviews), filmmaker Greg Ford, author Mark Arnold, and historian Jerry Beck | New documentary on the history of DePatie-Freleng Enterprises, featuring interviews with Friz Freleng, Greg Ford, animator/director Art Leonardi, ink & paint artist Barbara Donatelli, Jerry Beck, and critic Will Friedwald.

Crazylegs Crane: The DePatie-Freleng Collection on DVD and Blu-ray
After appearing as supporting character in the Tijuana Toads, Blue Racer and Dogfather cartoons, Crazylegs Crane earned a starring role in his own series of animated shorts, broadcast as part of the The All-New Pink Panther Show. In 16 short comedies, the dim-witted, flight challenged bird hatches elaborate schemes to dominate his swampy home. When not tripping over the complexity of his own backfiring plots, the dopey crane is foiled by a mischievous dragonfly, who playfully reminds Crazylegs he s not the mastermind he thinks he is.

Bonus Features: Commentaries for selected episodes by Friz Freleng (compiled from archival interviews), filmmaker Greg Ford, author Mark Arnold, and historian Jerry Beck | New documentary on the history of DePatie-Freleng Enterprises, featuring interviews with Friz Freleng, Greg Ford, animator/director Art Leonardi, ink & paint artist Barbara Donatelli, Jerry Beck, and critic Will Friedwald.

The Ant and the Aardvark: The DePatie-Freleng Collection on DVD and Blu-ray
Originally produced for theatrical release and later broadcast as part of The Pink Panther television series, The Ant and the Aardvark revived the timeless cartoon conflict of predator and prey, and modernized it with an irreverent sense of humor and a splashy color palette emblematic of the late 1960s and early 70s. This special edition includes all 17 episodes of The Ant and the Aardvark, as well as interviews with the men and women who collaborated on these animated classics.

Bonus Features: Commentaries for selected episodes by Friz Freleng (compiled from archival interviews), filmmaker Greg Ford, author Mark Arnold, and historian Jerry Beck | New documentary on the history of DePatie-Freleng Enterprises, featuring interviews with Friz Freleng, Greg Ford, animator/director Art Leonardi, ink & paint artist Barbara Donatelli, Jerry Beck, and critic Will Friedwald.
The Inspector comes on two discs in either format, and therefore goes for $39.95 SRP in the Blu-ray version and $29.95 SRP on DVD. The other two items are single-disc titles in either format, and so they are priced instead at $29.95 SRP for Blu and $19.95 SRP in the DVD version. Our thanks to reader Keith Walters for the heads-up about these odvdo listings. Here's the cover art for each: