The DVD is great : The stories have been completely remastered & so are in almost mint condition - a lot clearer than on 2 of the 3 main vhs releases : The picture image is very clear & brings out the pictures / animation; the colours are more vivid than the vhs but still fairly subdued ( as would have been their original look probably ). Perhaps the ad contained images from the new 2004 episode "Gladiator" ( ? ) : I hadn't seen Gladiator before & was very pleased that it sticks almost exactly to the original format : also the music is by the same guy as before ie Duncan Lamont aka Don Warren & the music ( although it is different musicians ) is in the exact same styles/ambience as before. Sendit.com lists the DVD as having a short documentary about the "Mr Benn phenomena" - but as far as I can tell there isn't one. Also in one or two shots in Gladiator Mr Benn perhaps is drawn a little differently - & perhaps these were shown on the ads - but after noticing that I think that in the originals ( including the vhs prints etc ) the character also occasionally looks slightly differentin different shots / sequences. I definitely recommend the DVD & as I say the great restoration/remastering only returns it to its original state ( in a similar sort of way to the BBC 1960's Dr Who DVDs for example ). It captures the profundity & joy of the program in just the way that the best DVD transfers do.
I didn't see the ads but its true he looks a bit shinier than usual & of a slightly different hue on the front cover of the DVD.
But definitely not altered in any way ( as far as I can tell ) - for example you can hear the uneven sound tone in different parts of the narration on the 1st 2 episodes; which is probably an original "flaw".
This episode does have somewhat more vivid colours & brighter contrast, no doubt because m modern cameras & so on were used.
Same opening sequence which although refilmed ( & hence a bit brighter etc ) is pretty much identical to before ( even looks like the exact same original circle; not just the design but the actual same one - eg because the patterns in the shading of the colouring look like they have the same precise colouration I think - though I could be wrong )
As is the story progression via Festive Road to shop / shopkeeper to adventure & back again.
The only noticeable difference in Gladiatior is that the end credits although very similar is not identical to the originals in its design.
Mr Brooks presides as narrator as before.
If anyone find it let me know !
When I say different I mean not his clothes or colour but just small variations in his face & general shape ( & sometimes hair colour )
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