One of the more filling releases on the surface, it has been subject to controversy upon its launch and even towards contemporary collectors after its launch. All on a set planned as early as 2012 and made as Warner Archive's official debut to releasing Looney Tunes shorts on home media.
Right off the bat, the title isn't misleading - it includes all 99 of Porky Pig's black-and-white shorts, alongside with 2 color shorts: "I Haven't Got a Hat" (his debut short) and "Old Glory" (his only appearance in a Merrie Melodies short after his debut until the Looney Tunes series moved to color). Many of these shorts were never on home media before, let alone on disc, so this is already tempting for a lot of buyers to dig in. Or so it would seem...
Besides having no Blu-ray version, everything that has been newly released to disc here are actually not restored. Instead, they've been attempted to be remastered from 35mm prints, with the exception of a few that still use their analog television prints. It doesn't sound so bad on the surface, but whatever work was done on it, many buyers weren't too happy.
Even though most shorts were uncut (with a few exceptions), most watchers would find unbelievable errors that surprisingly made it to print. Titles partially cut off, being entirely incorrect, and title card music replacement issues plagued a large amount of the new to disc shorts. Since Warner Archive at the time did not have access to the original negatives, older prints were often used instead, which meant that most of the stuff could include prints that was edited by Sunset Productions when they were sold back in 1958. Depending on who you ask, attempts to fill in the missing sound was often seen as amateurish at best. Even more bizarrely, "Patient Porky" was attempted to be remastered this way, despite being already restored from the Golden Collection. The result was many reviewers declaring a good amount of the shorts as a downgrade to earlier versions or even their colorized prints on television at the time. As a lot of these errors are deemed major by collectors, they are specified below in the Included Shorts table notes.
In spite of that, more general customers praised the set for its complete nature, indeed as this set went as far to include a handful of shorts that were banned from television at the time, such as "Africa Squeaks" and "Robinson Crusoe Jr." to name a few. It was a modest success, breaking even on profit.
Most of the shorts that was already restored on the Golden Collection or related sets are present in the same way, except for "Patient Porky" for who knows why. Commentaries and bonus features from the Golden Collection were also carried to here as well.
As time went on though, many people who owned the sets and even newcoming watchers began to understand more of the set's debacle, especially by the time the shorts were restored for HBO Max in 2020. The latter restorations might have the infamous photoshopped titles, but exchanges it for nearly correcting all of the serious audio and film splicing errors that was present on this collection. Even to this day, most television stations do not air the prints from this set (unlike restorations from earlier sets), often opting for the older prints made for television. Still, time will tell if the set may get an reissue, as it is one of the more requested releases for one in recent days. In spite of a decent collector's recommendation score, be aware that restored releases of these shorts will likely pull it down greatly, so take caution if you plan to buy this set.
Right off the bat, the title isn't misleading - it includes all 99 of Porky Pig's black-and-white shorts, alongside with 2 color shorts: "I Haven't Got a Hat" (his debut short) and "Old Glory" (his only appearance in a Merrie Melodies short after his debut until the Looney Tunes series moved to color). Many of these shorts were never on home media before, let alone on disc, so this is already tempting for a lot of buyers to dig in. Or so it would seem...
Besides having no Blu-ray version, everything that has been newly released to disc here are actually not restored. Instead, they've been attempted to be remastered from 35mm prints, with the exception of a few that still use their analog television prints. It doesn't sound so bad on the surface, but whatever work was done on it, many buyers weren't too happy.
Even though most shorts were uncut (with a few exceptions), most watchers would find unbelievable errors that surprisingly made it to print. Titles partially cut off, being entirely incorrect, and title card music replacement issues plagued a large amount of the new to disc shorts. Since Warner Archive at the time did not have access to the original negatives, older prints were often used instead, which meant that most of the stuff could include prints that was edited by Sunset Productions when they were sold back in 1958. Depending on who you ask, attempts to fill in the missing sound was often seen as amateurish at best. Even more bizarrely, "Patient Porky" was attempted to be remastered this way, despite being already restored from the Golden Collection. The result was many reviewers declaring a good amount of the shorts as a downgrade to earlier versions or even their colorized prints on television at the time. As a lot of these errors are deemed major by collectors, they are specified below in the Included Shorts table notes.
In spite of that, more general customers praised the set for its complete nature, indeed as this set went as far to include a handful of shorts that were banned from television at the time, such as "Africa Squeaks" and "Robinson Crusoe Jr." to name a few. It was a modest success, breaking even on profit.
Most of the shorts that was already restored on the Golden Collection or related sets are present in the same way, except for "Patient Porky" for who knows why. Commentaries and bonus features from the Golden Collection were also carried to here as well.
As time went on though, many people who owned the sets and even newcoming watchers began to understand more of the set's debacle, especially by the time the shorts were restored for HBO Max in 2020. The latter restorations might have the infamous photoshopped titles, but exchanges it for nearly correcting all of the serious audio and film splicing errors that was present on this collection. Even to this day, most television stations do not air the prints from this set (unlike restorations from earlier sets), often opting for the older prints made for television. Still, time will tell if the set may get an reissue, as it is one of the more requested releases for one in recent days. In spite of a decent collector's recommendation score, be aware that restored releases of these shorts will likely pull it down greatly, so take caution if you plan to buy this set.
Disc Specifications
- Release Date: September 19, 2017
- Format(s): DVD
- Disc(s): 5 (DVD-9)
- Shorts Included: 101
- In Print?: Yes
- Runtime: 743 minutes (12 hours, 23 minutes)
- Region: Region-free
Bonus Content
- Disc 3
- "Porky's Party" storyboard
- Disc 4
- "Porky's Poor Fish" storyboard
- Disc 5
- Warner Bros. Breakdowns of 1939 scene with Porky swearing
- New-to-format score (up to 2 points): 1.13
- Upgrade score (up to 3 points): 1.69
- Doesn't have an better version score (up to 5 points): 3.96
It might be somewhat ideal to get this set for collection's sake. It may contain a good amount of shorts available in their best state, but contain significant amounts of double dips and/or inferior versions of the shorts. If majority of the set contains unrestored versions of the shorts, they will likely to be subject to being upgraded in future sets. You may get a better value getting a higher rated set.
Included Shorts
| Disc 1 | |||
| Short Name | Release Date | Status | Notes |
| March 2, 1935 | Restored SD | Includes commentary by Jerry Beck | |
| November 2, 1935 | Restored SD | ||
| February 29, 1936 | Unrestored | ||
| January 18, 1936 | Restored SD | ||
| April 4, 1936 | Unrestored | ||
| April 25, 1936 | Unrestored | Incorrect opening music track | |
| January 4, 1936 | Unrestored | ||
| May 23, 1936 | Unrestored | Incorrect opening music track | |
| June 20, 1936 | Unrestored | ||
| July 11, 1936 | Unrestored | ||
| August 1, 1936 | Unrestored | ||
| August 22, 1936 | Restored SD | Includes commentary by Michael Barrier | |
| September 12, 1936 | Unrestored | ||
| October 3, 1936 | Restored SD | ||
| November 14, 1936 | Restored SD | ||
| December 5, 1936 | Unrestored | ||
| December 19, 1936 | Restored SD | Includes commentary by Mark Kausler | |
| January 9, 1937 | Unrestored | Incorrect ending music track | |
| February 6, 1937 | Restored SD | ||
| February 27, 1937 | Unrestored | Incorrect opening and ending music track | |
| Disc 2 | |||
| Short Name | Release Date | Status | Notes |
| April 3, 1937 | Restored SD | Includes commentary by Mark Kausler | |
| April 17, 1937 | Restored SD | ||
| May 15, 1937 | Unrestored | ||
| June 19, 1937 | Unrestored | ||
| July 3, 1937 | Unrestored | ||
| July 24, 1937 | Unrestored | ||
| August 7, 1937 | Restored SD | ||
| August 28, 1937 | Unrestored | Incorrect opening and ending music track | |
| September 11, 1937 | Unrestored | Incorrect opening and ending music track | |
| October 9, 1937 | Unrestored | ||
| October 30, 1937 | Restored SD | Includes commentary by Mark Kausler | |
| November 13, 1937 | Restored SD | ||
| December 4, 1937 | Unrestored | ||
| January 15, 1938 | Restored SD | ||
| February 5, 1938 | Restored SD | Includes commentary by Daniel Goldmark | |
| February 26, 1938 | Restored SD | ||
| March 19, 1938 | Unrestored | ||
| April 16, 1938 | Unrestored | ||
| April 30, 1938 | Restored SD | ||
| May 21, 1938 | Unrestored | ||
| Disc 3 | |||
| Short Name | Release Date | Status | Notes |
| June 4, 1938 | Restored SD | ||
| June 25, 1938 | Restored SD | Includes commentary by Eddie Fitzgerald and John Kricfalusi | |
| July 16, 1938 | Unrestored | ||
| August 6, 1938 | Unrestored | ||
| August 27, 1938 | Restored SD | Includes commentary by Daniel Goldmark | |
| September 24, 1938 | Restored SD | Includes commentary by Michael Barrier | |
| October 15, 1938 | Unrestored | ||
| November 5, 1938 | Restored SD | Lacks opening shield zoom in | |
| November 26, 1938 | Restored SD | Includes commentary by Mark Kausler | |
| December 17, 1938 | Unrestored | ||
| January 7, 1939 | Unrestored | Incorrect opening music track | |
| January 28, 1939 | Unrestored | ||
| February 18, 1939 | Unrestored | ||
| March 11, 1939 | Unrestored | ||
| April 1, 1939 | Unrestored | Incorrect opening music track | |
| April 22, 1939 | Restored SD | ||
| May 13, 1939 | Unrestored | Lacks opening shield zoom in | |
| June 3, 1939 | Restored SD | ||
| June 24, 1939 | Unrestored | ||
| July 1, 1939 | Restored SD | Includes commentary by Jerry Beck and Martha Sigall | |
| Disc 4 | |||
| Short Name | Release Date | Status | Notes |
| July 15, 1939 | Unrestored | ||
| August 5, 1939 | Restored SD | ||
| September 2, 1939 | Unrestored | ||
| September 23, 1939 | Unrestored | ||
| October 7, 1939 | Unrestored | Incorrect opening music track | |
| November 4, 1939 | Unrestored | ||
| November 18, 1939 | Unrestored | Incorrect opening music track | |
| December 16, 1939 | Restored SD | ||
| January 6, 1940 | Unrestored | ||
| January 27, 1940 | Unrestored | ||
| February 10, 1940 | Unrestored | Lacks opening shield zoom in | |
| March 16, 1940 | Restored SD | ||
| April 13, 1940 | Unrestored | Lacks opening shield zoom in | |
| April 27, 1940 | Restored SD | ||
| May 18, 1940 | Restored SD | Includes commentary by Jerry Beck | |
| June 8, 1940 | Unrestored | ||
| July 6, 1940 | Unrestored | ||
| August 24, 1940 | Unrestored | ||
| September 21, 1940 | Unrestored | Incorrect opening music track | |
| October 12, 1940 | Restored SD | ||
| Disc 5 | |||
| Short Name | Release Date | Status | Notes |
| November 2, 1940 | Restored SD | ||
| November 30, 1940 | Unrestored | Incorrect opening music track | |
| December 21, 1940 | Unrestored | ||
| January 11, 1941 | Unrestored | ||
| March 29, 1941 | Unrestored | Lacks opening shield zoom in | |
| April 19, 1941 | Restored SD | Includes commentary by Greg Ford | |
| May 10, 1941 | Unrestored | Incorrect opening music track | |
| June 7, 1941 | Unrestored | ||
| June 21, 1941 | Unrestored | Incorrect opening music track | |
| July 5, 1941 | Restored SD | ||
| August 9, 1941 | Unrestored | Lacks opening shield zoom in | |
| August 30, 1941 | Unrestored | Lacks opening shield zoom in | |
| September 20, 1941 | Unrestored | Incorrect opening music track | |
| October 25, 1941 | Unrestored | Incorrect opening music track | |
| November 22, 1941 | Unrestored | ||
| December 27, 1941 | Restored SD | ||
| January 17, 1942 | Unrestored | ||
| February 14, 1942 | Unrestored | ||
| February 21, 1942 | Unrestored | Incorrect opening music track | |
| January 23, 1943 | Unrestored | Incorrectly uses 1936-37 season end titles instead of original 1941-43 season | |
| July 17, 1943 | Restored SD | Includes commentary by Joe Dante | |
