The Puppetoon Movie (1987) Director's Cut Blu-ray Releases In April
By Lio Renwick
Arnold Leibovit Entertainment and Puppetoon Productions are releasing the restored Director's Cut of The Puppetoon Movie (1987) on Blu-ray in April.
This new edition features a 4K digital scan from the original 35mm color negative and reinstates many of the individual Puppetoons' original opening and closing titles that were removed from the 1987 theatrical release.
The Director's Cut fully restores key Puppetoon classics including Tubby the Tuba (1947), Tulips Shall Grow (1942), John Henry and the Inky-Poo (1946), Together in the Weather (1946), Jasper in a Jam (1946), and Wilbur the Lion (1946).
It also includes restorations of The Philips Broadcast of 1938 (1937), South Sea Sweethearts (1939), The Sleeping Beauty (1938), Philips Cavalcade (1939), and excerpts from The Little Broadcast (1942) and Hoola Boola (1940).
Film Overview
The Puppetoon Movie is a compendium film celebrating the Academy Award-winning stop-motion animated Puppetoons created by George Pal. Producer and director Arnold Leibovit, working with Mrs. George Pal, crafted the original 1987 film as a showcase for Pal's stop-motion animated shorts produced between 1934 and 1947.
The 2026 Director's Cut restores previously removed original opening and closing titles for individual Puppetoon shorts and upgrades all original opticals and transitions. The film features a newly created opening and closing animation starring Gumby, Pokey, and Arnie the Dinosaur.
Video and Audio Specs
The Blu-ray presents The Puppetoon Movie in 1080p high-definition in its original 1.37:1 aspect ratio. The restoration is sourced from a new 4K digital scan of the original 35mm color negative.
Audio options include a newly created DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 Surround mix, LPCM Stereo, and Dual Mono. The disc is encoded at bit rates of 35 and 25 Mbps on a BD Dual Layer disc.
Optional English subtitles are available on four short subjects.
What's Included
The Puppetoon Movie
- Gumby Introduction / Main Titles (1987)
- The Little Broadcast (Excerpt, 1942)
- The Philips Broadcast of 1938 (1937)
- Hoola Boola (Excerpt, 1940)
- South Sea Sweethearts (1939)
- Wilbur The Lion (1946)
- The Sleeping Beauty (1938)
- Tulips Shall Grow (1942)
- Together In The Weather (1946)
- John Henry And The Inky-Poo (1946)
- Philips Cavalcade (1939)
- Jasper In A Jam (1946)
- Tubby The Tuba (1947)
- Thanks to George Pal / Closing Credits (1987)
Extras
- The Puppetoon Movie: A Legacy Revisited (2026) with Joe Dante, Peter Lord, Art Clokey, Dallas McKennon, Floyd Norman, Bob Kurtz, Dennis Muren, Phil Tippett, Mick Garris, Mark Caballero, Seamus Walsh, Harry Walton, Bret Mixon, Kurt Hanson, Paul Gentry, Jerry Beck, Arnold Leibovit
- Peter Lord On George Pal (2026)
- What Ho She Bumps (1937)
- Speedy Goes To Hollywood (1987)
- The People's Choice (1947)
- The Lady Said No (1945)
- Opta Receiver (1933)
- Four Aces (1935)
- How Much Is Your Health Worth To You? (1932)
- Winner (1933)
- Refining Oil For Energy (1948)
- The Puppetoon Movie Trailer (Revised/Restored) (1987, 2026)
Also included with the Blu-ray is a 28-page color collector's booklet featuring liner notes by Arnold Leibovit with graphic design by Jim Titus.
Release Date and Availability
Arnold Leibovit Entertainment and Puppetoon Productions will release the restored Director's Cut of The Puppetoon Movie (1987) on Blu-ray on April 24, 2026. The Blu-ray is Region-Free and currently available to pre-order.
Physical media enthusiast covering Blu-ray & 4K UHD releases.