Invader ZIM - House Box Complete Set (Vols. 1-3 Plus Extra Disc) [DVD]

Wow. Invader Zim is awesome. I'd heard of it, vaguely, but only watched it when my Tivo happened to record an episode at random one day. I had it record a few more, then went and bought this "House Box Complete Set".First off, Invader Zim is hilarious for all age ranges. The animation style and overt humor will surely appeal to the younger crowd but there's plenty of jabs that adults will laugh over. (As the hamster runs on a wheel in its cage, the teacher explains to the children that they should watch it to prepare themselves for their lives in our nightmarish corporate system, for example.)The premise of the story is that Zim is an alien Invader, so incompetent (and so oblivious to this fact) that his leaders have packed him off to invade the most distant, uncharted planet they could find: Earth. Normally, Invaders are sent out with fearsome robot assistants but because they didn't like him, Zim's leaders gave him an "advanced" model, which was actually a defective unit that has a short attention span, acts crazy virtually all the time and can generally only attack people by annoying them -- Zim most of all. Between Zim's incompetence, his insane robot and his arch-nemesis, Dib, Zim's chances of actually conquering the earth are pretty much zero but there's also roughly zero chance that he'll ever notice this or get discouraged. Zim is nothing if not persistant.The voice acting and writing for this show are both absolutely great. Zim in particular is fantastic. He's a complete megalomaniac, yells almost all the time, for no good reason and has the best maniacal laugh ever.Anyway, if you're not familiar with the show, catch an episode or two on TV if you can, then come buy this.If you are familiar with the show, here's why you want this box set:* The "house" is awesome. Shaped like Zim's house from the show, the front of it swings open to reveal the DVDs inside. The roof also opens up to reveal GIR.* There's a bonus DVD that contains a "demo" soundtrack for the show, interviews and other stuff. The reason it's a "demo" soundtrack is because it's built into the DVD and can only be played from there, it's not in CD format, which is too bad. That much is sold seperately. Interviews with the musician behind the show are on this DVD.* The DVDs themselves contain other extras, including an interview with the voice actors and a mode I think they're calling "Animatrix". I didn't know what it was until I turned it on: in this mode, instead of seeing the regular show, you'll see the rough drawings and storyboards used to construct the show, well before being finalized into the crisp animation you usually see. This is pretty awesome if you wanted to get a glimpse of a work in progress.All in all, this may be the best box set I've ever bought. It now sits proudly on top of my TV, since it's not just a box set, it's a display piece! Sadly, it seems these shows always eventually drop off the charts and the DVD sets become unavilable so if I were you, I'd buy this. Now, human! Obey me, OBEY ME!!

What you see is what you get. Oddly enough, I do not mean this necessarily in a bad way. The box opens from the top and from the front. Opening from the front, you'll find the extras disc inside. On this disc you'll find different material not available in volumes 1 through 3 of this cartoon series. (Interview with Kevin Manthei - Invader Zim sound design - Audio from unfinished episodes - Invader Zim sample soundtrack) This box is definitely for completionists, it does not necessarily add or subtract from the series. Now, opening from the top of the box, I'd imagine you'd find the "Gir figurine" that comes with this set. However, and this is a huge HOWEVER, this set no longer includes said figurine. I just received this box today, along with volumes 1 through 3 of the Invader Zim series. (sold seperately of course) I was set to return this box due to some damage to the rear side of it and the missing Gir figurine. After more closely inspecting the packaging, after already contacting Amazon, I found there is a sticker on the cellophane that was once wrapped around the box. You'll find three stickers... one stating what is found on the extras disc, another stating it was "created by Jhonen Vasquez," and lastly, another stating "Gir toy no longer available." So, as I am a completionist, you'll understand my level of surprise. And just to clear up an earlier post by other people, there is ONLY room enough inside this box for volumes 1 through 3 and the extras disc. There is the space in the top of the box, but, it is hardly big enough to constitute a CD, only a toy. Just keep in mind that if you're excited about the figurine, don't be. Other than these minor details, I do highly recommend the series to anyone, especially those already familiar. It's something quite different to own it and watch them all again and again.Just as a final thought to anyone who might already own volumes 1 through 3 and are curious if the entire box set will fit inside this "house box," they will, but only a certain way. The box set is three DVDs inside a cardboard box... you must first remove them from this box in order to place them inside the house box. Not too important, but, I hope to shed light on all aspects with this moch-review. The details of this product just need to be updated, and this was the easiest place to do so.

As a teenager, when I originally purchased this disc set, Invader Zim was basically the coolest thing ever. It was like JTHM, except we wouldn't get suspended if an adult heard us talking about it. This cute little house displayed nicely in my horribly 2000's bedroom decor and make me quite the popular one amongst my friends. Sometimes it was hard to pry the DVD's out of the case, and even hard to shove them back in through the suction-effect create by the small space and the plastic coated cardboard, but that was all just part of the adventure. Really, what am I supposed to say? I've had it for like ten years, moved like a thousand times, and it still hasn't fallen apart yet or gotten discolored.

Just now getting to this one. Sorry about that. It's a box. Just a box. Don't buy it. Make your own box and save the money for something useful. Seriously, take a Saturday and make your own dang box. It will be just as good if not better and cheaper than this nonsense. Of course you're a grown adult. If you like setting your money on fire, get this freaking box and satisfy your OCD. Who am I to tell you what to do with your money. Enjoy!

The box set is a really cool, house shaped box. The lid opens up as a place to keep the GIR figure (the best thing about the set). The side opens up and reveals a space for the four discs in the set. (Vol. 1-3 sold sep.) The side opening is magnetized so it stays shut.The only bad thing about this was the bonus cd. The only episode on the bonus disc is the Xmas episode which, unfortunately, is the same on as on disc 3. There is an audio track for an "unfinished" episode, which is kinda cool. Finally, there is commentary and music from the show.Overall i give it a five. The GIR figure just made it all worthwhile. :) Get yours before it is gone.

If you love Zim and GIR, you need this.Super cute display box! :-)

Imagine you live in a city chock full of superheroes, most of whom are mediocre and ineffectual at best, downright dangerous to themselves and others at worst. Your hometown attracts the dregs of the caped wonders, and more than its fair share of neophyte, down-on-their-luck, or just plain desperate super-villains out to prove themselves. Then throw into the mix one big, blue, nigh-invulnerable do-gooder bent on righting all wrongs, protecting the innocent, and bringing criminals to justice! He is The Tick! He is mighty! He's also as dense as concrete baklava and almost certainly incurably insane! He speaks his own internal narration and uses a lot of exclamation marks! Welcome to The City, home of The Tick!I'm going to say what hordes of other "Tick" fans have said about it: this cartoon, like its comic book precursor and live-action follow-up, is sheer, under-appreciated GENIUS. Oh, sure, the hardcore fans are extremely vocal in their love of this show, but this is a show EVERYONE can enjoy, because it has something for every comedic taste. It's an affectionate (but unflinching) total mockery of superhero, sci-fi, and crime comics. It's surreal and clever enough that fans of "Monty Python" and "The Goon Show" would feel right at home. It's got enough brilliant-but-dire puns in it to keep you groaning throughout. It's got bright colours, cinematic-scale action, and outright silliness for the kiddies, yet has enough throw-away adult humour to keep the grown-ups laughing. And by "adult humour," I mean jokes about relationships, security deposits, careers, psychotherapy, taking your pet capybara to the vet, and suchlike. The voice casting is excellent, the characters are ridiculous and larger-than-life yet also human enough to relate to, the scripts are slices of fried gold, the music (largely jazzy background or cheery instrumentals with a lot of good character themes thrown in) is wonderful, and the intelligence level is high (although not usually in the case of The Tick himself). The design and artwork are distinctive and beautiful with many tributes paid to many art influences (the superheroes and citizens of The City often dine in an establishment straight out of Edward Hopper's "Nighthawks," for example).Really, I could go on and on, exploring in minute detail -- episode by episode -- why you should buy this set. But just trust me on this: "The Tick" is pure cartoon bliss. As The Evil Midnight Bomber What Bombs At Midnight says in one of the episodes, they're makin' gravy without the lumps. Which is good. The complete and utter lack of DVD Extras does nothing to detract from the content, although it would've been nice to get a soundtrack disc as well; the music's that good! I found only one actual problem with this set: the transfer to DVD wasn't perfect; there are a few spots where the image pixellates, but over the course of 12+ hours of viewing, it's a rare occurrence, and you'll be too hung up on humming the catchy big-band scat theme tune to notice. All together now: Dub DWEE dat-da-da DWEE DOW...!

Excellent set. Everything needed for the Invader Zim fan.

I remember the halcyon days of sitting by the television with my family watching random shows. Nothing really held all of our attention with the exception of two shows, Gladiators and The Tick. The Tick, a mentally unimpressive, but physically incredible superhero, takes the role of superhero for "THE CITY", an unnamed part of America. As soon as he arrives, he is met with one of the many interesting and inventive villains plaguing the city with evil. Along with his sidekick, the flying moth Arthur, and several other creative, and mostly flawed superhero buddies, he fights through 36 brilliant episodes.This collection doesn't have any extra's, doesn't have commentaries or any frills whatsoever. Just every faithfully produced, brilliant quality episode, back to back. I highly recommend this to all fans of parody, superheroes and cartoons. So basically most people, ever.RooCH

This is the collection that should have been released in the states. Season 1 and 2 both complete with no missing episodes, all of season 3, liner notes set up like comic books.It really is an ideal collection... albeit region 2. Easily fixable if you know what you're doing.