Since Disney acquired the Star Wars franchise, fans have been waiting to see something come of it. We all know that Episode VII is in production, but it’s still a year away. And Star Wars Rebels premiered last month, but beating that to television screens was a TV special, Phineas and Ferb: Star Wars. These stepbrothers on an endless summer already had a Marvel crossover when Disney acquired an entire universe of superheroes, so this special should have come as no surprise.
Taking place at the same time as Episode IV: A New Hope, this 51-minute special finds Phineas and Ferb living on Tatooine, a planet with one season – summer. Their neighbor is Luke Skywalker and they unintentionally end up on a side-mission on the Death Star. Meanwhile, Candace has become a Storm Trooper to live out her passion for busting and Agent P has become a Jedi Knight. Where is Dr. Doofenshmirtz? Well he is now Darth Doofenshmirtz, inventing inators for Darth Vader. Like most episodes of Phineas and Ferb, it’s also a musical with hilarious songs that will thrill Star Wars fanatics. This special is a lot of fun for Star Wars fans and a great way to introduce kids who are still too young for the classic films to get to know these characters.
To round out this set, Disney Channel has included 5 bonus episodes. They have absolutely nothing to do with Star Wars, but are a welcome addition as it turns what could have been a very sparse release into a worthwhile one. The episodes are For Your Ice Only/Happy New Year!, Steampunx/It’s No Picnic, Terrifying Tri-State Trilogy of Terror (Parts 1 and 2), Doof 101/Father’s Day and Tales From the Resistance (Parts 1 and 2). Total run time of the disc is 2 hours and 44 minutes, more than enough to please a fan of the show.
Video
All of the episodes look great on DVD. It looked a little better on Cable in HD, but the DVD transfer doesn’t disappoint.
Audio
The only audio option is English 2.0. While it is a comedy, there was easy potential to do a 5.1 track for the Star Wars special that was missed.
Bonus Features
None. The extra episodes are presented as content, not bonus features. However, there is a gift in the case with the first pressing. It’s a keychain of Perry the Platypus frozen in carbonite.
Packaging and Menu
The DVD is housed in a standard sized case. It’s eco-friendly, using less plastic and therefore becoming more flimsy. The case is housed in an embossed slipcover. Inserts include a Disney Movie Rewards code and an add for Disney Movie Club. The keychain bonus item is loose inside the case.
This DVD is enhanced with Disney Fast Play. You can either skip all previews and go directly to the main menu, or select Fast Play to view all of the contents. The disc opens with ads for Star Wars Rebels, Star Wars: The Clone Wars – The Lost Missions, 101 Dalmatians Diamond Edition, and Big Hero 6. Selecting “Sneak Peeks” plays an ad for Frozen: Sing-Along, then repeats the ads from the beginning of the disc.
The menu features footage from the finale of the Star Wars special set to an instrumental version of the song “Rebel Let’s Go.”
Final Thoughts
If you’re a fan of Phineas and Ferb, this collection of episodes will thrill you. All of the episodes are great, but the Star Wars special is an event and it’s packed with so many easter egg jokes that make subsequent viewings more rewarding. The lack of a commentary or behind-the-scenes feature is disappointing, but the special is worth owning.