In the tradition of great screen conmen-one of the few with a visible tail- TOP CAT holds a top spot in the hearts of classic animation fans. The second of Hanna-Barbera’s prime-time network animated sitcoms, TOP CAT debuted on ABC television on Wednesday, September 27, 1961. The series only ran for one season in prime-time, but continued to be popular through a mix of continued Saturday morning network reruns and syndication for more than three decades thereafter. Arnold Stang provided the voice of the smooth-talking New York City cat, known as T.C. to his gang of cohorts Benny the Ball, Choo Choo, Spook, The Brain and Fancy Fancy. These cats were always on the make toward a big score or swindle. And the bothersome – and ever exasperated- Office Dibble (voiced by legendary character actor Allen Jenkins) is relentlessly on Top Cat’s case (although always one step behind). This 4-disc Blu-ray set contains all 30 original episodes, newly remastered in 1080p HD from 4K scans off the original camera negatives, with the series offering top-shelf entertainment for fans. More than 60 years after it debuted, TOP CAT continues to be a comic delight of animated fun for audiences of all ages.

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Video Quality

Top Cat: The Complete Series arrives on Blu-Ray courtesy of the Warner Archive with a respectable level of care given to these 30 episodes. Each episode has been given a 4K restoration from the Original Camera Negative, allowing these to far surpass the old DVD release which struggled with the limitations of the format and the care put into preserving these elements. This release experiences a couple of shortcomings, but, by and large, this is a major win for fans of animation.

At its best, there is a rich amount of film grain intact which helps preserve some of the subtle details of the original hand-drawn animation. Compared to a few recent releases which seemed to have a less hands-on approach for Warner Archive, this release appears to be under the complete purview of the beloved label as evidenced by the respect for artistic purity and not going overboard with digital manipulation. The new set is filled with sumptuous colors that capture the personality of this classic property. There are no unseemly signs of color bleed or any other major digital anomalies. The label provides a fairly healthy encode with only fleeting moments when you might see minor compression shortcomings. These masters look as formidable as we hope from classic animation.

With as much of a dream release as this is, there are a couple of issues that should not be overlooked. From what we have observed, there are two issues present on the first disc. In “All That Jazz”, there appears to be a line or two that has been omitted compared to the DVD copy. In the episode “The Missing Heir”, there appears to be one shot near the end that is incorrectly framed for a couple of seconds. While not enough to sink the set, these are issues that we can only hope that the Warner Archive addresses and corrects for fans. If we learn of any other issues or rumblings of a replacement program, we will be sure to keep you posted. In total, these episodes have never looked better on a home entertainment platform. If you are a Hanna-Barbera fan, this is not to be missed.

Audio Quality

The audio quality of the Blu-Ray set is just as lovely as we expect from the label as it delivers a fabulous collection of DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio mono tracks. The witty dialogue emerges crisp and clear with no trace of sibilance at hand. Everything is more lush and consistent than what we have heard in the past with no serious shortcomings in regards to age-related wear and tear. Everything appears to be working harmoniously to give you the best listening experience possible. The score never gets too pitchy or shrill even when moments hit the high notes. This audio presentation is just as much of a treat as the video side of things. Optional English (SDH) subtitles are provided during all 30 episodes.

Special Features

Audio Commentaries

- Hawaii, Here We Come: Animation historians Jerry Beck, Earl Kress, and Mark Evanier, and voice actor Leo De Lyon (in Standard Definition)

- A Visit From Mother: Animation historians Jerry Beck, Earl Kress, and Mark Evanier, and voice actor Leo De Lyon (in Standard Definition)

- The Late T.C.: Animation historians Jerry Beck, Earl Kress, and Mark Evanier, and voice actor Leo De Lyon (in Standard Definition)

Back To Hoagy’s Alley – The Making of Top Cat: A 17-minute archival featurette hosted by Leo De Lyon that gives a broad overview of the history of the series featuring interviews with William Hanna and Joseph Barbera.

Storyboard/Finished Cartoon Sequence for The Missing Heir: A 21-minute storyboard comparison demonstration.

Cool Cats In Interview Alley: A 21-minute archival featurette in which Earl Kress interviews Leo De Lyon, Marvin Kaplan, and Barry Blitzer about their experiences voicing and writing this historic cartoon.

Top Cat Sing-Along: A minute-long sing-along of the title sequence.

Top Cat Collection of Art, Stills, Sketches, and Backgrounds: A seven-minute collection of archival materials is provided.

Vintage Commercials: A three-minute selection of vintage commercials is provided in which Top Cat helps sell products like Corn Flakes.

Final Thoughts

Top Cat may not be an S-tier character in the Hanna-Barbera universe compared to the likes of The Flintstones, Scooby-Doo, or Yogi Bear, but he is still an icon with only 30 episodes to his name during his original run. The character has an enduring charm coupled with a sense of humor that appeals to fans who like a bit more wit and swagger. He has a pretty amusing crew to support him and his many schemes, but everything comes back to our titular feline. The formula does not evolve much from episode to episode, but you are always guaranteed a few chuckles when you sit down for an episode. Warner Archive has released a Blu-Ray featuring an incredible A/V presentation and a swell array of special features. We cannot wait for the next Hanna-Barbera classic to be given the same treatment. Essential

Top Cat: The Complete Series is currently available to purchase directly through MovieZyng or various other online retailers.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Warner Archive has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.