Disney wraps up Buddies holiday title
PHYSICAL: First time two DVDs in franchise released in same year
By Susanne Ault -- Video Business, 5/29/2009
MAY 29 | PHYSICAL: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment will unleash a new holiday-themed installment of its hit Buddies direct-to-video franchise in time for Thanksgiving.
The Buddies visit Santa in their next movie.
The release of Santa Buddies, due Nov. 24, marks the first time Disney will bow two installments of the canine caper franchise in one year. Space Buddies, released Feb. 3, was the No. 7 title on Video Business’ top DVD sellers list for the first quarter.
The entire franchise, including 2006’s Air Buddies and 2008’s Snow Buddies, has sold 15 million units combined, according to Disney. All the films are produced by director-writer Robert Vince and his Keystone Entertainment. The Buddies series was spun off from the Air Bud franchise, which started with two theatrical releases in the late ’80s and continued in several video premiere sequels.
Santa Buddies boasts the series’ highest-profile human talent in Christopher Lloyd and George Wendt (as Santa).
In Santa Buddies, the dogs taking a trip to the North Pole, where they meet new friends and spread holiday cheer.
Santa Buddies will be priced at $29.99 on DVD and $39.99 on Blu-ray. Prebook is Sept. 29.
