For those of you patiently (or not-so-patiently) waiting for the new Ghostbusters video game to finally come out, Time Life has delivered with an incredible set of DVDs to keep you entertained…

The Real Ghostbusters: The Complete Collection

This collection of 25 DVDs features all 147 episodes of the ’80s cartoon, The Real Ghostbusters. If you’re a fan of the live-action films Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters 2 and you haven’t seen this cartoon, you’re in for a real treat. If you grew up watching this cartoon (like I did), you must own this set, as the show is every bit as good as you remember it being.

In case you don’t recognize the show at all, here is the introduction:

The show features great voice talent including the inimitable Frank Welker, Lorezeno Music, and even Arsenio Hall. The animation is not great, but just good enough for an ’80s cartoon.

Not only does this set feature every episode of The Real Ghostbusters, it also includes the Slimer! cartoons, in which that little green spud of a ghost is the star. Nearly all of the episodes of The Real Ghostbusters have newly-shot a introductions (sometimes two) from writers, directors, artists, and voice actors giving you some insight as to how that episode came about. Some episodes feature the ability to watch them with only the music and sound effects tracks. There is a bonus disc that comes exclusively with this set with plenty of behind-the-scenes goodies. In all, there are over 12 hours of glorious ghostbusting bonus material.

The packaging for this set is fantastic. The box is modeled after the famous firehouse where the Ghostbusters live and work out of. On the front, a lenticular image of the Ghostbusters logo tries to saw his way out, just like in one of the commercial bumpers for the show. On the side, a lenticular image of Slimer offers another laugh.

It is clear that the creators of this set put a lot of time and effort into making sure that the show is displayed in the best way possible. Five separate volumes are contained within the box, each in its own shiny, metal case. Since the episodes were shown on TV on different networks, with many in syndication, the set is assembled in chronological order by when each episode was created, rather than air dates. The set also comes with a great episode guide book which contains episode titles, descriptions, and trivia.

Now, there is another cartoon out there called Ghostbusters and was produced by a company called Filmation (it is often referred to as Filmation’s Ghostbusters). This show did not star the four main characters from the film but rather two of their sons. This show had nothing to do with the well-known Ghostbusters films but was instead based on a completely different live-action show from the ’70s. But since Filmation’s Ghostbusters came first, the new (and much better) cartoon had to be titled The Real Ghostbusters instead. So don’t accidentally purchase the wrong show!

This collection of The Real Ghostbusters is available exclusively through TIme Life at a hefty price of $179.99, but considering what you get for it, it’s well worth it.  Individual releases of each volume of the show are planned (Volume 1 comes out in March) but will cost $21.99 each. With five volumes, that’s $109.95, so for the extra $70 or so, you get the killer packaging, bonus material, and guide book. Plus, you get all of the volumes now instead of having to wait for them to be released.

I’ve been watching an episode almost every night since Christmas and look forward to many more nights of the antics of Peter, Ray, Egon, Winston, Janine, and Slimer. After all, ‘bustin’ makes me feel good!