If you want a sample of Pink Panther cartoons without paying for
the multi-volume collection, this is the DVD to get. It has the
episode where Henry Mancini makes a cameo appearance and it has the
two episodes where the Pink Panther speaks (Sink Pink and Pink Ice).
These are the early cartoons dating from 1964-67. I have all three
separate volumes, and, in my opinion, although there are gems on
each DVD, the overall quality of the episodes (in terms of plot and
how funny an episode is) declines with the later episodes. These
cartoons are mildly amusing. Kids who grew up with the Simpsons
would probably be bored, but they are fun for us Gen Xers who
remember the reruns as well as Baby Boomers. The cartoons are
definitely before the PC age; guns, violence, smoking; it's all
here! Here are all the episodes:
The Pink Phink: According to the box, this ep. won an award. PP
makes life miserable for a painter to ensure his new home is pink.
Pink Pajamas: PP crashes at the home of an alcoholic who calls his
sponsor after seeing PP (probably a worse sign than seeing a pink
elephant).
We Give Pink Stamps: PP is in a department store and hassles the
custodian.
Dial P for Pink: PP foils a safe burglar. At the beginning, the
burglar turns the dial on the safe and it turns on like a radio. He
has to unplug it.
Sink Pink: The first episode with voices. A hunter in the safari
hopes to build another ark to round up 2 of every animal-but he's
missing a PP, which would make a great rug for the misses. PP,
himself, speaks in this one.
Pickled Pink: (V) An alcoholic brings home PP and has to hide him
from his nagging wife. He hides him in the fridge at one point and,
when he comes back, he finds PP has turned blue ("Oh, hi Blue
Panther, have you seen a Pink Panther?")
Pinkfinger: (V) The first with a disembodied voice. This one
encourages PP to be a secret agent. I'm not sure if it's edited, but
it ends weird (how did the voice end up in an underground cellar
with a lion and why was PP so bummed at the end after getting his
man?).
Shocking Pink: (V) (LT) The first with a laugh track which I find
annoying. The disembodied voice berates PP for being lazy ("Why pay
$7.50/hour for a plumber?").
Pink Ice: (V) PP the miner competes with two bumblers mining for
diamonds. Another rare one where PP speaks!
The Pink-Tailed Fly: PP is harassed by a pesky fly.
Pink Panzer: Disembodied voice turns PP and his neighbor against
each other.
An Ounce of Pink: PP buys a talking scale/fortune teller.
Reel Pink: PP goes fishing and uses an uncooperative worm and
encounters a cantankerous crab.
Bully for Pink: PP tries out as a toreador. Why does the bull sound
like an elephant?
Pink Punch: (Laugh Track) This ep is annoying. PP tries to advertise
his beverage but a green asterisk insists on being the dot in the
"i" in "Pink."
Pink Pistons: PP buys a little blue bug (don't worry, he paints it
pink) and gets into a race with Granny Flash. Can you believe PP was
able to get his money back from a used car salesman?
Vitamin Pink: PP's wild west vitamins give an escaped convict enough
strength to break into a safe. PP is made sheriff to recapture him.
The Pink Blueprint: (Laugh Track) A carpenter is building a house
from a blueprint but PP has other ideas.
Pink, Plunk, Plink: PP joins a symphony orchestra and insists on
playing his theme song. Henry Mancini is seen in the audience
(actually, he's the only one in the audience!).
Smile Pretty, Say Pink: PP pesters a photographer visiting Pinkstone
National Park because he refused to pay the camera fee.
Pink-A-Boo: A mouse steals more than food from PP. At one point, PP
dresses like a cat. Why would he need to? Isn't he already one?
Genie with the Light Pink Fur: PP tries being a genie in a lamp but
has trouble finding customers.
Super Pink: One of my favorites! Even with the laugh track, it's
funny. PP decides to be a superhero and keeps trying to save the
same poor little old lady who must have the worse luck in the world.
Rock-A-Bye Pinky: PP hounds a snoring camper who keeps blaming his
poor, loyal dog for his misfortunes (this storyline would be used in
several PP eps).
Pinknic: PP is snowed in in a cabin where he has another mouse
problem.
Pink Panic: Caught in a storm, PP winds up in a haunted house with a
ghost and skeleton.
Pink Posies: PP hassles a gardener by replacing his yellow flowers
with pink posies.
