The Scarcity of Physical Media in Animation

The emergence of the streaming wars has led to a scarcity of physical media, particularly in animation. One of the frustrating aspects of using Disney+ is having to sit through lengthy credits from various countries between episodes of shows like Bluey, only to have the background ambient sound of the next episode cut off abruptly. When trying to restart the cycle-through of episodes, it often redirects back to the main series menu. This inconvenience has led to seeking alternative solutions, such as purchasing season one and two of Bluey on DVD.

The Importance of Physical Media for Young Children

For parents, having something playing in the background while caring for a young child is essential. After becoming tired of the constant "Are you still watching?" messages on streaming platforms, a switch was made to live channels like PlutoTV. The child’s attention was quickly captured by Strawberry Shortcake, and the ease of watching it on live television, similar to the experience of growing up, was refreshing. This led to a desire to purchase the Y2K years of Strawberry Shortcake shows on physical media and hunt down retro kids’ clothing on resale sites like Depop.

The Challenge of Finding Physical Media

However, the scarcity of physical media struck again, making it difficult to find Strawberry Shortcake episodes and specials. While some episode bundles can be found through resellers and limited online supply, it adds more work when it used to be easy to find what you wanted in stores like Best Buy or Target. Despite Strawberry Shortcake being hugely popular, winning a recent battle of fandoms bracket on PlutoTV, it’s surprising that the season cannot be easily purchased in stores.

The State of Animation on Physical Media

The growth in animation production has been noticeable, especially during 2020. However, it’s strange to see that even popular animated properties like Bluey only have DVD releases. The possibility of Blu-ray deteriorating animation coloring and the cost of preservation may be factors. Recent reports have highlighted the issue of disc rot, and Warner Bros. has been replacing or offering titles of equal value for out-of-print movies due to DVD deterioration.

The Scarcity of Iconic Cartoons on Streaming Platforms

The scarcity of iconic cartoons on streaming platforms is also a concern. Looney Tunes, for example, is constantly being pulled from the library on Max in favor of adding more reality shows. While Looney Tunes has had a long history of being available on physical formats, including DVD and Blu-ray releases, the scarcity of these formats is beginning to feel created. The release of a vault box set this June may help, but it’s still surprising that kids-focused media, classic or otherwise, is mostly found on DVD, a format that is playing second fiddle to Blu-ray.

The Importance of Accessibility to Classic Shows

Companies have long known the lucrative power of nostalgia, but it shouldn’t take exploitative resurgences to capitalize on re-emergent fandoms. Access to classic shows on the best quality physical media should be maintained to ensure accessibility for generations to come. For now, Strawberry Shortcake can be satisfied on a streamer that appreciates it, but the question remains: how long will that be the case?

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