Defenders Of The Earth 4 DVD Adventure Box Set

The Defenders of the Earth 4 DVD Adventure Box set was released by Company of Kids in the Netherland in 2004. The box set features the Defenders of the Earth cartoon series released in the USA in 1986 and is fully licensed by King Features Syndicate.

Company of Kids was a specialized Dutch home video distributor active during the mid-2000s, focusing primarily on the Benelux market. The company established itself as a key player in the children’s entertainment sector by releasing animated series and family-oriented content. They were particularly well-known for their close association with the Fox Kids television network, serving as a primary vehicle for bringing popular broadcast hits to the DVD market in the Netherlands.

The company’s catalog was defined by its localization of major international franchises for Dutch-speaking audiences. Some of their most notable releases included several volumes of The Fairly OddParents, the animated series W.I.T.C.H., and a significant 4-DVD box set of the classic 1980s cartoon Defenders of the Earth. Because they often collaborated with larger entities like CNR Kids and Foreign Media Group, their titles were widely available in accessible retail locations such as supermarkets and toy stores.

As the media landscape shifted in the late 2000s, the influence of Company of Kids waned. The rebranding of Fox Kids into Jetix and eventually Disney XD led to a reshuffling of distribution rights, with many titles being absorbed by international giants or local competitors like Dutch FilmWorks. Today, their releases are primarily found in the secondhand market, serving as a nostalgic snapshot of the peak era of children’s DVD distribution in the Netherlands.

The Defenders of the Earth 4 DVD Adventure Box set contains 4 DVD cases and discs numbered from 1 thru to 4, all housed in a sturdy paper cardboard slipcase that protects the contents within. Each DVD features a collection of episodes from the Defenders of the Earth animated series. This box set was exclusively released in the Netherlands with translated Dutch subtitles specific for the local audience.

The four DVD’s don’t contain the full Defenders of the Earth 65 episode series. Each DVD is individually titled: this unique labeling gives viewers a glimpse into what each specific disc offers in terms of content.

  • DVD 1 – The Story Begins
    • True to its title, “The Story Begins” introduces the audience to the Defenders of the Earth’s colorfully animated cast of characters. When Flash Gordon’s spaceship crashes near Mandrake the Magician’s and Lothar’s mansion, he tells them of the evil Ming the Merciless and his plan to destroy the earth.
  • DVD 2 – The Prince of Kro-Tan
    • Ming the Merciless son, Kro-Tan, wants to take over his father’s kingdom. He pays a visit to Zorelda, an old ugly witch with magical powers, and asks for her support. Zorelda complies and gives Kro-Tan three powers: teleportation, telekenesis and disguise.
  • DVD 3 – The Necklace of Oros
    • Ming the Merciless plans to deliver Jedda Walker and her powerful Necklace of Oros to an evil alien creature in return for the secret of gravity.
  • DVD 4 – Book of Mysteries
    • When a two-hundred square mile area of Morocco mysteriously disappears, the Defenders of the Earth investigate, without Kshin, who is instructed to choose any book from Mandrake the Magician’s library for a book report.

The same images are seen on all DVD cases as seen on the slipcase, with a unique title and background color distinguishing each DVD from the next. This consistency in imagery creates a cohesive look across the entire collection, making it easy for viewers to recognize the series at a glance. Each title not only serves to differentiate the individual DVDs but also adds a vibrancy to the overall design, contributing to the aesthetic appeal of the set.