‘Dalmatians’ adds a few doggie treats

The Puppy Bowl is over. The Westminster Dog Show crowned a beagle king and came to a close. So where can the canine-obsessed go for their much-needed pooch fix, without resorting to yet another “Dog Whisperer” marathon? Look no further than “101 Dalmatians: Platinum Edition” ($30), a two-disc, newly restored version of the 1961 Disney classic about a mega-litter of pups attempting to escape the clutches of the wicked Cruella De Vil.

Yes, I know. These are cartoon dogs, not the real thing. But all the tail-wagging and playful scampering are so reminiscent of actual doggie behavior that it’s easy to confuse the two. In fact, according to the DVD’s extras, several Dalmatian puppies lived for a month at Disney Studios so the artists could effectively translate their movements to the big screen.

That’s just one of the noteworthy nuggets that can be found in the DVD’s respectable set of bonus features, including the making-of documentary, “Redefining the Line.” This solid, if occasionally self-congratulatory, featurette also shares the rocky history behind the creation of “Dalmatians” and explains the film’s historical significance: It marks the first time xerography, the process of copying drawings directly to animated cels instead of tracing and painting them, was used on a Disney film. That explains why the animation is, as “Ratatouille” director Brad Bird says, “contemporary to this day.”

Like nearly every Disney DVD, the supplemental material also includes a few additional featurettes, a couple of games and musical numbers that were either deleted or curtailed in the film’s final cut. “Dalmatians” also comes with a pair of pop-up tracks, one designed for the fan (read: adults) and another for families. Both flash pieces of trivia on screen throughout the movie, but most of the information can be found in that making-of documentary.

Despite a few shortcomings, the “Dalmatians” DVD is worth owning, but be warned of two things. One: Some of the subject matter may be a little disturbing for sensitive kids. (At one point, Cruella recommends killing the puppies by drowning or “bashing them in the head,” a suggestion that could upset innocent little animal lovers.) Two: Don’t succumb to the pressure to immediately buy this DVD, yet another favorite plucked from the mysterious Disney vault and available for “a limited time.” All the Disney discs come with this promise, and many are still easy to find more than a year after their release.