After giving “Terry Pratchett’s Hogfather” a positive review earlier this year, I was eager to check out the latest release of video fodder from his Discworld universe. “Terry Pratchett’s Discworld Collection” encompasses two different tales from his oddball universe of magic and mysticism, only this time in animated form. “Wyrd Sisters” is the story of the orphan boy of a murdered king, and how the child comes to be in the care of a trio of witches (two of which are voiced by Jane Horrocks and June Whitfield of “Absolutely Fabulous”), all while the king’s ghost wanders around his castle, irate and perplexed by his offing. “Soul Music” tells the story of Buddy, who puts together a band to play a new type of sound – “music with rocks in.” (Get it – rock music?) As is often the case with Discworld, Death plays a pivotal role in both tales, voiced here by Christopher Lee. No doubt hardcore fans of Pratchett will be amused and delighted by these very faithful adaptations (the running times are 140 and 175 minutes respectively), but they may be the only ones. The animation is unfortunately something of a challenge to get through. Think of drawings a few steps below some of Ralph Bakshi’s older work and you can sort of guess what the style looks like – pretty but not fluid; colorful but lacking grace. However what these stories may lack in the visual department, they more than make up for in the realms of wit and imagination.
