"I make more money doing animation than doing live action ... each year I do one DreamWorks project, and then I take all the money to the Oscars and bet it on Pixar."

That was Kung Fu Panda star Jack Black's quip at the Oscars Sunday night, referring to the fact that Pixar's animated flicks tend to get all the critical and awards-season acclaim. There's no arguing that Pixar flicks have heart - who can resist the charms of WALL-E or Rex the toy tyrannosaurus or blue, furry Sully?

But as Black's Kung Fu Panda proved, DreamWorks Animation has produced several endearing 'toon tales of its own, which made me pull the new Madagascar 2: Escape 2 Africa DVD off the shelf for a viewing.

Today's nifty gifty DVD suggestion ...

 

It's holiday cartoon DVDs, Charlie Brown!

Peanuts Holiday Collection

 

What makes it such a nifty gifty: It includes remastered versions of the three best Peanuts holiday specials: It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving and A Charlie Brown Christmas, with making-of featurettes on all three. My fave: Popcorn & Jellybeans: Making a Thanksgiving Classic, which refers, of course, to Snoopy's infamous "gourmet" Turkey Day feast of jellybeans, popcorn, pretzel sticks and buttered toast.

 

It's the perfect nifty gifty for: Your niece or nephew, your brother or sister, a co-worker and Secret Santa swaps where you might not know your giftee very well (who doesn't love the Peanuts gang, after all?).