‘Wall-E’ DVDs have the right stuff

“Wall-E” is a brave little trash compactor. Not a line of dialog is spoken in the first 20 minutes of the latest Pixar hit, leaving the robot has to carry the computer animated film like some old-time silent star.

Charlie Chaplin, move over. Kids sit there fascinated; adults are suckers for the gorgeous 3D animation. Lots of youngsters will end up loving this movie for their lifetimes.

“Wall-E” the movie proves to be another instant classic from the guys and gals at Pixar, who are working these days for ex-rivals Disney, seemingly none the worse for it. The mix of lovable characters, high-flying action and an eco-friendly plotline make the “Wall-E” DVD a can’t-miss gift for the whole family.

The film comes in single- double- and triple-disc packages. (The third discs carry a digital copy, great for teens with iPods.) This review refers to the three-disc Blu-ray of “Wall-E.”

The film looks and sounds up to Pixar and Disney’s high standards for major releases. While the DVD and Blu-ray visuals seem pretty hazy and soft in the initial Earth sequences, once the action zooms into space the picture becomes state-of-the-art sharp.

“I wanted it overcast (on Earth), and then I wanted that cold, clean clinical (view of) space that you got in ‘2001,’ ” director director Andrew Stanton says in the generous extra features.

The audio certainly delivers the high fidelity with the Blu-ray’s 5.1 DTS-HD audio, but the surround mix is a disappointment, compared with, say, the new “Nightmare Before Christmas” releases.

The movie disc kicks off with a pair of cartoons. “BURN-E” is exclusive to DVD, starring the welding robot that has a minor part in the movie. It’s fast and and fun. The magician and bunny toon “Presto” encores from “Wall-E’s” theatrical run, feeling like Looney Tunes in CG (computer graphics).

Disney figured out long ago that both kids and adults are the consumers of their videos (unlike most kidvid titles). Dating back to “The Lion King” at least, the Mouse House has provided separate areas for the young and old. On Wall-E, it’s “robots” and “humans.” (You get to be the human, sorry.)

“Wall-E” has some decent arcade games, one a knockoff of the old space-shooter Galaga that doesn’t translate so well with a DVD remote control, but we love it anyway.

For the adults, the best feature is a profile of Pixar that tracks the pioneering computer animation company from its early days with George Lucas, to the relatively new buyout by the post-Michael Eisner regime at Disney.

The 90-minute documentary “The Pixar Story” (on disc 2) tracks the animation house via the story of creative chief John Lasseter. In part, it’s also a history of computer animation in movies. Steve Jobs, George Lucas and Michael Eisner are among the major players.

The (1080p) high-def documentary was directed by Leslie Iwerks. Take a bow, Leslie.

In the extra “Captain’s Log,” we see that the initial concept for the space ship’s occupants was not exiled humans but otherwordly “moving blobs of Jello” ruled by a jiggly king and queen and served by downtrodden robots.

In the short film “Imperfect Lens,” Stanton talks about how he grew up with the space movies “2001,” “Star Wars” and their many imitators. He sought to reproduce the anamorphic widescreen look of 70 mm films, using tricks with CG animation.

“Wall-E,” by the way, is the first Pixar feature film set (mostly) in space. Out of sight!

Perfect gift for: Kids, teenagers, animation fans, Blu-ray buffs.

Buy “Wall-E&amp” videos at Amazon.