Blu-ray

It's been 18 long months since the fifth season of sci-fi cartoon Futurama hit Blu-ray in the UK. During this time two further seasons have been released to buy in the US and the show has been cancelled all over again. But let's not dwell on the negatives. Instead, let's simply be happy that UK fans have another 13 episodes to enjoy in hi-def with this belated release of the show's sixth season.

While it may not shine quite as brightly as it did several seasons ago, Futurama still manages to entertain with the sheer weight of nerd humour and parody that it crams into every episode. Highlights this time out include Leela's obsessive hunt for a fourth-dimensional whale in Möbius Dick, Bender's ascension to Godhood in Overclocked and the crazy anthology episode Reincarnation, which re-imagines the show in the style of a 1920s Fleischer Studios 'toon, an 8-bit videogame and a Japanese anime.

Picture: The set's two BD50 platters serve up some gorgeous hi-def eye-candy. Blacks are rock solid, primary colours pop off the screen, edge lines are crisp (although a few jaggies can be found here and there if you look close enough) and there's not a trace of compression artefacting or banding to spoil your fun.
Picture rating: 4.5/5

Audio: This latest volume of Futurama sounds very much like its predecessors when it comes to the DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtracks. As such, use of the surrounds isn't necessarily as pronounced as you might hope, but there's some weight to the bass and dialogue is always crystal clear. Once again there are no technical issues to concern fans, either.
Audio rating: 4/5

Extras: Executive producers Matt Groening and David X. Cohen are joined by a rotating cast of animators, writers and directors on a collection of anecdote-packed audio commentaries for all 13 episodes. Also spread across the two discs are 25 deleted scenes.

Professor Farnsworth's Science of a Scene is a 17-minute look at the year-long process of bringing an episode to the screen. In the seven-minute Reincarnation Explained! director Peter Avanzino explores the three animation styles used in that episode. Finally, the 11-minute Futurama F.A.Q. sees some of the crew answering viewer's questions.
Extras rating: 3/5

We say: It's great to see Futurama back on Blu-ray in the UK – even if this isn't the show's strongest season

Futurama: The Complete Season 6, 20th Century Fox, All-region BD, £30 Approx
HCC VERDICT: 3.5/5