Small fry will enjoy new DVDs

A reissue of "Lion King 2" leads off this week's new-to-DVD kids films/TV shows.

• "The Lion King 2: Simba's Pride" (Disney, 1998, G, $29.99, two discs). This is the sequel that was released straight-to-video in 1998, here issued in a two-disc "special edition" that includes all kinds of bells and whistles for kids, led by an all-new short cartoon titled "One By One." The short also has an African theme, as children build and fly kites; it's artistic, somewhat abstract and quite charming.

The film itself is better than most straight-to-video animation features, with voice stars from the original film returning — Matthew Broderick, James Earl Jones, Nathan Lane, Robert Guillaume, Ernie Sabella and the addition of Moira Kelly, Neve Campbell and Suzanne Pleshette, among others.

Extras: Widescreen, animated short, live-action and animated featurettes, virtual safari, interactive games, music video (by Heather Headley, Kenny Lattimore), DVD-ROM applications, language options (English, French, Spanish), chapters.

• "Rugrats Holiday Celebration" (Nick/Paramount, 1991, not rated, $29.99, two discs). Rugrats fans will enjoy this two-disc set of holiday-themed episodes from the TV cartoons. The first disc has five Halloween shows: "Curse of the Werewolf," "Ghost Story," "Aunt Miriam," "Sleep Trouble" and "Spike's Nightscare." The second disc has five that represent Thanksgiving and Christmas: "The Turkey Who Came to Dinner," "Babies in Toyland," "The Santa Experience," "A Rugrats Kwanzaa" and "Chanukah."

Extras: Full frame, 10 episodes, chapters.

• "Clifford's Really Big Movie" (Warner, 2004, G, $26.98). The big red dog of the popular books and the PBS series gets his first feature film, in which he takes a road trip to try to win a lifetime supply of puppy chow. Good fun for small fry, with voices by Jenna Elfman, John Goodman, Judge Reinhold and, repeating his PBS role as Clifford's voice, the late John Ritter.

Extras: Full-frame and widescreen options, making-of featurette, music videos, interactive activities, trailers, language options (English, French, Spanish), subtitle options (English, French, Spanish), chapters.

• "Godzilla: The Series: The Monster Wars Trilogy" (Columbia/TriStar, 1998, not rated, $14.94). These three episodes of the animated series try to replicate the spirit (and some of the story elements) of the original "Godzilla" film series, aimed at a more juvenile audience. This is an hourlong, three-part episode from the show's first season, with aliens squaring off against Godzilla with mutant creatures.

Extras: Full frame, three episodes, chapters.