History Channel documentaries on DVD

A stunning new set of the History Channel's amazing documentary series about World War II leads this look at TV shows new to DVD this week.

"WWII in HD: Collector's Edition" (History/Blu-ray, 2009, four discs, $69.95). There are many such documentaries, I know, but this series about the Second World War stands tall among the best.

The focus is on human stories, utilizing a stunning amount of color battle footage interspersed among the historical information, interviews, photos and anecdotal tales that personalize the events explored here.

The Blu-ray upgrade is meticulous and while there is, naturally, some film that is too worn and aged to benefit greatly, most of it is so alive you'll feel as if you're there.

Extras: widescreen, feature-length documentaries: "The Battle for Iwo Jima" and "WWII in HD: The Air War," featurettes, character profiles (also on DVD, $59.95)

"American Restoration, Volume One" (History, 2010-11, two discs, $19.95). This spinoff of "Pawn Stars" is among the more focused antique reality shows, following Rick Dale and his Las Vegas team as they restore various pieces of Americana. These episodes in chronological order from Season 1 through the first half of Season 2 include a 1940s Pepsi cooler, a Prohibition-era slot machine, a luxury theater candy dispenser, etc.

Extras: widescreen, 16 episodes

"How the States Got Their Shapes: Season One" (History, 2011, four discs, $34.95). This may sound from its title like a very dry documentary series but it's actually highly entertaining, thanks to the interesting characters interviewed from state to state and the amusing fashion in which host Brian Unger conducts himself. Yes, it's educational but it's also a lot of fun and loaded with humorous and interesting factoids.

Extras: widescreen, the original feature-length "How the States …" special (which served as the series pilot)

"Dragons: Gift of the Night Fury"/"Book of Dragons" (Dreamwork/Blu-ray + DVD, 2011, two discs, $25.99). The Blu-ray release of "How to Train Your Dragon" had as a bonus feature a 16-minute cartoon sequel, "Legend of the Boneknapper Dragon." Now these two short 'toons (22 minutes and 18 minutes, respectively) go straight to DVD for the "Dragon"-freak kid in your household.

Extras: widescreen, two cartoons, deleted scenes, featurettes, trailers (also on two-disc DVD with fewer bonus features, $19.99)