Five more episodes of Chowder await fans of the surreal and sublimely silly animated television series on this delicious second volume DVD. As with its predecessor, the episodes are not in broadcast order, which has no effect on their enjoyment; each of the 22-minute stories (broken into two 11-minute episodes) stands on its own in terms of zaniness and visual charm. Strongest among the batch included here is the Emmy- and Annie-nominated “Burple Nurples,” which circles around a somewhat morbid conceit: in an attempt to make the title dish, aspiring chef Chowder accidentally laces it with rat poison, sending his boss and mentor Mung Daal on a mad quest to track down all of his creations. Other episodes underscore the show’s gentle blend of kid-friendly storylines and out-and-out wackiness: “Mung on the Rocks” gives Chowder a chance to prove himself by bailing Mung out of a pickle with his wife, Truffles, while its companion piece, “Sniffleball,” finds our hero facing the classic conundrum: will he be the hero in a game of sniffleball or the goat? It’s this inherent sweetness, mixed with the lovely, off-kilter artwork and characterizations that make Chowder so appealing to viewers of all ages. Extras detailing the conception of this unique show would have been appreciated, but only a gallery of sketches and designs are present on this disc. --Paul Gaita