It took MTV eight long years to release their seminal late ’90s animated satire series Daria onto DVD, and it seems that the network is looking to again belatedly capitalize on its popularity by re-airing episodes this summer. The newly dubbed “Retro Mania” block will also include frothy summer fare The Hills and Laguna Beach, which will have their runs first before returning to the (relative) sanity of Lawndale High.

The major reason Daria stayed off of DVD for so long was because of music licensing, and as someone who now owns the series I can definitively say that there is something lacking as Daria and Jane’s witticisms are set to generic “filler” music rather than Beck, Rage Against the Machine or Smashing Pumpkins. Still, the series is always worth a revisit regardless, though a return to its original score would be a treat. For more on the Retro Mania lineup, hit the jump.

Most people use the phrase “the one that got away” to describe a long lost love from years ago.  For me, the one that got away has always been Daria Morgendorffer.  From 1997 to 2002, Daria — a Beavis and Butt-Head spin-off series about decadence of 90s teen culture and the few, the proud, who quietly and apathetically defied it — entered the homes of MTV fans nationwide.  The show gathered somewhat of a cult following before disappearing altogether, save for some censored syndication on The N.  Due to music licensing issues, which I’ll get to after the jump, a DVD release of the series has been postponed time and again for the better part of a decade.  Today, finally, the complete series of Daria has been released on DVD, and having plowed through the eight discs myself, I can say fans have plenty to rejoice about and a little to bemoan as well.  Follow the jump to see whether or not this box set deserves a place on your shelf.

If you’ve ever seen Daria, the spin-off series from Beavis and Butthead, you know that it’s one of the sharpest and funniest animated series around.  It came from a time when MTV was still showing videos, but also had some quality animation like the aforementioned shows as well as The Maxx and Clone High.

While those days may be gone and replaced with awful reality shows, the long-awaited Daria: The Complete Animated Series hit store shelves today and Best Buy.com has it for $27.50 (which is 62% off the MSRP of $72.99).  The next lowest price (according to Google Products) is $45.  Hit the jump for a list of the special features.

One of the most-demanded TV shows for a DVD release  is finally set to arrive as the appropriately named TVShowsonDVD.com has announced that Daria: The Complete Animated Series will hit DVD on May 11th.  The episodes will be in full screen, but there are currently no details on the audio, the price (like that will stop you from buying it), how many songs they were able to get the licensing rights for, or the package art.

However, we do know the special features for the set, and I’ve included the list after the jump.  Again, you’re due to stand on my neck on May 11th.