Thanks to almost unanimously positive reviews and strong audience world of mouth, DreamWorks Animation’s’ “The Wild Robot” is still ticking along very nicely on the global cinema circuit. For better or for worse, though, the film is set to drop on selected U.S. streaming platforms as early as today (October 15), before arriving on the format I’m interested in here, 4K Blu-ray, on December 3.
The film’s gorgeously rich animated visuals feel like they should make for a particularly stellar 4K-resolution and high dynamic range home cinema experience. Especially as Universal Pictures is delivering the film on the premium physical media format with a Dolby Vision master, and placing it on a high capacity 100Gb disc rather than the smaller 66Gb alternative (despite the film only having a one hour and 42 minute running time). The resulting image should give AV fans the least compressed image available for watching the film at home (other than, perhaps, the Kaleidescape video server system).
The film will be presented on disc in its theatrical 2.39:1 aspect ratio, of course, and its hopefully stellar visuals will be backed up by a Dolby Atmos soundtrack.
Universal has revealed that its hit film will be accompanied on disc by a pleasingly varied set of all-new bonus features, kicking off with an alternate opening scene (presented in storyboard form) accompanied by an introduction by writer/director Chris Sanders.
Next up is Moments From The Mic, sharing footage of the film’s voice cast—which includes Pedro Pascal, Lupita Nyong’o, Mark Hamill, Ving Rhames and Matt Berry—doing their thing straight from the recording booth.
Meet The Cast provides a more formal introduction to the film’s voice actors, as they discuss such issues as creating empathy in the voice of a robot or expressing vulnerability in a fox, as well as providng more background on their assorted characters.
The Overprotective Mother, meanwhile, gives us a deleted scene from the film, again in storyboard form, and again accompanied by an introduction from Chris Sanders.
Assembly Required: Animating The Wild Robot provides a behind the scenes look at how the filmmakers used ground-breaking animation techniques to give the film its immersive visual style.
Feeling Alive explores how the filmmakers found ways to enhance the universal themes of Peter Brown’s original novel to give it more emotional impact in the cinema, while Wild Sound delves into the film’s score and two new Maren Morris songs.
How To Draw is a feature aimed at young audiences where Sanders teaches Nyong’o (and by extension everyone watching!) how to draw Roz, before story artist and character designer Genevieve Tsail shows you how to draw Fink, Baby Brightbill and Pinktail.
The ‘get involved’ features continue, finally, with Fly Your Own Brightbill, which shows you how to create your own Brightbill Kite.
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