Why So Blu?

Gwen and the Book of Sand (4K UHD Blu-ray Review)

You’ve never seen post-apocalyptic animation quite like this. Originally released in 1985, Gwen and the Book of Sand is a surrealist fever dream — part Dune, part daydream — blending the stark desolation of a desert world with hand-painted beauty and philosophical weight. Beautifully restored in 4K with the director’s participation for La Traverse Films in France, this new HDR edition from Deaf Crocodile feels less like a reissue and more like an archaeological triumph. For fans of Moebius, René Laloux, or the tactile strangeness of La Planète Sauvage, this one’s a must-see. But even if you’ve never heard of Gwen before, this UHD Blu-ray might just leave you hypnotized. But even if you’ve never heard of Gwen before, this Gwen and the Book of Sand 4K UHD Blu-ray might just leave you hypnotized.

 

Film

In the opening moments of Gwen and the Book of Sand, we’re thrown into a world already lost to time — a vast, sun-bleached desert where surreal remnants of civilization drop from the sky like forgotten artifacts. A giant Coke bottle, an iron gate, a metro sign — all out of place, all unexplained. This is not your standard sci-fi fable. It’s a myth wrapped in allegory, told through watercolor dream logic and aching silence. Jean-François Laguionie doesn’t so much build a narrative as he lets one drift toward you, like a sandstorm with secrets buried underneath.

Our guide through this wasteland is Gwen, a young girl raised by nomads after some unnamed global collapse. When her friend is abducted by mysterious beings who patrol the desert in bulbous dirigibles, Gwen sets off on a rescue journey — though “rescue” feels like too tidy a word for what unfolds. What follows is less a quest and more a wandering meditation on decay, technology, and the loss of cultural memory. Think Stalker meets Fantastic Planet, but through the eyes of a painter rather than a prophet. The animation is spare but mesmerizing, full of strange geometries and haunting stillness.

The Gwen and the Book of Sand 4K UHD Blu-ray makes it clear why Laguionie remains a revered figure in French animation circles. Laguionie, a contemporary of Paul Grimault and a major influence on French animation, infuses every frame with both quiet melancholy and wry absurdity. One minute, you’re watching a ceremony involving a god-like statue; the next, a ruined amusement park juts from the dunes like a relic of some forgotten joy. There’s no exposition, no origin story, just images and implications. The film trusts you to sit with the mystery, to make sense of a world where nothing makes sense. It’s an approach that rewards patience and curiosity — though it may alienate anyone expecting a traditional animated adventure.

What Deaf Crocodile has done with this 4K release is more than just preservation — it’s resurrection. Long unavailable in any decent quality, Gwen and the Book of Sand now stands a chance to be rediscovered by a new generation of animation lovers, cinephiles, and genre fans hungry for something truly different. It’s a strange film. A quiet film. A beautiful and broken artifact that now gleams again, thanks to a restoration that honors its original intent without sanding off its rough edges. It doesn’t scream for your attention — but it will haunt you if you let it. Please let it.

Video

NOTE: Stills are provided for promotional use only and are not from the 4K or HD Blu-rays.

Encoding: HEVC / H.265

Resolution: Native 4K (2160p)

Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1

Region:  A

HDR: Dolby Vision, HDR10

Layers: BD-66/BD-50

Clarity and Detail: Fine details in the hand-painted textures are lovingly preserved. You can see brush strokes in the skies and subtle textures in the sandscapes that were lost in previous transfers.

Depth: There’s a striking sense of depth, especially in wide desert shots where Gwen’s tiny figure traverses endless open space. Layering in the animated backgrounds now pops in a way that feels three-dimensional without any gimmickry.

Black Levels: Black levels are strong and stable, with minimal crushing. Shadow detail holds firm even in the darkest corners of the landscape, giving the film’s nighttime scenes a mysterious, enveloping feel.

Color: Muted earth tones dominate, but occasional bursts of color — like the glowing blue of an artifact or the crimson of Gwen’s head wrap — gain vibrancy through Dolby Vision. Colors feel natural to the painted medium without oversaturation.

Flesh Tones: While traditional flesh tones aren’t a major visual focus here, the characters’ sun-weathered skin tones and minimalist shading are consistent and warm.

Noise and Artifacts: There are no visible signs of compression or digital noise. Grain is intact and organic, preserving the original film texture without interference.

Audio

Audio Format(s): French DTS-HD MA 5.1

Subtitles: English

Dynamics: Dynamic range is subtle but effective, matching the film’s minimalist sound design. Quiet sequences land with as much intention as the more abstract, chaotic moments.

Height: N/A

Low Frequency Extension: There’s minimal LFE use, but when needed — during the sequences of rumble and falling debris — the bass gently supports the mood without ever overpowering the mix.

Surround Sound: Rear channels are used sparingly but with purpose. Environmental effects, like wind blowing across dunes or distant mechanical hums, create a light but immersive sound field.

Dialogue: The French dialogue is clean and centered with no distortion or peaking. Subtitles are well-timed and easy to read, providing a smooth experience for non-French speakers.

Extras

Deaf Crocodile doesn’t just deliver a restoration — they curate an experience. The extras kick off with a thoughtful new video interview with director Jean-François Laguionie, moderated by Dennis Bartok and translated in real-time by Fred Cassidy, offering rare insight into the film’s creation and meaning. A brand-new video essay from Ryan Verrill (The Disc Connected) and Dr. Will Dodson brings scholarly weight and fandom passion in equal measure, while Samm Deighan’s commentary track provides rich historical context and interpretive depth. Add in the Dolby Vision HDR grading (exclusive to the 4K disc), authoring by David Mackenzie of Fidelity in Motion, and original artwork by Beth Morris, and this package becomes essential not just for animation collectors — but for anyone serious about cinema.

Special Features

• New video interview with director Jean-François Laguionie, moderated by Dennis Bartok of Deaf Crocodile. (In French with simultaneous English translation by Fred Cassidy).
• New video essay by journalist and physical media expert Ryan Verrill (The Disc Connected) and film professor Dr. Will Dodson.
• New commentary by film historian Samm Deighan
• New Dolby Vision HDR color grading (4K disc only)
• Blu-ray authoring by David Mackenzie of Fidelity In Motion
• New art by Beth Morris

Summary 

With Gwen and the Book of Sand, Deaf Crocodile continues their mission to rescue and restore the weird, wonderful, and often overlooked corners of world cinema. This release doesn’t just revive a forgotten animated gem — it re-frames it as a vital piece of the genre’s visual and philosophical lineage. From its painterly aesthetic to its meditative storytelling, it’s unlike anything else on your shelf.

See our other Deaf Crocodile 4K & Blu-ray reviews for more surreal treasures worth discovering.

 

 

Gwen and the Book of Sand is released on 4K UHD Blu-ray June 10, 2025!

 

PRE-ORDER NOW!

 

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