Why So Blu?

Walt Disney Animation Studios Short Films Collection (Blu-ray Review)

From Walt Disney Animation Studios comes the Shorts Film Collection, an extraordinary new collection of award-winning and beloved short films featuring Disney’s Frozen Fever, starring Anna, Elsa, Olaf, Sven and Kristoff, and the Oscar-nominated Lorenzo.  It will be available early on Digital HD/Disney Movies Anywhere August 11 and you can bring It home on Blu-ray August 18.  Enjoy this must-own collection with all-new extras including an inside look at the Disney Animation shorts, featuring introductions and interviews with the acclaimed filmmakers themselves.  Fans Can Now Enjoy The In-Home Debuts of the Beloved Animated Shorts “Frozen Fever,”  “Lorenzo,” and “Tick Tock Tale.” Also includes Academy Award®-Winning Animated Shorts “Feast” (2014) and “Paperman” (2012), Special Filmmaker Introductions and More!

Collection 

From Walt Disney Animation Studios comes an extraordinary new collection of award-winning and beloved short films featuring Disney’s Frozen Fever, starring Anna, Elsa, Olaf, Sven and Kristoff, and the Oscar®-nominated Lorenzo (Best Animated Short, 2004).  The Short Films Collection includes contemporary shorts starring classic characters, such as the groundbreaking 2013 Mickey Mouse cartoon, Get A Horse! And the holiday treat Prep & Landing: Operation: Secret Santa, as well as celebrated Oscar winners Paperman (2012) and Feast (2014). Enjoy them together for the first time in this must-own collection with all-new extras including an inside look at the Disney Animation shorts, featuring introductions and interviews with the acclaimed filmmakers themselves.

Chances are, you’ve seen most or at least a good handful of these if you’ve ever gone to the theater to see a Disney animated film.  This is similar to, but not included here, the Pixar shorts that run before those films.  Its a nice old throwback to old times where you used to get a cartoon short before your feature films started.  Nowadays, we get to sit through a “show” which is one big advertisement for TV, drinks, movies that includes trailers and then at the show start time we get a nice NFL-sized roster of trailers.  However, these little shorts that precede the film never feel excessive, too much, or overwelcome their stay.

These shorts can evoke many a different emotion or thought.  They can bring laughter just as easy as they can bring one to tears.  Seriously, the Little Matchbox Girl and Feast ones are both sad and heartwarming at the same time.  TRY to keep a dry eye.  Some are silly and experimental (Lorenzo) and others just a little fun adventure (the one with the elves).  Some of the shorts catch us up with characters from previous popular Disney films like Tangled and Frozen.  And once in a while we’ll get one with the characters that started it all like Goofy and Mickey.  Whatever they give you, you’re sure to be entertained and remember it well down the road.

John Henry (HD, 10:19)

Lorenzo (HD, 4:50)

The Little Matchgirl (HD, 6:40)

How To Hook Up Your Home Theater (HD, 6:20) 

Tick Tock Tale (HD, 6:03)

Prep & Landing Operation: Secret Santa (HD, 6:55)

The Ballad Of Nessie (HD, 5:32) 

Tangled Ever After (HD, 6:29)

Paperman (HD, 6:35)

Get A Horse! (HD, 6:01)

Feast (HD, 6:12)

Frozen Fever (HD, 7:57)

Video 

Encoding: MPEG-4 AVC

Resolution: 1o80p

Aspect Ratio: Various

Clarity/Detail:  Let’s just say, I’d have been shocked if this WASN’T 5 stars.  Disney does good by their animation.  They keep these films in terrific preservative states and don’t mess around when transferring them to Blu-ray.  Even the older stuff like John Henry and Lorenzo look fresh and new.  The sharpness, clarity and detail on these shorts is all outstanding.

Depth:  Depth is pretty impressive, especially for some of the older hand drawn 2 dimensional shorts.  Movements are smooth and background images look nice and discernible.

Black Levels: Blacks are pretty much just that, black, since its animation.  There is no crushing anywhere to be found here, and there is some great shading going on.

Color Reproduction:  Colors flourish on a wide ranging palette going from short to short.  Different styles bring different moods and design, all really nailing their intended experience.  Colors can be plenty rich, dim, vivid and a number of different feels.

Flesh Tones:  N/A

Noise/Artifacts: Clean

Audio 

Audio Format(s): English 5.1 DTS-HD MA, English 2.0 Descriptive Audio, French 5.1 Dolby Digital, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital, Portuguese 2.0 Dolby Digital

Subtitles: English, English SDH, French, Spanish, Portuguese

Dynamics:  This is a really top notch audio track.  Sounds are full and distinct.  From the opening singing on John Henry lifting your room off the ground to the clocks sounding like they’re right there in front of you, this one really just delivers.  Everything is smooth, clean, loose and well rounded.

Low Frequency Extension:  The subwoofer stays busy whether it is helping deepen the score or giving a crash more boom or a rocket its juice.

Surround Sound Presentation:  Whether its clocks coming from rear or the sound of Goofy hooking up its TV, the rear speakers are active on the shorts that feature sounds.  The front speakers keep good track of placement and movement at all times.

Dialogue Reproduction:  When dialogue is present, its crisp, clean and clear.

Extras 

This release comes with a DVD and UltraViolet Digital Copy of the film.

Play Shorts with Introductions By the Filmmakers (HD, various) – The people who made each short talk for usually about a minute to introduce and give a quick tid bit on it.

@DisneyAnimation: The Short Story About Shorts Hosted By TJ Miller (HD, 7:18) – TJ Miller sits down with the team of shorts animators and discusses their work, ideas and the fun they have with them.

Summary 

This is a terrific collection, giving the Disney animated shorts that ran before big features their own chance in the spotlight.  Whether they tickle your funny bone or bring you to tears, there’s a whole range of greatness on display here.  And its not just the content, this release features great video and audio.  There is some good stuff with the extras, but I feel like they could have done a little more with them.  All in all this is damn near a perfect release for these little shorts in a nice collection.