8 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Adventure Time has a sequel with new adventures around other worlds.
Starring: Hynden Walch, John DiMaggio, Tom Kenny (I), Niki Yang, Jeremy ShadaAnimation | 100% |
Adventure | 39% |
Action | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.78:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 16-bit)
French: Dolby Digital 2.0 (192 kbps)
Spanish: Dolby Digital 2.0 (192 kbps)
English SDH, French
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A, B (C untested)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 0.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Considering the fact that Adventure Time has whole corners of the internet devoted to its chronology and multiverses, it may not be too much of a stretch to suggest that this is a series where it may be best not to sweat the small stuff like characters, plot and general narrative, and to just go with the multidimensional flow. Adventure Time: Distant Lands is a four episode follow up to one of Cartoon Network's more significant success stories, a series which ran for almost a decade and which introduced an appropriately adventurous duo named Finn (human) and Jake (kinda sorta canine, but with shapeshifting capabilities), whose shenanigans also brought them into contact with a sometimes puzzling array of supporting characters. There was the same kind of general anarchy at play in many of the original Adventure Time episodes that reminded me personally of other sci-fi tinged cartoons like Rick and Morty, even if Adventure Time arguably had relatively less of the kind of "potty mouth" aspect courtesy of a character like Rick. But both series share a certain surreal element which is inarguably part of Adventure Time: Distant Lands as well.
Adventure Time: Distant Lands is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Warner Brothers Home Entertainment, Cartoon Network and HBO Max with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.78:1. The animation style here is kind of quaint and old school, though there are some more overt CGI elements at times. The presentation here is very nicely suffused, with a glut of colors across the spectrum, and with generally spot on line detail. Some character designs can tend to be minimalistic in midrange and wider shots, but there's always a somewhat whimsical aspect to the general design aesthetic that keeps things bright and enjoyable. I noticed no compression issues.
Adventure Time: Distant Lands features a nicely immersive DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. There are good opportunities in each of the four episodes for really well designed effects, with the side and rear channels regularly engaged for everything from panning spaceship noises to goofier sound effects that emanate from various characters. As mentioned above in the main body of the review, there are some songs on hand, and those and all of the underscoring sound nicely full bodied with an expressive low end for the rhythm instruments. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly throughout. Optional English and French subtitles are available.
There are sadly no on disc supplements included with this release, but packaging does feature a slipbox.
I wasn't a regular viewer of Adventure Time when it aired, and so may not be enough of a "fan boy" to suggest how diehard followers of the show will feel about this follow up, especially after a wait of several years since the original series stopped airing. In that regard, I have some friends who are diehard followers of the original series and who evidently felt a bit let down by these specials. As a more casual "visitor" to many multiverses of Adventure Time, though, I'd say I heartily enjoyed revisiting some of these patently bizarre characters and seeing what surreal treats would pop up next. There's already a "new, improved" Adventure Time spinoff reportedly in the works, but this should whet appetites for at least a little while. Technical merits are solid, and even without supplements, Adventure Time: Distant Lands comes Recommended.
2010-2011
1989
2014-2017
1991-1992
Australian Import
2013-2019
2014
1999-2000
Warner Archive Collection
2000
1991
1989
1995-1996
Sammy's Adventures: The Secret Passage / Sammy's avonturen: De geheime doorgang
2010
1985-1988
1979
2013
1983
2014
1990
1989-1990
2000