7.2 | / 10 |
Users | 2.2 | |
Reviewer | 2.5 | |
Overall | 2.5 |
While emigrating to the United States, a young Russian mouse gets separated from his family and must find them while trying to survive in a new country.
Starring: Cathianne Blore, Dom DeLuise, John Finnegan, Phillip Glasser, Amy Green (I)Family | 100% |
Animation | 81% |
Comedy | 45% |
Musical | 42% |
Adventure | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
Spanish: DTS 5.1
French: DTS 5.1
English SDH, French, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
UV digital copy
Region A, B (C untested)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 2.0 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 0.5 | |
Overall | 2.5 |
The fabled Disney Renaissance is often credited for rejuvenating the American animation industry throughout the 1990s, single-handedly saving both Disney and feature animation as a whole. But that's something of a myth. The Disney Renaissance was more a culmination of outside influences and successes than a pure, in-house renaissance. It was actually one of Disney's greatest losses -- the 1979 exodus of sixteen animators, chief among them Don Bluth -- that would, some ten years later, allow The Little Mermaid and its successors to revive Disney Animation and forge a new era. The irony, of course, being that Bluth's scorn inadvertently led to Disney's salvation. It was The Secret of NIMH (1982), An American Tail (1986) and The Land Before Time (1988) that, in large part, paved the way for The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast and the many others that would follow, with An American Tail proving particularly instrumental in the broader industry renaissance. Released just one year after Disney's poorly received The Black Cauldron (1985) nearly burned down the house that Walt built, Bluth's Tail was an enormous box office success and, later, a home video darling that demonstrated the continuing viability of feature animation. And although Bluth's renaissance would sadly fizzle as Disney's renaissance began, the importance of his '80s animated canon shouldn't be overlooked or forgotten.
Universal's 1080p/AVC-encoded video presentation is a disappointment, pure and simple. First, though, it's important to separate the source from the encode. An American Tail is a softer film, with several quote-unquote problems inherent to its age and original animation cels. However, it isn't all that difficult to discern between softness, age and other issues and eyesores that trace back to a faulty master. Noise reduction takes a toll (despite the fact that grain is still present, at least to an unnatural, hyper-sharpened degree), pixilation is common (even if it's likely to go unnoticed on more modest displays), ringing and edge halos are frequent offenders, artifacting and mosquito noise are common, slight nicks and specks pepper the animation, and the film's line art isn't as cleanly defined as it could be. Some of the finer details in the background paintings are a bit smeared as well, colors are wildly inconsistent (much of which is admittedly rooted in the animation) and contrast is boosted to the point of rendering many a scene too dim, dark or richly saturated for its own good. Together, it combines to create an unremarkable, underwhelming video presentation as mediocre as it is flawed. Does the film look better than it ever has? Sure, particularly compared to its DVD counterparts. Does that mean this is the best An American Tail could ever look? Absolutely not. Had Universal commissioned a ground-up restoration and remaster using the film's original negatives and animation elements, this Blu-ray release might be something special. Don't believe it's that bad? I'm not usually a proponent of scouring screenshots for evidence, but there's hardly a standout shot to be had. Take a look before staging a spirited defense. It'll save you some time.
An American Tail's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track isn't all that remarkable either, but there also aren't any major issues to point to. Voices are reasonably clean and clear, prioritization is decidedly decent, and effects and music are only held back by age. LFE output is only mildly engaging and rear speaker activity is sparse, leading to a rather flat, front-heavy experience, but it's all in keeping with the film's original sound design. There isn't a lot to complain about other than, again, Universal's repurposing of an outdated AV source; one in need of a full restoration.
Only two extras are included: a "Somewhere Out There" Sing Along and the film's theatrical trailer.
An American Tail holds a special place in many an animation fan's heart, while Disney Animation owes the film almost everything. That doesn't mean it's a classic in every sense of the word, or that it stands the test of time. It stands tall among 1980s animated features, though, even if critics past and present seem unimpressed with all that Bluth brings to the screen. Unfortunately, Universal's Blu-ray release is a letdown, no thanks to a terribly problematic video presentation, a so-so audio track and a near-barebones supplemental package. Worth owning? Perhaps. Definitive? Hardly.
1991
30th Anniversary Edition
1992
DVD Packaging
2011
1977
1989
25th Anniversary Edition
1988
1977
1963
The Signature Collection
1994
2014
Alvin's Diamond Edition
1987
1987
Special Edition
1970
The Signature Collection
1961
Ballerina
2016
2007
1986
1995
1990
Bounce-A-Rrrific Special Edition
2000