Delta Space Mission Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		5.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.0

Delta Space Mission Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf March 14, 2022

1984’s “Delta Space Mission” is a Romanian animated film that attempts to rework elements of “Star Trek” for a young audience. It’s more in line with classic Saturday morning television programming, offering a deep space adventure with a cast of heroes as they encounter a series of alien and A.I. entanglements, forced to fight their way out of dangerous situations. It’s an episodic feature, beginning in the middle of chaos like a matinee serial, but it’s immense fun to watch, especially when the production gets a little ambitious with its style, playing with movement and angles to spice up an offering of cartoon escapism with a super space team.

In the year 3084, Earth is preparing to launch Space Station Delta into orbit, inviting alien journalist Alma to visit the facility and share the experience. Space researcher Dan, electronic device designer Oana, electronic coordinator Yashiro, and bio-cybernetician Anuta are in charge of the project, delivering a super-brain A.I. system to run it all. Launched into space, Delta begins malfunctioning, with the super-brain hung up on Alma and her kind words, creating a mess of things in an effort to keep the visitor on the space station forever. Joined by her metal-eating pet, Tin, Alma attempts to evade capture, soon crash landing on the jungle planet Acora, inspiring Dan and Yashiro to rescue the reporter from the dangers of the area and the questionable interests of the super-brain.

Introductions are limited in “Delta Space Mission,” with story beginning mid-disaster, as the heroic group manages to survive a deadly situation using their special gifts, ready to return to Earth and deal with the launch of the space station. Alma is the audience surrogate, meeting with the space force, trying to keep Tin from eating his way through important metal materials. He’s cute but somewhat dangerous, and he represents the comedic side of “Delta Space Mission,” as every animated adventure needs an animal sidekick.

Alma is welcomed by Dan and his team, and she marvels over the super-brain, paying it a minor compliment that becomes a major issue for the A.I. machine, which secretly plans to take possession of the reporter, wrestling control of Delta Space Station away from the humans to become a fortress of doom or possible horniness, it’s not quite clear. “Delta Space Mission” is broken up into distinct acts, opening with the launch of the gigantic machine, which becomes an immediate problem for the designers and technicians, unsure how to deal with a female-obsessed A.I. creation. The second act turns into chase, with Alma attempting to escape from the space station, crashing on Acroa, which offers new challenges for the visitor, including a range of swamp creatures. Super-brain is right there, spreading its seed of small robot warriors, making plans to collect Alma and live happily ever after on the station. So yes, “Delta Space Mission” is supremely weird.

Dan and his team are a Federation-style collection of space explorers looking for planets and environments to study, and that’s all “Delta Space Mission” is about. The majority of the film takes place on Acora, finding Alma dealing with the tough atmosphere of the planet, and Tin interacts with local wildlife, becoming a toy to larger creatures. Super-brain’s robots soon join the party, along with Dan and Yashiro, who attempt to rescue Alma, only to get stranded as well. Laser gun shootouts are present, along with some martial arts, with the production using rotoscoping techniques to add some natural movement to human and alien characters. The fighting is reasonably thrilling, but it adds some action the endeavor, which slows down as it goes, happy to showcase animation achievements, which are wonderful, giving this low-budget offering impressive visuals to study, backed by a synth score that wouldn’t be out of place in a Sega Genesis game.

Delta Space Mission Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.32:1 aspect ratio) presentation is listed as a "new 4K scan" of the original camera negative, with work completed by the Romanian National Film Archive and CNC – Romanian Film Centre. The results capture the colorful presence of "Delta Space Mission," which is filled with bright, crisp hues, highlighting alien environments and appearances, along with sci-fi touches. Primaries are vivid, and metallic characters and interiors register as intended. Detail explores the creative process for the movie, with artistry open for inspection. Grain is fine and film-like. Delineation is precise. Source is in good condition, with some mild speckling.

Delta Space Mission Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 LPCM mix manages defined dialogue exchanges, with voice work offered volume throughout the listening experience. Scoring kicks in with sharp synth selections, supporting the movie without overwhelming the performances. Sound effects are pronounced.

Delta Space Mission Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary feature film historian Kat Ellinger.

• "Delta Space Shorts" (HD) continue the adventure, with "Failed Towing" (7:47) and "The Planet of the Oceans" (6:58).

• Interview (41:34, HD) is a video conference discussion of "Delta Space Mission" with director Calin Cazan.

• A Trailer has not been included on this release.

Delta Space Mission Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Delta Space Mission" offers more conventional encounters with monstrous creations, though one of the abominations presented here is a sentient antenna tower, keeping things strange to hold attention. The production is often compared to 1981's "Heavy Metal," and while design elements are similar, this is a far more PG-rated odyssey, as careful attention on the animation of Alma's pronounced breasts about as randy as it gets. It's more European in execution, going for a head-trip viewing experience that does well with colors and sound, connecting to younger viewers and those in an altered state of mind. "Delta Space Mission" doesn't offer cohesive storytelling (a few characters introduced early in the picture have nothing to do with the plot), but it's an engrossing sit, with strong artistic achievements and a few weirdo touches to keep it all wonderfully amusing.