Early Man 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.5

Early Man 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

An outstanding animated gem receives the premium 4K treatment

A charming animated comedy from creative genius Nick Park (Wallace and Gromit), Early Man is an entertaining clay- animation epic which takes place during the Stone Age. The story follows the fun misadventures of brave Dug (Eddie Redmayne) and his animal side- kick Hognob (Nick Park). As things start to dramatically unfold, Dug meets the spirited lass Goona (Maisie Williams) and the rest is history. (Pun intended.)

It isn't long before a football team (soccer for Americans!) is formed. Can Dug and Goona (along with the rest of their stone-age wack-a-doo friends) defeat the diabolical Lord Nooth (Tom Hiddleston) and ultimately save the day (while defending their own land)? Filled to the brim with beautiful animation and plenty of charm for the whole family, Early Man is another creative gem from Aardman. Don't miss it.

4K Stone Age Edition

For more information on Early Man, please refer to the review by my colleague Jeffrey Kauffman.

Early Man 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on 4K UHD Blu-ray from Studio Canal, Early Man has received a gorgeous 2160p 4K resolution presentation in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1 widescreen. This is a impressive native 4K presentation. As the resolution is native and the scan is not a upscale, the level of detail on display is even more remarkable than one might expect. Though I was already incredibly pleased by viewing the Blu-ray (reviewed by my colleague Jeffrey Kauffman here), the 4K UHD Blu-ray has managed to surpass that quality disc and give even more depth and detail to the presentation.

The visuals of Early Man are surprisingly well suited to 4K. One can seem to make out every subtle nuance of the clay animation: every pore of the clay. The HDR grading also adds to the experience. Throughout the presentation, colors seem more robust and deep in 4K UHD. While this might not be considered a "show-stopper" 4K disc, it's a near reference one, and it showcases how the 4K medium can present films to their absolute best. A pristine (and flawless) presentation.

Please Note:

The 4K UHD Blu-ray disc (as with all 4K discs) is region free and will play on any player worldwide. The Blu-ray disc in the combo-set is Region B locked and will require a Region B (or Region Free) player.

Early Man 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Dolby Atmos high-resolution audio (with Dolby TrueHD 24 bit core) sounds remarkable. The lossless audio is superb and adds to the film viewing experience tenfold. The surrounds are actively engaged throughout the film and it helps the experience become something even more memorable. This is a top- notch Atmos track.

For more information on the audio-quality for Early Man, please refer to the review by my colleague Jeffrey Kauffman.

Early Man 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

To my surprise, the UK 4K UHD/Blu-ray combo pack includes supplements which are not found on the US edition.

These extras are exclusive to the UK Studio Canal release:

Audio Commentary featuring director Nick Park and editor Sim Evans-Jones

Birth of Early Man (HD, 8:09) explores the origin of the film with the filmmakers.

Evolution of Early Man (HD, 8:01) focuses on the development of Early Man and takes viewers inside the recording sessions.

Match of the Clay (HD, 2:57) showcases the filmmakers in a sporting arena for a scene of the film.

The following extras are found on both the UK Studio Canal release and the US Blu-ray disc:

Nick Park: Massaging the Funny (HD, 8:42)

The Valley Meets the Bronze (HD, 7:26)

Hanging at Aardman Studios: A Workshop Experience (HD, 7:45)

Before the Beginning of Time: Crafting Early Man (HD, 14:37)

Early Man 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Early Man is another stellar effort from the creative geniuses at Aardman. The animation is a sight to behold. The storytelling is exciting and offers plenty of fun for the entire family. There is something magical about clay animation and the efforts of the filmmakers at the legendary animation studio. I delighted in re-visiting the film in 4K and feel it offered the best presentation available. A must for animation enthusiasts. Highly recommended.