FernGully: The Last Rainforest Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

FernGully: The Last Rainforest Blu-ray Movie Review

In the early 1990s, environmental education was beginning to take hold in both schools and pop culture, with a particular emphasis on the plight of the rainforest, largely viewed as a core problem for Mother Earth’s woes. “FernGully: The Last Rainforest” emerged as a sensitive call to arms from a major movie studio (debuting two months after Disney’s deeply flawed but interesting rainforest adventure, “Medicine Man”), hoping to entertain family audiences while emphasizing a harsh message of deforestation and pollution threatening to destroy the magic of the world. The feature was met with some success, but didn’t exactly create awareness the producers hoped for, reaching a sizable but not astronomical collection of young minds looking for a little guidance on the issue of planetary protection. Three decades later, the endeavor has managed to hang on to relevance by its fingernails, growing into a cult hit with thirtysomethings raised on repeated VHS screenings, now introducing the animated production to their own kids. Thankfully, “FernGully” retains its power and magical might all these years later. While the craftsmanship is a little rough around the edges, the effort to bring a vivid message of destruction is appealing, captured with a lively voice cast and the creation of a colorful pint-sized world for viewers to explore.

FernGully: The Last Rainforest Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

"FernGully: The Last Rainforest" was originally released on Blu-ray by 20th Century Fox in 2012. The feature returns to disc courtesy of Shout Factory, who have access to a "new 4K and restoration of the original film elements." Improvement is noticeable, as the new scan brings out a fresher sense of color, giving the endeavor's magical elements and extensive greenery a defined appearance. Primaries are powerful, along with more naturalistic hues as the adventure visits water and woods. Detail is a bit stronger, bringing out the animation techniques, including the clear use of digital work on the "Batty Rap" sequence. Character particulars are a tad sharper, and environments are open for inspection. Delineation is satisfactory. Grain is fine and film-like. Source is in good condition, with some mild scratches and speckling.

FernGully: The Last Rainforest Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA mix appears to be the same track used in the previous release, which offers a functional but slightly underpowered listening event. Dialogue exchanges are clear but occasionally are crowded out by forest and mechanical action, with the whirring of machines and community movement pronounced throughout. Scoring cues are sharp, delivering a full sense of orchestral instrumentation. Sound effects are active, exploring magical and industrial elements, and echoed exchanges are detailed, keeping surrounds busy. Low-end retains weight with machinery movement.

FernGully: The Last Rainforest Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Introduction (5:10, HD) is a new discussion of "FernGully: The Last Rainforest" with director Bill Kroyer, who examines the work put into finding the right tone for the endeavor, looking to communicate urgency without losing magic. Traveling to a real rainforest for inspiration, the production team worked with traditional and CG animation to bring the visuals to life, looking to preserve the wonders of nature in the process. Participation from actor Robin Williams is briefly mentioned, and Kroyer regards "FernGully" as a career highlight, showing immense pride in the work and its environmental message.

• Commentary with director Bill Kroyer, art director Ralph Eggleston, and coordinating art director Susan Kroyer commences with a pleasing rhythm of information and gentle interplay between the participants. Talk of rainforest research, source material inspiration, and cast temperament are presented, with special attention paid to the antics of Robin Williams, which continued outside the recording studio. The track is primarily technical, pointing out techniques and levels of CG assist, while explaining certain creative choices during the hurried production.

• "Seed of the Story: Script to Screen Comparison" (8:06, SD) walks through several sequences of the film, studying how the script developed into storyboards, and how that crude vision worked its way into final animation. It can be viewed with or without commentary by screenwriter Jim Cox.

• "From Paper to Tree" (29:56, SD) is the official making-of featurette for "FernGully," mixing 1991 interviews with material shot in 2005 (perhaps earlier), looking to create a rounded look at the production effort. Interviews with cast and crew are slight but satisfying, while greeting the individual animators carries a little more interest, hearing their thoughts on character design and voice talent. Development and daily work are explored, with emphasis on CGI achievements and the worldwide creative effort to bring the picture to life.

• "Toxic Love" (2:41, SD) is a multi-angle presentation of the villain's tune, providing a look at final animation, the animatic, and footage of Tim Curry in the recording studio.

• Original Featurette (5:57, SD) is a brief EPK look at the basics of the "FernGully" production, produced in 1992.

• "If I'm Gonna Eat Somebody (It Might As Well Be You)" (4:17, SD) is a music video from Tone Loc, mixing animation, film clips, and performance footage.

• Trailer A (1:39, SD), Trailer B (2:29, SD), Trailer C (1:16, SD) are provided, along with three T.V. Spots (1:41, SD).

FernGully: The Last Rainforest Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

There's not much to "FernGully" beyond a sense of discovery. The film is shockingly short (70 minutes before the end credits), but that's not a complaint, with Kroyer refusing to belabor the messages of the picture, maintaining a concentration on wonder and action to support ideas on environmental devastation and the true price of greed. It's simplistic enough to get through to children in need of illumination, while potent enough to keep adults attentive and concerned. Despite its grim reality, "FernGully: The Last Rainforest" remains a highly amusing feature, which is perhaps most important of all. A spoonful of sugar helps this medicine go down in a fulfilling way, with 30 years of environmental awareness only supporting the importance of the movie's cry for planetary care.