Isle of Dogs 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		5.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.5

Isle of Dogs 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman November 19, 2025

Note: This version of this film is available on disc both as a standalone release and as part of Criterion's The Wes Anderson Archive: Ten Films, Twenty-Five Years 4K. This review is based on the edition in the Archive box set.

Considering Wes Anderson's penchant for symmetry and Academy Ratio framings, at least at times, about the only problem some diehard Anderson fans may have with Criterion's impressive new set documenting "10 films and 25 years" may be that it's in a rectangular rather than a square box. That oversized box measures nearly 13" wide by 7 1/2" high by 3 1/2" deep and which some "liner notes" from Anderson joke is "upholstered in a sort of burlap canvas". It has a magnetized hinged cover that opens to display ten individual DigiBooks, one for each Anderson film, and each offering two discs, 1080 and 4K UHD, along with a sewn in pamphlet devoted to that film. While all of the films have had previous 1080 releases (not necessarily by Criterion), this set offers the 4K UHD debuts of each film.

Isle of Dogs had a previous 1080 release by home studio 20th Century Fox back in 2018. My Isle of Dogs Blu-ray review of that release provides plot information, a list of supplements on that edition and my reaction to the technical presentation.

Isle of Dogs 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Note: Screenshots are sourced from the 1080 disc in this package.

Isle of Dogs is presented in 4K UHD courtesy of Criterion with an HEVC / H.265 encoded 2160p transfer in 2.39:1. I can't speak as to what is included with the standalone 4K release, but the Archive edition's pamphlet has the following information on the master:

Isle of Dogs is presented in the aspect ratio of 2.40:1. Supervised and approved by director Wes Anderson, the new 4K digital master presented on the 4K Ultra HD disc was upscaled from the 2K digital source master, which was created from the original digital camera media. The original 5.1 surround soundtrack was remastered from the digital audio files. The feature is presented in Doblyv Vision HDR (high dynamic range) on the 4K UHD disc, to preserve the wide-color gamut of the theatrical presentation, and high definition SDR (standard dynamic range) on the Blu-ray.

I was frankly completely enchanted by 20th Century Fox's 1080 presentation from a few years ago, but the good news is I experienced a whole reinvigorated sense of wonder and appreciation for this film's impeccable production design and glut of animation styles in this really stunning looking new 4K edition, despite it being an upscale. Perhaps the absence of actual "real life" humans and locations in the feature help to elevate detail levels without some of the bugaboos that can be associated with upscales (even from 2K to 4K), but one way or the other there are some subtle but noticeable upticks in detail levels throughout when compared to the prior 1080 release. That's perhaps especially observable on some of the 3D "characters" like some of the maquettes, which can display minor dings and the like which aren't as noticeable in the 1080 version. Fine detail on elements like dog fur and on all of the "illustration" adjacent animation work is exceptional. But it's probably going to be the palette that knocks many eyes out from the get go. The abundance of gorgeous highlights throughout this presentation is really remarkable. While primaries virtually burst from the screen at times, I was actually really struck by some of the more nuanced pastels or neutral colors, like some of the yellowish tones in the lab.

Isle of Dogs 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Isle of Dogs features a nicely rendered DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track that to my ears is indistinguishable from the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track on the older 20th Century Fox 1080 disc. The track has good attention to discrete placement of ambient environmental effects, as well as some smart directionality in terms of "smaller" moments like snarling dogs at the sides of the frame and such. While not overly ubiquitous, there's a typical Anderson eclectic quality to the source cues used, and those also open up into the side and rear channels quite winningly (for anyone intrigued by the brief snippet of a version of Prokofiev's charming Lt. Kije Suite, I highly recommend researching the amazing Sauter-Finegan Orchestra, long one of my all time favorites). Dialogue is always presented cleanly and clearly, and there are no issues whatsoever with damage, dropouts or distortion. Optional English subtitles are available.

Isle of Dogs 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

4K Disc

• Commentary is newly recorded in 2025 and features Wes Anderson and Jeff Goldblum, which is probably 'nuff said.

1080 Disc

• Commentary


• Storyboard Animatic (HD; 1:29:30) offers the film in nascent form.


• The Making of Isle of Dogs

Crew Interviews (HD; 20:56)




Jupiter in the Studio (HD; 16:58) offers some recording sessions with F. Murray Abraham.




Voices of the Hero Pack (HD; 7:32) looks at some of the other voice actors.




Animation Tests (HD; 4:08)




VFX Breakdowns (HD; 4:54)




Time Lapse (HD; 3:57) offers some set construction and stop motion footage.




Sushi (HD; 1:33) offers some slicing and dicing.

• The Visual Comedy of Isle of Dogs (HD; 10:49) offers a bunch of really fun examples, many of which may have escaped immediate notice.


• Featurettes

Animators (HD; 3:40)




Cast Interviews (HD; 5:08)




Puppets (HD; 4:03)




An Ode to Dogs (HD; 2:00)




Megasaki City and Trash Island (HD; 2:59)




Weather and Elements (HD; 3:04)




Actors and Their Puppets (HD; 00:49)

• Trailer (HD; 2:38)

The Archive edition features a wonderful pamphlet sewn/glued into the DigiBook with an essay by Moeko Fujii with a ton of photos. Credits and technical information are also included. It's my understanding that the standalone edition offers a poster.

Isle of Dogs 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

I am most definitely a so-called "dog person", but in starting out my viewing of the immense new Archive of Wes Anderson films Criterion is offering fans, I kind of remembered I am so frequently a "Wes Anderson person", in that I seem strangely attuned to his off kilter sensibility which is rather strangely combined with an almost obsessive need for symmetry. This new Criterion edition boasts solid technical merits and outstanding supplements. Highly recommended.