ParaNorman 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.5

ParaNorman 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

An incredible 4K UHD presentation.

ParaNorman is a remarkably entertaining stop-motion animated film with a sense of creativity and wit. Produced by Travis Knight (The Boxtrolls, Kubo and the Two Strings) and Arianne Sutner (Kubo and the Two Strings, Missing Link), ParaNorman is a unique fantasy-adventure horror comedy from acclaimed animation studio Laika (Coraline). ParaNorman features an all-star cast of voice actors including Kodi Smit-McPhee, Tucker Albrizzi, Anna Kendrick, Casey Affleck, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Leslie Mann, and Jeff Garlin. An outstanding visual experience and one with plenty to offer audiences (young and old).

Norman Babcock (Kodi Smit-McPhee) is a gifted 11-year-old boy with a special ability: Norman can speak to the dead. Seeing ghosts and being able to communicate with them certainly makes Norman a special person with a remarkable gift. Yet this gift can sometimes feel like a curse to Norman – causing him to feel like a social outcast by his peers at school. Yet Norman makes friends with the kind-hearted Neil (Tucker Albrizzi), an overweight boy with an adventurous spirit. The two becomes close friends and begin going on adventures together when Norman must set forth on an epic adventure with grand stakes: saving the entire town.

The voice performances are excellent and manage to make the film all the more entertaining.  Kodi Smit-McPhee was perfect casting in the central role. Norman is a peculiar character and there is so much more to him than first meets the eye. Kodi Smit-McPhee manages to convey these attributes nicely. Anna Kendrick also has fun in her supporting part – proving herself to once again be one of the most charming actresses around.

The animation is superb. The stop-motion animation approach is certainly unique and one of the most compelling elements of the production. The film is the first motion-picture to ever used a 3D color printer in order to help generate material for the production. The 3D printing was used for the production of the model heads.

"Is that jacket waterproof?"

These elements help to enhance the aesthetic of the production and make the stop-motion effects work all the more convincing. Under the art direction of Phil Brotherton (Kubo and the Two Strings) and Francesca Berlingieri Maxwell (Fantastic Mr. Fox), the animators involved on the film production delivered outstanding visuals and helped to create a compelling landscape for the story to unfold.

The production design by Nelson Lowry (Kubo and the Two Strings, Fantastic Mr. Fox) is excellent and contributes to the success of the filmmaking as well. Lowry has a keen sense of understanding of the needs of a stop-motion production and what is required to make something compelling. The efforts here make the world building all the more effective and large-scale in approach. These design attributes enhance the storytelling and work well within the animation landscape.

The cinematography by Tristan Oliver (Isle of Dogs, Fantastic Mr. Fox) is one of the most beautiful elements of ParaNorman. The visuals are a perfect match for the horror-comedy vibes of the film. A cinematographic effort that enhances both of these elements, the cinematographic effect is something that certainly enhanced the tone of the story and the comedy elements.

The score composed by Jon Brion (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Lady Bird) is remarkable and one of the best elements of the film. Brion is one of my favorite composers and every score by this gifted composer shines a light on the creativity and jubilant energy of his compositions. ParaNorman is no exception and it highlights Brion’s versatility and skills (working in animation). The music adds an abundance of excitement to the production.

Directed by Chris Butler (Missing Link) and Sam Fell (Flushed Away), ParaNorman is a great achievement from Laika. Director Butler wrote the screenplay for the film. ParaNorman is a testament to the stop motion animation genre. Butler has a strong grasp on the medium and what makes the animation technique so compelling as an art form. Butler and Fell don’t let audiences down and instead take viewers on an entertaining journey of imagination that rivals the likes of Coraline.  

ParaNorman 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on 4K UHD from Shout Factory, ParaNorman is presented in 2160p HEVC / H.265 in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 2.40:1 widescreen. The aspect ratio is a much wider scope ratio in comparison to the standard 1.85:1 one finds with most animated fare. The 4K UHD presentation has an excellent HDR layer. The detail in the image is fantastic and makes the viewing experience all the more fun and creative. The 4K has outstanding clarity and each frame of the stop motion animation looks more crisp than previous presentations. The only presentation that may rival or surpass this one is the original 3D presentation (and ParaNorman was one of the few animated films to be filmed in native 3D).

ParaNorman 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release includes a Dolby Atmos sound mix. The lossless, 24-bit depth Dolby Atmos mix does a great job of enhancing the soundstage and of making the audio experience even more atmospheric on the whole. The surrounds are actively engaging throughout the audio mix. The soundstage is bigger. A wonderfully engaging and lively surround track and one that uses the rear channels to great effect. Atmospheric effects (from the Atmos design) are also spectacular sounding.

ParaNorman 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The release includes the same excellent supplemental package provided on the previous Special Edition Blu-ray release from Shout Factory. For more information on the bonus features, please refer to the review by colleague Brian Orndorf.

ParaNorman 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

ParaNorman is outstanding animated fun. The film has a great concept and the execution is solid. The animation is impressive and there are a ton of fun sequences throughout the film. A nice mix of classic horror tropes and modern comedic sensibilities, ParaNorman is a lot of fun for the entire family. The 4K UHD presentation provides a new 2160p encode and the HDR implementation is excellent. The release also provides a lossless 24 bit Dolby Atmos soundtrack. The 4K edition retains the same supplemental package as available on a previously released special edition from distributor Shout Factory. Fans of ParaNorman should consider the 4K UHD to be a worthwhile upgrade. Highly recommended.