The Pied Piper + Jiří Barta Shorts Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		5.0
Overall		5.0

The Pied Piper + Jiří Barta Shorts Blu-ray Movie Review

The Jiri Barta Shorts are remarkably beautiful short films from the master animator. There is something remarkably special about each of the short films included in the box-set. The shorts cover a wide range of his career and the set includes his first short.

Every short film included in the box set is well worthwhile. Animation fans who appreciate stop motion animation and are interested in the works of Jiri Barta should consider this an essential box-set. For more information on The Jiri Barta Shorts, please refer to the supplemental section.

For more information on the The Pied Piper, please refer to the review by my colleague Brian Orndorf.

The Pied Piper + Jiří Barta Shorts Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Released on Blu-ray by Deaf Crocodile, The Pied Piper + Jiri Barta Shorts is presented across two discs with presentations in the original aspect ratios. The theatrical presentations look stunning across the collection. Each short film is beautifully and meticulously remastered for the release. The shorts are great additions to the release and the presentations are beautiful in so many ways. For more information on The Pied Piper, please refer to the review of The Pied Piper.

The Pied Piper + Jiří Barta Shorts Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Pied Piper + Jiri Barta Shorts are presented in Czech DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono. The audio presentations are faithful to the original sound designs. The audio is mostly limited to a variety of impressive sound effects and is not focused on dialogue. The subtle sound designs are creatively engaged and highly effective.

The Pied Piper + Jiří Barta Shorts Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Disc 2 –

Interview with Director Jiri Barta (HD, 1:16:12) is a new discussion with the filmmaker as moderated by Dennis Bartok.

Pushed to the Margins: The Shorts of Jiri Barta (HD, 29:40) is a visual essay exploring the films of Jiri Barta.

Short Films –

Riddles for a Candy (1978) (HD, 8:13) is the debut short by Barta. The short explores a series of riddles needing to be solved.

Disc Jockey (1980) (HD, 9:47) explores the world through discs. This is a must-see for everyone who collects physical media and it demonstrates a remarkable passion for vinyl (including limited colored vinyl when colored vinyl still wasn't as common, too). A story told through discs. Outstanding visuals.

The Design (1981) (HD, 6:00) is a beautiful exploration of an apartment complex being brought to life in stop motion.

The Vanished World of Gloves (1982) (HD, 17:27) explores the history of cinema with gloves as the host of the show.

A Ballad About Green Wood (1983) (HD, 10:39) a nature focused piece exploring the world of the outdoors.

The Last Theft (1987) (HD, 20:57) is a ghost story exploring a mansion and its rare treasures.

The Club of the Laid Off (1989) (HD, 25:14) showcases the eccentric lives of mannequins and their lives in a strange apartment complex.  

The Pied Piper + Jiří Barta Shorts Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Pied Piper + Jiri Barta Shorts are incredible. The wonderful stop motion animation achievements are outstanding. The Jiri Barta Shorts are worth the price of admission. Each short film is a special film and adds tremendous value to this collection. The box-set includes so many fantastic shorts – it is truly an incredible treasure trove for stop motion animation fans. The Blu-ray release features incredible restorations, too. Highly recommended.