Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		5.0

Toy Story 3 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Disney has released 2010's hit digitally animated film 'Toy Story 3' to the UHD format. The release includes a new 2160p/HDR transfer and a Dolby Atmos soundtrack. The two bundled Blu-ray discs are for all intents and purposes identical to those housed in the 2010 release. The studio is also offering 'Toy Story' and 'Toy Story 2' in similar UHD configurations.

Toy Story 3 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The included screenshots are sourced from a 1080p Blu-ray disc.

Toy Story 3's UHD presentation follows the same basic parameters of its series counterparts, finding a modest-at-best increase in clarity and sharpness but really finding its worth under the HDR color parameters. It's definitely a brighter, bolder presentation compared to the Blu-ray. In the Old West set piece to open the movie, there's a significant increase in the blue sky's color depth and contrast. The dusty, earthy terrain around the ground likewise bears similar fruits, and throughout the film the same holds true. Lotso's pink fur is a highlight for its improved punch and color nuance. Rex's scaly green plastic body, Woody's signature attire, Jessie's red hair, various decorations and toys in Andy's room and in the daycare play areas, all of it finds a far greater color punch, density, stability, and accuracy than the Blu-ray can offer. It's a very bright, cheerful image and is a boon to the material.

Texturally, the presentation is not worlds better than the Blu-ray, offering modest ups in clarity and detail that are overshadowed by the more obvious, and more impactful, HDR colors. UHD viewers will note a little more separation and distinction when looking at Jessie's braided hair, Bullseye's burlap sack-like body texturing, Lotsa's fur, and Woody's jeans, for just a few examples. Scuffs on floors and walls, wear and tear on toys, and the like enjoy agreeable, though minor, boosts that do, if nothing else, improve one's appreciation for the digital artists and the extremely fine detail that went into the making of the movie.

This is a newer production than Toy Story and Toy Story 2, obviously, and the improvements in the digital construction processes in that time have all but eliminated the more egregious examples of the aliasing/shimmering-type of artifacts that appeared with some frequency in those two earlier films. This is certainly the best looking of the three, though each are well worth the UHD upgrade, primarily for what the HDR color spectrum brings to the material. This is unquestionably just about the best the movie is going to look for a very long time.

Toy Story 3 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Toy Story 3 features a Dolby Atmos soundtrack which is yet another Disney release that requires a fairly substantial upward movement for the volume dial (about 7db on this reviewer's system) to have it approach a fairly normal listening level. Beyond that, the track is a delight of frenzied activity, extreme surround use, and oftentimes prodigious subwoofer output. Whether a stampede of children running into the daycare playroom or some serious machinery rumble in chapter 29 within a landfill's churning, grinding, conveyer belt to fiery inferno machines, the track gets a considerable amount of usage from the low end, complete with ribcage-rattling depth and detail that convey the immersive power of whatever large-scale effect happens to be defining any particular moment. The most impressive low end takes are often accompanied by some of the widest and most complete surround details the film has to offer. There are a number of scenes that are awash in rip-roaring insanity, and the track always maintains a balance to its components and makes use of the overhead channels as all but necessary supports to heighten, literally and figuratively, the experience. There is some nice stage traversal as the characters attempt to break free of the daycare room in a scene in chapter 13 reminiscent of when Buzz demonstrated his "flying skills" in the first film. This one is defined by a popper toy being pushed across the stage. There are a number of lighter atmospherics which nicely fill in the gaps. Music is rich and wide with excellent spacing and efficient clarity. Dialogue is detailed, well prioritized, and firmly positioned in the front-center channel.

Toy Story 3 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Toy Story 3's UHD disc contains no supplemental features. The pair of bundled Blu-ray discs are essentially identical to those released in 2010; the discs ditch things like BD-Live functionality and a feature on using the Disney digital file copy but carry over everything else. See below for a breakdown of what's included. For full supplemental content coverage, please click here. This release ships with a Movies Anywhere digital copy code. It also ships with an embossed slipcover.

Disc One:

• Day & Night: Theatrical Short
• Buzz Lightyear Mission Logs: The Science of Adventure
• Toys!
• Sneak Peeks

• Family Play:
  
  
  • The Gang's All Here
  • Goodbye Andy
  • Accidental Toymakers
  • A Toy's Eye View: Creating a Whole New Land
  • Epilogue
• Film Fans:


• Cine-Explore
• Beyond the Toybox: Alternate Commentary Track Featuring Leads from Story, Tech, Art and Animation
• Roundin' Up A Western Opening
• Bonnie's Playtime: A Story Roundtable
• Beginnings: Setting a Story in Motion
• Life of a Shot
• Making of Day & Night
• Paths to Pixar - Editorial
• Studio Stories: Where's Gordon?
• Studio Stories: Cereal Bar
• Studio Stories: Clean Start


• Games and Activities:
  
  
  • Toy Story Trivia Dash
• Publicity:
  
  
  • Grab Bag
  • Ken's Dating Tips
  • Lots-o'-Huggin' Bear Commercial
  • Lots-o'-Huggin' Bear Commercial 2 (Japan)
  • Making of the Lots-o'-Huggin' Bear Commercials
  • "Internet Chat"
  • "Security Cam"
  • "Gadgets"
  • "Dancing with the Stars" at Pixar
  • TS3 Silence Trailer
  • TS3 Antipiracy trailer
  • TS3 Teaser Trailer
  • TS3 Teaser Trailer 2
  • TS3 Teaser Trailer 3
  • TS3 Japan Teaser Trailer 1
  • TS3 Japan Teaser Trailer 2
  • Character Intros
  • Poster Gallery

Toy Story 3 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Toy Story 3 is simply an amazing movie, filled with adventure that plays out with heart and a purpose. It's also amazing to watch the franchise evolve both narratively and digitally, the latter of which is certainly reflected in Disney's UHD. The HDR colors are dazzling and the minor increases in clarity only help. Despite some wonky volume issues the audio is exciting when cranked up. A thorough collection of legacy extras have been imported. Toy Story 3 earns my highest recommendation.