Toy Story of Terror Blu-ray Review

As expected from a Disney/Pixar release, the video presentation of "Toy Story of Terror!" on Blu-ray is exceptional. Presented in 1080p with an AVC MPEG-4 encoding, this 1.78:1 aspect ratio transfer is nothing short of stunning. Colors are rich and vibrant, popping off the screen with a delightful candy-coated gloss that is consistent, regardless of lighting conditions. The black levels are deep and inky, ensuring that even the darkest scenes retain considerable detail without any hint of crush. The images are crisp and naturally defined, with an impressive level of detail visible in textures and fine elements, ranging from the stains on the motel walls to the intricate stitching on the toy costumes.

Despite the dark and ominous atmosphere prevalent throughout much of the film, the clarity and contrast maintain their high marks. This Blu-ray boasts extraordinarily precise rendering; every shot has an almost photorealistic quality, with minimal to no instances of macroblocking, aliasing, or banding. Notable sequences, such as those in the motel bathroom or air-duct scenes, display remarkable depth and three-dimensionality, enhancing the immersive experience. Pixar maintains its reputation for seamless and beautiful animation, with each texture meticulously detailed down to the finest elements.

While the overall video quality is approaching flawless, a few minor banding effects can be noticed in specific fast-moving scenes, particularly within black, white, and grey areas. Nevertheless, these occurrences are minimal and do not significantly detract from the viewing experience. In summary, "Toy Story of Terror!" lives up to the high visual standards set by its predecessors, confirming Pixar's prowess in creating highly detailed and vibrant animated content. Enjoy witnessing this animated short in all its high-definition glory.

Disney's DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 surround track for "Toy Story of Terror!" is an exceptional aural experience. The dialogue is consistently clean, intelligible, and flawlessly centered. LFE channels are assertive, delivering powerful bass that punctuates key moments, especially in scenes involving Mr. Jones hunting the other characters. The rear speakers flourish with subtle, horror-movie-inspired sound effects, creating a surprisingly immersive soundfield for a television special. The dynamics are impressively managed, ensuring that the track is as easy on the ears as it is engaging.

Pixar utilizes the DTS-HD 7.1 format to its full potential, rendering a robust and immersive audio mix. Dialogue clarity remains crystal clear and centrally located while the surround effects, including eerie noises and ambient sounds, enhance the tension and immersion. Directionality is precise, and pans across the soundstage are smooth and effective. The mix also features life-like sound effects that seem to creep into your personal space, enhancing the sense of horror and suspense.

Technical aspects such as the wide dynamic range and excellent balancing between dialogue, sound effects, and score further elevate the auditory experience. The Spanish and French audio tracks via Dolby Digital 5.1, while not as rich as the DTS-HD 7.1, still provide decent sound quality, ensuring localization possibilities without compromising too much on entertainment value. And despite being a made-for-TV affair, the surround sound presentation is remarkably solid, with ambient noises, echoes, and score effects effectively utilizing the rear speakers. Timothy Dalton's vocal performance stands out, with every nuance captured precisely.

In summary, this Blu-ray's audio presentation is thoroughly immersive and technically impressive, offering a robust mix that effortlessly blends dialogue, score, and sound effects to create a dynamic and engaging audio experience.

The Blu-ray extras for "Toy Story of Terror!" deliver an engaging and detailed behind-the-scenes experience for fans of the franchise. The highlights include an insightful audio commentary by Angus McLane, Ian Megibben, and Axel Geddes, which dives deep into classic film references, character development, and thematic elements. Furthermore, "Team of Specialists" offers a fascinating glimpse into the production process, showcasing the team's creative efforts from storyboarding to final animation. Additionally, the inclusion of previously released "Toy Story Toons" with optional commentaries provides added value and context. The "Vintage Toy Commercials" are particularly amusing, offering playful references to the new characters. The "Deleted Scenes" enhance understanding of the creative decisions, with optional introductions providing further context. The promotional "D23 Teaser" rounds out these robust extras.

Extras included in this disc:

• Audio Commentary: Breakdown of the special with insights and references.
• Team of Specialists: Production featurette focused on development and animation.
• Toy Story Toons: Includes Hawaiian Vacation, Small Fry, and Partysaurus Rex with commentaries.
• Vintage Toy Commercials: Hilarious commercials for new characters.
• Deleted Scenes: Three unfinished scenes with optional introductions.
• D23 Teaser: Promo for Toy Story of Terror!

"Toy Story of Terror!" offers a delightful yet mildly eerie adventure, ideal for both children and nostalgic adults. The protagonist lineup, including series stalwarts Woody (Tom Hanks), Buzz (Tim Allen), and Jessie (Joan Cusack), is complemented by a series of memorable newcomers like Combat Carl (Carl Weathers), PEZ Cat, and Transitron. When a flat tire strands Bonnie and her mother at a desolate motel, the toys commence an exploration that turns sinister as they start disappearing one by one. The narrative centers around Jessie overcoming her deepest fears, with the assistance of the new additions, to save her friends from the clutches of the nefarious motel manager and his pet iguana.

The production's technical finesse stands out, with impeccable voice acting and a script filled with horror movie references that seasoned fans will appreciate. The atmosphere is effectively eerie but not overly frightening, making it appropriate for children while offering a treasure trove of Easter eggs for adults. Special commendation is due to the character of Mr. Pricklepants, who humorously annotates genre clichés as they occur. The special successfully balances its truncated runtime with a well-paced three-act structure that focuses on character-driven storytelling, humor, and mild thrills.

"Toy Story of Terror!" benefits from its clever integration of horror film tropes into the whimsical world of Toy Story. Although it doesn't match the emotional or narrative depth of the feature films, it excels in delivering a cohesive, entertaining experience within its 22-minute span. From Woody's steadfast leadership to Combat Carl's G.I. Joe-inspired antics, every character serves their role effectively. While not essential to the broader Toy Story canon, this Halloween special is a charming detour that showcases Pixar's knack for creating engaging, multi-layered content suitable for all ages.

"Toy Story of Terror!" seamlessly extends the beloved Pixar franchise into a concise yet captivating 21-minute television special. As a standalone Blu-ray release, it sustains a reasonable price point while being generously supplemented with engaging extras, making it a valuable addition for any Pixar aficionado. The video quality is exemplary, providing striking visuals that stand out, and the DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 surround track impresses with its depth and clarity. This short film masterfully combines heart, humor, and a touch of harmless horror, ensuring enjoyment for both children and adults alike.

Centralizing Jessie as the hero adds a refreshing twist and resonates with fans. The references to classic horror tropes are not only entertaining but also cleverly integrated, providing layers of enjoyment for various age groups. The Blu-ray's presentation is near demo quality, setting high standards for similar releases. The inclusion of toy-themed commercials as part of the supplement package adds an innovative marketing charm that aligns well with the film’s fun essence.

While the brief runtime could initially seem limiting, "Toy Story of Terror!" ensures a compact yet fulfilling experience. Despite some minor retreaded enjoyment for adults on multiple viewings, it remains an entertaining, family-friendly adventure primed for repeated sessions with younger audiences. High production values, reasonable pricing, and top-notch audio-visual fidelity ensure this release stands as a worthy inclusion in any collection.

Toy Story of Terror! might have had a more difficult road ahead if its price point were higher. Fortunately, Disney seems to be aware of the fact that it's selling a 21-minute television special via a standalone release and has seen fit to keep the cost at a reasonable level and load the Blu-ray release with extra content (well, as much as a TV special can really muster). The adventure itself is solid too, and the disc sports a striking video presentation and impressive DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 surround track. Don't scoff at the runtime. Don't shrug off the premise. Toy Story of Terror! may not be the classic the feature films have proven to be, but it's fun, funny and fast on its feet, with a great blend of heart, comedy and teamwork, all with a dash of tense but harmless roadside-hotel horror perfectly primed for the kiddies.