April and the Extraordinary World Blu-ray Review

The 1080p presentation of "April and the Extraordinary World" on Blu-ray is commendable, showcasing the film in an impressive manner with an AVC MPEG-4 transfer at a 1.85:1 aspect ratio. The image maintains clarity and sharpness throughout, highlighting intricate details within the animation. While the artistic style leans towards classic simplicity, the high-definition transfer accentuates the film's unique steampunk aesthetic by effectively detailing vehicles, architecture, and textures that place a distinct alternate history spin on real French locations. Even amidst the generally drab, gray hues that dominate much of the film, the presence of vibrantly saturated colors like reds and blues provides striking contrast and visual interest.

Small technical imperfections are present, such as minor banding during fading transitions, especially noticeable within the transitions between different scene tones. However, these issues do not severely detract from the overall quality of the presentation. The film's colors follow a dynamic range, particularly in scenes set in a dense green jungle later in the narrative, offering a refreshing shift in the palette and enhancing the visual appeal. Moreover, contrast and black levels are well-balanced, producing pleasing whites and deep blacks that reinforce the atmospheric storytelling. Despite these minor flaws, "April and the Extraordinary World" delivers a visually satisfying experience on Blu-ray, capturing the charm and detail of its animation style proficiently.

The audio presentation of "April and the Extraordinary World" on Blu-ray offers a compelling DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack in English that complements its unique steampunk aesthetic. The musical clarity and width are noteworthy, creating a simplistic yet effective auditory balance that enhances the film's atmosphere. Sound effects such as door knocks and water spills are meticulously placed within the listening environment, allowing for a highly immersive experience. Dialogue is clear and naturally reverberated around the stage, particularly in environments conducive to echoing sounds. However, some action elements may feel somewhat underwhelming, with gunfire lacking a robust punch but still offering acceptable stage presence.

Though the original French language track is disappointingly presented in a lossy DTS 5.1 mix, the English dub compensates well with full-bodied speech and well-prioritized dialogue that remains clear throughout. The ambient soundscapes, such as bubbling chemicals in labs or street traffic, are fittingly crafted to bring the story's world to life. Directional effects smoothly track moving objects, like planes transitioning from rear to front speakers, and sporadic explosions and climactic scenes provide decent LFE, though not as powerful as those found in live-action Hollywood films. Despite some minor shortcomings, the DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless English track succeeds in creating an engaging and enveloping auditory experience.

Note that changing audio tracks must be done through the main menu or in-film via the pop-up menu but requires a movie restart. While a lossless French track would have enhanced the offering, the existing tracks are well-executed to deliver an enriching sonic experience.

The Blu-ray extras for "April and the Extraordinary World" provide immersive insights into the film’s creation and artistic influences. The standout is a 28-minute featurette delving into the movie's origins, inspired by Jacques Tardi's graphic novels, and its development, from world-building to voice acting. It benefits from a clear presentation in 1080p with English subtitles. The theatrical trailer is also included, offering a snapshot of the movie. Additional previews for other GKids titles enhance the value of this Blu-ray package and offer viewers a broad view of upcoming projects.

Extras included in this disc:

The Origin of The Extraordinary World: Behind-the-scenes featurette exploring the film's production, design, themes, and inspirations.

April and the Extraordinary World Theatrical Trailer: Official trailer for the movie.

More from GKids: Previews of other GKids films like Only Yesterday and The Tale of Princess Kaguya.

"April and the Extraordinary World" is a vibrant addition to the steampunk genre, crafting an alternate history where steam and coal power the world, replacing electricity. Set in a reimagined 1941 Paris, Napoleon III's death and the subsequent Franco-Prussian peace led to the mysterious disappearance of scientists, stalling technological progress. The story follows April, a young woman voiced by Angela Galuppo, and her talking cat Darwin as they uncover secrets while searching for a miraculous formula that promises immortality. Despite early pacing issues laden with expository dialogue, the film finds its rhythm as April’s journey progresses, balancing its dark thematic elements with a hopeful undercurrent.

The character development, including April’s determined but generic persona and her amiable companion Julius, supports the narrative well enough to keep audiences engaged. The voice cast, featuring talents like Tony Hale and Paul Giamatti, complements well-developed characters with authentic performances matching the film's tone. The standout elements are Darwin and the story’s villains, who inject excitement and interest as the plot nears its climax.

Technically, the film excels with its traditional animation inspired by Jacques Tardi’s art style. It merges simple yet expressive character designs with richly detailed backgrounds, capturing a drab yet imaginative world cast under pollution's shadow. The retro-futuristic aesthetic lends authenticity to the steampunk setting, while the vivid flourishes of color and complex environment details enhance the narrative. Minor stiffness in animation aside, "April and the Extraordinary World" rewards viewers with an engaging steampunk adventure that balances its conventional storyline with imaginative world-building, making it a visually compelling experience.

"April and the Extraordinary World" delivers an engaging steampunk adventure set in a meticulously crafted alternate history. The narrative explores the intriguing concept of butterfly effect, brilliantly showcasing how minor changes can drastically reshape entire worlds. Character designs for April and Darwin are striking and fitting, enhancing the overall storyline. The animation, while simple, impresses with its unique style and careful attention to detail. Despite not being a genre-defining masterpiece, "April and the Extraordinary World" manages to hold its own as an inventive and enjoyable watch.

The Blu-ray release presents strong technical qualities. The video and audio transfer is noteworthy, capturing the film's distinct aesthetic with clarity and precision. Each frame is rendered beautifully, with vibrant colors and crisp details that fully immerse the viewer in the film’s rich universe. Audio remains consistently powerful, reinforcing the story’s dramatic moments and enhancing the overall viewing experience. Unfortunately, the disc offers only one behind-the-scenes supplement, which, while insightful, leaves one yearning for more in-depth extras.

In conclusion, "April and the Extraordinary World" is most interesting when one considers the movie's butterfly effect story arc, how one moment changed can alter the world in drastic, almost unrecognizable ways. That world is well-designed if not necessarily dark and dank and the story is rather straightforward. April and Darwin are well drawn and perfect fits for the story. Animation is simple, but impressive. It's not a masterwork of its genre, but GKids' latest is well worth a watch. Universal's Blu-ray contains one substantive extra. Video and audio are strong. Recommended.