Ferdinand 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Review

The 4K UHD Blu-ray presentation of "Ferdinand" marks a notable enhancement in visual fidelity over its 1080p counterpart, despite being sourced from a 2K Digital Intermediate (DI) and upscaled to 4K. Viewers will appreciate the discernible improvement in texture detail, particularly in the animated characters and environmental elements such as Spanish tile roofs, stucco walls, and Lupe's fur. This uptick in detail brings a new level of depth and realism to the film's vibrant world. The expanded color gamut and dynamic range, facilitated by HDR10, significantly enhance the film's bright and varied palette. Scenes filled with multicolored flowers or depicting sunsets exhibit a newfound richness and intensity, contributing to a more visually immersive experience. Additionally, improved shadow definition in nighttime scenes adds depth to the image, making elements like grass blades more noticeable.

The transfer boasts an impressive clarity and lack of compression issues, maintaining stability across various scenes. Although the film was finished at a 2K DI, the uptick in finer details—especially in characters' fur and environmental textures—suggests a meticulous upscale process to 4K. Highlights include the china shop sequence, where the vivid colors of plates and glasses stand out more starkly against bright whites, and darker scenes that showcase enhanced black levels for greater nuance and shadow layering.

Furthermore, this 4K presentation excels in displaying the animated feature's dynamic visuals with greater clarity and fluid motion, benefiting from the HEVC / H.265 encoding on a BD-66 layer disc. While some may find the HDR application conservative, it effectively enriches the film's already vivid color scheme without overwhelming it, ensuring that "Ferdinand"'s visual storytelling remains both enchanting and technically impressive on the 4K UHD format.

The Dolby Atmos mix of "Ferdinand" on its 4K UHD Blu-ray release sets a high bar for immersive audio experiences. The mix employs audio objects with precision, making exceptional use of overhead atmospherics and discrete sound effects that add depth and dimensionality to the viewing experience. This results in a palpable sense of immersion, effectively capturing the essence of every scene, whether it's the rustle of a tree or the intense moments of a bull charge. The mix may not be aggressively overpowering but remains consistently active and finely tuned to complement the source material, making for an engaging auditory journey.

The transition from the DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 track of the 1080p Blu-ray to the Dolby Atmos track on this 4K release elevates the audio experience. The introduction of overhead sound elements, such as the acoustic guitar solos and the ambient sounds of the crowd, enriches the soundscape, bringing added clarity and verticality that was previously absent. The already excellent directionality is enhanced, with major sequences offering abundant surround activity and deep, resonant LFE that makes action scenes, like the marauding bulls in Madrid, come alive. Dialogue remains clear and distinct, ensuring that every word is heard amidst the complex audio environment.

This release showcases a robust Dolby Atmos track that requires a slight volume adjustment for optimal listening. Once set, the listener is treated to detailed and dynamic audio that captures a wide spectrum of sound, from the low-frequency impacts of doors slamming to the subtle nuances of footsteps. The ceiling speakers contribute effectively, adding layers to the audio that engross the viewer in the film's atmospheric moments. Surround sound is meticulously crafted, with rear and side speakers adding to the overall ambiance, making Ferdinand's world a sonically rich environment where dialogue is crisp and never overshadowed by the action.

The extra features package for the "Ferdinand" Blu-ray offers a diverse yet surface-level glimpse into the making of this animated feature, tailored mostly towards its younger audience but with enough substance to entertain adult viewers. Highlights include "Creating the Land of Ferdinand," which, despite its brevity, offers interesting insights into the film's artistic direction and environment design. Similarly, "Anatomy of a Scene: The Bull Run" provides a concise but informative look at one of the movie's key sequences, showcasing storyboard planning and execution. Other features, such as "Learn to Dance with Ferdinand" and "Ferdinand’s Do-It-Yourself Flower Garden," offer engaging, interactive content that extends the film's themes into real-world applications. While much of the content leans towards light-hearted and promotional material, such as character overviews and health tips from John Cena, there's enough depth in selected features to warrant attention. All extras are contained on the Blu-ray disc, acknowledging the trend of reserving 4K discs primarily for film presentation.

Extras included in this disc:

• Ferdinand’s Guide to Healthy Living with John Cena: Cena shares health tips.
• A Goat’s Guide to Life: Insights from Kate McKinnon's character.
• Ferdinand’s Team Supreme: Brief character highlights.
• Spain Through Ferdinand’s Eyes: An overview of the film's Spanish settings.
• Confessions of a Bull-loving Horse: Flula Borg shares his experience.
• Creating the Land of Ferdinand: A look into the design process of the film's environments.
• Anatomy of a Scene: The Bull Run: Insight into making this pivotal scene.
• Learn to Dance with Ferdinand: A behind-the-scenes look at the dance sequences' animation.
• Ferdinand’s Do-It-Yourself Flower Garden: Gardening tips from Lisa Ely.
• Creating a Remarka-Bull Song: Nick Jonas discusses his Oscar-nominated song.
• Home Music Video: Performance by Nick Jonas.
• Art of Ferdinand Gallery: Concept paintings, character designs, locations, and stills.
• Theatrical Trailer

Ferdinand," released in 4K UHD Blu-ray by 20th Century Fox, elevates the tale of a peace-loving bull from Munro Leaf's 1936 children's book to a visually stunning and emotionally charged animated adventure. Directed with a blend of heart and humor, the film follows Ferdinand (voiced by John Cena), a giant but gentle bull who, after a bee sting causes him to be mistaken for a dangerous beast, embarks on a journey to return to his family. This adaptation ventures far beyond the book's simple premise, expanding the narrative with an array of new characters, including a cheeky goat named Lupe (Kate McKinnon) and a trio of mischievous hedgehogs, enriching Ferdinand's world without losing sight of the story's core message about the folly of judging others by their appearance.

While "Ferdinand" pays homage to its source material, it confidently crafts its identity, juxtaposing its vibrant animation with themes of friendship, freedom, and non-violence against the backdrop of Spain's bullfighting tradition. This juxtaposition offers both children and adults moments of reflection on deeper societal issues without overshadowing the film's primary objective: to entertain. The movie benefits significantly from its voice cast, particularly Cena and McKinnon, whose performances inject vitality and humor into their characters, ensuring a pleasurable viewing experience despite some of the film's more predictable plot elements.

The presentation on 4K UHD Blu-ray is noteworthy, demonstrating meticulous attention to visual details and color accuracy that bring the animated world of "Ferdinand" to life with remarkable clarity and depth. While it might not revolutionize the animated film genre, "Ferdinand" stands out for its successful blend of humor, warmth, and visual splendor. It serves as a compelling reminder of animation's power to entertain while subtly conveying messages of importance. This rendition may diverge from the original book's simplicity, but it succeeds in crafting an engaging story that resonates with a contemporary audience, making it a worthy addition to any family's movie collection.

Ferdinand," a film that embraces the warmth of its storytelling with visuals and sound that equally bolster its heartwarming appeal, offers a wholesome viewing experience for family audiences. Presented by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, this Ultra HD Blu-ray Combo Pack shines with its excellent Ultra HD quality, showcasing sparkling high-definition video that brings vividness to the already colorful and energetic animation. The addition of a rewarding lossless surround sound and a solid Dolby Atmos mix enhances every scene, ensuring viewers are as audibly engaged as they are visually. While the movie navigates the high expectations set by the prevailing excellence in animated features, it remains a delightful endeavor, thanks to its robust voice work and fan-friendly assortment of extras, even if it diverges from the core simplicity of Munro Leaf's original story with additional, somewhat extraneous material.

Granted, "Ferdinand" doesn't reach the pinnacle of animated cinema as seen in some of its contemporaries; it carves its niche by being enjoyably diverting and technically impressive. The film's 4K / HDR10 video transfer elevates the HD A/V presentation, adding a layer of visual splendor that complements the movie's lively audio mix and Atmos enhancement. Although the story might veer away from a faithful adaptation of its source material, leading to initial disappointment for purists, it manages to win over its audience with charm and high-spirited fun. The inclusion of "kid fluff" extras alongside this superior video and audio presentation makes it a compelling pick, although the standard Blu-ray version might suffice for those primarily entertaining younger viewers.

In conclusion, while "Ferdinand" may not set new benchmarks for animated storytelling, its release on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray presents an excellent opportunity for families to enjoy a visually stunning and sonically vibrant film. The technical merits of this release underscore a dedicated effort to enhance its appeal through top-tier video and audio quality, ensuring that both children and adults find something to appreciate. Despite its narrative padding and deviation from the literary source, "Ferdinand" remains a recommended watch, offering sufficient allure through its presentation quality and special features to warrant addition to any family's movie night roster.