Hellboy Animated: Blood and Iron 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Review

The 4K UHD Blu-ray presentation of "Hellboy Animated: Blood and Iron," courtesy of Lionsgate Films, boasts a 2160p resolution in a 1.78:1 aspect ratio. This release is somewhat perplexing due to the inherently simple animation style of the film. Viewers might initially find the transition from the 1080p Blu-ray to the 4K UHD version underwhelming in terms of raw clarity or detail enhancement. Interestingly, this particular 4K rendition introduces a slightly wobbly line detail, notably around character's eyes, which doesn’t detract significantly from the overall viewing experience, but is a deviation from the previous version’s more stable outlines. On a positive note, certain stylistic attempts and richer color palettes, especially in blues and purples, are more pronounced in this release, thanks in part to Dolby Vision, showcasing noticeable differences from its predecessors.

Contrary to some viewer experiences, there appears to be no egregious line instability across the board, with the animation holding up well under the scrutiny of 4K’s unforgiving resolution. "Hellboy Animated" takes advantage of this new format to expand its color dynamics significantly, achieving deeper black levels without any glow or halo effects, and enriching the visual experience with bolder colors that shine particularly during darker sequences. This effect harmonizes well with Hellboy’s varying red hues, from rusty brown to bright orange, enhancing the visual storytelling without relying on the brightness typically associated with other animated features.

In essence, this release represents a nuanced upgrade over its 1080p predecessor, manifesting small yet appreciable improvements in color richness and animation detail. The incorporation of Dolby Vision plays a crucial role here, amplifying the depth and vibrancy of the animation’s palette. While it may not revolutionize the viewing experience given the animation's minimalist nature, it solidifies its place among updated versions by offering a visually richer experience, juxtaposing the subdued tones of earlier releases with a newly vibrant chromatic spectrum.

Lionsgate's release of "Hellboy Animated: Blood and Iron" on 4K UHD Blu Ray has certainly taken the ambitious step of incorporating the Dolby Atmos audio codec, aiming to provide audiences with a more immersive cinematic experience. This upgrade from previous versions exemplifies a commitment to enhancing audio quality, which is commendable. However, the execution reveals a nuanced outcome. The Atmos tracks, while delivering in moments of heightened action—such as the eerie moaning of spirits, the dynamic flight of a helicopter, and the powerful blaze summoned by Liz Sherman—often find themselves underutilized during the more dialogue-heavy scenes. These sequences, which account for a considerable portion of the runtime, remain predominantly focused on the front channels, leaving the surround and overhead effects surprisingly quiet, and thereby yielding a presentation that might not fully satisfy hardcore audiophiles seeking constant engagement across all channels.

Despite these shortcomings, there are still instances within both "Hellboy Animated" films where the Dolby Atmos mix shines. Auditory elements such as ghouls' moans, demons' howls, and the ambient noise within the B.P.R.D. headquarters provide a glimpse into what could have been, had the mix taken fuller advantage of the Atmos capabilities. The sound field occasionally extends beyond its front-centric focus, bringing to life immersive environmental noises like passing vehicles and overhead helicopters. Moreover, moments where Liz exercises her fiery prowess or when Hellboy delivers a seismic punch momentarily inject some much-needed low-frequency energy (LFE), bringing depth to the mix.

In conclusion, while Lionsgate's foray into Dolby Atmos for "Hellboy Animated: Blood and Iron" on 4K UHD Blu Ray elevates the auditory experience above its predecessors, it falls short of exploiting the full palette of possibilities offered by the format. The resulting sound mix, free from technical flaws such as pops or hiss, stands as a solid effort that undoubtedly enhances some of the film's more vibrant sequences. Nevertheless, it leaves a lingering sense that with more consistent use of the surround and height channels, coupled with a more aggressive LFE presence, it could have offered an unrelenting audio spectacle befitting of the Hellboy franchise.

Lionsgate's 4K UHD Blu-ray release of "Hellboy Animated: Blood and Iron" notably enriches the viewing experience with a selection of commendable extras, absent from its 1080p predecessor. While the core video supplementals exhibit upscaling indicators, particularly in textual graphics, their content is engaging, offering behind-the-scenes insights and enriching the narrative depth. Highlights include exclusive audio commentaries by key creators, revealing making-of features, and captivating looks into the voice acting process, alongside a unique animated sequence offering backstory on Professor Broom. These extras, particularly the audio commentaries and the character design discussions, significantly enhance the appreciation of the effort and creativity behind this animated rendition of Hellboy, demonstrating a fine balance between respecting Mike Mignola's original vision and introducing innovative elements to both new and familiar audiences.

Extras included in this disc:

Audio Commentary for Sword of Storms: Featuring Hellboy creator Mike Mignola, Supervising Producer and Director Tad Stones, and Director Phil Weinstein.

A New Breed: Creating the New Hellboy: Insight into the character designs diverging from Mike Mignola's originals.

Conquering Hellboy: The Actors Role: Highlights from voice recording sessions.

A View from the Top: The Heads Sequence: Overview of a key episode moment.

Audio Commentary for Blood & Iron: With Mike Mignola, Tad Stones, and Vic Cook discussing the animation and plot.

Reversal of Fortune: Professor Broom's Story: Acts as an additional animated episode providing backstory.

Tales from the Tomb: A Look Inside Blood & Iron: A comprehensive making-of piece.

Iron Shoes With Introduction by Mike Mignola: Discussion on Redcap from English folklore.

The 4K UHD Blu-ray presentation of "Hellboy Animated: Blood and Iron" offers fans a chance to experience the darker, animated side of the Hellboy universe, albeit wrapped in a somewhat inconsistent package. Ron Perlman, reprising his role with that unmistakable growly timbre, links the animated feature firmly to its live-action predecessors by Guillermo del Toro, offering a measure of continuity that fans will surely appreciate. However, despite Perlman's engaging performance, and indeed, solid work from returning cast members such as Selma Blair and Doug Jones, the storytelling in these animated excursions doesn't consistently reach the heights of Del Toro's celebrated films. This release appears as part of Lionsgate's eclectic 4K UHD lineup, prompting speculation about the timing relative to other Hellboy projects and suggesting a desire to capitalize on the franchise's enduring popularity.

The animation quality itself is delivered in crisp 2160p on the 4K disc, enhancing both the visual depth and the dark, atmospheric scenes that Hellboy excels at. Yet, while the upgrade in visual fidelity is notable compared to the previous 1080p Blu-ray release, it is in the pacing and narrative execution where "Blood and Iron" sometimes struggles. Both included movies—spanning roughly an hour and fifteen minutes each—feature segments that linger unnecessarily, detracting from the otherwise brisk and engaging Hellboy action. This issue of pacing dilutes what could have been tightly wound tales brimming with supernatural intrigue and character-driven moments.

Where "Blood and Iron" shines is in its successful transplant of the Hellboy universe into an animated format without losing the franchise's unique charm and wit. The beloved characters, enhanced by their original actors' voice performances, retain their essence, bringing a nostalgic and authentic feel to these animated tales. However, despite these strengths and a visually appealing 4K presentation, there’s an undeniable inconsistency in storytelling when juxtaposed with Guillermo del Toro's masterful narrative craft in the live-action adaptations. Though it falls short of matching the live-action films' cinematic splendor, this 4K UHD release of "Hellboy Animated" will nonetheless hold value for hardcore fans and collectors invested in all things Hellboy.

The 4K UHD Blu-ray release of "Hellboy Animated: Blood and Iron" presents a curious case in the realm of high-definition upgrades. While the original 1080p release was described as a "double whammy of animated mediocrity," this 4K release from Lionsgate aims to overcome its inherent limitations through the allure of enhanced resolution, Dolby Vision's added nuance to the color palette, and a Dolby Atmos audio track that, although inconsistently, enriches certain scenes with dynamic sound. It's evident that Lionsgate has made an effort to make this niche product more appealing by including supplementary materials and an improved audio experience, acknowledging that the intrinsic qualities of the animated film can only be so enhanced by technical upgrades.

Despite not reaching the cinematic heights of Guillermo Del Toro’s live-action endeavours, "Hellboy Animated: Blood and Iron" still manages to entertain, largely due to its continuity with the original films’ cast, which lends significant credence to these animated narratives. Both this feature and its companion piece, "Sword of Storms," are commendable for their engaging plots and faithful representation of beloved B.P.R.D. characters. However, a criticism lies in their pacing and narrative cohesion, which arguably would benefit from a more condensed runtime for a tighter storytelling experience. Nevertheless, the transition to 4K Ultra HD does offer visible improvements over prior releases, and the addition of new bonus content related to the cast, crew, and Hellboy’s creator is a welcome enhancement for fans.

In conclusion, while "Hellboy Animated: Blood and Iron" in 4K UHD may not completely dispel the lukewarm reception of its initial release, it undeniably provides an enriched visual and auditory experience that might appeal more to die-hard enthusiasts than casual viewers. The inclusion of new supplementary materials further elevates this release, making it a recommended upgrade for devoted fans seeking to experience Hellboy's animated adventures in the highest quality currently available.