The Peanuts Movie Blu-ray Review

"The Peanuts Movie" on Blu-ray is a visual delight, offering a pristine AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.85:1 aspect ratio from 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment. The film’s hybrid 2D-3D animation is expertly rendered, providing a luminous and sparkling clarity that is appreciably dimensional. The detail and definition are impeccable, with fine degrees of subtle delineation and texture clearly discernible. Colors are richly saturated, vibrant, and beautifully rendered, with bright primaries and wonderfully variegated palettes contributing to the lively spirit of the film.

The digital rendering of characters delivers a visually arresting experience, achieving a kind of plumpness while maintaining appealingly near palpable textures in elements such as hair and Linus' security blanket. The digital source achieves sharp and well-defined imagery, free from compression issues like banding, even in complex scenes such as Snoopy’s flight through gray cloud cover. The surprising detail in textures on clothing, hair, grass, and trees provides great depth juxtaposition to the smooth faces populating the screen.

Black levels are robust in the sparse darker scenes, with deep highlights and multi-layered whites and grays adding excellent dimension. The presentation’s simplicity is a notable strength, leveraging the original animation style to produce a bright and bold high-def presentation. With a color reproduction that is wonderfully bright and vivid, the 1080p transfer ensures there is never a dull moment in the visual storytelling of "The Peanuts Movie". Overall, this Blu-ray transfer remains true to its source while delivering an aesthetically pleasing and technically proficient visual presentation.

The DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 soundtrack for "The Peanuts Movie" is remarkably effective, embracing a surround platform that offers rich sonic clarity and impeccable dialogue reproduction. The mix refrains from unleashing aggressive surround sounds; instead, it wisely employs discrete directional cues and rear-channel ambience to enrich the listening experience without overwhelming it. The front and rear sound fields work in unison, providing precise imaging and acoustic placement. Dynamic range and bass response add thematic emphasis and punch appropriately, contributing to a well-rounded audio presentation that fits seamlessly with the source material.

The audio track is consistently engaging, maintaining a balanced, yet somewhat subtle surround activity that complements the film's narrative tone. Notable sequences include the meticulous use of archival sound files for Snoopy and Woodstock and the integration of Christophe Beck’s score, which nostalgically pays homage to Vince Guaraldi’s iconic music while fitting naturally into the 7.1 mix. Dialogue is cleanly rendered, clear, and suitably prioritized across the channel spectrum, while the soundtrack uses the surround channels efficiently, especially during the Red Baron dogfight sequences. Here, the surround channels provide a playful and immersive experience without being overly aggressive, ensuring that every note strikes a spirited chord.

The lossless DTS-HD Master Audio ensures top-notch fidelity with dynamic application and spirited but not overpowering surround sound. Even though the Low-Frequency Extension (LFE) remains understated, particularly during musical segments, it effectively supports key moments without unnecessary exaggeration. This nuanced approach results in an immersive audio presentation where directionality is superb, showcased by seamless transitions like the buzzing toy plane gag. Overall, the soundtrack balances dialogue, ambient noise, and scoring across eight channels beautifully while remaining true to the playful and light-hearted spirit of "The Peanuts Movie."

The Blu-ray extras for "The Peanuts Movie" deliver a rich and delightful assortment of content suitable for enthusiasts of all ages. The included features range from brief animation snippets to in-depth making-of segments and practical drawing tutorials, offering both entertainment and educational value. The comprehensive nature of the bonus material, though slightly lacking a commentary track, ensures that fans are thoroughly engaged. The highlight is the 30-minute making-of featurette, which offers insightful interviews with the cast, crew, and Schulz family members. Drawing lessons by director Steve Martino are particularly noteworthy for aspiring artists, providing hands-on experience in sketching iconic characters. Additionally, the music videos and behind-the-scenes footage further enrich the collection, delivering a complete multimedia experience.

Extras included in this disc:

• Snoopy Snippets: Brief vignettes with Snoopy.
• You Never Grow Up, Charlie Brown: Making-of featurette with interviews.
• Snoopy's Sibling Salute: Focus on Snoopy’s kin.
• Learn to Draw Snoopy: Drawing lesson by Steve Martino.
• Learn to Draw Woodstock: Drawing lesson by Steve Martino.
• Learn to Draw Charlie Brown: Drawing lesson by Steve Martino.
• Get Down with Snoopy & Woodstock: Music video.
• Better When I'm Dancin' Lyric Video: Meghan Trainor's song in karaoke format.
• Better When I'm Dancin' Music Video: Meghan Trainor's official music video.
• Behind-The-Scenes of Better When I'm Dancin': Behind-the-scenes footage.
• Snoopy's Playlist: Collection of musical moments.
• Gallery: Concept and final art with manual or auto advance.
• Trailers: Various theatrical trailers.
• Bonus DVD
• Digital HD Copy
• Limited Edition Snoopy Plush Toy

"The Peanuts Movie" seamlessly brings Charles Schulz's beloved characters into the modern era while retaining the charm and innocence that made Peanuts an enduring classic. Helmed by Steve Martino and crafted by the producers of Ice Age, the film remarkably captures the essence of Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Linus, and the rest, with striking animation that merges 2D and 3D elements in a delightful homage to Schulz's original drawings. The story focuses on Charlie Brown’s quest to impress the Little Red-Haired Girl, encapsulating his endearing optimism amid his signature haplessness. Concurrently, Snoopy’s adventurous flights against the Red Baron offer whimsical interludes, maintaining the familiar tone cherished by generations.

One of the strengths of this movie lies in its fidelity to Peanuts' core attributes: simple yet profound humor, warmth, and timelessness. The filmmakers wisely avoided modern pop-culture references that could date the film, instead opting for nostalgia that appeals to both seasoned fans and new viewers. The voices, all provided by talented child actors, breathe authenticity into the characters, and Christophe Beck's score complements the narrative perfectly without overpowering it. Set across a year in school life, the film balances lighthearted fun with subtle moral lessons, capturing the cyclical optimism of Charlie Brown despite his many setbacks.

"The Peanuts Movie" is a masterstroke in preserving Schulz’s vision while adapting it for current audiences. It doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it doesn’t need to; the timeless qualities of Peanuts suffice. The animation style respects its 2D origins, while still leveraging modern CGI techniques. This film stands out for its loyalty to the Peanuts spirit — simple, genuine, and deeply touching — ensuring it’s a pleasure for children without alienating adult nostalgia. In essence, it’s a sincere and successful revival that proves even in the digital age, the fundamental charm of Peanuts remains impactful.

"The Peanuts Movie" Blu-ray release is a faithful tribute to the classic Peanuts world, maintaining the sweet and humorous spirit Charles Schulz's creations are known for. This continuity with the original series is a strength, providing a sense of nostalgic comfort and highlighting timeless themes of resilience and kindness personified by Charlie Brown. Technically, the Blu-ray presentation is impressive, showcasing top-notch audio and video quality that brings the beloved characters to life with vivid clarity and immersive sound.

The film's carefree and timeless spirit evokes a sense of nostalgia that many viewers will appreciate. While it may not be a groundbreaking achievement in animation, it doesn't need to be. Instead, it focuses on delivering an updated story that remains true to Schulz's vision, providing a delightful experience for both long-time fans and new audiences. The Blu-ray release further enhances this experience through its remarkable technical attributes and a rich array of supplemental features that add substantial value.

In conclusion, "The Peanuts Movie" Blu-ray is highly recommended for its strong adherence to the enduring charm of Schulz's creations and its excellent technical execution. It's a release that invites both children and adults to revel in a well-crafted, heartwarming film that continues to resonate across generations.