Celebrate thirty years of magic in FernGully: The Last Rainforest, now looking better than ever with a brilliant master created from a brand-new 4K scan and restoration of the original film elements!
Deep in the heart of the forest awaits a paradise filled with tiny sprites, winged fairies, tree spirits, and all kinds of animals who live together in joyful harmony. But when their home is threatened by humans, one courageous sprite must give her all to save it!
Featuring an all-star voice cast, including Christian Slater, Samantha Mathis, Tim Curry, Cheech Marin, Tommy Chong, and Tone Loc, FernGully: The Last Rainforest is an iconic classic for kids of all ages, presented here in a special 2-Disc, 30th Anniversary Edition!
For thoughts on FernGully: The Last Rainforest, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:
Video Quality
FernGully: The Last Rainforest comes to Blu-Ray from Shout! Factory with a gorgeous 1080p transfer. This was previously released on Blu-Ray from 20th Century Fox, but I only have access to an older DVD release and the new accompanying DVD release to compare. I can say with a fair amount of certainty that this release likely far exceeds the old Blu-Ray with the new 4K restoration of the original elements which will leave you smiling from ear to ear. Released in 1992, there is evidence that there have been major advances in animation since that time, but the aesthetic is timeless and brings about warm feelings. There were some brief moments that seemed out of focus or that blurred due to quick movements, but upon checking against the older DVD set which showcased the same issues, I am of the belief that is a limitation of the source material and animation process. When it comes to this transfer, you will not find much in the way of anything in the way of age-related anomalies.
A major improvement from the ancient DVD is the cleanup of nicks and scratches that plagued the unsightly print. This has been achieved while maintaining the line detail, which is crisp without seeming unnatural or scrubbed of texture from the source. Every corner of the rainforest is brought to life with its impressive detail and textures. The same could be said of the character designs which have subtle details despite more crudely constructed moments. Every location has a convincing sense of depth which helps you appreciate the majesty of the titular rainforest. The gorgeous colors on display are captured perfectly within this transfer with hues shining off the screen. Black levels are very deep with no hint of compression artifacts or digital anomalies of the sort. Shout! Factory is commended for treating this one with the care it deserves.
Audio Quality
The Blu-Ray comes with a DTS-HD 5.1 and 2.0 Master Audio lossless track which gets the job done effectively. This adventurous tale always seems to be on the move, and this track does its best to provide the proper support for the active moments around the forest. Each location is filled with distinct sonic details of the wildlife that provides a lovely texture that you desire with this narrative. Dialogue comes through crystal clear at all times without being overshadowed by the music or any other environmental sounds. The memorable (and occasionally traumatizing) tunes are precisely deployed as they wash over the audience. The track may not sport the raw power that some audio junkies may want, but the experience is nothing to brush off with its accomplishments. English SDH subtitles are provided.
Special Features
- Audio Commentary: Bill Kroyer, Art Director Ralph Eggleston And Coordinating Art Director Susan Kroyer deliver a fun commentary track in which they discuss the unusual financial backing of the film, the inspirations they drew from in their art, how they utilized primitive forms of digital animation, elements they included to replicate the real rainforest, the force of nature that is Robin Williams, and much more.
- Introduction with Director Bill Kroyer: A new five-minute introduction from Kroyer in which he discusses his reasons for telling the story, the blending of digital and traditional hand drawn animation, getting Robin Williams involved with the project, what the project means to him and more.
- Seed Of The Story – Script-To-Screen Comparison: Five segments totaling eight minutes are provided here which shows the original script and early storyboards and how it compares to what we got in the finished film. This comes with optional commentary from screenwriter Jim Cox.
- From Paper To Tree – Making-Of Featurette: A pretty solid 30-minute piece which features interviews with the cast and crew in which they discuss the larger story and what it means for our society, the characters in the story and the actors who bring them to life, how they movie came to exist, the development of the art in the feature, the actual filmmaking process, the music and more. You do get many insightful interviews with the animators who take you through their responsibilities while getting great behind-the-scenes footage of them carrying out their work.
- Behind The Voice – “Toxic Love” Multi-Angle Scene Study: A great three-minute piece in which you can view a key scene from different angles including the animatic form and a look at Tim Curry recording his performance in a studio (the most fun angle).
- Original Featurette: A six-minute video which takes a presentational look at the film intended to help market it to new audiences.
- “If I’m Gonna Eat Somebody (It Might As Well Be You)” Music Video: A four-minute video is provided here.
- Theatrical Trailer and TV Spots: A seven-minute collection of promotional spots for the film.
Final Thoughts
FernGully: The Last Rainforest has been a hit with this particular viewer since childhood, and it is a love that has seldom gone away. The message is clear and not especially innovative, but it has the possibility to inspire people to approach their lives differently. Yet, this is more than just a message film with its charming humor and sense of true terror from the malevolent ooze voiced by Tim Curry. Throw in a breezy runtime that does not overstay its welcome, and you have something special. Shout! Factory has released a Blu-Ray for the 30th anniversary with a dynamite new A/V presentation and a solid assortment of special features. If you are a fan of the film, you owe it to yourself to pick up this upgrade. Highly Recommended
FernGully: The Last Rainforest is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray + DVD Combo Pack.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Shout! Factory has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.