Society’s elite abandon Earth in 2200 to make Mars the center of civilization. They are served by obedient robots that are nearly indistinguishable from the humans that they have replaced. Amidst a growing scandal of an underground group hacking androids, a cybernetics student disappears. Capable-but-troubled detective Aline and her android partner, Carlos, take the case to find her. As they descend into the dark underbelly of Mars, they unravel a deeper conspiracy that threatens mankind – and their robot counterparts. Mars Express injects the cyberpunk genre with urgent new themes that make its far-flung world feel strangely like our own in the propulsive feature film debut from director Jérémie Périn.

For in-depth thoughts on Mars Express, please see my colleague Lane Mills’s review from its original theatrical release here.

Video Quality

Mars Express comes to Blu-Ray from GKIDS and Shout! Studios with a sumptuous 1080p transfer in its original 2.00:1 aspect ratio. We always get more immersed in the artistry of 2-D animated film, so we are glad this film attempts to replicate this aesthetic with some three-dimensional digital flourishes injected to make the action seamless. The character designs are thoughtful and make sense within this established world. You unleash a flurry of detail and character in every frame which makes it feel like a more tactile experience. The animators provide countless subtle touches to each scene that give it a unique identity. The detail put into each new locale is astounding, especially as you explore some of the background environments more thoroughly.

The textures in the character designs and the backgrounds provide the film with an ample amount of depth. This animation studio chooses to give this sci-fi world a more heightened version of our own with countless inventive ideas deployed. The colors at hand in this transfer are impeccable with dazzling hues from the lights and the cityscape making an impression alongside other more obvious colors throughout the story. Black levels are appropriately strong with no signs of compression artifacts or digital anomalies. The transfer handles every kinetic movement and intricate set piece with firm stability including no jagged lines or color bleeding. This transfer is first-rate all around.

Audio Quality

The Blu-Ray comes with a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless track presented here in its original French with optional English, English SDH, and Spanish subtitles. There is also an English dub provided. The track provides a robust sonic experience that brings the movie to life with the utmost excitement. Dialogue comes through crisply and clearly at all times without being drowned out by any of the momentous competing elements.

The sonic detail in the surround channels delights as the sound of various environmental flourishes creates a believable world. There are some truly creative panning effects in the rear channels that add a nice layer to the story. The music is deftly deployed in its placement throughout the room as it overtakes the audience. The track consistently engages the low end in a forceful way as it adds some wonderful texture to the world. GKIDS knows how to treat their films with the proper respect.

Special Features

Let’s Play Classic Games with Director Jérémie Périn: A unique 37-minute interview with the director conducted while he is playing classic video games in which he discusses his inspirations for the style and story of the film, working to develop the character designs, the themes of the narrative, playing in the sci-fi realm, and more.

Director Scene Breakdown: Two pieces with Périn in which he breaks down all of the different facets that make up these sequences with great attention to detail. This is really worth checking out after you have seen the film.

- Opening Scene (13:38)

- Sequence 78 (16:18)

Final Thoughts

Mars Express is a very cool sci-fi outing that conjures up similar feelings as some of our favorite anime films from the genre. Over the course of this keenly paced feature, you are introduced to a world that exudes a sense of authenticity that some narratives never achieve. The narrative does not hold your hand, but you can easily pick up everything you need to know while learning new things about how technology functions in this society. The animation is gorgeous and the narrative avoids taking the easy way out in its storytelling. It may not be from Japan, but it is an anime worth seeking out. GKIDS and Shout! Studios have released a Blu-Ray with a rich A/V presentation and a decent amount of special features. If you enjoy sci-fi outings, do not pass this one up. Recommended

Mars Express is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: GKIDS and Shout! Studios have supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.