Filled with Illumination’s signature subversive humor, authentic heart, and unforgettable characters, and hailed as “something the whole family can enjoy” (Collider), MIGRATION is a hilariously funny, feathered family vacation like no other! Fans can join the Mallard family, as they embark on a journey south for the winter to Jamaica via New York City, only for their well-laid plans to go awry, leading to new friends and unknown horizons.

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

Video Quality

Migration arrives on 4K UHD Blu-Ray with a miraculous 2160p HDR/Dolby Vision transfer. The spectacular colors present in this transfer are what make the format feel so special with the wide range of hues saturating every inch of the frame. Highlights are vivid without succumbing to blooming, and black levels are incredibly strong with no hint of crush, compression artifacts, or other such digital anomalies. The animation style allows for plentiful textures throughout the different character designs and environments that are extremely impressive and give the film a real sense of depth. Environmental details are plentiful and worth exploring with multiple viewings. The unique character designs are rendered with perfect fluid motions throughout. The level of detail the animation team puts into each shot is readily apparent. This transfer is as close to perfection as you could want from a modern animated film. Universal has knocked it out of the park.

Audio Quality

This 4K UHD Blu-Ray serves up a Dolby Atmos track that gives this family film an immersive soundscape. Environmental sound effects are rendered with pinpoint precision within the mix so that directionality is never an issue. This track conjures up a world of nuance to truly make this story feel alive. A large portion of the activity is focused on the front channels, but it extends to the surround and rear channels to allow for a more enveloping experience. The implementation of the height channels thrusts you into the middle of the bustling narrative for complete immersion.

Dialogue is clear without ever getting drowned out by the music or sound effects. The low end activity from the subwoofer gives numerous moments a significant amount of texture. The film makes an impression when it comes to the score, and this track renders it with impeccable fidelity. Fans of the film should be thrilled with this presentation. There are optional English SDH, Spanish, and French subtitles provided.

Special Features

Fly Hard: A new four-minute mini-movie in which Chump attempts to do something nice for an older lady who shows her kindness. This amusing short is presented in 4K with Dolby Vision.

Mooned: A new nine-minute mini-movie from the Despicable Me universe in which we get to see what happened to Vector once he got stranded on the moon. This amusing short is presented in 4K with Dolby Vision.

Midnight Mission: A new nearly five-minute mini-movie from the Despicable Me universe in which the minions attempt to help Agnes overcome her fear of the dark. This amusing short is presented in 4K with Dolby Vision.

Microphone Madness: A three-minute look at the recording process with plenty of amusing moments with the performers.

Meet The Cast: A 16-minute collection of interviews focusing on the characters, the vocal performances that bring them to life, how they fit into this overall story, and much more.

- Kumail Nanjiani: Mack (2:07)

- Elizabeth Banks: Pam (1:48)

- Keegan-Michael Key: Delroy (2:28)

- Awkwafina: Chump (2:14)

- Danny DeVito: Uncle Dan (2:10)

- Carol Kane: Erin (2:04)

- Caspar Jennings: Dax & Tresi Gazal: Gwen (2:46)

Taking Flight – The Making Of: A nearly six-minute piece in which the creative team discusses creating a new world, the animation style, the locations, and more.

The Art of Flight: A two-minute look at the stages of animation that led to the final version in the film.

The Sound of Flight: A three-minute look at the score of the film with composer John Powell.

How To Draw: Four videos totaling 11 minutes are provided here in which you are guided through how to draw Mack, Delroy, Chump, and Gwen.

Build Your Own Pop-Up Book: An 11-minute video is provided here which shows you how to create your own pop-up book.

Calling All Birds: Three videos totaling 6 minutes are provided here which takes you through how to fashion your own bird whistle.

Best Nests: Two videos totaling six minutes are provided here which take you through how to create a bird nest and a water feed.

Final Thoughts

Migration is one of the more consistent Illumination titles we have seen in some time. Sure, there are some stretches where things slow down a bit, plus the “villain” is largely perfunctory, but there is a strong story at the center and some rich vocal performances. Not to mention, the animation is absolutely stunning as we keep delighting in the shift away from photorealism to embrace the artistry possible with animation. If we get more like this from the studio, we are on a positive track. Universal has provided this one with a 4K UHD Blu-Ray with a dazzling A/V presentation and fun special features. If you are looking for something the whole family can enjoy, this is a slam dunk. Recommended

Migration is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray, Blu-Ray, DVD, and Digital.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Universal Pictures Home Entertainment 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.