It’s Bambi meets Apocalypse Now in this provocative and darkly beautiful horror comedy from Alberto Vázquez (Birdboy: The Forgotten Children).
For ages, teddy bears have been locked in an ancestral war against their sworn enemy, the unicorns, with the promise that victory will usher in a new era. Aggressive, sadistic teddy bear Bluey and his sensitive, withdrawn brother Tubby could not be more different. As the rigors and humiliation of teddy bear bootcamp turn to the psychedelic horrors of a combat tour in the Magic Forest, their complicated history and increasingly strained relationship will determine the fate of the entire war.
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[youtube https://youtu.be/Ulnm4-JZ-EI?t=767]
Video Quality
Unicorn Wars comes to Blu-Ray from GKIDS and Shout! Factory with a terrific 1080p transfer in its original aspect ratio. The precious animation style offers a unique juxtaposition to the violence and cruelty of the narrative with simple character designs and textured backgrounds. The high definition transfer allows the artwork to be afforded major stability free of jagged lines or color bleeding. There are an array of subtle, nightmarish flourishes from the animators which gives each frame something to show off. The level of detail put into every environment is such a treat.
The character designs and the environments are very streamlined with some subtle texture to the experience. The colors present in this transfer are well saturated with candy-colored, vibrant hues making a big impression when it comes to both the characters and the backgrounds. Black levels are incredibly strong with no trace of compression artifacts or digital anomalies of the sort. This is a very nice transfer for the material.
Audio Quality
The Blu-Ray comes with a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless track presented here in its original Spanish with optional English and French subtitles. The track provides a stable and active audio experience that represents this movie without issue. The narrative takes a forceful approach with the environmental effects, especially in the latter half of the film, which provides diversity within the sound. The track does employ some notable activity in the low end when necessary. There are various creeping effects such as which add some welcome texture. Dialogue comes through crisp and clear at all times without being overshadowed by any competing sounds. This music is robust in its placement throughout the room as it washes over the audience. There is a lovely amount of sonic detail in the surround channels as nature becomes a more ominous threat. Shout! Factory has put forth some great work.
Special Features
- Interview with the Director: A nearly three-minute interview with director Alberto Vázquez in which he discusses his inspiration for the film, the blending of the cute with the grotesque, animation styles and more.
- Working In Blender: A two-minute piece in which various members of the animation team discuss the demands of the production, the specialists needed for this particular project and more.
- Feature-Length Animatic: An option to watch this film as an 80-minute rough version of the final product.
- Trailers: Two trailers totaling four minutes are provided here.
Final Thoughts
Unicorn Wars stands as another formidable example of why animation should not be dismissed as a medium for children. The adorable designs are simply a way to lull you into a false sense of security before the unrepentant violence and depravity begins. The filmmakers do seem to have some thematic motivations on their mind when it comes to familial conflict and the complex that has been set up to perpetuate war as a neverending concept. The film does not completely capitalize on the promise of its premise, but it still provides a really great experience from both an entertainment and stylistic point of view. GKIDS and Shout! Factory have released a Blu-Ray with a great A/V presentation and a passable slate of special features. If the mixture of the cute and the horrific delights you, give this one a shot. Recommended
Unicorn Wars will be available to purchase on Blu-Ray on May 9, 2023.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: GKIDS and Shout! Factory 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.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
