The Film
In the animated Legend of the Millennium Dragon the young and clumsy 15-year old Jun Tendo doesn't seem like much of a hero, but with a unique birthmark and a longing for more, it is no surprise that he has a destiny, and it is one that could change the future and the fate of civilization. After being plucked from comfort of modern day and thrust into an adventure 1200 years in the past Tendo has much to consider as he unravels ancient mysteries, picks sides and prepares for the final showdown. The story of the ne'er do well boy thrown into another world isn't all that unique - it was seen in the recent The Forbidden Kingdom and was even the basis of one part of the original Heavy Metal movie back in 1982. This story, while rated PG-13, is still no pure kiddie tale as it revolves around a war waged between humans and demons, but it is in the end one for the ages.
The Picture
Given the basic similarities with the aforementioned Heavy Metal it was hard not to compare the animation styles of the two films. Legend of the Millennium Dragon never attempts to look as "realistic" in an animated way however. That said the 1080p 2.35:1 presentation is vivid, vibrant and simply breathtaking. Blu-ray may be great with live action films, but it really takes animated films such as this one to whole new levels with stunning colors and deep blacks. The story may feature shades of gray in discerning between good and evil, but the colors are anything but murky.
The Sound
Sound is also quite good, and this one includes both the original Japanese and English in DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, and apart from language the quality of the two versions is consistent. The Blu-ray makes excellent use of discrete audio in the surround speakers. The film is about the fine line between good and evil, and yet there is distinct clarity in the effects, music and dialog.
The Extras
What seemingly was lost in the trek back in time were anything in the way of outstanding bonus material. In fact there is no shade of gray here, the bonus features are virtually absent and that is outright disappointing. Viewers are treated to just a concept art gallery and BD-Live functionality. While this is a DVD combo pack, we'd hope for more.
Final Thoughts
Animated films do often stand out on Blu-ray and this one is no exception. It looks good, sounds good and has an enjoyable story. The package comes up light with bonus materials, but given the quality of the film it isn't the end of the world - nor the end of time.
Product Details
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