Big Picture Big Sound

Although few will be surprised by the news, Samsung has scored another exclusive for the Blu-ray 3D format.  As with earlier Dreamworks Animation titles before it, including the Shrek series, How to Train your Dragon and Monsters Vs. Aliens, the Dreamworks animated comedy Megamind will be available in 3D exclusively with the purchase of a Samsung 3D TV starter kit.  The kit also includes two pairs of Samsung's latest design of active shutter 3D glasses.  The announcement was made earlier today by Samsung and Dreamworks at a launch event in New York City for Samsung's 2011 Blu-ray, home theater and television lines.

Starring the voices of Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, Brad Pitt, David Cross, and Jonah Hill, Megamind offers an interesting spin on the traditional superhero/supervillain motif where an unlikely hero emerges after the demise of a popular protector.  The film featured one of the first 7.1 channel surround mixes in movie theaters courtesy of Dolby Surround 7.1 technology.  The standard Blu-ray Disc, released earlier this month, carried that soundtrack into the home via the first ever Dolby TrueHD 7.1 surround sound track sourced from a true 7.1-channel theatrical mix.  We believe this new exclusive Blu-ray 3D offering will also include that same dynamic 7.1 channel soundtrack which drew praise from our own Chris Chiarella in his Megamind Blu-ray review.

Although manufacturer-exclusive title offerings draw criticism from some consumers who would prefer to be able to buy these titles at retail, these partnerships can offer the studios a low-risk way of supporting the burgeoning Blu-ray 3D market while giving the manufacturer a competitive edge.  Dreamworks is guaranteed a certain amount of income from Samsung for the title while Samsung is able to offer exclusive software that may influence a consumer's choice in 3D TV technology.  With the Blu-ray 3D market still relatively small, a general release of a title on the Blu-ray 3D format may represent an economic risk to a studio but with manufacturer sponsorship, that risk is mitigated and more Blu-ray 3D titles become available, at least to some early adopters of the technology.

Panasonic currently has exclusive rights to Avatar on Blu-ray 3D but have recently expanded their promotion to include the title with the company's Blu-ray 3D players, instead of requiring purchase of a 3D TV or proprietary 3D glasses.  These Blu-ray players are compatible with any brand of 3D TV or HDTV.  A general release of Avatar on Blu-ray 3D is expected in 2012.

Samsung's new 3D starter kit with Megamind 3D will also include the full Shrek series on Blu-ray 3D so you can get up and running with your 3D movie library quickly.  The new 3D starter kit is expected to be offered for sale beginning this month.

The glasses included in the new kit are a lightweight (under 2 ounces), rechargeable offering which are significantly more comfortable to wear than the company's first generation glasses.  The new glasses use Bluetooth communication with the TV for greater range and less interference than IR models.  A Samsung rep told us the glasses were tested at up to 30 meters.  A wireless recharging station will be available to charge up to four pairs of glasses at a time.  These new 3D glasses are only compatible with Samsung's new 2011 model year HDTVs (and beyond).

Megamind on Blu-ray 3D will also be available in a 3D Starter Kit for the earlier (2010 model year) Samsung TVs.