Stop-motion animation is the art of painstakingly moving mini figurines in small increments and photographing them to make it seem as of the characters are in motion. With its origins being traced back as far back as the mid to late 1800s, the animation sub-genre has grown and expanded into the art form we know today. Since 2005, Laika Studios (formerly Will Winton Studios) has been creating feature films using this unique technique. Its third feature film, which premiered in theaters in 2014, was called Boxtrolls and was based on Alan Snow's novel, Here Be Monsters! Eighteen years after the book became a best seller and almost ten years since the film was released worldwide, Shout! Factory is offering a limited edition steel book for purchase beginning February 28, 2023.
It was during the summer of 1896, in a country called Norvenia, where a quaint, victorian era town called Cheesebridge sat on the top of a hill. One evening rumors began to swirl claiming that subterranean creatures, called Boxtrolls, had kidnapped a baby. Pest exterminator, Archibald Snatcher (Ben Kingsley; Gandhi) seeing an opportunity, strikes a deal with Lord Portly-Rind (Jared Harris; Chernobyl). He proposes that when he captures all the box trolls, Lord Portly-Rind must admit Snatcher into the cheese-loving council dubbed the White Hats (despite the fact that Snatcher is highly allergic to cheese). However, once it is finally revealed that the box trolls are harmless and Snatcher is a liar, the people of Cheesebridge decide to coexist with the trolls.
The Boxtrolls boasts a variety of talented actors lending their voices to the film. Besides Kingsley and Harris, Isaac Hempstead Wright (Game of Thrones) plays the main character, Eggs, and Elle Fanning (Super 8) voices Portly-Rind's daughter, Winnie. Toni Collette (Knives Out), Tracy Morgan (30 Rock), Nick Frost (Shaun of the Dead), Simon Pegg (Mission: Impossible franchise), etc. round out the veteran cast.
This latest release from Shout! Factory sees upgrades in both video and audio quality. The 2160p resolution with a 1.78:1 aspect ratio has the picture looking better than previous versions. While the color palette is muted, the shading is deep and black levels are rich and true reproductions. Details are sharp and clean to the point that the viewer can see how much time and effort went into making the figurines. Additionally, the Dolby Atmos offers a noticeable difference. The score enriches the action on screen and gives the story more depth and character. The dialogue is clean and crisp.
The limited edition steel book includes two discs. The first is the 4K presentation and the second is the standard Blu-ray. The collectible steel book packaging is impressive and Laika included a booklet with a variety of facts and information. The extras, housed on the standard Blu-ray disc, include Audio Commentary with Directors Graham Annable and Anthony Stacchi, Inside LAIKA: Discovering the Characters of The Boxtrolls, Inside LAIKA: Revisiting the Puppets with LAIKA's Animation Team (Mr. Pickles & Mr. Troul, Lord Portley-Rind, Archibald Snatcher, Winnie, Fish & Shoe, and Eggs), Feature-Length Storyboards, Dare to Be Square: Behind the Scenes of The Boxtrolls, The Nature of Creation, Trolls Right Off the Tongue, Allergic to Easy, Let's Dance, On the Shoulders of Giants, Still Galleries, and the Trailer.
Laika Studios always delivers a quality film and Shout! Factory elevates their releases to be bigger and better. With the collaboration of these two powerhouses, one should expect a well-made product and, in this case, they both deliver. While The Boxtrolls isn't my favorite of all the Laika Studios offerings, this new, limited-edition steel book infuses the movie with a breath of fresh air. The fancy packaging, beautiful visuals, and dynamic audio make this version the one to own.
Grade: B
