Chimpanzee, now on Blu-ray

Now on Blu-ray from Disneynature, the studio that brought you EARTH, OCEANS and AFRICAN CATS, comes CHIMPANZEE – a remarkable story of individual triumph and family bonds. Journey deep into the African rainforest and meet Oscar, an adorable young chimp with an entertaining approach to life. The world is a playground for little Oscar and his fellow young chimps who love creating mayhem. Full of curiosity, a zest for discovery, joy and a love for mimicking others, they are some of the most extraordinary personalities in the animal kingdom. Stunning high-definition images bring you up close and personal as Oscar and his family navigate the complex territory of the forest. It’s an inspiring and life-changing adventure that overflows with courage and charm. And it will capture your heart. Read ahead to get our thoughts on the sound, picture and bonus features for this disc!

My kids fell in love with this film the day we caught it at the El Capitan theater in Hollywood, so to finally have CHIMPANZEE to own for our home video collection is appreciated. There’s something refreshing about a break from Power Puff Girls, Team UmiZumi and Elmo once in awhile, a chance to see real animals, in real environments, experiencing real things. With CHIMPANZEE you are in the midst of fun, tender moments, chaos and adventure in one of the very best productions to date of the Disneynature series! Click HERE to read Marquee Mama’s family-friendly review from the film’s original release.

THE PICTURE

It’s almost surreal how crisp and clear the resolution is on this film. Simply breathtaking to realize you’ve been transported from your living room to the middle of the lush green jungle. It’s like a virtual vacation, in the company of primates! There is a richness in the details of not just the locations, but the life that inhabits it as well. From bugs, to plant life to the chimps themselves, you are closer than you could have ever imagined to a world we will never get to experience in person. If seeing this doesnt encourage you to wander out into your backyard or plan a weekend hike to get back into nature, I’m not sure what else could.

THE SOUND: 

The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 is truly amazing…with the sound cranked up, you feel like you are in the jungle next to Oscar during his journey. The cracking of rocks against nuts, the buzzing of flies during the muggy mornings, the smasing of twigs and leaves under the feet of the chimpanzees, the rustling of the branches in the pursuit of food, the roar of thunder echoing thru the jungle sky, all so beautiful to just close your eyes and immerse yourself in the sounds of these Chimpanzee’s world! And the balance of audio really sets the tone and vibe of a 360 immersive experience.

THE EXTRAS:

“On Location: The Making of CHIMPANZEE.” is a fantastic documentary that takes you behind the scenes of some of the major scenes of the film and showcases the challenges of the film crew responsible for making it!

“See Chimpanzee, Save Chimpanzees,” “Disney’s Friends for Change” and “Disney’s Conservation Legacy” are promotional pieces for the conservation charities connected with the film, from Jane Goodall to the Walt Disney Company.

The McClain Sisters’ music video/song “Rise” and the “Behind the Scenes of “Rise”” featurette are a ton of fun. My kids love to dance and sing and Disney always seems to find the right marriage of music and movies.

(NOTE: I only wish they had the music video from Caro Emerald of “That Man”, it’s a fantastic tune and my 2 and 4 year old daughters were singing this all weekend…check it out on Carol’s page here; http://caroemerald.com/chimpanzee)

FINAL THOUGHTS: 

I highly recommend this film for the family. Kids will love seeing the Chimpanzees at play, Mom and Dad will appreciate the cinematography and storytelling.

CHIMPANZEE one sheet