What’s New in Home Video & Pop Culture – October 7th, 2024 – M3GAN 2.0, The Bad Guys 2, Peanuts, Westerns, I Know What You Did Last Summer, & More!

What’s New in Home Video & Pop Culture – October 7, 2025

I love a week like this! We have some amazing catalog titles, some new hits, and some deep cuts. I hate to overuse the cliché, “there’s something for everyone,” but this week there really is! Read on for all the details!

In This Week’s Column:

• Megan 2.0 (4K Ultra HD _ Blu-ray + Digital)
• The Bad Guys 2 (4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital)
• I Know What You Did Last Summer (Blu-ray + Digital)
• Peanuts: Ultimate TV Specials Collection (DVD) 
• The Quick and the Dead: 30th Anniversary Edition (4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital Steelbook) 
• Silverado (4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital Steelbook)
• Spawn (4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray)
• Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage: The Complete First Season (DVD)
• Tenacious D – The Complete Masterworks Vol. 3 (Blu-ray + DVD)
• The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (Limited Edition Steelbook 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray)

Megan 2.0

Official Synopsis:

The murderous doll who captivated pop culture in 2023 is back. And this time she’s not alone. The original creative team behind that phenomenon—led by horror titans James Wan for Atomic Monster, Jason Blum for Blumhouse and director Gerard Johnstone—reboot an all-new wild chapter in A.I. mayhem with M3GAN 2.0. Two years after M3GAN, a marvel of artificial intelligence, went rogue and embarked on a murderous (and impeccably choreographed) rampage and was subsequently destroyed, M3GAN’s creator Gemma (Allison Williams) has become a high-profile author and advocate for government oversight of A.I. Meanwhile, Gemma’s niece Cady (Violet McGraw), now 14, has become a teenager, rebelling against Gemma’s overprotective rules. Unbeknownst to them, the underlying tech for M3GAN has been stolen and misused by a powerful defense contractor to create a military-grade weapon known as Amelia (Ivanna Sakhno; Ahsoka, Pacific Rim: Uprising), the ultimate killer infiltration spy. But as Amelia’s self-awareness increases, she becomes decidedly less interested in taking orders from humans. Or in keeping them around. With the future of human existence on the line, Gemma realizes that the only option is to resurrect M3GAN (Amie Donald, voiced by Jenna Davis) and give her a few upgrades, making her faster, stronger, and more lethal. As their paths collide, the original A.I bitch is about to meet her match.

The Movie: 

The first M3gan movie was a bit of a cultural phenomenon, not only grossing a healthy amount at the box office but also capturing the imagination of the social media stratosphere, quickly going viral with the film’s trailer and becoming the stuff of memes and gifs. I really enjoyed the first film, as did many people, it seems. Then the sequel comes out, and everyone craps all over it like it’s the worst film since Morbius. It also did a fraction of the business of the first film.

And for the life of me, I can’t figure out why. I enjoyed M3gan 2.0 every bit as much as I did the first film. In fact, I even love its parallels to another popular film franchise; no not, Child’s Play, but rather The Terminator series. If Megan played the role of Arnie’s Terminator in the first film, here she’s playing the role of Arnie’s Terminator in the second film. She’s helping our humans this time instead of trying to kill them… or is she? I won’t spoil it, but I had fun watching and waiting to see which direction the filmmakers took it. 

Okay, the film is a touch long, coming in at just over two hours. It probably could have been trimmed a bit, but overall it’s really fun and has some outstanding action scenes. I have no idea why people were so negative towards this movie, but as far as I see it, they’re pretty much dead wrong. M3gan 2.0 is a great ride. 

The 4K Video/Audio:

The 4K Ultra HD format works extremely well for M3gan 2.0, especially considering how good the film looks from a production standpoint. While it has a decent budget, this isn’t some $100 million production, but it looks like it is. The picture is crisp and clean with razor sharp clarity, and the colors have a nice balance between realism and “pop.” The surround soundtrack is where things kick into overdrive. This is a movie with no shortage of action, and you’ll feel like every special effect, gunshot, and electronic soundwave all around you. The dialogue remains centered, and the energetic pop soundtrack sounds both bright and warm. It’s a really terrific effort overall.

The Bonus Features: 

• Theatrical and Unrated Cuts
• Total Upgrade: Making M3GAN 2.0 
• Droid DNA 
• The Art of Slaying 
• Scene Breakdown: Embrace AI Convention 

Digital Copy Included: Yes

The Bad Guys 2 (4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital)

Official Synopsis:

Everyone’s favorite felons are back, and this time, they’ve got company. In the new action-packed chapter from DreamWorks Animation’s acclaimed comedy smash about a crackerjack crew of animal outlaws, our now-reformed Bad Guys are trying (very, very hard) to be good, but instead find themselves hijacked into a high-stakes, globe-trotting heist, masterminded by a new team of criminals they never saw coming: The Bad Girls.

The Movie: 

In my review of the first The Bad Guys film, I wrote, “I wasn’t really expecting a lot out of The Bad Guys. Despite the fact that it was a huge hit, I chalked that up more to the fact that there aren’t that many kids’ movies out right now than anything else. But it turns out, I really enjoyed the film. The filmmakers chose to give us a good heist movie with likable characters and a story that keeps things moving at a fast pace.”

Now, so often filmmakers capture lightning in a bottle and then can’t replicate that formula, so was that the case with The Bad Guys 2 or would it once again defy my expectations?

Well, the answer is a little bit of both. The movie once again looks spectacular, and the action sequences are both adrenalized and laced with humor, which I love. But the story feels a bit forced, like the filmmakers knew they had to make a sequel but didn’t really know what to do with a bunch of reformed criminals, so they fell back on some cliched plot devices. That’s not a cardinal sin for a kids movie, and overall I enjoyed The Bad Guys 2 a fair amount, but since the first film set the bar so high, there might be some inevitable disappointment (albeit very slight disappointment) from some audience members. It’s definitely still worth watching, though. 

The 4K Video/Audio:

The Bad Guys 2 looks and sounds very good in 4K, as an animated movie should. The style once again blends 2D and 3D animation in a way that gives the film some real visual flair. Blacks are deep and solid while image clarity is sharp. At the same time colors are extremely vibrant and the overall picture quality is impeccable. The surround soundtrack also bolsters the presentation, with a generous spreading out of surround effects through each satellite speaker. Dialogue is the focus here, and all of the voices sound crystal clear but also natural and lifelike. Music is full and powerful, and the low end bass channel gives a nice underlying rumble when needed. It’s a very strong A/V presentation overall.

The Bonus Features: 

• Feature Commentary with Director Pierre Perifel, Co-Director JP Sans, Head of Character Animation Benjamin Willis, Head of Story Katherine de Vries, and Head of Cinematography, Layout Théophile Bondoux
• Double Jeopardy: The Making of The Bad Guys 2
• Deleted Scenes with Introductions by Director Pierre Perifel and Co-Director JP Sans
• Little Lies and Alibis
• Bad Guys: Out of Line
• Meet the Gang
• Double Trouble: The Animals Behind The Bad Guys 2
• Causing a Scene
• Planning the Heist
• Sketching the Bad Girls

Digital Copy Included: Yes

I Know What You Did Last Summer (Blu-ray + Digital)

Official Synopsis:

When five friends inadvertently cause a deadly car accident, they cover up their involvement and make a pact to keep it a secret. A year later, their past comes back to haunt them and they’re forced to confront the truth: someone knows what they did last summer and is hell-bent on revenge. As they are stalked by a killer, they turn to survivors of the legendary 1997 Southport Massacre for help.

The Movie: 

Before I go any further, I have to just once again rail against the trend of naming movies (that are not remakes) the exact same thing as previous movies in the franchise. This is the 2025 version of I Know What You Did Last Summer, not the 1997 version. Ugh, I HATE that trend! “Well, you know, I love I Know What You Did Last Summer but I’m not sure if I loved I Know What You Did Last Summer as much as I loved I Know What You Did Last Summer…” It’s incredibly infuriating!

Now, to the movie at hand. It can be hard to talk about slasher films without giving away spoilers, and there are definitely some twists and turns that you should not know about before watching this movie, so I will not spoil anything here. But I will say that I really enjoyed I Know What You Did Last Summer quite a bit, with the exception of one choice the filmmakers made. 

This is a classic legacy sequel, with a new group of kids in trouble for an accident they caused that they didn’t handle as well as they could. The film does a good job of exploring what a small tourist town might be like some 25 years after a serial killing spree hit, and I like the way the elements of the original film are mixed in while focusing on the new characters. It will be no surprise that Jennifer Love Hewitt and Freddie Prinze Jr. are back (as they’re all over the marketing) and the blending of new and old really worked. 

Frankly, I loved the film right up until the end. I’ve made peace with the filmmakers’ choices, and they really do keep you guessing for most of the film, but there’s a character arc that I just don’t buy into, nor do I care for it, and that was a bit of a bummer. But aside from that, I Know What You Did Last Summer (you know, the new one) is a lot of fun. Shame it didn’t do better at the box office. 

The Bonus Features: 

• Outtakes & Bloopers
• Deleted & Extended Scenes
• Return to Southport – The Cast
• Chills, Kills & Thrills – Making A Thriller

Digital Copy Included: Yes

Peanuts: Ultimate TV Specials Collection (DVD) 

Official Synopsis:

40 beloved Peanuts TV Specials that aired on CBS, ABC & FOX together in one definitive collection. From the first TV Special, A Charlie Brown Christmas which aired on CBS December 9, 1965, to Happiness Is a Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown which aired on Fox, March 29, 2011, having all of these specials together for the first time will surely delight kids and fans of all ages.

The Movie: 

Let me state right off the bat that while this title was released on Blu-ray, I only received the DVD for review, which really bums me out. I strongly suggest you buy the Blu-ray instead. 

This outstanding collection is a must-have for any Peanuts fan. Over the course of five discs, it collects every single Peanuts/Charlie Brown TV special ever made, from 1965 all the way up through 2011. And while it would take too much space to list them all here, you can rest assured that all your absolute favorites are here: A Charlie Brown Christmas; It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown; A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving; You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown; It’s the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown; and so many others. Even the questionably titled It’s Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown is included. (They didn’t know what Flashdance was about, did they?) 

For me, Charlie Brown TV specials were a part of my childhood, as I’m sure they were for so many people. And with such a wide-ranging collection, it doesn’t matter if you grew up in the ‘60s, the ‘70s, the ‘80s, the ‘90s or beyond, there’s bound to be a special childhood memory in here for you. If you’re a Peanuts fan at all, don’t pass this one by, it’s the only way I know of to get every single TV special in one place. 

The Bonus Features: 

There are no video extras, but there is a very nice full-color illustrated 28-page collector’s booklet included. 

Digital Copy Included: No

The Quick and the Dead: 30th Anniversary Edition (4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital Steelbook) 

Official Synopsis:

In this edgy and darkly humorous Western, a mysterious young woman rides into the lawless town of Redemption to settle an old score that has haunted her since she was a child. She becomes swept up in a deadly quick-draw tournament and, in order to win her revenge, must compete in a contest in which gunslingers from all over put their lives on the line for fame and fortune.

The Movie: 

I think the last time I saw The Quick and the Dead was in theaters, which means it was 30 years ago, since this new 4K Ultra HD Steelbook release is the 30^th Anniversary Edition. And honestly, my memories of the film are that it was an okay western that was maybe a little cooler than other westerns because it was directed by Sam Raimi. (Who, at the time, I was a huge fan of, mostly because of Army of Darkness.) 

So I was intrigued to revisit it. Not excited per se, but at least curious as to what I would think of the movie now. And color me surprised, but I absolutely loved it! While I have issues with Sam Raimi as a director nowadays, this movie succeeds both because of and despite his presence behind the lens. It succeeds because of him because I think most other directors would have found a way to make this movie boring instead of visceral and exciting. I say it succeeds despite him because there are a few moments where he dips too far into his usual bag of Raimi tricks and it takes you out of the film. But ultimately, it’s a hell of a fun time, and I enjoyed it way more than I expected to. 

A lot of the credit for that goes to the cast. Sharon Stone is one of my favorite actors, so I always love watching her. A young pre-Gladiator Russell Crowe was still making his presence known in Hollywood and still giving it his all. An even younger (and pre-Titanic) Leonardo DiCaprio is all brio and peacocking, and he’s outstanding. You forget what a lightning rod he was as a young actor. But it’s Gene Hackman who really steals the show as the film’s villain. Seriously, the fact that he didn’t get nominated for an Oscar for what is now easily one of my favorite performances of his is a real shame. He is so magnetic you cannot take your eyes off him when he’s on screen, and he does so much more with the role than almost any other actor could have. Truly fantastic stuff. 

This week we get a 4K Ultra HD 30^th Anniversary Edition of the film that comes packaged in a super sharp Steelbook case that will make a nice addition to anyone’s shelf. 

The 4K Video/Audio:

At first glance, the fact that The Quick and the Dead isn’t as vibrantly colorful as you might have come to expect from a 4K release might be slightly disappointing. However, I think this new 4K master sees the film look exactly the way Sam Raimi wants it to look. It’s meant to evoke the old west; there are a lot of browns and oranges, reflective of the sand, dust, dirt, and wood buildings. There just aren’t a lot of colorful images in the setting of the film. Again, though, I think that’s exactly what Raimi wanted, not a fault with the transfer. The imagery is crisp and clean and if flesh tones are occasionally just a touch too warm, that’s the only fault I can find with the transfer. The surround soundtrack is a strong effort; this movie has long sequences of quiet and/or tension-building, but when the action explodes, the bass rumbles and the echoes of gunshots float past your head. This is an effective A/V presentation that likely represents the director’s vision.

The Bonus Features: 

• Seven Deleted Scenes
• Theatrical Trailer

Digital Copy Included: Yes

Silverado (4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital Steelbook)

Official Synopsis:

Four unlikely heroes attempt to reclaim a helpless town from a corrupt sheriff and his mercenaries in this classic star-studded western.

The Movie: 

I don’t know if getting two westerns in one week was a marketing strategy or not – both Silverado and The Quick and the Dead are released by Sony, so it seems like it couldn’t have been an accident – but if you’re a fan of the genre and a 4K or Steelbook enthusiast, this is the week for you. 

Silverado is a much more traditional western than The Quick and the Dead, but it has one thing in common: another stellar cast that elevates the movie. This time around, we have a line-up of actors in the 1980s who were either big stars or were on their way towards becoming big stars: Kevin Kline, Kevin Costner, Scott Glenn, Danny Glover, Jeff Goldblum, John Cleese, Roseanna Arquette, Linda Hunt, and Brian Dennehy all come together to ensure that there isn’t a single scene in the film that’s without a movie star on the screen. 

As a film, Silverado is a solid western effort. It’s not the most involved or complex movie, but it came at the genre with an ‘80s sensibility (but not in a cheesy way) and a big budget, so there are plenty of action sequences to anchor the proceedings. The narrative won’t blow you away, but it’s a western; there’s only so many plotlines for most westerns anyway. I don’t need a plot as complicated as The Usual Suspects when I’m watching people riding horses and shooting at each other. This is a fun one to revisit, especially on 4K Steelbook. 

The 4K Video/Audio:

Silverado is some 40 years old, but it looks better than it has any right to on 4K Ultra HD. It’s not like it suddenly looks brand new, but you’ll notice bright colors, a sharp picture, and good contrasts. Surround soundtrack offers up some atmosphere and directionality, but its main focus is making sure the dialogue is clear and the music sounds good, and it does that quite well. It’s hard to complain about any of those things.

The Bonus Features: 

• Along the Silverado Trail: A Western Historian’s Commentary
• A Return to Silverado with Kevin Costner 
• The Making of Silverado 
• Theatrical Trailer

Digital Copy Included: Yes

Spawn (4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray)

Official Synopsis:

From the producers of Blade and The Crow comes Spawn, a dark, action-packed supernatural thriller that redefined the comic book movie with cutting-edge visual effects and a haunting origin story of vengeance, damnation, and redemption.

Al Simmons (Michael Jai White) is a top-tier Black Ops agent, ruthlessly efficient and fiercely loyal–until he’s double-crossed and executed by his commanding officer, Jason Wynn (Martin Sheen). But Simmons is resurrected by the devil Malebolgia and becomes Spawn, a demonic antihero with terrifying powers. Caught between Earth and the Underworld, Spawn is determined to exact bloody revenge on Wynn, and must choose to serve his new infernal masters or fight for the salvation of his immortal soul.

Based on Todd McFarlane’s groundbreaking comic, Spawn is a visually explosive cult classic that blends horror, action, and gothic fantasy, available for the first time in a fiery new 4K restoration that breathes new life into Hell’s most iconic warrior

The Movie: 

When the Spawn movie came out in 1997, the Spawn comic book series by Todd McFarlane was just five years old. It had launched in 1992 to record sales in comic book stores, even if the general public largely had no idea who the character was. Thanks to a great trailer and some memorable special-effects shots involving Spawn’s cape, the movie opened at number one, eventually grossing over $80 million worldwide. Not a blockbuster smash by any means, but for a character with almost no recognizability outside of comic book stores, it was noteworthy. Despite that success, Todd McFarlane has spent the last 30 years trying to get a new Spawn movie made, and it has yet to materialize. 

I would imagine if you were about, oh, say 12 years old in 1997, you probably loved this movie. And if you have that nostalgia for the film, I can’t recommend Arrow Video’s limited edition 4K Ultra HD special edition highly enough. But man, rewatching this movie, I was blown away by just how bad it really is. It’s like somebody took a bunch of acid, had a nightmare, and then attempted to recreate that nightmare on film with the help of Jim Henson and, well, more acid. It’s vulgar and aesthetically ugly and largely uninteresting from a narrative perspective. And while that shot of Spawn’s cape unfolding is still pretty cool, the all-CGI scenes in Hell look like something from a generation one PlayStation console by today’s standards. 

I’m not trying to shred a movie that people love, but I would also be surprised if people watch it now and aren’t also surprised by how unpleasant a viewing experience it is. I mean, I remember liking the film when it came out, so it’s not like I came into this hating it or anything. If you’re a fan, skip ahead to the excellent collection of special features. But if you’re a fan of the comics and you’ve never seen the movie or haven’t seen it in a long time, you might be in for a rude awakening. 

That said, Arrow Video is pretty much the best when it comes to home video releases these days, and I’m a huge fan of what a comprehensive release this is. 

The 4K Video/Audio:

The Spawn 4K Ultra HD looks a lot like the was probably meant to look, and probably better. It’s a very visually distinct movie, so it’s hard to compare it to what it “should” look like. There are a lot of nighttime scenes, which are all nicely visible thanks to good contrasts and strong shadow delineation, and the color palette is vibrant. There are a lot of reds and purples and blues and greens that feel slightly off-kilter, but I mean that from a production design point of view, not like the transfer is faulty. The surround soundtrack is a solid if unimpressive affair. There are some nice directional effects, but the low end bass channel feels completely underwhelming. For a low budget movie that’s almost 30 years old, though, I think it looks and sounds as good as can be expected. 

The Bonus Features: 

• Director’s Cut and Theatrical Cut of the film
• Brand new audio commentary with comic book expert and podcast host Dave Baxter
• Audio commentary with Todd McFarlane, Mark A.Z. Dippé, Clint Goldman, and Steve Williams (1998)
• Hell’s Perfect Son, a brand new interview with actor Michael Jai White
• Spawn Support, a brand new interview with actors Melinda Clarke and D.B. Sweeney
• The Devil’s in the Details, a brand new interview with animatronic creature and special makeup effects artists Howard Berger and Greg Nicotero
• The Devil’s Music, a brand new interview with music supervisor Happy Walters
• Order Out of Chaos, a brand new interview with editor Michael Knue
• Todd McFarlane: Chapter & Verse, an archival featurette from 1998 in which Spawn creator Todd McFarlane reflects on how the film adaptation stacks up against his original comic book vision
• The Making of Spawn, archival behind-the-scenes featurette
• Preview: Todd McFarlane’s Spawn – The Animated Movie
• Theatrical trailer
• Scene-to-storyboard comparisons
• Original Todd McFarlane sketches
• Spawn concept and sketch gallery
• Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by John Torrani
• Double-sided foldout poster featuring two original artwork options

Digital Copy Included: No

Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage: The Complete First Season (DVD)

Official Synopsis:

From executive producers/writers Chuck Lorre, Steven Molaro and Steve Holland, the creative team behind The Big Bang Theory and Young Sheldon, this sequel follows Young Sheldon’s Georgie (Montana Jordan) and Mandy (Emily Osment) as they raise their young family in Texas while navigating the challenges of adulthood, parenting, and marriage.

The Movie: 

I’m as big a fan of The Big Bang Theory as there is, but maybe the spin-offs are getting a bit out of control. Young Sheldon was a prequel series that – obviously – featured Sheldon as a young boy/pre-teen growing up in Texas. Now we have a spin-off of a prequel… where does it end? Are we going to get a prequel to the spin-off of the prequel? 

Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage is not a bad show. It’s not a great show, either, though. It’s right in that sweet spot that CBS seems to fall with most of their so-called comedies: solidly okay. Like, is the cast likable? Sure. Are there a couple of jokes per episode that land? Yep. Is there anything overly memorable or endearing about the show? Not really. The Big Bang Theory worked because it took some typical friendship and relationship tropes and set them in a world we hadn’t seen before: that populated by nerds, physicists, and comic book geeks. This just feels like a typical rom-com sitcom that we know is going to come to an unfortunate ending, as the title implies. 

But I know there are people out there who enjoy these spin-offs, and if that’s you, then the good news is that you can now own the complete first season of Georgie & Mandy, but only on DVD. No Blu-ray release just yet, unfortunately. 

The Bonus Features: 

There are no bonus features included. 

Digital Copy Included: No

Tenacious D – The Complete Masterworks Vol. 3 (Blu-ray + DVD)

Official Synopsis:

The Greatest Band in the World, Tenacious D, proudly announces the release of the latest installment of their Complete Masterworks series, aptly named The Complete Masterworks Vol. 3. This chapter showcases the band’s O2 Arena concert in London from their 2023 Spicy Meatball Tour. This epic collector’s edition features a live set of their classic hits from the O2 Arena show, plus their animated film Post Apocalypto, music videos, a mini-poster, and more.

Tenacious D’s The Complete Masterworks Vol. 3 captures the band at the height of their powers during their sold-out, headline show at London’s O2 Arena on June 16, 2023. Their set, a raucous romp of rock and comedy, features their classic hits, including “Tribute,” “The Metal,” “Master Exploder,” “Beelzeboss (The Final Showdown),” “Kickapoo” and more.

In addition, Complete Masterworks Vol. 3 includes the band’s animated film, Post Apocalypto, with music from The D and illustrations by Jack Black.

The package features music videos, including the smash hit cover from Kung Fu Panda 4, “…Baby One More Time” and Chris Isaak’s “Wicked Game,” The D’s play Studios animated hit “Video Games,” their Fiber d’Lish commercial, and their charity covers series including “Tenacious D’s The Who Medley,” The Beatles’ “You Never Give Me Your Money / The End,” and “Time Warp,” from the cult classic The Rocky Horror Show.

The Movie: 

I’m not sure what the current status of Tenacious D is; I thought they had broken up last year and that may or may not be the case, but whatever their status, I will still remain a fan of one of the greatest comedy rock duos of all time. 

At this point, I feel like you’re either a Tenacious D fan already or you’re not. While Jack Black and Kyle Gass’s cinematic output as The D is questionable (The Pick of Destiny is pretty awful), their music is absolutely infectious. Combining tasty rock jams with funny lyrics and subject matters you don’t usually run across, a good Tenacious D album is a GREAT Tenacious D album, if you know what I mean.

This two-disc Blu-ray set gives you a full concert appearance from 2023, where they amazingly played London’s O2 Arena. That concert, which mixes up their greatest hits plus a few nice deep cuts, is the guts of the first disc. The second disc offers up some outstanding additional musical material, including videos for some amazing cover songs (The Beatles!) plus an animated film. It’s a treasure trove for Tenacious D fans, which I definitely am, and it also marks the first time a Complete Masterworks volume has been released on Blu-ray, yay!

The Bonus Features: 

There are no bonus features per se, but you get two discs of content, so it’s hard to complain. 

Digital Copy Included: No

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (Limited Edition Steelbook 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray)

Official Synopsis:

Makoto is nearly hit by a train when, at the last second, she finds herself jumping backwards in time. She makes use of her newfound ability by re-doing every minor inconvenience in her life. But when faced with the consequences of tampering with time, Makoto must avoid a dire future that can’t be reversed. A beloved early film from Academy Award nominee Mamoru Hosoda.

The Movie: 

While I remain a casual anime fan at best, one of the few anime directors who really stands out for me is Mamoru Hosoda. Hosoda got his start in the studio system, directing two Digimon films and a One Piece movie, which – while both popular franchises – apparently did not scratch his creative itch. He left the big studios to form his own animation studio, producing some memorable anime original films that I’ve enjoyed, including Summer Wars, Wolf Children, and especially 2019’s musically cosmic (or cosmically musical) Belle. 

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time is one of Hosoda’s earlier films from before he set out on his own. It’s a slice-of-life movie about a teenage girl navigating high school and newfound crushes… with one twist. She discovers she has the power to jump back in time a short amount. Meaning she can re-do mistakes, accidents, failed tests… or awkward moments with boys who she might become romantically entangled with. It’s not a plot-heavy film, nor does it come close to the visual fireworks he would pull off in a film like Belle. What it is, though, is sweet and charming, with just enough time travel in it to expand its audience beyond the teenage girls it was presumably made for. I found it quite enjoyable, personally, and I am neither a teenager nor a girl. 

This week, The Girl Who Leapt Through time gets a nice Steelbook release courtesy of Gkids, and I would suggest anime fans give it a watch. 

The 4K Video/Audio:

I can say that, while I’ve never seen the movie before, this 4K Ultra HD edition of The Girl Who Leapt Through Time is likely the best it’s ever looked on home video. You would expect an animated movie to shine on 4K, and it does, despite being nearly 20 years old. The color palette of the film is more subtle than some animation, but it still feels vibrant. Imagery is clear and black levels are deep and inky. The surround soundtrack focuses on dialogue and music first, but makes sure to create a sense of atmosphere throughout. All in all, there’s nothing to complain about here. 

The Bonus Features: 

• Feature with Storyboard
• Feature Commentary with Director and Voice Cast
• Storyboard Commentary
• Teasers and Trailers

Digital Copy Included: No