Thanks to Universal Pictures, we had a chance to review the “Migration” Blu-Ray combo pack with our very own copy!
Below is our description and analysis of the product:
Be sure to pick up your copy starting 2/27/2024!
About Migration – Spread your wings and get ready to soar with the Mallard family, whose vacation goes awry in the animated comedy MIGRATION, now available as a Collector’s Edition on Digital, 4K UHD, Blu-rayTM and DVD on February 27, 2024, from Illumination, the creators of MINIONS, and Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. “A great movie for the whole family,” (Despierta America), MIGRATION features a star-studded comedic voice cast and over an hour of never-before-seen exclusive content with even more fun for families and fans to enjoy. See how the Mallard family came to life with “Taking Flight: The Making Of” featurette, learn more about your favorite characters with the four-part “Meet the Cast” featurette, gain the skills of an animator with four “How to Draw’ tutorials, watch three all-new mini-movies – including two original shorts featuring everyone’s favorite mischief-makers, the Minions, and much more.
Filled with Illumination’s signature subversive humor, authentic heart, and unforgettable characters, and hailed as “something the whole family can enjoy” (Collider), MIGRATION is a hilariously funny, feathered family vacation like no other! Fans can join the Mallard family, as they embark on a journey south for the winter to Jamaica via New York City, only for their well-laid plans to go awry, leading to new friends and unknown horizons.
From Illumination producer Chris Meledandri, director Benjamin Renner (Ernest & Celestine, The Big Bad Fox), and co-director Guylo Homsy (Despicable Me 2, Sing), MIGRATION features an all-star cast including Kumail Nanjiani (The Big Sick, Stuber), Elizabeth Banks (Pitch Perfect, The Hunger Games), Keegan-Michael Key (The Super Mario Bros. Movie,
Keanu), Awkwafina (Ocean’s 8, The Little Mermaid), and Danny DeVito (Batman Returns, “Taxi”).
EXCLUSIVE BONUS FEATURES on 4K UHD, BLU-RAYTM, DVD AND DIGITAL:
- FLY HARD (MINI-MOVIE) – Chump sheds her tough-as-nails attitude, risking her life to fly through a blizzard and the harrowing streets of New York to return a prized possession to a kind woman from the park.
- MOONED (MINI-MOVIE) – Following the events of DESPICABLE ME, Vector and a lost Minion are stranded on the moon, and struggle to get back to Earth.
- MIDNIGHT MISSION (MINI-MOVIE) – The Minions will try anything to help Agnes overcome her fear of the dark, even if it involves going into outer space.
- MICROPHONE MADNESS – A fun look behind-the-scenes as the cast record some of their silliest lines.
- MEET THE CAST – In this series of behind-the-scenes pieces, we learn more about our favorite characters and the legendary comedic voices behind them.
- KUMAIL NANJIANI: MACK
- ELIZABETH BANKS: PAM
- KEEGAN-MICHAEL KEY: DELROY
- AWKWAFINA: CHUMP
- DANNY DEVITO: UNCLE DAN
- CAROL KANE: ERIN
- CASPAR JENNINGS: DAX & TRESI GAZAL: GWEN
- TAKING FLIGHT: THE MAKING OF – MIGRATION is an original script so brand-new characters and locations had to be developed, designed, and animated from scratch! Here, filmmakers and crew break down their process to show us what gives this film an entirely new look and feel.
- THE ART OF FLIGHT – Using a series of production phases from storyboards to pre-viz, we peel back the feathers and reveal just what goes into creating the avian heroes of the film.
- THE SOUND OF FLIGHT – Take a closer look at the music of MIGRATION as Composer John Powell walks us through his scoring journey.
- HOW TO DRAW
- MACK
- DELROY
- CHUMP
- GWEN
- BUILD YOUR OWN POP-UP BOOK – Daddy duck, Mack, likes to tell his two little ducklings some…overly imaginative bedtime stories. In this fun “How To” we’ll show you how to create a pop-up book so you can tell your very own bedtime stories!
- CALLING ALL BIRDS – They may not have cell phones, but you can call your web-footed friends anytime you want! In this fun How To, we’ll teach you how to create and customize your very own set of colorful bird whistles.
- THE MACK QUACK
- THE HERON HONK
- THE CHUMP CHIRP
- BEST NESTS – You don’t have to fly south –or anywhere –to find a perfect paradise for your feathered friends. Here we’ll teach you how to make the best nest for your pet ducks, or anyone flying by, including a water feeder to keep them hydrated!
- NESTS
- WATER FEEDER
HNS Review: “Migration” is a movie that will delight younger audiences. There are some fun sequences, reminding viewers about the power of family and the necessity to get outside your comfort zone. I don’t think adults will connect with this one as much of the film is pretty surface level entertainment that is designed to keep children entertained. But I could see kids having this on repeat if they take this one home with them.
About the Product: The case is very eye-catching. Filled with the many colors included in the movie, kids will definitely be drawn to the fun nature of the premise. The paper cover is textured around the characters which is neat. The Minions mini features are also highlighted which is sure to get younger kids excited. The flexibility of the product is showcased as the digital code, blu-ray, and DVD are all included in the package. This is nice for families that are at home or traveling as the film is accessible anywhere.
About the Special Features:
Mini Movies – Kids will enjoy this section. Each short film is perfect for kids to entertain them for a few minutes. “Fly Hard” is the only one associated with “Migration”. It’s probably the best of the three. The two minions movies weren’t for me, but I’m sure small children who are into the sillier side of things will find these two enjoyable.
Meet the Cast – This is a fun section. Watching the voice actors perform their roles with so much enthusiasm will be fun for families to see. It’s clear that each cast member took their roles seriously and wanted to add a unique approach. Seeing this paired with the animation designs for the characters was nice. Kids will especially enjoy the approach behind each character.
Microphone Madness – Pretty short section here. Each cast member is shown in their crazier moments doing the voice acting. It looks like they were having fun with these roles, bouncing off one another’s energy and adding life to the characters.
Taking Flight: The Making of Migration – I really enjoyed this section. Hearing the animation artists break down the creation of each scene was neat. The animation process seems very complex, but observing each stage and the progression of the artwork was very impressive. Creating the world and characters from scratch and seeing each part of the animation come to life was a real treat.
The Art of Flight – A continuation of the previous section, mainly covering how the animation was developed to create flight with the birds. Pretty short and sweet but a nice look into the layers of animation associated with creating each scene.
The Sound of Flight – This section breaks down how the score was conducted in each scene and what kind of music should be played. Depending on the mood/tone, the creative team had to think about what kind of background noise should be conveyed. I enjoyed this because scoring a film is very important and captures the desired tone. But doing this with animation can be even trickier.
Build Your Own Pop Up Book – Kids will really enjoy this section. Arts and crafts are always fun! The step-by-step process of creating this book is easy to follow. It moves a bit fast, especially for younger viewers, so pausing during each step will be important when younger viewers construct their own book. This could be an enjoyable family activity to do together. Lots of fun to be had here!
How to Draw – Here, we are given instruction from the director on how he sketches each character. It is simplified and very easy for kids to follow. I can see children having lots of fun with this section and doing their renditions of the characters over and over. Make sure to stack up on paper parents!
Calling All Birds – Another arts and crafts section. Kids will enjoy this one as it is a nice counter to the drawing section. This is an interactive activity that teaches kids how to build a creation to make certain bird calls. Each resembles a character from the movie with a call that those birds make. This one also moves fast so pausing will be important. Parents will be able to help kids with this one so it’s fun for everyone in the family!
Best Nests – The final arts and crafts section in the special features. This activity will be fun for kids to participate in while they play outside. It offers some nice instructions on how to assemble a bird’s nest with materials found in the backyard. This is another one where families can participate together. These arts and crafts sections are a great addition to the blu-ray package!
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