WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Balto
Genre:Animation

Reviewed In Issue 20 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
The Voices Of Kevin Bacon, Bridget Fonda, Phil Collins & Bob Hoskins

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 5
Sound Rating: 4
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Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
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Supplementals

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): MCA/Universal Home Video
(Catalog Number): 42847
(MPAA Rating): G
(Retail Price): $34.98
(Running Time In Minutes): 78
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Theatrical Release): 1995
(LD Release Date): 4/96
(THX® Digitally Mastered): Yes

Credits Information
(Director): Simon Wells
(Screenplay/Written By): Cliff Ruby, Elana Lesser, David Steven Cohen & Roger S.H. Shulman
(Story): Cliff Ruby, Elana Lesser
(Music): James Horner
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): Hans Bachen
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor): NA
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): Steven Spielberg, Kathleen Kennedy & Bonne Radford
(Co-Producers): NA
(Producers): Steve Hickner

DVD Picture Information
(Principal Photography): Academy Standard Flat
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 1.85:1
(Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 1.75:1

DVD Sound Information
(DVD Soundtrack): Dolby Surround
(Theatrical Sound): DTS Digital Sound
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(Remastered Dolby Digital):
(Remastered DTS Digital Surround):
(Additional Languages):

WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
This Amblin Entertainment animated adventure is set against the wilderness landscape of the Alaskan territory and is based on a true story about a part husky/part wolf named Balto who doesn’t know where he belongs. Balto (Kevin Bacon) is an outcast and considered possibly dangerous in Nome. But his friends—Boris, the Russian snow goose (Bob Hoskins), two polar bear cubs (voices by Phil Collins) and the beautiful husky, Jenna (Bridget Fonda), and her little girl owner, Rosy (Juliette Brewer)—see his noble spirit. After a serious diphtheria epidemic spreads, the sled dog team carrying the life saving serum is lost in a blinding Arctic storm. When Rosy’s life is threatened and Balto sees how heartbroken Jenna is, he sets out to find the lost team to save all the little children.

LaserDisc Picture:
The 1.75:1 THX®-assured quality picture is sure to please with colorful and bright animation that is sharp and detailed, and charming throughout. The imagery is solid with no noise or artifacts.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
The soundtrack uses aggressive surround and an expansive and dynamic music score to energize the animation. Dialogue is natural and well integrated with sound effects.
(Surround Bass Below 50Hz):
(Aggressive System Surround):
(Intense 25Hz Bass):
(Deep Bass Challenging):
(Aggressive 0.1 LFE):
(Holosonic Soundfield):
(Aggressive Split Surround):
(Center Back Surround Imaging):
(Directionalized Dialogue):
Superb Sound Effects Recording Quality:
Superb Music Score Recording Quality:
Superb Special Visual Effects Quality:
Superb Color Fidelity:
Superb Cinematography:
Reference LaserDisc:
Collector Edition: