FernGully: The Last Rainforest on DVD

FERNGULLY: THE LAST RAINFOREST (30^TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION) COMING TO BLU-RAY™ + DVD FROM SHOUT! KIDS ON AUGUST 23, 2022

The beloved animated feature FernGully: The Last Rainforest will be the recipient of an exciting new release ahead of its 30^th Anniversary. On August 23, Shout! Factory will release FernGully: The Last Rainforest (30^th Anniversary Edition) in a Blu-ray™ + DVD Combo. Thanks to an amazing restoration from a brand-new 4K scan of the original film elements, fans will be able to enjoy the film as never before.

Special features on FernGully: The Last Rainforest (30^th Anniversary Edition) include a fascinating NEW introduction with director Bill Kroyer, which includes never-before-seen pencil, character and animation tests. Other features include multiple commentaries, featurettes, a music video, a multi-angle scene study, a script-to-scene comparison, and more.

Deep in the heart of the forest awaits a paradise filled with tiny sprites, winged fairies, tree spirits, and all kinds of animals who live together in joyful harmony. But when their home is threatened by humans, one courageous sprite must give her all to save it!

Featuring an all-star voice cast, including Robin Williams, Christian Slater, Samantha Mathis, Tim Curry, Cheech Marin, Tommy Chong, and Tone Loc, FernGully: The Last Rainforest is an iconic classic for kids of all ages, presented here in a special 2-Disc, 30^th Anniversary Edition.

Based on the series of books by Australian author Diana Young, and directed by Bill Kroyer (Honey, I Shrunk The Kids), FernGully was a labor of love. The filmmakers used what was then brand-new special effects technology for penetrating layers of backgrounds and to generate the beginning stages of drawings which were then completed by hand. 150,000 cels were created for FernGully, a total of 38 miles of artwork if they were laid end-to-end. Although many steps were computer-assisted, every shot was primarily painted and animated by hand.

The key creative team spent time in the Australian rainforest to view first-hand one of the richest natural environments on earth, and drew inspiration from the multi-hued colors of the forest and exotic wildlife. As a result, FernGully is extraordinary in its attention to detail.

FernGully’s ecological message about the importance of the world’s rainforests had a strong impact on viewers 30 years ago. That message is timelier than ever in 2022, and the film continues to find new generations of fans.

Crysta (Samantha Mathis) is a fairy who lives in FernGully, a rainforest in Australia, and has never seen a human before. In fact, she is told they are extinct. But when a logging company comes near the rainforest, she sees that they do exist, and even accidentally shrinks one of them: a boy named Zak (Jonathan Ward). Now her size, Zak sees the damage that the company does and helps Crysta to stop not only them, but an evil entity named Hexxus (Tim Curry), who feeds off pollution.

Special Features:

NEW Introduction With Director Bill Kroyer, Which Includes Never-Before-Seen Pencil, Character And Animation Tests
Audio Commentary with Bill Kroyer, Art Director Ralph Eggleston and Coordinating Art Director Susan Kroyer
“Seed of the Story” – Script-To-Screen Comparison with Optional Commentary by Screenwriter Jim Cox
“From Paper to Tree” – Making-of Featurette
“Behind The Voice: Toxic Love” – Multi-Angle Scene Study
Original Featurette
“If I’m Gonna Eat Somebody (It Might As Well Be You)” Music Video
Theatrical Trailers and TV Spots

This DVD will hit a nerve with a lot of people; it parallels our current situation. Our rainforests are being destroyed by greed (Hexxus) and foolishness and, it will take bravery to stand up to these thugs. Our young generation like apprentice Crysta in the movie will be left with a devastated planet if someone doesn’t step forward and stop it.

If you recall the evil spirit Hexxus loves and thrives on everything toxic, polluted, decaying and destructive. He was sealed up in a very old tree where he was to stay forever. But, loggers cut down this tree, thus freeing and rejuvenating Hexxus’s evil intent. Thriving on the toxic engine and exhaust fumes he gains strength and control of the deforesters. And he is on his way to FernGully! An action plan is needed and Crysta and her friends will not back down! FernGully is a perfect reminder that our rainforests are precious and it’s up to us to save them for its inhabitants and future generations.

Disclaimer: I received complimentary products to facilitate a review. All opinions are my own, yours may differ.