Animalympics (1980)

[DMRI2006]

Steven Lisberger of TRON fame produced this back in the late 70s as two animated network TV specials, later re-editing it into feature form (played on cable TV in the 80s).

Didn't realize there was a German Blu-Ray, which apparently has the English track featuring Billy Crystal, Gilda Radner and others:



https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B07...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[PonyoBellanote]

Woah, never thought I'd see the day where Animalympics would be released in HD, at all. I'm not sure about the picture quality but it doesn't seem to be an upscale of the earlier PAL DVDs. I wonder if the audio is proper good stereo too? Give me next a GOOD remastered, clean copy of the album oficially and I'd be happy..


It even has a interview and some art concepts? Count me to put this one on the list of must have..

[DMRI2006]

Great disc! High bit-rate transfer, good detail, PCM full stereo sound (English track with Bill Crystal, Gilda Radner, etc.).

The interview with Lisberger is a full half-hour and there are also bonus drawings and song selection options.

Region locked but very recommended if you're good to go.

[PonyoBellanote]

I noticed the audio has the same echo problem with the music it always had. Thought it was just a flaw of international copies?



Probably was a cheap way to make "fake" stereo these days.

[DMRI2006]

It's early Dolby Stereo. SUPERMAN's original 78 mix had that kind of mix also.

[PonyoBellanote]

Originally Posted by DMRI2006

It's early Dolby Stereo. SUPERMAN's original 78 mix had that kind of mix also.

Yeah, I eventually came to the conclusion it's related more to how the source was mixed, rather than an issue with the video or however. It was sort of an indie movie after all, they probably didn't have the budget of Hollywood, so the only way to give sort of an "stereo" feeling was to put reverb to some background songs.. it's not that awful, but you notice it.

The only way to fix it would be doing a new mix; but I believe, being an indie mixed so uncared for, doubtful that anything is archived or kept in regards to that.

[DMRI2006]

Right, nobody is ever going to remix it, and I don't think it's that bad. A lot of those early Dolby Stereo tracks that had an awful lot of reverb and were overly "glossy" to be sure. It's dynamic and pretty loud, but I'm thankful we have it and, more over, that there's a quality HD presentation of the movie seeing as there won't be one in the U.S.

[Jay G.]

Is this region B locked, or will it play in Region A players?

[DMRI2006]

Originally Posted by Jay G.

Is this region B locked, or will it play in Region A players?

answered 5 posts up

[Jay G.]

Originally Posted by DMRI2006

answered 5 posts up

So you tested it, and it only plays in region B, not A or C?

[DMRI2006]

Originally Posted by Jay G.

So you tested it, and it only plays in region B, not A or C?

Right, it's locked to Region B.

[Michael Fremer]

Originally Posted by PonyoBellanote

Yeah, I eventually came to the conclusion it's related more to how the source was mixed, rather than an issue with the video or however. It was sort of an indie movie after all, they probably didn't have the budget of Hollywood, so the only way to give sort of an "stereo" feeling was to put reverb to some background songs.. it's not that awful, but you notice it.

The only way to fix it would be doing a new mix; but I believe, being an indie mixed so uncared for, doubtful that anything is archived or kept in regards to that.

Actually, I supervised the mix of Animalympics. I also co-wrote it and did voices on it but the credits on this site don't list me because I'm not as famous as the others, but actually I hired Harry Shearer to do voices. As for the sound: we mixed it at Todd-AO in quadrophonic sound and the full feature film (as opposed to the TV shows) was screened in theaters and debuted at The Miami Film Festival. The 35MM print was a 4 track mag production and very real and excellent stereo. Unfortunately the master was lost, which is why I was curious to know what was used for this Blu-ray. I recorded all of the sound effects in stereo. Jimmie Haskell produced the incidental music and of course Graham Gouldman did the songs (also hired based on my recommendation because I was a 10CC fan). The mixer was Don McDougal who was an effects mixer on Star Wars. We mixed across the hall from where Spielberg was mixing "1941" and almost the entire time we mixed he was mixing one scene where Belushi goes down in an airplane into Ocean Park.

[Michael Fremer]

Originally Posted by DMRI2006

Right, nobody is ever going to remix it, and I don't think it's that bad. A lot of those early Dolby Stereo tracks that had an awful lot of reverb and were overly "glossy" to be sure. It's dynamic and pretty loud, but I'm thankful we have it and, more over, that there's a quality HD presentation of the movie seeing as there won't be one in the U.S.

I supervised the original mix of Animalymics and it was originally mixed in 4 track quad sound and presented in limited theatrical release as a 4 track mag striped 35MM print that unfortunately got lost somewhere along the line. I supervised the mix at Todd-AO. The mixer was Don McDougal who was a sound effects mixer on Star Wars. I was very careful about the sound effects too: I recorded them in stereo rather than using 'stock' mono poorly recorded effects. It's sad that the original 4 track mix was lost because it came out really well. I also co-wrote the movie and did voices on it. I also edited it....a lot of stuff, which makes me kind of annoyed that the credits on many sites completely leave me out! But I'm not as famous as Gilda Harry or Billy. I did the turtle voice as well as both the male and female "love interests". I also sang the Preenettes soap jingle and named most of the characters! So, you can imagine how not happy I am even all of these years later to not get any credit in many listings....oh well...

[Michael Fremer]

Originally Posted by PonyoBellanote

Yeah, I eventually came to the conclusion it's related more to how the source was mixed, rather than an issue with the video or however. It was sort of an indie movie after all, they probably didn't have the budget of Hollywood, so the only way to give sort of an "stereo" feeling was to put reverb to some background songs.. it's not that awful, but you notice it.

The only way to fix it would be doing a new mix; but I believe, being an indie mixed so uncared for, doubtful that anything is archived or kept in regards to that.

I supervised the mix. It was a quadrophonic mix very well done at Todd A-O in Hollywood. I recorded all new stereo sound effects too. A 35MM 4 track mag striped print was made that unfortunately got lost but the movie debuted at The Miami Film Festival and the 4 track presentation was sensational. I'm really sorry that the master was lost and all that's used now is either a mono optical track turned into "fake stereo" or something else but trust me, this movie had a GREAT sound sounding track originally. I went on to supervise the soundtrack to TRON, which was nominated for an Academy Award for best sound. We lost to E.T. of course.

[Michael Fremer]

Originally Posted by DMRI2006

Steven Lisberger of TRON fame produced this back in the late 70s as two animated network TV specials, later re-editing it into feature form (played on cable TV in the 80s).

Didn't realize there was a German Blu-Ray, which apparently has the English track featuring Billy Crystal, Gilda Radner and others:



https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B07...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Actually it was originally produced simultaneously as a feature film and as two television shows (winter and summer Olympics) but only the winter 1/2 hour show ran on NBC because the Russians invaded Afghanistan and America boycotted the Olympics. I supervised the quadrophonic and mono mixes (for television). I also edited all versions and co-wrote the movie and did voices. The quad feature debuted at The Miami Film Festival and the sound was fantastic. Unfortunately the quad master tape was lost....very sad....

[Jay G.]

Hi Michael! Welcome to the forum, and thanks for the insights into the making of this movie.

So by the sound of it, there was a mono TV mix and theatrical quad mix originally made, so then for a later home video release it seems someone took the mono mix and made a faux stereo version out of it. Was only one print made of the film using the quad mix?

I bought the PAL DVD years ago because my wife had found memories of the film as a child, and she loved it. However, she'd love it more if I could find the Cantonese dub, because she grew up watching the Hong Kong version.

[The Mole]

I hope fpr a BD release in the US or UK. The German Disc is based on a German print with a German title card and burt-in subtitle translations for the different sports. I don't like this kind of localized masters.

[DMRI2006]

Originally Posted by Michael Fremer

I supervised the mix. It was a quadrophonic mix very well done at Todd A-O in Hollywood. I recorded all new stereo sound effects too. A 35MM 4 track mag striped print was made that unfortunately got lost but the movie debuted at The Miami Film Festival and the 4 track presentation was sensational. I'm really sorry that the master was lost and all that's used now is either a mono optical track turned into "fake stereo" or something else but trust me, this movie had a GREAT sound sounding track originally. I went on to supervise the soundtrack to TRON, which was nominated for an Academy Award for best sound. We lost to E.T. of course.

Michael you should check this disc out for yourself and give us your thoughts on it. The transfer is outstanding.

[DMRI2006]

Originally Posted by The Mole

I hope fpr a BD release in the US or UK. The German Disc is based on a German print with a German title card and burt-in subtitle translations for the different sports. I don't like this kind of localized masters.

This BD isn't sourced from a German print, all the credits are in English, so are all the sport title cards. If you select "English" from the top menu (the disc gives you a choice of English or German) there are no burnt-in German subtitles of any kind either.

[The Mole]

I only saw screenshots with the English subtitles and the person posting them said, they were forced because burnt into the print. Seems like the disc uses seamless branching for the German and the English version. How about the title card? Does it say "Animalympics" if you choose English language?