Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas 4K review
Nov 16, 2024- Permalink
For some of us, there is only one Grinch that matters and that’s Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas, the 1966 animated TV special that was narrated by the one and only Boris Karloff and animated by the legendary Chuck Jones. Though the Grinch sets out to remove all the presents and glitz of Christmas from the village of Whoville, his heart becomes touched by the spirit of the season. It’s as much a Christmas must today as it was in 1966. Warner Brothers released a 4K version of the animated special back in October 2024 and I’ve recently had a chance to take a look as part of their gift guide suggestions. This set also includes two other Grinch specials, The Grinch Grinches the Cat in the Hat and Halloween Is Grinch Night.
The 2160p HEVC / H.265 encoded native 4K digital transfer with HDR10 is presented in a 1.33:1 aspect ratio. The hand-drawn animation looks fantastic in this 4K presentation with crisp line edges, deep blacks and a pleasing colour palette. The film grain remains intact, something that can’t be said for some previous incarnations. The grinchiest of viewers should love how this looks.
On the audio side of things, you have the choice of an English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono track and a French Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono track. Subtitles are available for English SDH and French. The lossless English track gives some extra depth to the special’s music and dialogue is clear and prioritized in the mix.
The Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas 4K arrives with just the 4K. There is no Blu-ray copy or digital code. Extras include audio commentary by voice actor June Foray and animator Phil Roman, a piece on the trip from book to screen, a look at the music with composer Albert Hague and singer Thurl Ravenscroft, a menu that takes you to the songs, a featurette hosted by Phil Hartman that includes interviews with producer/animator Chuck Jones, and some early pencil tests.
The Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas 4K combines a beloved Christmas special with an excellent AV presentation and a nice collection of extras. Highly recommended.