Disneynature Born in China is one of my favorite films in the series. It returns to the franchise’s earliest format, focusing on a variety of animals rather than just one. This time, the commonality between the species is that they all live on the same continent and all have young ones to care for.
Set against the beautiful backdrop of some of China’s most remote locations, Born in China spends most of its time following the lives of a family of snow leopards, pandas, chiru, and snubbed-nosed monkeys. Spending a little over a year with each of these families, we get to see these babies grow and fight to survive in a variety of ways. This adds to the richness of the film as a whole, avoiding the issue with some of the films, like Bears, which became somewhat dry at times.
Nothing is cuter than a baby panda the size of a leaf, a pair of snow leopard cubs, newborn chiru learning how to walk, or a snub-nosed monkey who just wants to cause mischief. The cute factor of Born in China is astounding, but the struggle each parent faces to keep their offspring alive can at times be hard to watch.
Born in China is the first Disneynature film to feature a lead animal’s quest for survival prove unsuccessful. You grow so attached to all of these creatures that when one doesn’t make it, it’s a striking reminder of the harsh realities of nature. There’s no gore or graphic imagery and it is presented in the most beautiful way possible. You find stories like this in many of Disney’s films, including Bambi and The Lion King, but because these are real animals and you get so attached, the emotions can be overwhelming. The whole film is poetically bookended by red crowned cranes, who are said to carry the spirit of a recently departed animal to the next world every time they take flight.
Born in China can now be yours to enjoy again and again thanks to this Blu-Ray/DVD/Digital Combo Pack. Through purchasing this release, a portion of the sale will become a donation to the World Wildlife Fund to benefit pandas and snow leopards in China thanks to Disney’s Conservation Fund. Through bonus features on this release, you can also learn how to become a champion for conservation in your own backyard.
Bonus Features
- Panda Suits & Bamboo Shoots (6:27) – Join Paul Stewart, Director of Photography, in Sichuan and learn about the challenges the crew faced while filming pandas, which included the necessity to wear a panda suit in order to not scare the gentle giants away.
- Walking with Monkeys (8:03) – Follow the monkey unit and learn about the challenges of filming monkeys in the winter, or just filming monkeys in general as they are incredibly curious and want nothing more than to play with the cameras and interact with the cinematographers.
- Masters of Camouflage (4:56) – Director of Photography Shane Moore leads a crew 16,000 feet above sea level to find an elusive family of snow leopards. Quite a bit of the footage is recycled from the feature-length documentary Ghost of the Mountains and it even ends with a promo for that documentary.
- Wading Through Wetlands (5:22) – A small crew captures the first moments of a baby red crowned crane’s life, but it takes a long search to find one. This feature also discusses the symbolism of these beautiful birds.
- “Everything Everything” Music Video (3:30) – American Authors performs their end credit song from a studio juxtaposed against clips from the film.
- Disneynature: Get Inspired, Get Involved (1:18) – A sizzle reel of Disney’s animated animals juxtaposed against Disneynature footage and a recap of how Born in China’s theatrical run helped improve the lives of animals around the world. This same feature also plays as an ad before the film.
Video
The video presentation of Born in China is nothing short of stunning on Blu-Ray. Every frame is a work of art and you will instantly want to book a trip to China. The details are crisp, sharp, and clear. Color levels are breathtaking, with some vivid summer colors contrasting dark and muted winter moments.
Audio
The primary audio track is a 5.1 DTS HD-MA mix that fills the rear speakers with score and nature ambiance. It’s a beautiful mix that places you in the heart of every moment. Other audio options include a stereo descriptive audio track plush French and Spanish 5.1 mixes.
Packaging & Design
Born in China is housed in a standard Blu-Ray case with both discs on the interior covers. Inserts include a code for your digital copy/Disney Movie Rewards and a flier for Disney Movie Club. The case is housed in a foil embossed slipcover in the initial pressing.
Both discs open with ads for Disneynature Dolphins and the Disney Conservation Fund. Selecting “Sneak Peeks” plays additional previews for Disney Movie Rewards and the digital exclusive documentary Ghost of the Mountains. The menu features scenes from the film set to score.
Final Thoughts
Disneynature Born in China is a powerful and heartwarming film about the beauty of nature. It’s perfect for families to cuddle up and enjoy some adorable baby animals and some acts of true heroism. The Blu-Ray presentation offers impressive visuals and the bonus features give great insight into how this remarkable film was made.
If you enjoyed Born in China, I recommend the following articles:
- Ghost of the Mountains Review
- Cinematographers in Panda Suits – Behind the Scenes of Born in China
- Interview with the Composer of Born in China
- Lotus and Feather – Children’s book about red crowned cranes from Disney Press