Criterion, which is well-known for acquiring and releasing films widely regarded as classics, masterpieces, or simply cinematic gems, shocked the industry today by announcing its first-ever partnership with fan-favourite production company Pixar. A Criterion Collection release of the animated picture Wall-E, one of the studio’s most successful movies, was announced for November 2022. The film follows a waste compacting robot that is unappreciatively entrusted with cleaning up Earth after humanity has rendered it uninhabitable. Criterion called Wall-E “a high water point of computer animation” in their announcement article, highlighting the film’s near-dialogue-free presentation as a tribute to the silent film period.
Following in the tradition of other Criterion releases, a special edition of Wall-E will be made available on 4K UHD and Blu-ray with brand new and exclusive extras. The film also features new packaging, as is customary for Criterion releases. The cover art for Wall-E captures the bleak, post-apocalyptic atmosphere of the world he lives in by depicting the main character in his trademark sorrowful expression among piles of garbage. Both Wall-E and the garbage behind him make an allusion to the highly advanced robot EVE who befriends Wall-E in the novel.
The illustrations by Jason Raish even include Wall-pal E’s the cockroach. It is safe to say that Wall-E is one of the most critically praised films to come out of Pixar. Nominated for six Oscars, including Best Original Screenplay and Best Animated Feature Film (which it ultimately took home), with the latter being the one it actually won. The story’s timeless quality is another reason why Criterion chose to include it in its library. Even now, some 15 years after its first release, the film’s analysis of contemporary culture and its future course remain incisive and timely. Andrew Stanton, who directed past Pixar hits including Finding Nemo and A Bug’s Life, oversaw this film.
As of late, the director has helmed episodes for Stranger Things and For All Mankind, and he has also co-written the screenplays for the Disney+ series Obi-Wan Kenobi and the Pixar hits Toy Story 4 and Toy Story Lightyear.
Look at the extras included in the new Wall-E Criterion edition below:
FEATURES UNIQUE TO THIS 4K UHD + BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION, APPROVED BY THE DIRECTOR
– Director Andrew Stanton-approved 4K digital master with a Dolby Atmos soundtrack;
– One 4K UHD disc featuring Dolby Vision HDR and HDR10+ presentation of the film, as well as two Blu-rays containing the film and bonus features;
– Switch between 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio and stereo tracks;
– A pair of audio commentary, one with Stanton and the other with Wise, Collins, Thompson, MacLane, and Collins as well as coproducer Lindsey and story artist Derek;
– Fresh documentaries on the films that influenced Stanton and the colour writings of production designer Ralph Eggleston;
– A guided visit with Stanton through the Pixar Living Archive
– Clips from the original animation reels, as well as a look at how the film came to be;
Documentary filmmaker Leslie Iwerks’ The Pixar Story (2007);
There are about a dozen films that go into into on the film’s robotics and production process.
The Plant, Stanton’s master lesson on the structure of a scene;
– “WALL•E”: A to Z, a new show with Stanton and coscreenwriter Jim Reardon;
— Stanton’s thoughts on cut sequences;
– Stanton’s 1987 graduation film, titled “A Story”;
This includes MacLane’s short film BURN•E (2008);
Film Promotional Materials;
– Captioned versions in English for the hearing impaired;
– Narrated audio description in English
Also included are an article by author Sam Wasson, pages from Stanton’s sketchbooks, script notes, and doodles, and artwork from the WALL•E team.