BEYOND THE MIND’S EYE [1992] [DVD] [USA Release] A Timeless Computer Animation Odyssey!
‘BEYOND THE MIND’S EYE’ is a surreal voyage bridging the gap between reality and imagination. Travel through the inner depths of the human psyche to the outer reaches of the universe. ‘BEYOND THE MIND’S EYE’ explores worlds that may exist in alternate dimensions – or only in the minds of the world's leading computer animators.
‘BEYOND THE MIND’S EYE’ integrates the latest computer animation technology and artistry at the time in 1992 and of course includes the original composed music by renowned composer Jan Hammer and the original ‘THE MIND’S EYE’ has been described as a “modern Fantasia.”
Director: Michael Boydstun
Producers: G. Paul Sullivan and Sean Gleason and Steven Churchill
Composer: Jan Hammer
Image Resolution: 1080i
Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1
Audio: English: 2.0 LPCM Stereo Audio
Subtitles: None
Running Time: 49 minutes
Region: NTSC
Number of discs: 1
Studio: MIRAMAR PRODUCTION
Andrew's DVD Review: With the computer animation ‘BEYOND THE MIND’S EYE’ [1992] they say that even though the technology now is way beyond what was possible when released in 1992. ‘BEYOND THE MIND’S EYE’ is still a landmark work of computer animation and imagination. Its artfulness, beauty, and thoughtfulness will remain. Wonderful music by Jan Hammer helps to make each segment unique and enduring.
This is the second of ‘THE MIND’S EYE’ series of computer animation showcases. This time around, keyboardist Jan Hammer provides the dreamy, synthesized soundtrack. Segments have been pieced together from advertisements and independent and feature films (including some choice bits from ‘The Lawnmower Man’). The disparate elements have been thematically linked with titles like “Theater of Magic” and “Too Far,” and it's all very cyber-psychedelic.
Features the efforts of Jan Hammer and included the first vocal tracks in such segments as “Seeds of Life” a sequence themed around planet-colonizing seeds featuring the noted Panspermia by computer graphics artist Karl Sims. The DVD version of “Seeds of Life” has the added bonus of including the vocal version of “Seeds of Life” that is sung by Chris Thompson and he is blended with the computer animation segment with also the footage of Jan Hammer and his band performing the composed song by Jan Hammer. ‘BEYOND THE MIND’S EYE’ and also features some edited version of the CGI sequences from ‘The Lawnmower Man’ film.
The DVD contains 11 segments that include the following:
01. Virtual Reality
02. Seeds of Life
03. Afternoon Adventure
04. Brave New World
05. Transformers
06. Too Far
07. Windows
08. Nothing But Love
09. The Pyramid
10. Theater Of Magic
11. Voyage Home
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DVD Image Quality – MIRAMA PRODUCTION presents us the ‘BEYOND THE MIND’S EYE’ with a very standard 1080i colour image and of course presented in the standard 1.37:1 aspect ratio. But despite being a DVD release it still exhibits good colour fidelity despite the age and condition of the computer animation shorts. Grain is present in several instances, as expected for film dating back almost six decades. Solid black levels allow for adequate detail. I detected no digital or compression artefacts. Despite it being a DVD release, the animations still looks really good, especially for the younger generation and is very inventive and imaginative.
DVD Audio Quality – MIRAMA PRODUCTION brings us the ‘BEYOND THE MIND’S EYE’ is brought to you with a 2.0 LPCM Stereo Audio experience and the songs are very clean and very natural. To me the outstanding composed music by Jan Hammer is for the awesome “Theater Of Magic” that is so inventive and really helps to make viewing this particular computer animation one of my all-time favourite computer animations.
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BONUS SHORT: Seeds of Life [1992] [1080i] [1.37:1] [4:01] This is the same computer animation, but has the added bonus of viewing the singer Chris Thompson, and he is blended with the animation segment and footage as well as Jan Hammer and his band who are also performing. But of course the actual main computer animation “Seeds of Life” is an instrumental version only. What is totally unique about this video is seeing the very inventive composer Jan Hammer and his group of talented musicians.
Finally, with ‘BEYOND THE MIND’S EYE’ I can honestly say that the music is one of my favourite things about this computer animation movie, and was composed by the one and only Jan Hammer. A note to people though, the Compact Disc soundtrack that was released is almost entirely different than what you hear in the movie and especially the vocal version of “Seeds of Life.” It's a movie I think can be liked by all ages, especially those who grew up in the era that it was released, and respect it for what it once was. ‘BEYOND THE MIND’S EYE’ still I feel holds up pretty well after all these years and was a huge computer animation at the time and I still enjoy it immensely to this day and I hope you also will enjoy it. Highly Recommended!
Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film Aficionado
Le Cinema Paradiso
United Kingdom
