Mind's Eye, The (1990) [ID8530MM]

This was the first in a series of "computer animation odysseys'" that showcased now-primitive, then-mindblowing CGI from different animators, programmers, and graphics divisions of the 80s' into the 90s'. Most, if not all of the animation was done in the 1980's as it was compiled and released in 1990. This was just the tip of the iceberg, if you will, of computer-generated "fantasias". There would later be four in the entire series, but the first one never appeared on DVD.

The program is soothing, in a way. Each segment tells some sort of narrative, without dialogue, only with somehow relevant images. The score by James Reynolds sets the mood pretty well, but it also radically changes the music that was originally packaged with the animation. For example, in "Breaking the Ice", which fills up the segment 'Love Found', the music which was an electronic score, is now a sappy easy-listening Kenny G-style piece, which I guess is more romantic. To find the complete animation with the original music intact, fetch for this LaserDisc: Laser Optics II.

Although it is non-existent on DVD, this LaserDisc is the best version you can find. It goes rather cheaply for $4.

9/10

VIDEO

All of these clips come from different sources such as film, tape, etc. Some of the animations go up to 60 frames-per-second and some are as little as 5-6 fps. It looks like they used the best sources available at the time. The disc was mastered in CAV for both sides, giving a very clean, no-crosstalk, reference quality picture. It looks stunning on my Mitsubishi Megaview CRT television set, and it's a very good disc to demo these kind of setups. I've watched it before on an LCD, but I prefer the CRT. (Of course!) I would give the video a perfect rating, but the varying sources can stack some inconsistencies.

9.75/10

AUDIO

The digital PCM track is a simple stereo soundtrack. No Pro-Logic or any other matrix surround decoder used for this one. The way James Reynolds's score is recorded and mixed sounds very flat. It must've been due to the limitations of digital recording at the time, but you might be thinking, every PCM LaserDisc uses digital mastering for the soundtrack. The THX WOW! disc from the same year used a 35mm Dolby SR magnetic soundtrack, which is analog, and still sounds incredible. I know it's unfair to compare, but "The Mind's Eye" sounds dull, but it doesn't sound bad.

7/10