191 replies to this topic

[momaw]

I know there is some interest on anime titles on HD and some questions have been asked about recent releases.

Here is a quick summary (relating to the release I have on blu-ray):

Royal Space Force: Wing of Honneamise:  Very nice picture but shows it's date.  Comparison shots show a great improvement despite some source damage.  Dolby True HD Japanese track with English subs or an English 2.0 dub.  Region Free.  Expensive Blu-ray/DVD double pack approx $100AUD.  Also on HD DVD.

Patlabor:  A far better picture than WoH.  A significant upgrade from DVD.  Dolby True HD Japanese track with English subs or a 5.1 English Dub.  English Dub sounds as good as the Lossless.  Region Free.  Expensive Blu-ray/DVD double pack approx $100AUD.  Also on HD DVD.

Patlabor 2:  Stunning picture.  I don't think this movie could look better.  Dolby True HD Track with English subs or 5.1 English Dub.  Region Free.  Expensive Blu-ray/DVD double pack approx $100AUD.  Also on HD DVD.

Patlabor 3: WXII:  Verdic Pending

Ghost in the Shell:  Picture looks average, but when compared to original there is a lot more detail.  PCM 2.0 Japanese track with 2.0 English Dub.  Region Free.  Very disappointing release.  Expensive Blu-ray/DVD double pack approx $100AUD. Only on Blu-ray. Edit: Tartan has gone into liquidation.  All US rights have been sold off and the UK situation is unknown.  Could have just become a collectors item.

Ghost in the Shell 2:  Stunning Picture.  Some of the bet non-cgi (and cgi) animation I have seen.  6.1 Japanese track with English Subs.  Region Locked to A.  Expensive Blu-ray only release approx $80AUD. Only on Blu-ray

Steamboy: Gorgeous transfer.  NO ENGLISH SUBS OR DUBS.  I got caught on this one.  All the other Bandai releases are English Friendly but this one isn't.  PCM 5.1 Japanese track.  Region Free.  Expensive Blu-ray/DVD double pack approx $100AUD. Only on Blu-ray

Paprika:  Stunning picture quality and the audio is exquisite.  Some of the best yet.  Japanese PCM 5.1 Track with no English subs (Japan release).  Japanese PCM 5.1 Track with English subs or English 5.1 Track. (French Release).  Japanese and English Dolby True HD (US Release and Aus Release).  Japan - Region Free, France - Region Free, Aus/US - Region Free.  Japan approx $60, France (my copy) approx $45, Aus $42.98.  Only on Blu-ray.

Tekkonkinkreet:  Best Blu-ray I own.  Perfect Transfer.  Japanese PCM 5.1 Track, English 5.1 Dub.  I have the US release that was $27US and is Region Locked to A.  Aus release is $43.  Exclusive to Blu-ray

Afro Samurai:  My Review.  Japanese release region free and in English (Original English voice cast).  Dolby True HD and DTS HD MA audio.  Picture 1080i

Appleseed: Ex Machina:  Verdict Pending.

Ghost In The Shell - The Laughing Man, The Individual Eleven, Solid State Society:  Pending delivery - Due June

Sky Blue: Great animation but the print suffers from banding issues.  UK release has English Dolby Digital, Dolby True HD and DTS HD MA all on a BD25.  US release due June 2009.  Approx $18 pounds from UK.  Exclusive to Blu-ray.

I'll update the missing bits and add more info as I can an hopefully get some reviews done.

They are quite a few more titles available such as Air, but these do not have subs.  I was planing on getting Jin Roh, WXIII and Akira but will now wait for subtitle confirmation in future.

Edited by momaw, 29 July 2008 - 10:08 PM.

[yorac]

Great work again Mo

[nightbreed]

Some great titles there. Any word on Akira or Ninja scrolls?

[momaw]

Nightbreed, on Aug 29 2007, 07:58 PM, said:

Some great titles there. Any word on Akira or Ninja scrolls?

Akira was supposed to be releases last month but was pulled.  I suspect it is probably to do something special with it being the 20th Anniversary next year.  Haven't heard anything on Ninja scroll unfortunately.

I have found while some older titles don't look on the amazing scale of modern animation and cgi, they certainly get a big boast in the removal of artifacts and a great boost in sharpness and resolution.

Am desperate for Ghibli to get on the highdef band wagon.

[ajm]

Great job mo.  *crosses fingers that region coding info will be a furphy and all are region free*

[AndrewW]

I'm not really into Anime, but some great info their mo.

[momaw]

ajm, on Aug 29 2007, 08:09 PM, said:

Great job mo.  *crosses fingers that region coding info will be a furphy and all are region free*

Except Ghost in the Shell 2.  I confirmed it was region locked with my own copy.  In fact I confirmed the region status of all of them with my own copies (well except the new ones which I will check tomorrow.  Got the day off and am gonna hijack the evil inc region B player for my own personal ends mu ha ha).

AndrewW, on Aug 29 2007, 08:14 PM, said:

I'm not really into Anime, but some great info their mo.

Sacrilege

[ajm]

momaw, on Aug 29 2007, 08:15 PM, said:

Except Ghost in the Shell 2.

Bugger.  Sounds like that's one to really watch as well.  I might be the only one but I really loved the sequal. Totally different to the first but excellent.  I know it's different again but I enjoyed the first series of SAC.  The second has been driving me nuts.  They seem more interested in showing lady parts than anything else - not that I have any fundamental objections to lady parts but this isn't were I go to for that kind of thing.

[roachy]

Good work there Mo. I love my anime. Probably have over 1200 DVDs!!!!   :ph34r:
Unfortunately I'm not quite ready to shell out 100 odd dollars for individual movies, but as far as I'm concerned I can't wait for a flood of releases. With Funimation dipping their toes in the water with a DBZ double movie feature and Bandai bringing out more & more hopefully it wont be too long until we see prices come down to the levels of movies. Then I'll jump on the bandwagon.

[momaw]

ajm, on Aug 29 2007, 08:24 PM, said:

Bugger.  Sounds like that's one to really watch as well.  I might be the only one but I really loved the sequal. Totally different to the first but excellent.  I know it's different again but I enjoyed the first series of SAC.  The second has been driving me nuts.  They seem more interested in showing lady parts than anything else - not that I have any fundamental objections to lady parts but this isn't were I go to for that kind of thing.

Solid State Society is the best one so far in my opinion.  A solid (no pun) story interspersed with good action.  And I thought I had it figured til it threw me a curve ball.  Can't wait for that one on HD.

What has been driving you nuts about 2nd Gig (beside lady parts - see my personal message )?

Did you like the new avatar then?

roachy, on Aug 29 2007, 08:34 PM, said:

Good work there Mo. I love my anime. Probably have over 1200 DVDs!!!!   :ph34r:
Unfortunately I'm not quite ready to shell out 100 odd dollars for individual movies, but as far as I'm concerned I can't wait for a flood of releases. With Funimation dipping their toes in the water with a DBZ double movie feature and Bandai bringing out more & more hopefully it wont be too long until we see prices come down to the levels of movies. Then I'll jump on the bandwagon.

yeah funimation have some great stuff.  Full Metal Alchemist would be tops.

[yorac]

AndrewW, on Aug 29 2007, 08:14 PM, said:

I'm not really into Anime, but some great info their mo.

Kam's into animels :ph34r:

[momaw]

Seems the US release of Wings Of Honneamise is a 4:3 crop as opposed to the 16:9 Japanese release.  (for the record the original aspect ratio is 1.85:1 not 1.66:1 as the below review suggests).  It also appears the US release is plagued with dirt and other nasties.  I can say this is not the case with the Japanese release

High Def Digest Review

IMDB info

[Chesty]

Good info but like AndrewW not into Anime.

My last venture into Anime was Voltron and Astro Boy!!

[ajm]

momaw, on Sep 11 2007, 08:35 PM, said:

Seems the US release of Wings Of Honneamise is a 4:3 crop as opposed to the 16:9 Japanese release.  (for the record the original aspect ratio is 1.85:1 not 1.66:1 as the below review suggests).  It also appears the US release is plagued with dirt and other nasties.  I can say this is not the case with the Japanese release

High Def Digest Review

IMDB info

I was planning on buying the slightly cheaper US version fairly soon.  Well, there goes that idea.

Morons.

[momaw]

ajm, on Sep 12 2007, 10:40 AM, said:

I was planning on buying the slightly cheaper US version fairly soon.  Well, there goes that idea.

Morons.

I brought up in the forum on the review that the JP version was full 16:9 and he told me I was wrong and was obviously stretching the picture to fit my TV.  After a good laugh I pointed him to a review of the JP version confirming the aspect ratio and mentioned there was nothing wrong with my equipment.

[Toet]

I'm waiting for Appleseed to come out on HDDVD,

[attilathepun]

For anybody interested, JB have Paprika in stock now.  30 odd dollars from memory.

[kamma]

attilathepun, on Sep 18 2007, 05:41 PM, said:

For anybody interested, JB have Paprika in stock now.  30 odd dollars from memory.

ezydvd have it too

[momaw]

attilathepun, on Sep 18 2007, 05:41 PM, said:

For anybody interested, JB have Paprika in stock now.  30 odd dollars from memory.

I got mine from France.  Very nice print.  Default to everything in english as well.

I quite enjoyed it.

[ajm]

attilathepun, on Sep 18 2007, 05:41 PM, said:

For anybody interested, JB have Paprika in stock now.  30 odd dollars from memory.

$42.95 at ezydvd   .

[napalm68]

Anyone here getting Ex Machina?

Being a Warner US release it will be region free. I imagine this will be a pretty spic transfer, hopefully reference quality. And the price way better than the Japanese releases... Amazon have it for U$24. Out next month.

[ajm]

I was going to wait on a review first but there's a fair chance I'll grab this I reckon.

[momaw]

do you have to ask?

march....so far away *sigh*

[napalm68]

I'm pretty excited about the Ex Machina release actually, even though I don't know much about the film - bit I liked the previous Appleseed movie. I'm just seeing a reference quality CG Anime film with lost of fighting I can't wait!

[napalm68]

Momaw, you mention Ghost in the Shell has an English dub. Does it have English subs?

Thanks