Studio Ghibli Blu-ray - Which edition to choose? (Comparison of editions)

[Kool-aid23]

Originally Posted by Lnds500

everything should be back in place.. there might be some layout inconsistencies but at least the thread was saved!!

Thank You

[yumny]

Did somebody say.. schedule?

Ok, here's what I know over the Japanese release schedule;

December 2009: Ponyo
July 2010: Nausicaa
December 2010: Castle in the Sky / My Neighbors the Yamadas
June 2011: Arietty
July 2011: Whisper of the Heart
November 2011: Howl's Moving Castle / Tales from Earthsea
June 2012: From Up On Poppy Hill
July 2012: My Neighbor Totoro / Grave of the Fireflies

If you ask me, it's like this:

June: Their newest release
July/August: 2 old releases
November/December: 2 old releases

So perhaps for next year we can expect:

June: Whatever new film they have put out, if any at all
July: Kiki's Delivery Service / Only Yesterday / Porco Rosso / Ocean Waves (2 of these; preferably one popular, one lesser known)
November: Pom Poko / Princess Mononoke / Spirited Away / The Cat Returns (2 of these)

(Also, dear people, this leaves the question if Ghibli is releasing two more titles for Christmas, and if they are doing this which is likely if you ask me, WHICH TWO?)

[ChichiriNoDa]

If Ghibli were to release two film for Christmas hopefully it's Kiki and Only Yesterday. It's definitely one of Miyazaki and one from Takahata.

I'm guessing that Spirited Away & Mononoke won't be release anytime soon just because they're one of the praised films of Miyazaki.

[Lnds500]

Originally Posted by chichirinoDa

If Ghibli were to release two film for Christmas hopefully it's Kiki and Only Yesterday. It's definitely one of Miyazaki and one from Takahata.

I'm guessing that Spirited Away & Mononoke won't be release anytime soon just because they're one of the praised films of Miyazaki.

I want Kiki so much! It's one of my favorites!

[yumny]

Originally Posted by chichirinoDa

If Ghibli were to release two film for Christmas hopefully it's Kiki and Only Yesterday. It's definitely one of Miyazaki and one from Takahata.

I'm guessing that Spirited Away & Mononoke won't be release anytime soon just because they're one of the praised films of Miyazaki.

I have a feeling those 2 are going to be saved for last, but we can't say for sure. After all Totoro is incredibly iconic and it's getting released next month, so we'll never know.

[metalonmetal1]

My predictions for December are Kiki's Delivery Service and The Cat Returns or Pom Poko. For July of next year I am thinking Princess Mononoke and Porco Rosso.

[ChichiriNoDa]

Originally Posted by Lnds500

I want Kiki so much! It's one of my favorites!

Kiki is one of my favourite as well. I could watch it over and over again and it doesn't get boring. Its relaxing especially in gloomy or rainy days.

Originally Posted by yumny

I have a feeling those 2 are going to be saved for last, but we can't say for sure. After all Totoro is incredibly iconic and it's getting released next month, so we'll never know.

Well Totoro might be iconic but Spirited Away & Mononoke made such an impact and recognition. Both are highly anticipated for a blu ray release.

Originally Posted by metalonmetal1

My predictions for December are Kiki's Delivery Service and The Cat Returns or Pom Poko. For July of next year I am thinking Princess Mononoke and Porco Rosso.

Porco Rosso might get release when the sequel gets on blu ray or something.

[Kriztoffer Swank]

Originally Posted by Lnds500

I want Kiki so much! It's one of my favorites!

Same. Especially since the DVD my brother has contains dubtitles. :p It really bugged me early on and things just didn't seem right, so I flipped over the English and sure enough, word for word.

What a great movie. One of my favorite Ghibli titles. Hope to see it in HD soon.

[Lnds500]

I have added the US Picture and Audio info on Arrietty. Surprisingly, the US release actually has higher-bitrate Picture and Audio than the rest. Don't know if anyone can tell the difference though.

I also received my Collector's Edition Arrietty from Amazon.co.uk and I will post pictures when I get the chance! Really pleased with it

EDIT: Updated the UK extras of Arrietty with resolution and time length info. Also added 'Cast Interviews', which was missing before
EDIT 2: updated the first post with packaging shots from Arrietty CE - UK

[Lnds500]

The whole set is matte, it looks and feels wonderful!!

[ssj5cris]

What version of castle in the sky would be best to watch in terms of the audio and subtitles, i.e., the more "original" one; the JP, US, UK, or HK?

[Lnds500]

Originally Posted by ssj5cris

What version of castle in the sky would be best to watch in terms of the audio and subtitles, i.e., the more "original" one; the JP, US, UK, or HK?

I'm sorry for the harsh answer, but this is ALL answered on the first post. I made this thread so we wouldn't have to answer the same question over and over again. I didn't go to all that trouble for nothing right? So, sit back, take your time to read the Laputa entry, observe the screenshots and decide what's best for you. If you need more clarification, I'll be happy to help.

[metalonmetal1]

That's a great edition of Arrietty! I need to watch that film, it's one of the only Ghibli films I have yet to watch.

[Lnds500]

Originally Posted by metalonmetal1

That's a great edition of Arrietty! I need to watch that film, it's one of the only Ghibli films I have yet to watch.

It's really nice! Hopefully tomorrow I'll have Ponyo CE as well

[ssj5cris]

Originally Posted by Lnds500

I'm sorry for the harsh answer, but this is ALL answered on the first post. I made this thread so we wouldn't have to answer the same question over and over again. I didn't go to all that trouble for nothing right? So, sit back, take your time to read the Laputa entry, observe the screenshots and decide what's best for you. If you need more clarification, I'll be happy to help.

No, I understand, and I do appreciate all the trouble you went through in putting this thread together, I guess I just need some more clarification if you don't mind. On the first post you chose the UK version as being the "better" version, is that only because of the bit-rates, or because it is more consistent to the original intent, if you will, as it says it has the 2003 re-score and not the original score? And the US version says that it is the original score without the script changes, but the blu-ray review says in the audio section that it still contains the "translation differences and discrepancies". I am just so confused?? I guess the "ideal" would be--original score; no script changes; additional dialogue removed; and correct translations? would that be right, or am I completely out of my mind.

[Lnds500]

Originally Posted by ssj5cris

No, I understand, and I do appreciate all the trouble you went through in putting this thread together, I guess I just need some more clarification if you don't mind.

No problem!

On the first post you chose the UK version as being the "better" version, is that only because of the bit-rates, or because it is more consistent to the original intent, if you will, as it says it has the 2003 re-score and not the original score?

As you probably know, Disney has done 3 audio mixes for Laputa.

1st: new score and additional dialogue (some lines here and there)
2nd: new score with the additional dialogue removed
3rd: old score with the additional lines removed

I put the UK version in green cause both audio tracks are lossless, but most importantly, the UK version contains the rescore. I depends on your preferences really, but most people were accustomed to the English dub with the rescore, hence the colour. Plus, it's a wonderful piece of work on its own.

And the US version says that it is the original score without the script changes, but the blu-ray review says in the audio section that it still contains the "translation differences and discrepancies". I am just so confused??

I don't know why the review states what it does. The subtitles are in reality dubtiltes (as it is mentioned on the first post). Maybe the reviewer wanted to point out that the English audio track is not a direct translation of the japanese track? I dunno.

I bought the US version of the movie. I will also buy the UK version down the road but I'll rip both on my PC, so I can have whichever audio track I want + proper subtitles.

I guess the "ideal" would be--original score; no script changes; additional dialogue removed; and correct translations? would that be right, or am I completely out of my mind.

there is no "ideal". it depends on your tastes. I've told you which is which, you can now choose. I guess, if you don't care for the rescore you can get the US version. The picture is great and so is the audio. You'll just have to live with the knowledge that you got dubtitles.

the next best solution would be the japanese version but you get a lossy english track, no subtitled extras and it's very expensive

[manicsounds]

It was mentioned before, although it was erased, that there are 4 different versions of the English dub of "Castle In The Sky"

1. The Steamline Dub: which has the original 1986 synth score (on the Japanese DVD)
2. The Disney 2003 Dub: which has the 5.1 orchestral rescore, (on the US 2003 DVD, UK DVD)
3. The Disney 2003 Dub revised: which has the 5.1 orchestral rescore, but eliminates some of the unnecessarily added dialogue lines (on the Japan BD, UK BD, Australian BD)
4. The Disney 2003 Dub revised and with the original score: removes the orchestral rescore, and restores the original 1986 synth score, also eliminates some of the unnecessarily added dialogue lines (on the US 2010 DVD, US BD)

I don't have the US Blu-ray of "Castle", but it seems the English track is the same as the 2010 DVD, according to Nausicaa.net, which is the original 1986 music score, with some dialogue removed from the original score.

[j_Diz]

Originally Posted by yumny

Did somebody say.. schedule?

Ok, here's what I know over the Japanese release schedule;

December 2009: Ponyo
July 2010: Nausicaa
December 2010: Castle in the Sky / My Neighbors the Yamadas
June 2011: Arietty
July 2011: Whisper of the Heart
November 2011: Howl's Moving Castle / Tales from Earthsea
June 2012: From Up On Poppy Hill
July 2012: My Neighbor Totoro / Grave of the Fireflies

If you ask me, it's like this:

June: Their newest release
July/August: 2 old releases
November/December: 2 old releases

So perhaps for next year we can expect:

June: Whatever new film they have put out, if any at all
July: Kiki's Delivery Service / Only Yesterday / Porco Rosso / Ocean Waves (2 of these; preferably one popular, one lesser known)
November: Pom Poko / Princess Mononoke / Spirited Away / The Cat Returns (2 of these)

(Also, dear people, this leaves the question if Ghibli is releasing two more titles for Christmas, and if they are doing this which is likely if you ask me, WHICH TWO?)

I know we discussed this pre-database loss, but given that last November Ghibli gave us the 2 most recent unreleased titles, Howl's (2004) and Earthsea (2006), if they were to follow the pattern this November that would mean we could potentially be getting The Cat Returns (2002) and Spirited Away (2001) Of course this is speculation but I really need this to be true. I would like to experience Spirited Away on blu-ray before the world ends so the timing is making me a little nervous but i've got my fingers crossed .

But in more serious talk, I think there are several reasons that they will undoubtedly release Spirited Away in November:
-they need a big release to really drive sales for not only one of Japan's biggest movies of all time, but to upsell the whole collection. Suzuki and Miyazaki have both inferred this is a make it or break it time for the studio and they could probably use some solid increasing revenues to boot.
-Given the production techniques used at the time, the studio probably has digital masters of both films (Spirited Away & Cat Returns) stored on HDD somewhere that they could simply package in a shiny new transfer and slap on a disc along with whatever extras they can muster. Comparably, it would cost a lot more for them to take one of the film prints of their pre year2000 releases and go through that whole scanning/restoration song and dance routine, along with trying to gather extras that we want. Take Totoro for example, from what was announced, it's release will have the fewest amount of special features of any Ghibli blu-ray to date. Add to this the fact that Ghibli is in production on new features from Miyazaki and Takahata and I doubt they will be expending much $$$ and effort on on giving us catalogs that are not easy to produce and will not sell huge numbers.

[ssj5cris]

Awesome, thanks for the help Lnds500 and manicsounds. much appreciated.

[yumny]

Originally Posted by j_Diz

I know we discussed this pre-database loss, but given that last November Ghibli gave us the 2 most recent unreleased titles, Howl's (2004) and Earthsea (2006), if they were to follow the pattern this November that would mean we could potentially be getting The Cat Returns (2002) and Spirited Away (2001) Of course this is speculation but I really need this to be true. I would like to experience Spirited Away on blu-ray before the world ends so the timing is making me a little nervous but i've got my fingers crossed .

But in more serious talk, I think there are several reasons that they will undoubtedly release Spirited Away in November:
-they need a big release to really drive sales for not only one of Japan's biggest movies of all time, but to upsell the whole collection. Suzuki and Miyazaki have both inferred this is a make it or break it time for the studio and they could probably use some solid increasing revenues to boot.
-Given the production techniques used at the time, the studio probably has digital masters of both films (Spirited Away & Cat Returns) stored on HDD somewhere that they could simply package in a shiny new transfer and slap on a disc along with whatever extras they can muster. Comparably, it would cost a lot more for them to take one of the film prints of their pre year2000 releases and go through that whole scanning/restoration song and dance routine, along with trying to gather extras that we want. Take Totoro for example, from what was announced, it's release will have the fewest amount of special features of any Ghibli blu-ray to date. Add to this the fact that Ghibli is in production on new features from Miyazaki and Takahata and I doubt they will be expending much $$$ and effort on on giving us catalogs that are not easy to produce and will not sell huge numbers.

Well, that's the thing with Ghibli - unlike Disney, their release order doesn't seem to be driven by monetary gain. So far they have treated every title the same and they didn't assign a "Diamond Collection" banner to anything, and they have released their lesser popular films along their more popular ones.

While Earthsea was a digital master obviously, it was still a pretty unpopular film especially in Japan. Let's see what they have put out beside that one - Laputa, Nausicaa, WotH, Neighbors the Yamadas, Howl & Ponyo - and you'll see that some of these aren't quite as popular as the others.

I still think their strategy will be "one popular combined with one obscure", so if you set Spirited Away as the "popular", you could fit Cat Returns, Pom Poko, Only Yesterday, Porco Rosso or Ocean Waves into the "obscure" slot regardless of what time or effort the transfer may take.

By the way, how are you so sure about the extras on Totoro? Has it already been announced what extras are gonna be on there? If so, please share!