I've created this thread simply to point out which Studio Ghibli release is the best one. There are a ton of distributors for these films and this thread should clear whatever problems might arise in case anyone is interested in buying a particular edition of a movie. Every contribution from any country is welcome!
If you're not too familiar with the differences between the different editions of Ghibli films, I suggest you take a look at the General Rules / Tips / Notes / Guideline
The rest of you, please provide whatever valid info you can. Screenshots, extras, cover art, booklet art, unboxing videos; anything is necessary and welcome. I will list the differences on the first post. Don't be ashamed to ask for anything. Thanks for reading!
Index:
I will mark in bold which part of which edition is better. Bold is for the next best entry (why that is should be explained in either the picture quality's section or the conclusion)
The parts marked with bold are not recommended (the reasons will/should be stated)
The parts in bold have been reported but confirmation is welcome. Bold stands for "only available in this version" and will mainly refer to extras. Bold is for errors and missing info both of which happened because of the server failure. Most correspond to Blu-ray.com posts that were linked.
Picture Quality: Japanese / US / HK comparison, Japanese/UK edition comparison (1, 2) JP: AVC @ 39548 kbps US: AVC @ 24100 kbps [lower bit-rate than JP (indistinguishable in motion)], only has the English dub credits
UK/AU: AVC @ 31172 kbps, DNR (slight loss in high-frequency detail), slight color change compared to JP + US,
HK: AVC @ 25000 kbps, tiny crop on each side of the picture, a nearly unnoticable boost in contrast, odd subtitles *
DE: AVC @ 23994 kbps
Audio Quality:
JP: Japanese LPCM 2.0 @ 2304 kbps, English DD 2.0 @ 256 kbps (Disney's 2005 mix) US: Japanese DTS-HA MA 2.0 @ 2110 kbps, English DTS-HD MA 2.0 @ 2077 kbps (English track contained is Disney's 2005 mix) UK: Japanese LPCM 2.0 @ 1536 kbps, English LPCM @ 1536 kbps - better than JP, all lossless, but still inferior to the US edition
HK: Japanese LPCM 2.0 @ 1536 kbps, no English dub
DE: Japanese LPCM 2.0 @ 1055 kbps, English DTS-HD MA 2.0 @ 959 kbps
First press includes a mini-book (6.5x9cm) reprint of the Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind Movie Guide Book (these need to be checked!) Bonus features: Storyboards
Five theatrical trailers
AR (afureko) recording script
Audio features: Audio Commentary: Hideaki Anno (Key Animator) and Kazuyoshi Katayama (Assistant Director)
Toshio Suzuki and Hideaki Anno's talk "Nausicaa and Evangelion! Whereabouts of the Giant God Soldier?" (recorded in Dec 2009) (recorded in Dec. 2009, 44 min.)
US:
[Show spoiler]
Original Japanese Storyboards (Disc 1, HD, 117 minutes) Enter the Lands of Ghibli (Disc 1, HD): (includes a Nausicaä Trivia Challenge, clips from other Miyazaki films, and a series of Studio Ghibli trailers) Behind the Studio: Creating Nausicaä (Disc 1, HD, 12 minutes) The Birth Story of Studio Ghibli (Disc 2, SD, 28 minutes) Behind the Microphone (Disc 2, SD, 8 minutes) Original Japanese Trailers and TV Spots (Disc 2, SD, 8 minutes)
UK:
[Show spoiler]
• Storyboards (PiP)
• Audio Commentary by Hideaki Anno and Kazuyoshi Katayama (Japanese with English subtitles)
• Audio Interview with Toshio Suzuki and Hideaki Anno (43:40) (Japanese with English subtitles)
• The Birth of Studio Ghibli featurette (27:44) (Japanese with English subtitles)
• Behind The Microphone: Interviews with the English dub cast (7:45)
• Original Japanese Theatrical Trailers & TV spots (8:15)
-TV Spot
-Theatrical Trailer Announcement
-Theatrical Trailer A
-Theatrical Trailer B
-Promotional Film
DE: --to be updated--
Subtitles:
JP:
US: subtitles + dubtitles (SDH)
UK:
HK: odd subtitles * DE: no English subtitles
Region Coding:
JP: Region free
US: Region free
UK/AU: Region B-locked
HK: Region free
DE: Region B (A, C unchecked)
Conclusion: Picture: The JP / US Bu-rays are indistinguishable in motion so I'd say that both are winners here. The HK version is also pretty good (minus some problems) but the subtitles are an annoyance. Audio: If you're interested only for the JP audio, I'd suggest the JP release. If you want both versions in lossless, the US release is your friend. Extras: The US release does not contain the excellent audio features. The Japanese release does not contain the 12-minute interview with Miyazaki and the Behind the Microphone feature but it contains the mini-book and AR (afureko) recording script. If you're not interested that much in the interview, script and mini-book, I suggest the UK release.
Picture Quality: Japanese screenshots, Japanese/UK edition comparison, US screenshots JP: AVC @ 33342 kbps
US: AVC @ 23997 kbps, no credit-less opening and closing credits (either Japanese or English) *
UK/AU: DNR (slight loss in high-frequency detail), slight color tint HK: AVC @ 33342 kbps
DE: AVC @ 25989 kbps
Audio Quality:
JP: Japanese DTS-HD MA 2.0 @ 1732 kbps, English DD 2.0 @ 640 kbps (2003 full-orchestra re-score but with the additional dialogue + newer sound effects removed -> Differences between versions),
US: Japanese DTS-HD MA 2.0 @ 2098 kbps, English DTS-HD MA 5.1-ES @ 3685 kbps (2010 version - original score, no script changes) UK/AU: Japanese LPCM 2.0 1536 kbps, English LPCM 5.1 @ 4608 kbps (2003 re-score but with the additional dialogue + newer sound effects removed)
HK: Japanese DTS-HD MA 2.0 @ 1732 kbps, no English option
DE: Japanese DTS-HD MA 2.0 @ 978 kbps, no English dub!!
(these need to be checked!) Recording script Storyboards (1080p)
Credit-less opening and ending sequences (1080p, 4:57) Promotional Video (480i, 12:37) Trailers
- TV Spot, Theatrical 1, Theatrical 2 (1080p, 4:41) Behind the Studio (1080p, 8:40)
- The World of Laputa (1080p, 0:00 - 2:18)
- Creating Castle in the Sky (1080p, 2:19 – 6:00)
- Character Sketches (1080p, 6:01-8:40)
US:
[Show spoiler]
Introduction By John Lasseter (SD, 0:51) Original Japanese Storyboards (2:04:41 in 1080p) Behind The Studio: Explore The Movie's Fantastic World
- The World Of Laputa (2:19)
- Creating 'Castle In The Sky' (3:41)
- Character Sketches (2:40)
- Producer's Perspective: Meeting Miyazaki (3:14)
- Scoring Miyazaki (7:18)
- Original Japanese Trailers (4:07)
- Behind The Microphone (4:08)
UK/AU:
[Show spoiler]
• Storyboards (PiP)
• Promotional Video - Vintage Making of Featurette (SD, 12:38)
• Behind The Microphone: Interviews with the English dub cast (SD, 4:09)
• Behind The Studio - 4 featurettes (1080p) -The World Of Laputa (2:18) -Creating Castle In The Sky (3:40) -Character Sketches (2:39) -Producer's Perspective: Meeting Miyazaki (3:14)
• Textless Opening and Ending Credits (1080p, 4:45)
• Original Japanese Trailers (1080p)
-TV Spot (0:15)
-Theatrical Trailer (1:11)
-Promotional Trailer (2:39)
• Studio Ghibli collection trailers
-Nausicaa Of The Valley Of The Wind, Ponyo, Howl’s Moving Castle, Tales From Earthsea, My Neighbours The Yamadas, Spirited Away
HK:
[Show spoiler]
Fullscreen storyboards for the entire film Creditless OP (~2min) and ED (~3min) videos Interview with Miyazaki and Crew (~12 min and clearly upscaled, likely from a VHS source) TV spot (15 sec) "Theatrical Special" [i.e. a teaser trailer] (~2 min) Theatrical Trailer (~3 min)
DE: --to be updated--
Subtitles:
JP:
US: dubtitles *
UK:
HK: subtitles (main feature only) DE: no English subtitles
Region Coding:
JP: Region free
US: Region free
UK: Region B-locked
HK: Region A-locked
DE: Region B (A, C unchecked)
Audio Quality: JP: Japanese DTS-HD MA 2.0 @ 2120 kbps, no English language option!! US: Japanese DTS-HD MA 2.0 @ 2097 kbps / 24-bit, English DTS-HD MA 2.0 @ 2086 kbps / 24-bit, English DTS-HD MA 2.0 @ 2018 kbps / 24-bit
UK:
Storyboards (1080p) Recording script Standalone Storyboard Videos [SD, A (1:53), B (0:39)] Interview with director Isao Takahata (SD, 17:48) Interview with film critic Roger Ebert (SD, 12:17) Picture Gallery Trailers
- TV Spots 1 (1080p, 0:19), 2 (1080p, 0:37)
- Original Japanese Theatrical Trailer (1080p, 1:46)
- Promo film (SD, 15:18) Commentaries by Isao Takahata, art director Nizo Yamamoto, layout artist/animation director assistant Yoshiyuki Momose, color key artist Michiyo Yasuda, sound director Yasuo Uragami, and composer Michio Mamiya Two Recording Sessions (1 - 5:40, 2 - 5:57)
US:
[Show spoiler]
Storyboards (1:28:33 in 1080p) Deleted Scene Storyboard 1 (1:53 in 480i) Deleted Scene Storyboard 2 (0:38 in 480i) Japanese Trailer (1:47 in 1080p)
UK:
[Show spoiler]
(provided by manicsounds)
The Film (Japanese credits, with Studio Ghibli logo at the start)
English or Japanese audio, white English subtitles for the Japanese audio
• Storyboards Picture In Picture
• Interview with Director Isao Takahata (17:39)
• Japanese Release Promo featuring Director Isao Takahata and Writer Akiyuki Nosaka (6:36)
• Historical Perspective Documentary (12:25)
•Interview with Film Critic Roger Ebert (12:07)
• 2 Deleted Scenes Storyboards
- Storyboard Video 1 (1:53)
- Storyboard Video 2 (0:38)
• Bonus Storyboards
- Single Shots (5:02)
- Catch (0:24)
- Water (1:21)
- Bombers (0:23)
- Bedroom (0:34)
- Hospital (0:29)
- Flashback (0:33)
- Food (0:28)
- Beach (0:36)
- Train (0:32)
• Trailers
- “Grave Of The Fireflies” (original Japanese trailer) (1:42)
- “From Up On Poppy Hill” (Disney/Studio Canal trailer) (2:24)
- “Ponyo” (Optimum trailer) (2:00)
- “Arrietty” (Studio Canal trailer) (1:46)
Storyboards (1080p) Credit-less opening and closing credits (standalone features) Trailers
- TV Spot 1 (1080p, 0:19)
- TV Spot 2 (1080p, 0:36)
- Trailer (SD, 1:52)
- Promo Film (SD, 15:18)
US:
[Show spoiler]
• Original Japanese Storyboards (HD, 1:26:22)
• Creating My Neighbor Totoro (2:58)
• Creating the Characters (4:24)
• The Tortoro Experience (2:00)
• Producer's Perspective: Creating Ghibli (1:23)
• The Locations of Tortoro (28:38)
• Scoring Miyazaki (7:18)
• Original Japanese Trailer (0:53)
• Behind the Microphone (5:39)
UK:
[Show spoiler]
Storyboards (PiP) Creating My Neighbor Totoro (1.78:1; 1080p/24; 00:02:58) Creating the Characters (1.78:1; 1080p/24; 00:04:23) The Totoro Experience (1.78:1; 1080p/24; 00:01:59) Producer’s Perspective: Creating Ghibli (1.78:1; 1080p/24; 00:01:23) The Locations of Totoro (1.78:1; 1080i/60; 00:28:48) Scoring Miyazaki (1.78:1; 1080p/24; 00:07:18) Behind the Microphone (1.33:1; 720p; 00:05:40) Textless Opening
Textless Closing
Original Japanese Theatrical Trailers (1.78:1/1.85:1; 1080p/24; 00:00:44) Studio Ghibli Collection Trailers
Subtitles:
JP: Subtitles (main feature only)
US: 21 May 2013 subtitles and dubtitles *
UK: yellow subtitles
Region code:
JP: Region free
US: 21 May 2013
UK: Region B-locked
Audio Quality: JP: Japanese DTS-HD MA 2.0 @ 2124 kbps / 24-bit, English DD @ 192 kbps
US: Not available yet
UK/AU: Japanese LPCM 2.0 @ 1536 kbps/ 16 bit , English LPCM 2.0 @ 1536 kbps / 16 bit
TW: Japanese DTS-HD MA 2.0 @ 2124 kbps / 24-bit, no English dub!
Storyboards
Voice Over Script
Ursula's Paintings
Trailers
US: Not available yet
UK/AU:
[Show spoiler]
(provided by manicsounds)
The Film (Japanese credits)
English or Japanese audio, yellow English subtitles for the Japanese audio
(There are 2 English subtitle tracks but they are both identical)
The English audio is the modified Disney English dub: The songs are the original Japanese songs, Jiji's extra final line has been removed)
• Storyboards Picture In Picture
• Ursula’s Painting (2:32)
• Creating “Kiki’s Delivery Service” (2:26)
• Kiki And Jiji (3:26)
• Flying with Kiki & Beyond (2:49)
• Producer’s Perspective: Collaborating with Miyazaki (1:47)
• The Locations of Kiki (29:13)
• Behind The Microphone: Interviews with the English dub cast (4:59)
• 5 Original Japanese Theatrical Trailers (7:44)
• Studio Ghibli Collection Trailers (7:42)
“From Up On Poppy Hill” “My Neighbour Totoro” “Arrietty” “Laputa: Castle In The Sky” “Ponyo”
Storyboards (1080p) Voice Over Script
Making of "Only Yesterday" (46:09, SD) Trailers
- TV Spot 1 (1080p, 0:37), 2 (1080p, 0:37)
- Trailers 1 (1080p, 3:02), 2 (1080p, 3:19) Sneak Peeks (From Up on Poppy Hill, Tales of the Night, The Secret World of Arrietty)
Audio Quality:
JP: Japanese DTS-HD MA 2.0 @ 2126 kbps / 24-bit, English DD 2.0 @192 kbps
Extras:
JP:
[Show spoiler]
Storyboards (1080p) Rakugo reciting of the Tanusai story by the third-generation Shinchou Kokontei(SD, 14:32) Trailers (4, 1080p, 7:47)
TV Spots 1 (0:38), 2 (1:08)
Theatrical Trailer (2:34)
??? (3:30)
All countries
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Comparison of Studio Ghibli Blu-ray Releases
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