The Anime Blu-ray Video Quality Thread

[ToukoClefant]

Originally Posted by kevers7290

Does anyone have any impressions/BDinfo on the new Big O set from Sentai? I've got the Japanese release and I'm wondering if it will be worth the double-dip.

Its not out for another month iirc. Though it apparently doesn't have the original OP included if that's a deciding factor at all.

Speed Racer came out today and other than a misprinted box (It says it includes the japanese dub but that's a seperate release due to Speed Racer being visually edited.) It looks really good, perhaps too good considering the rough animation.

[svenge]

Originally Posted by Ccharmanderk

While on the subject of Kyoto Animation and banding, Funimation's re-release of The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya was released today. When anybody gets their copy in, can I get an update on how their encode is? Bandai's release, while solid, suffered from some banding issues and was on the bit-starved side.

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/scree...378&position=5
https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/scree...78&position=17

I don't have the disc in yet, but I did manage to find a BDInfo scan of it. Audio went from 24-bit to 16-bit, but the video went up from 18 mbps to 28 mbps. The vast majority of extras are only on the bonus DVD.

Disc Title:     DISAPPEARANCE_HARUHI_SUZUMIYA
Disc Size:      47,029,090,304 bytes
Protection:     AACS(v62)
BD-Java:        No
BDInfo:         0.5.8.1 (compatible layout created by DVDFab 9.3.1.6)

PLAYLIST REPORT:

Name:                   00029.MPLS  
Length:                 2:41:47.698 (h:m:s.ms)
Size:                   44,626,372,608 bytes
Total Bitrate:          36.78 Mbps

VIDEO:

Codec                   Bitrate             Description     
-----                   -------             -----------     
MPEG-4 AVC Video        27998 kbps          1080p / 23.976 fps / 16:9 / High Profile 4.1

AUDIO:

Codec                           Language        Bitrate         Description     
-----                           --------        -------         -----------     
Dolby TrueHD Audio              English         2438 kbps       5.1 / 48 kHz / 2438 kbps / 16-bit (AC3 Core: 5.1-EX / 48 kHz / 448 kbps)
Dolby TrueHD Audio              Japanese        2373 kbps       5.1 / 48 kHz / 2373 kbps / 16-bit (AC3 Core: 5.1-EX / 48 kHz / 448 kbps)

SUBTITLES:

Codec                           Language        Bitrate         Description     
-----                           --------        -------         -----------     
Presentation Graphics           English         44.84 kbps                      
Presentation Graphics           English         1.363 kbps

Here's the old Bandai release's BDInfo for comparison:

DISC INFO:

Disc Title:     The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzu
Disc Size:      35,549,456,090 bytes
Protection:     AACS
BD-Java:        Yes
BDInfo:         0.5.4

PLAYLIST REPORT:

Name:                   00004.MPLS
Length:                 2:43:15 (h:m:s)
Size:                   33,995,710,464 bytes
Total Bitrate:          27.76 Mbps

VIDEO:

Codec                   Bitrate             Description     
-----                   -------             -----------     
MPEG-4 AVC Video        17827 kbps          1080p / 23.976 fps / 16:9 / High Profile 4.1

AUDIO:

Codec                           Language        Bitrate         Description     
-----                           --------        -------         -----------     
Dolby TrueHD Audio              English         2881 kbps       5.1 / 48 kHz / 2881 kbps / 24-bit (AC3 Embedded: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 448 kbps / DN -4dB)
Dolby TrueHD Audio              Japanese        2913 kbps       5.1 / 48 kHz / 2913 kbps / 24-bit (AC3 Embedded: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 448 kbps / DN -4dB)

SUBTITLES:

Codec                           Language        Bitrate         Description     
-----                           --------        -------         -----------     
Presentation Graphics           English         28.502 kbps                     
Presentation Graphics           English         0.770 kbps

[omarchafa]

Originally Posted by professorwho

So I watched the entirely of Koe no Katachi, and there's a ton of banding throughout. Even during that sequence about 100 minutes into the film, that was the most visually striking. It was a disappointment. I'm not at home now, so I can't grab any screencaps, but it really detracts from the beautiful art. There's a ton of rainbow banding like Mega Drive games on composite (that's the same thing I said, because it's the only example I can think of) I hope Pony Canyon will re-release it eventually with a better encode, but that's highly unlikely. If I had to rate it, 7/10. It's sometimes really hard to notice, but that sequence I mentioned earlier has it in spades. It's a 8 because of the beautiful art with the encode, but if you just want a score for the encode, then 6 or 7/10.

But hey! At least it's better than FUNimation's Psycho Pass and Steins;Gate!

There is banding alright, but nothing that is enough to detract from the experience. I am watching it on a Plasma TV though, so it might be far less noticeable. Sometimes it looks like it's part of the art style rather than a defect from the encoding. I will give it a solid 9/10 for the video. A 7 would be something like Funi's Steins Gate.

Originally Posted by Ccharmanderk

While on the subject of Kyoto Animation and banding, Funimation's re-release of The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya was released today. When anybody gets their copy in, can I get an update on how their encode is? Bandai's release, while solid, suffered from some banding issues and was on the bit-starved side.

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/scree...378&position=5
https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/scree...78&position=17

Well the banding issues was also on the JP release, so it's an inherent problem. I doubt Funimation's release will have less banding. I am curious how the encode compares to the Bandai release due to the higher bitrates and a more modern encode. Sucks the audio is 16 bit now. At this point, I'm pretty much sticking to the Bandai release.

[NLScavenger]

Originally Posted by omarchafa

Sucks the audio is 16 bit now. At this point, I'm pretty much sticking to the Bandai release.

Those extra 8 bits are most likely padded bits. The 5.1 LPCM track on the Japanese Blu-ray is 16 bits.

Japanese BDinfo (Full report)

DISC INFO:

Disc Title:     KAXA_2101
Disc Size:      43.335.937.004 bytes
Protection:     AACS
BD-Java:        No
BDInfo:         0.5.3

PLAYLIST REPORT:

Name:                   00001.MPLS
Length:                 2:41:47 (h:m:s)
Size:                   42.980.943.360 bytes
Total Bitrate:          35,42 Mbps

VIDEO:

Codec                   Bitrate             Description     
-----                   -------             -----------     
MPEG-4 AVC Video        29164 kbps          1080p / 23,976 fps / 16:9 / High Profile 4.1

AUDIO:

Codec                           Language        Bitrate         Description     
-----                           --------        -------         -----------     
LPCM Audio                      Japanese        4608 kbps       5.1 / 48 kHz / 4608 kbps / 16-bit

[mp3dom]

Originally Posted by professorwho

Depending on who gets it, perhaps an Italian release might fix that issue?

I want and need to see the master source first, prior to take any decision.

[professorwho]

Originally Posted by mp3dom

I want and need to see the master source first, prior to take any decision.

Of course. I was just saying Dynit had the rights, and hopefully this would solve those issues.

And on the audio: 16-Bit audio doesn't make it worse automatically, it's the clarity of the audio that matters most.

Also, the Japanese release had a Bitrate of 29Mbps. This German site has helped me get the statistics on Haruhi and Hyouka. Just use Google Translate (it picks up German good) and you'll be fine;

http://www.sos-brigade.de/wordpress/...-edition-japan

I'm sure the FUNi release will be good, but how much better, I don't know. Plus, that site has JP screen caps, so that's good for comparison.

[omarchafa]

Yeah, I wouldn't be able to tell the difference between 24 bit and 16 bit anyway. For those that already have the Bandai release, there is not reason to double dip on the Funimation release anyway. The encode was already solid anyway, and color banding was only on a few scenes anyway as well as the JP version. Although I should have sold my copy for $100 when it was going that high on ebay, and just get the Funimation release later on.

[professorwho]

Originally Posted by omarchafa

Yeah, I wouldn't be able to tell the difference between 24 bit and 16 bit anyway. For those that already have the Bandai release, there is not reason to double dip on the Funimation release anyway. The encode was already solid anyway, and color banding was only on a few scenes anyway as well as the JP version. Although I should have sold my copy for $100 when it was going that high on ebay, and just get the Funimation release later on.

More than $100 in fact. I remember hitting $200 or so shortly before the acquisition announcement.

[svenge]

I sold mine for 200 bucks exactly one year ago to the date.

The US "Ultimate Coll. Ed." box was announced two weeks later, and while they didn't list The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya as one of the parts of the box, Funi did heavily hint at that time that they would license it sometime soon thereafter (which turned out to be November 2016).

[mp3dom]

Originally Posted by professorwho

Of course. I was just saying Dynit had the rights, and hopefully this would solve those issues.

Yep, if it's clearly an issue we'll take the fix into consideration.
The same apply for the max bitrate as well.

[omarchafa]

I forgot you are the encoder for that company.

[NLScavenger]

.

Originally Posted by Sensuifu

The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya screencaps

BD Comparisons - FUNi vs Bandai

[Ccharmanderk]

Yeah, going by that comparison, the difference seems extremely minor, if not just completely non-existent. Thank you for the update, I'll be picking up the FUNimation release as soon as possible.

[Clark Kent]

The releases look identical from what I gather, though occasionally issues can crop up in motion that don't appear in screenshots.

[gundamcero]

Watch my copy of Disappearance last night and it look great. I didn't notice any issues.

[omarchafa]

Lol, Funimation version actually looks worse. There is actually more artifacts along with the color banding. The artifacts are almost non-existing on the Bandai release while The Funimation release adds them. Wow, so they couldn't make a superior encode from nearly a six year old release?

[professorwho]

Originally Posted by omarchafa

Lol, Funimation version actually looks worse. There is actually more artifacts along with the color banding. The artifacts are almost non-existing on the Bandai release while The Funimation release adds them. Wow, so they couldn't make a superior encode from nearly a six year old release?

Yeah. But it's MUCH better to get this, pretty good, but not flawless version for around $20 than Bandai's release that's hella expensive online.

Or you could get the JP version, remux it with Funi's subs and dub track, and you'd be even better.

[omarchafa]

Originally Posted by professorwho

Yeah. But it's MUCH better to get this, pretty good, but not flawless version for around $20 than Bandai's release that's hella expensive online.

Or you could get the JP version, remux it with Funi's subs and dub track, and you'd be even better.

The JP version has the same exact problems anyway, and the lack of dub too.

[Ajc228]

Does anyone know if the U.K. release of Space Dandy has better video quality than the U.S. release? I suspect it's a one to one duplicate of the U.S. release but I'm not sure.

[Naiera]

I suspect you suspect correctly.

The Japanese releases do have English subtitles, so you might be able to get it all for a decent enough price if you buy used.