The Anime Blu-ray Video Quality Thread - Page 134 - Blu-ray Forum

professorwho · 12-04-2018, 12:20 AM

The Japanese producers, who did paid for the remaster, wanted it in widescreen. If Discotek went against what they said, they might've gotten in "trouble". I would've wanted 4:3 as well, but if that's what they're told, do you want to risk your job over it?

Gouki · 12-04-2018, 04:54 PM

(Not trying to argue with you, just fuming at the situation.)

Well, if that's the case, fine, say "The producers told me to savagely mangle it". Not "Composition and blocking was set up for the extra to be cropped.", which sounds intelligent and plausible, until you see chopped off heads and torsos talking.

(I know I post these a lot...)

I'm really just upset since RC is still one of my favorite movies of all time, and whose music will forever be in my head. I think a lot of this has more to do with straight up fear that mainstream consumers don't like black bars on the sides of the screen, and less to do with "2/3 of the original frame is how it was meant to be seen." I wish I could remember what BD I was looking at the other day, on the back it straight up said "This movie is presented in it's original aspect ratio of 4:3, resulting in black bars on either side of the screen, this is normal." I think it was the UK Gundam Trilogy.

(I'm also convinced that's Char Aznable in Starlight Angel.)

(And his head is chopped in the BD.)

I will still pray every night that a proper release is sometime made, with about as much faith as OG theatrical Star Wars, Macross: DYRL, Hokuto no Ken (Series), The Keep, Megazone 23, and Scramble Wars.

professorwho · 12-04-2018, 05:16 PM

I don’t think Justin would pubically say something like that- as it paints a bad (although possibly correct) picture of the producers. Failing to meet the requests of the Japanese licensor is something these companies wouldn’t risk- as the consequences- those being a strained relationship and/or less business opportunities for presenting it however they wanted (even if it’s the correct way) would be a big blow against the company.

Justin is the compressionist- he encodes based off of his instructions. If he was told to do widescreen, then he does. Although he has the ability to produce a Blu-ray of good quality, if he goes against the instructions, it creates a strained relationship.

(I’m sure you know this, but it has to be said. The producers for Robot Carnival, Oshii Mamoru (for Beautiful Dreamer) and Toei (for Arcadia of my Youth) requested it a certain way. Is annoying to us fans? Absof**kinglutely. But, like Lucas and Star Wars, with power has the ability to shape the work however you want- and sadly, the staffers here have a revisionist mindset.

klasma · 12-04-2018, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gouki

I wish I could remember what BD I was looking at the other day, on the back it straight up said "This movie is presented in it's original aspect ratio of 4:3, resulting in black bars on either side of the screen, this is normal."

They should just display a message like this directly before the movie.

professorwho · 12-05-2018, 01:12 AM

One last tease before I do my write-up on Whisper of the Heart. There is one area Disney has the advantage- subtitle font.

The Japanese BD has a good font... for Japanese subtitles. For English, it sucks. The other languages are affected as well. Disney has a readable and good font. So yeah, this is the only area the Disney BD is better:

VLC Captures (Don't kill me because it's VLC, I'm lazy, get over it):

[Show spoiler]

Blazing-star · 12-09-2018, 12:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by professorwho

I don’t think Justin would pubically say something like that- as it paints a bad (although possibly correct) picture of the producers. Failing to meet the requests of the Japanese licensor is something these companies wouldn’t risk- as the consequences- those being a strained relationship and/or less business opportunities for presenting it however they wanted (even if it’s the correct way) would be a big blow against the company.

Justin is the compressionist- he encodes based off of his instructions. If he was told to do widescreen, then he does. Although he has the ability to produce a Blu-ray of good quality, if he goes against the instructions, it creates a strained relationship.

(I’m sure you know this, but it has to be said. The producers for Robot Carnival, Oshii Mamoru (for Beautiful Dreamer) and Toei (for Arcadia of my Youth) requested it a certain way. Is annoying to us fans? Absof**kinglutely. But, like Lucas and Star Wars, with power has the ability to shape the work however you want- and sadly, the staffers here have a revisionist mindset.

I just can't support releases with that level of butchery done to them.

Bobo1313 · 12-09-2018, 03:26 AM

Well you're going to miss out on a ton of blurays, live action and anime.

Blazing-star · 12-09-2018, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobo1313

Well you're going to miss out on a ton of blurays, live action and anime.

I don't know, surely there's not a huge amount of 4:3 cropped to 16:9 anime out there?

kevers7290 · 12-10-2018, 04:40 PM

Not 100% anime related, but does anyone have any screencaps/comparison information between the two US releases of "The Last Unicorn?" (or any release for that matter)

professorwho · 12-10-2018, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevers7290

Not 100% anime related, but does anyone have any screencaps/comparison information between the two US releases of "The Last Unicorn?" (or any release for that matter)

Here

NLScavenger · 12-10-2018, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by professorwho

Here

I believe the Shout BD was sourced from the same DNR'd master that Concorde used for the German BD.

Lionsgate screenshot from Blu-ray.com: https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/scree...418&position=6
Shout screenshot from Blu-ray.com: https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/scree...744&position=6

kevers7290 · 12-10-2018, 05:46 PM

Thanks! Looks like it would be to my benefit to try and track down the Lionsgate release. The Shout release looks like all the grain has been DNR'd away.

Gouki · 12-10-2018, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blazing-star

I don't know, surely there's not a huge amount of 4:3 cropped to 16:9 anime out there?

Once you go down that rabbit hole you will be depressed for sure.

Ccharmanderk · 12-10-2018, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gouki

Once you go down that rabbit hole you will be depressed for sure.

The thing about that particular hole is that it's extremely dependent on the release. A lot of theatrically released anime was produced open-matte and cropped to widescreen for theatrical exhibition, so either presentation would technically be correct. Ultimately that'd come down to a matter of preference.

Like, I'm not a fan of the widescreen presentation for Fist of the North Star: The Movie since the framing looks claustrophobic to my eyes, but I vastly prefer watching Sailor Moon R: The Movie in widescreen because I think it helps a lot of scenes look more dynamic and appealing, plus the open-matte has some scenes that are totally unfinished on the top and bottom of the frame.

Gouki · 12-10-2018, 07:34 PM

Another weird one is Transformers: The Movie, I can't decide which is better.

"And therein lies the rub"

Both aspect ratios are available for this and Hokuto no Ken, while the ones I'm upset about are cropped 16:9 only.

My crusade is only for content that was clearly framed and drawn for 4:3, but then cropped to 16:9.

I think it's too soon to re post Robot Carnival, so here's some UYBD:

And The Five Star Stories:

And I don't care if word came from up on high by the Prince of Darkness that "This is how it was meant to be seen", etc. It's still wrong.

professorwho · 12-10-2018, 07:38 PM

I agree with you, it’s wrong to present them in widescreen- but when you’re told by the people behind it to do it a certain way, and if you do it wrong, your company may get in trouble, or you loose your job- it’s not worth risking it. I’m trying to point out the consequences of doing it correctly are high, and a business as small as Discotek (in the grand scheme of things) wouldn’t risk it.

I’m not defending it- I’m explaining why it happened and why they couldn’t do anything about it.

Gouki · 12-10-2018, 07:56 PM

(Not fighting with you, just poking holes in Justin's rational.)

My issue with this is if it is a narrative, or you have something from him saying "We were told by our Japanese overlords that this must be in 16:9, and 4:3 must not also be included or our families will be kidnapped and forced to watch dubbed anime." All I've seen him post is that some producer said widescreen is how it was meant to be seen. (In theaters? Then sure.) Then he doubles down and says that the "Composition and blocking was set up for the extra to be cropped" Lol, no dude (Justin).

I mean, if he came out and said "This is the only way we were allowed to release this.", fine, I'd have way less of an issue with it. (The reasoning behind it, not the fact that poor Sakura gets her head cut off.) But he goes and tries to rationalize it as everything being fine, and that chopped off faces and illogical framing was intended.

HunterKIller · 12-10-2018, 10:17 PM

Today I got SAO Ordinal Scale from Anime Ltd (CE edition). BD version looks nice, 41,4GB (ANiplex probably looks better, but I got this for very cool price), but DVD looks terrible. I mean, terrible. It's not a big case for me, because I always watch BD version if I had, but still...

chronoclast · 12-11-2018, 04:55 AM

I haven't seen any mention of this but the Clannad collection that was released last year from Sentai was re-authored as all of the menus, logos, trailers, etc. were changed and updated.

Did the original discs have any video problems or errors? They were released back in 2011 and 2012 when Sentai's encodes and quality control were generally not very good.

Ccharmanderk · 12-11-2018, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chronoclast

I haven't seen any mention of this but the Clannad collection that was released last year from Sentai was re-authored as all of the menus, logos, trailers, etc. were changed and updated.

Did the original discs have any video problems or errors? They were released back in 2011 and 2012 when Sentai's encodes and quality control were generally not very good.

I don't recall hearing of any deficiencies in the encode. It might have been one of their better early Blu-rays.

12-04-2018, 12:20 AM	#2661
professorwho Blu-ray Champion Top contributor Member since:Apr 2017 4K collection:229 Blu-ray collection:982 Blu-ray reviews: 64 Trading Score:7	The Japanese producers, who did paid for the remaster, wanted it in widescreen. If Discotek went against what they said, they might've gotten in "trouble". I would've wanted 4:3 as well, but if that's what they're told, do you want to risk your job over it?

12-04-2018, 04:54 PM	#2662
Gouki Special Member Member since:Apr 2010 Trading Score:5	(Not trying to argue with you, just fuming at the situation.) Well, if that's the case, fine, say "The producers told me to savagely mangle it". Not "Composition and blocking was set up for the extra to be cropped.", which sounds intelligent and plausible, until you see chopped off heads and torsos talking. (I know I post these a lot...) I'm really just upset since RC is still one of my favorite movies of all time, and whose music will forever be in my head. I think a lot of this has more to do with straight up fear that mainstream consumers don't like black bars on the sides of the screen, and less to do with "2/3 of the original frame is how it was meant to be seen." I wish I could remember what BD I was looking at the other day, on the back it straight up said "This movie is presented in it's original aspect ratio of 4:3, resulting in black bars on either side of the screen, this is normal." I think it was the UK Gundam Trilogy. (I'm also convinced that's Char Aznable in Starlight Angel.) (And his head is chopped in the BD.) I will still pray every night that a proper release is sometime made, with about as much faith as OG theatrical Star Wars, Macross: DYRL, Hokuto no Ken (Series), The Keep, Megazone 23, and Scramble Wars.

12-04-2018, 05:16 PM	#2663
professorwho Blu-ray Champion Top contributor Member since:Apr 2017 4K collection:229 Blu-ray collection:982 Blu-ray reviews: 64 Trading Score:7	I don’t think Justin would pubically say something like that- as it paints a bad (although possibly correct) picture of the producers. Failing to meet the requests of the Japanese licensor is something these companies wouldn’t risk- as the consequences- those being a strained relationship and/or less business opportunities for presenting it however they wanted (even if it’s the correct way) would be a big blow against the company. Justin is the compressionist- he encodes based off of his instructions. If he was told to do widescreen, then he does. Although he has the ability to produce a Blu-ray of good quality, if he goes against the instructions, it creates a strained relationship. (I’m sure you know this, but it has to be said. The producers for Robot Carnival, Oshii Mamoru (for Beautiful Dreamer) and Toei (for Arcadia of my Youth) requested it a certain way. Is annoying to us fans? Absof**kinglutely. But, like Lucas and Star Wars, with power has the ability to shape the work however you want- and sadly, the staffers here have a revisionist mindset.

12-05-2018, 01:12 AM	#2665
professorwho Blu-ray Champion Top contributor Member since:Apr 2017 4K collection:229 Blu-ray collection:982 Blu-ray reviews: 64 Trading Score:7	One last tease before I do my write-up on Whisper of the Heart. There is one area Disney has the advantage- subtitle font. The Japanese BD has a good font... for Japanese subtitles. For English, it sucks. The other languages are affected as well. Disney has a readable and good font. So yeah, this is the only area the Disney BD is better: VLC Captures (Don't kill me because it's VLC, I'm lazy, get over it): [Show spoiler]

12-09-2018, 03:26 AM	#2667
Bobo1313 Blu-ray Samurai Top contributor Member since:Jul 2013 Location:Somewhere 4K collection:3 Blu-ray collection:27 Trading Score:47	Well you're going to miss out on a ton of blurays, live action and anime.

12-10-2018, 04:40 PM	#2669
kevers7290 Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Jun 2009 Trading Score:257	Not 100% anime related, but does anyone have any screencaps/comparison information between the two US releases of "The Last Unicorn?" (or any release for that matter)

12-10-2018, 05:46 PM	#2672
kevers7290 Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Jun 2009 Trading Score:257	Thanks! Looks like it would be to my benefit to try and track down the Lionsgate release. The Shout release looks like all the grain has been DNR'd away.

12-10-2018, 07:34 PM	#2675
Gouki Special Member Member since:Apr 2010 Trading Score:5	Another weird one is Transformers: The Movie, I can't decide which is better. "And therein lies the rub" Both aspect ratios are available for this and Hokuto no Ken, while the ones I'm upset about are cropped 16:9 only. My crusade is only for content that was clearly framed and drawn for 4:3, but then cropped to 16:9. I think it's too soon to re post Robot Carnival, so here's some UYBD: And The Five Star Stories: And I don't care if word came from up on high by the Prince of Darkness that "This is how it was meant to be seen", etc. It's still wrong.

12-10-2018, 07:38 PM	#2676
professorwho Blu-ray Champion Top contributor Member since:Apr 2017 4K collection:229 Blu-ray collection:982 Blu-ray reviews: 64 Trading Score:7	I agree with you, it’s wrong to present them in widescreen- but when you’re told by the people behind it to do it a certain way, and if you do it wrong, your company may get in trouble, or you loose your job- it’s not worth risking it. I’m trying to point out the consequences of doing it correctly are high, and a business as small as Discotek (in the grand scheme of things) wouldn’t risk it. I’m not defending it- I’m explaining why it happened and why they couldn’t do anything about it.

12-10-2018, 07:56 PM	#2677
Gouki Special Member Member since:Apr 2010 Trading Score:5	(Not fighting with you, just poking holes in Justin's rational.) My issue with this is if it is a narrative, or you have something from him saying "We were told by our Japanese overlords that this must be in 16:9, and 4:3 must not also be included or our families will be kidnapped and forced to watch dubbed anime." All I've seen him post is that some producer said widescreen is how it was meant to be seen. (In theaters? Then sure.) Then he doubles down and says that the "Composition and blocking was set up for the extra to be cropped" Lol, no dude (Justin). I mean, if he came out and said "This is the only way we were allowed to release this.", fine, I'd have way less of an issue with it. (The reasoning behind it, not the fact that poor Sakura gets her head cut off.) But he goes and tries to rationalize it as everything being fine, and that chopped off faces and illogical framing was intended.

12-10-2018, 10:17 PM	#2678
HunterKIller Expert Member Member since:Nov 2017 Location:Poland Trading Score:4	Today I got SAO Ordinal Scale from Anime Ltd (CE edition). BD version looks nice, 41,4GB (ANiplex probably looks better, but I got this for very cool price), but DVD looks terrible. I mean, terrible. It's not a big case for me, because I always watch BD version if I had, but still...

12-11-2018, 04:55 AM	#2679
chronoclast Special Member Top contributor Member since:Feb 2009 Trading Score:1	I haven't seen any mention of this but the Clannad collection that was released last year from Sentai was re-authored as all of the menus, logos, trailers, etc. were changed and updated. Did the original discs have any video problems or errors? They were released back in 2011 and 2012 when Sentai's encodes and quality control were generally not very good.

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