The Anime Blu-ray Video Quality Thread

[gundamcero]

Originally Posted by professorwho

Here you go.

lol. Damn. How can a DVD look better than an SDBD. Did nobody at Sentai even give it a watch before sending it out.

[Nostalgic Twilight]

I received Discotek's Kyo Kara Maoh Season 2 and Ayakashi BDs today and decided to create a few screenshot comparisons for each.

Kyo:



Screenshot Comparisons

As with the first season, this is a very nice upgrade over the DVDs.

Ayakashi:



Screenshot Comparisons

Same as the above, this is a nice upgrade. The first Bake Neko shot is particularly revealing.

[professorwho]

German Slayers Movies and OVAs BD

Caps and Stats by Kyoani.de

Disc 1:

Gesamte Disk: 31,673,153,612 bytes
Slayers – Perfect
Länge: 1:04:54.223
Größe: 16,753,158,144 bytes
Bild:
MPEG-4 AVC Video – 28000 kbps – 1080p / 23.976 fps / 16:9 / High Profile 4.1

Ton:
DTS-HD Master Audio – German – 2260 kbps – 5.1 / 48 kHz / 2260 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit)
DTS-HD Master Audio – Japanese – 2158 kbps – 5.1 / 48 kHz / 2158 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit)

Untertitel:
Deutsche Untertitel
Deutsche Untertitel für Schilder etc.

Slayers – Return

Länge: 0:59:33.778
Größe: 14,540,027,904 bytes
Bild:
MPEG-4 AVC Video – 28000 kbps – 1080p / 23.976 fps / 16:9 / High Profile 4.1

Ton:
DTS-HD Master Audio – German – 2260 kbps – 5.1 / 48 kHz / 2260 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit)
DTS-HD Master Audio – Japanese – 2158 kbps – 5.1 / 48 kHz / 2158 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit)

Untertitel:
Deutsche Untertitel
Deutsche Untertitel für Schilder etc.

Disc 2:

Gesamte Disk: 38,624,256,704 bytes

Slayers – Great

Länge: 0:59:09.045
Größe: 15,404,328,960 bytes

Bild:
MPEG-4 AVC Video – 28003 kbps – 1080p / 23.976 fps / 16:9 / High Profile 4.1

Ton:
DTS-HD Master Audio – German – 2401 kbps – 5.1 / 48 kHz / 2401 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit)
DTS-HD Master Audio – Japanese – 2310 kbps – 5.1 / 48 kHz / 2310 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit)

Untertitel:
Deutsche Untertitel
Deutsche Untertitel für Schilder etc.

Slayers – Gorgeous

Länge: 0:58:19.829
Größe: 15,040,548,864 bytes
Bild:
MPEG-4 AVC Video – 27960 kbps – 1080p / 23.976 fps / 16:9 / High Profile 4.1

Ton:
DTS-HD Master Audio – German – 2223 kbps – 5.1 / 48 kHz / 2223 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit)
DTS-HD Master Audio – Japanese – 2203 kbps – 5.1 / 48 kHz / 2203 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit)

Untertitel:
Deutsche Untertitel
Deutsche Untertitel für Schilder etc.

Slayers – Premium

Länge: 0:30:00.757
Größe: 7,731,253,248 bytes
Bild:
MPEG-4 AVC Video – 27996 kbps – 1080p / 23.976 fps / 16:9 / High Profile 4.1

Ton:
DTS-HD Master Audio – German – 2280 kbps – 5.1 / 48 kHz / 2280 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit)
DTS-HD Master Audio – Japanese – 2068 kbps – 5.1 / 48 kHz / 2068 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit)

Untertitel:
Deutsche Untertitel
Deutsche Untertitel für Schilder etc.

Disc 3:

Gesamte Disk: 44,058,909,252 bytes

Slayers – Special

Länge: 1:26:20.508
Größe: 22,047,719,424 bytes
Bild:
MPEG-4 AVC Video – 27992 kbps – 1080p / 23.976 fps / 16:9 / High Profile 4.1

Ton:
DTS-HD Master Audio – German – 2538 kbps – 5.1 / 48 kHz / 2538 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit)
LPCM Audio – Japanese – 1536 kbps – 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1536 kbps / 16-bit

Untertitel:
Deutsche Untertitel
Deutsche Untertitel für Schilder etc.

Slayers – Excellent

Länge: 1:24:45.872
Größe: 21,648,267,264 bytes
Bild:
MPEG-4 AVC Video – 27991 kbps – 1080p / 23.976 fps / 16:9 / High Profile 4.1

Ton:
DTS-HD Master Audio – German – 2535 kbps – 5.1 / 48 kHz / 2535 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit)
LPCM Audio – Japanese – 1536 kbps – 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1536 kbps / 16-bit

Untertitel:
Deutsche Untertitel
Deutsche Untertitel für Schilder etc.

Perfect:
DE BD:


ADV DVD:

[Show spoiler]

Excellent:
DE BD:


ADV DVD:

[Show spoiler]

Great:
DE BD:


ADV DVD:

[Show spoiler]

Gorgeous:
DE BD:


ADV DVD:

[Show spoiler]

Premium:


ADV DVD:

[Show spoiler]

Ein paar Schwächen in der Produktion kann man aber doch auf der Blu-ray ganz gut sehen. In diesem Beispiel (siehe oben) aus Slayers – Return sind die Konturen von Lina und Naga seltsam pixelig. Überhaupt wurde das alte Filmmaterial zwar offenbar neu abgetastet, aber danach hat niemand sich darum gekümmert, Staubkörner(?) zu entfernen, denn recht oft blitzen helle Punkte auf. Dieser Punkt sorgte auch bei japanischen Fans für kritische Kommentare.

Weniger gut zu korrigieren, aber trotzdem etwas störend beim Schauen: Vor allem in dunklen Szenen rauscht das Bild ziemlich und manch Konturen haben „Schatten“, welche man öfters bei Cel-Animation sehen kann. Die Schärfe des Materials ist aber größtenteils gut und in den wenigen Szenen, wo das Bild deutlich weicher erscheint, könnte dies wohl gewollt sein.

Google Translate:
But a few weaknesses in the production can be seen quite well on the Blu-ray. In this example (see above) from Slayers - Return , the contours of Lina and Naga are strangely pixelated. In fact, the old footage was obviously rescanned, but then no one has taken care to remove dust grains (?), Because quite often light spots flash. This point also caused critical comments for Japanese fans.

To correct less well, but still a bit annoying when looking: Especially in dark scenes, the picture rushes pretty and some contours have "shadow", which you can often see in Cel-animation. The sharpness of the material is mostly good and in the few scenes where the picture seems much softer, this might well be wanted.

Screencaps of "The Motion Picture" are up in the link above. This post is already long enough as-is, so I'll just leave it here. Overall it seems like a solid release, but not perfect.

[ps3bd_owner]

Selecta Visión also released Slayers on Blu-ray but their "remaster" seems unsatisfactory.

[professorwho]

Originally Posted by ps3bd_owner

Selecta Visión also released Slayers on Blu-ray but their "remaster" seems unsatisfactory.

The German release above is using the same materials as the Japanese BD, which itself is from HD Native scans of the original film elements.

[BigOnAnime]

Such a shame that only the movies and OVAs got treated right while the series got garbage upscales. Every release of the first three seasons of Slayers looks like crap (VHS, laserdisc, DVD, Blu-ray), including the Japanese, such a shame.

[professorwho]

Originally Posted by BigOnAnime

Such a shame that only the movies and OVAs got treated right while the series got garbage upscales. Every release of the first three seasons of Slayers looks like crap (VHS, laserdisc, DVD, Blu-ray), including the Japanese, such a shame.

lol, the JP BD is probably the worst looking release due to absolutely nothing done in the upscale. The other ones also look like crap, and probably worse objectively, but at least they can be viewed on a CRT to help hide its ugliness.

[SpaceBlackKnight]

I heard the series was done by a smaller company that ether went bankrupt and sold off their assets, or had it's new owners destroy all their materials and thought video/digital copies were enough to keep, hence why they did some messy upscale and all BD releases look like hot, steaming horsedump. The OVAs and Movies were done by a different company and were smart enough to preserve their film elements.

[kevers7290]

Does anyone know which transfer is used for the Manga steelbook release of Ninja Scroll? Is it inferior to the Sentai repress?

[professorwho]

Originally Posted by kevers7290

Does anyone know which transfer is used for the Manga steelbook release of Ninja Scroll? Is it inferior to the Sentai repress?

I think you mean encode, not transfer. They all use the same transfer, but are differently encoded. The UK BD has incorrect gamma levels like the first Sentai BD, but is at a higher Bitrate than either Sentai release, and has 16-bit audio (as opposed to 24-bit on both Sentai releases). I’d go with the Sentai re-release. It’s got the correct gamma and looks pretty darn good.

[ps3bd_owner]

Originally Posted by professorwho

The German release above is using the same materials as the Japanese BD, which itself is from HD Native scans of the original film elements.

I just meant for the sake of comparison which is kinda fun to do.

[Lambadelta]

Originally Posted by ps3bd_owner

Selecta Visión also released Slayers on Blu-ray but their "remaster" seems unsatisfactory.

I own the Selecta Vision TV BDs for Slayers.

They are simple upscales with colour correction, and maybe a bit of sharpening.

The JP TV BDs are just upscales with no corrections at all.

The ghosting is there on both releases due to it being introduced at the DVD master, which both regions used.

If you want to read more feel free to check out the most recent quick look I did at the S3 Spanish BD

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread...s#post16562506

You can search this thread, and find me comparing the JP and Spanish S1 BD.

[Logan Jones]

Has anyone seen the recent trailer for the Blu-ray release of Dirty Pair, the TV series and OVA collection? Here's the video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTSYYeIyLko

Film grain has been removed, (I like film grain, and I don't like DNR if it softens the image. But if DNR is applied and the image is still sharp, then it doesn't bother me as much.)

It would seem that the colors have been tinkered to look more vibrant. (Not a downgrade for me, but I can see how it bothers certain people.)

Lastly, the linework has been butchered. I'm not sure if it was because of DNR or what, but the image has had a bunch of smoothing filters and crap applied to it, ruining the linework and detail of the image. (I especially hate this!)

What do you guys think?

[professorwho]

It’s Q-Tec. It’s their MO to ruin retro anime.

[Logan Jones]

Q-tec! I knew it!

[sagadego]

Originally Posted by professorwho

It’s Smear-Tec. It’s their MO to ruin retro anime.

fixed :P

[ps3bd_owner]

Originally Posted by professorwho

So, I just watched the Japanese Blu-ray of Dragon Ball Super: Broly from Toei Video, and compared to the Dutch and FUNimation BDs, it is a revelation.

Where would it be possible to buy the Dutch Blu-ray? That is such an odd release (because it actually features the English dub) that I'd like to own.

[NLScavenger]

Originally Posted by ps3bd_owner

Where would it be possible to buy the Dutch Blu-ray? That is such an odd release (because it actually features the English dub) that I'd like to own.

You don't want to own the Dutch Blu-ray. I bought it on release and it's one of the worst anime Blu-ray release in recent years.

https://caps-a-holic.com/c.php?d1=13198&d2=13199&c=5171

[ps3bd_owner]

Originally Posted by NLScavenger

You don't want to own the Dutch Blu-ray. I bought it on release and it's one of the worst anime Blu-ray release in recent years.

https://caps-a-holic.com/c.php?d1=13198&d2=13199&c=5171

Looks awful. I'd guess it has a lot to do with the fact the distributor decided to use BD25 instead of BD50, like the old days some distributors would compress movies on DVD5s than use DVD9s. Or split the dubs into two DVD5 discs, that is, the movie is on both obviously but Part "A" has dubs 1-3 and Part "B" has dubs 4-6.

[professorwho]

Please do not quote an insane amount of pictures.

If you're gonna get the film, either get the UK or Japanese release. I own the Japanese release, and can say it's very worth it.