The Anime Blu-ray Video Quality Thread

[jsevakis]

Originally Posted by cicada88

Genocyber: Discotek Media Blu-Ray versus Central Park Media DVD?

I'm obviously biased, but I think you'll find our disc to be a substantial, if not major upgrade over the CPM disc. That disc used the dub VHS master, which meant it was converted from PAL (it was dubbed in the UK) and had each film frame smeared across 3-4 video frames. One next-ep preview was missing, which we restored, and several shots were altered to remove Japanese text. We re-encoded from the original Japanese masters, and were able to make eps 1-3 progressive, if nothing else. We were also able to do some filtering to remove some (but not all) of the dot crawl.

Still not ideal, but the best we could do with that one.

[King Crimson]

Originally Posted by jsevakis

I'm obviously biased, but I think you'll find our disc to be a substantial, if not major upgrade over the CPM disc. That disc used the dub VHS master, which meant it was converted from PAL (it was dubbed in the UK) and had each film frame smeared across 3-4 video frames. One next-ep preview was missing, which we restored, and several shots were altered to remove Japanese text. We re-encoded from the original Japanese masters, and were able to make eps 1-3 progressive, if nothing else. We were also able to do some filtering to remove some (but not all) of the dot crawl.

Still not ideal, but the best we could do with that one.

I enjoyed it, in all its brutality. Keep up the good work on your SD on Blu-ray releases, would love for y'all to release the original Mazinger Z series on SD on Blu-ray along with the Captain Harlock series you've released on DVD, also please release Endless Odyssey!

[SpaceDandy]

Originally Posted by TThomas

To leave it here: Avoid any recent releases from Kazé France

Not only they proved a very questionable Quality with their "Upscale" of Nana, they used censored / dimmed TV-masters for some of their releases.
e.g.
Vinland Saga https://twitter.com/ViCklatereur/sta...74217885925376
Dr. Stone https://twitter.com/ViCklatereur/sta...061105675?s=20

It appears that Vinland Saga is not (entirely?) censored? It does use the masters provided by amazon, but those are roughly the TV version, uncensored.

[Mangaranga]

Originally Posted by TThomas

To leave it here: Avoid any releases from Kazé France

Fixed that for you. I thought avoiding any Khazi releases was common knowledge anyway.

[TThomas]

Originally Posted by Mangaranga

Fixed that for you. I thought avoiding any Khazi releases was common knowledge anyway.

Not long ago we noticed that Kazé's release of Black Lagoon S1+S2, despite having way lower bitrates than Funi, still has better video quality - so it's currently the best English friendly Blu-ray.

[SpaceDandy]

Originally Posted by Mangaranga

Fixed that for you. I thought avoiding any Khazi releases was common knowledge anyway.

Their JoJo sets are okay (out of them all, curiously). And apparently so was Dragon Maid. I'd rather suggest to be cautious and see reviews before blind buying


EDIT: Vick just confirmed Vinland Saga uses the uncensored amazon master. So the only down side there is the epilepsy filter. The US should use the exact same source as the french release, as some other people have pointed out.

[P.A.C.O.]

Anyone here know how the Kaze sets for Mysterious Cities of Gold are?

[SpaceDandy]

Garbage. And this series is doomed.
Unfortunately, the excellent comparison made by @Fenarinarsa (Twitter) was striked on youtube. But roughly:

-Kazé release is based on Sony's remaster from 2001, which had already faded colors. They then subsequently applied a very strong DNR and cropped it for the Blu-Ray.
-Fabulous Entertainment DVD from the UK appears to be a fair release but it is missing footage at place (opening and ending seemingly). But it is also based on the 2000s remaster with faded colors.
-NHK dub/JP version is based on an alternate cut, with less scenes. Also the original japanese dub was lost. The available one is a redub made in the late 90s or early 2000s.

This is what remains of the numerous comparison video. The original FR TV broadcast (VHS from 1984) and Kazé Blu-Ray:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9K4JsZgr40s&feature=youtu.be

Of course this comparison is unfair but try to go over the fact the VHS is old and pay attention to the colours, cropping and other artefacts.

A comparison of all french release
>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfLiiRUGjIw
Another comparison with all releases (inc. Fabulous) and one's self restauration:
>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqWxblbRg98
This video summarises everything in regard to Kazé BR release, with the horrendous DNR:
>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9xVNLOVpGA

[P.A.C.O.]

Originally Posted by SpaceDandy

Garbage. And this series is doomed.

[Show spoiler]Unfortunately, the excellent comparison made by @Fenarinarsa (Twitter) was striked on youtube. But roughly:

-Kazé release is based on Sony's remaster from 2001, which had already faded colors. They then subsequently applied a very strong DNR and cropped it for the Blu-Ray.
-Fabulous Entertainment DVD from the UK appears to be a fair release but it is missing footage at place (opening and ending seemingly). But it is also based on the 2000s remaster with faded colors.
-NHK dub/JP version is based on an alternate cut, with less scenes. Also the original japanese dub was lost. The available one is a redub made in the late 90s or early 2000s.

This is what remains of the numerous comparison video. The original FR TV broadcast (VHS from 1984) and Kazé Blu-Ray:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9K4JsZgr40s&feature=youtu.be

Of course this comparison is unfair but try to go over the fact the VHS is old and pay attention to the colours, cropping and other artefacts.

A comparison of all french release
>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfLiiRUGjIw
Another comparison with all releases (inc. Fabulous) and one's self restauration:
>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqWxblbRg98
This video summarises everything in regard to Kazé BR release, with the horrendous DNR:
>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9xVNLOVpGA

Oh man that is really disappointing. The image on the blu looks so artificial and unattractive. I can't comprehend that why for something like that. I assume it's an assumption that hi-def means clean/sharp/no noise, together with no eye for detail is what leads to such a blurry mess.

I watched the videos, but translated subs don't seem to be that accurate, did he say that advice was sought at some point for the transfer but ignored?

I suppose my idea of making my own custom rip by muxing the english track from the dvds onto the blus is pointless now.

Putting financial incentives and prohibitions aside, would a proper restoration one day be possible, or have the elements been lost / too damaged?

I really hope we can get a proper release one day.

[King Crimson]

How is Mill Creek's release of Osamu Tezuka's Metropolis, specifically the LE Steelbook released in 2018?

[SpaceDandy]

The state and whereabouts of the OCN are unknown. The animation studio "DIC" is long gone, Pierrot and DIC had a messy relationship during the production. The NHK definitely possess some film masters for the Japanese cut (which differs in the six first episodes, the rest are identical).
I suppose France Televisions still possess at the very least the 16mm prints from the first broadcast (which may be the film elements from which the 2000 master was obtained) but there has been no sign of a new remaster. And the chances are tiny; best seller series like Ulysse 31 in France have still not received a remaster due to the costs, even though it would be a best seller.

Originally Posted by P.A.C.O.

I watched the videos, but translated subs don't seem to be that accurate, did he say that advice was sought at some point for the transfer but ignored?

He was explaining that apparently (I can't verify this fact), that Kazé had enquired an individual for tips on how to upscale it properly. He provided the scripts and parameters but they (Kazé) messed up entirely as they wanted to do it themselves rather than asking a professional. He also says that the film elements are lost, but again, unsourced and seem weird considering the 2000 telecine does not match the 1980s tapes.

Talking about negatives and Ulysse 31, someone has had access to intermediate elements which show that the old DVD edition is badly cropped, and the films were already quite faded in the early 2000s. Link

[cooperb21]

Anyone know video quality difference in old Kill La Kill volumes by Aniplex vs New Complete set? I was debating getting new set because I just had standard blu ray cases, the boxset looks nice. Is features/video quality same?

[AreaFive]

Originally Posted by King Crimson

How is Mill Creek's release of Osamu Tezuka's Metropolis, specifically the LE Steelbook released in 2018?

The video is slightly inferior to the UK release (of which the blu-ray is region free. I can't recall if the extras DVD was region free or locked). It's also worth noting that the 5.1 Japanese mix is only on the UK version.

Having seen both, they are both perfectly enjoyable but the UK version is superior overall.

[BigOnAnime]

Originally Posted by cooperb21

Anyone know video quality difference in old Kill La Kill volumes by Aniplex vs New Complete set? I was debating getting new set because I just had standard blu ray cases, the boxset looks nice. Is features/video quality same?

The discs in the complete set seem to be exactly the same as the singles.

[SpaceDandy]

Originally Posted by P.A.C.O.

[Mysterious cities of gold stuff]

Found again the extensive comparison:

n-th gen VHS vs Fabulous DVD vs Geneon DVD vs Sony DVD:
https://peertube.fenarinarsa.com/w/uEMUQCfgBKKDkUrtiyLZ8D
n-th gen VHS vs Sony DVD vs Geneon DVD vs Kazé BD:
https://peertube.fenarinarsa.com/w/cM3pg4fCefF7QHt3Jex6ki

If you see "(Plan absent)" it means the cut is missing in the said release. For black screens, it rather means the scene is partly cut (or the footage is missing on the VHS recording).

[theberserker22]

I just saw that Sentai is doing a steelbook of Princess Tutu. Is it a safe bet that theyre doing a new master for the release? because the discs I have are brutally full of ghosting and interlacing.

[BigOnAnime]

Given the prior release was 3 years ago, most likely.

[theberserker22]

Originally Posted by BigOnAnime

Given the prior release was 3 years ago, most likely.

Thanks. I'll wait to hear what people say about the new steelbook release and then likely put this old set for sale should they have fixed the issues.

[King Crimson]

Had to double dip on Paprika, that Sony Disc definitely shows its age with the MPEG 2 codec, keeping the disc for the special features but I picked up the Aus Umbrella release of Paprika, I'm hoping with the AVC codec will help it and no window boxing.

[professorwho]

The Manga UK (now FUNimation UK) release of Paprika is the best so far. It has a bit more colour banding than the Sony, but it’s not windowboxed, has a higher bitrate and shows more detail. I have no clue how the AU BD is, so let us know!