The Anime Blu-ray Video Quality Thread

[Naiera]

I REALLY do not see any issues with Lagann and Monogatari. Those series look AWESOME.

The only Aniplex of America release(s) I was disappointed with was Valvrave, but I'm certain that has to do with crap source material.

[BigOnAnime]

So while I was looking back on this post with the Gurren Lagann DVD vs. BD comparison, I noticed he mentioned Kannagi being recomposited rather than upscaled. Went and looked, and he did do a comparison, as well as one for Working!! which he also mentioned being recomposited, thought it'd be of interest. Only titles I really know of that were recomposited rather than upscaled are Gurren Lagann, Elfen Lied, and now Working!! and Kannagi.

I'm now even more frustrated that we're never going to get those Kannagi BD's due to Aniplex being Aniplex. Also if my eyes aren't fooling me, it seems there's some banding in the source, but it's not very noticeable. If I had the BD's, this wouldn't be as bad on those. Seriously, ew. Every scene with the night sky on Bandai's DVD's would turn into a banding mess.

Kannagi

[Show spoiler]

Originally Posted by hissatsu

This is about what I expected. Similar in quality to the Working!! BD Box that was also recomposited in HD. Not amazing, but about average for an HD anime, which is much better than an upscale would have been, and obviously better than the R1DVD release, though the R2's should look a bit better. Some shots are impossible to match up exactly between the DVD and BD (shot 3 is the most noticeable), almost certainly due to the recompositing. I haven't watched enough to say if there were any fixes/changes other than that like the Working!! BD box.

(DVD screenshots bicubic resized to 1920x1080)

01 R1DVD | BD
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Working!

[Show spoiler]

Originally Posted by hissatsu

This one is not an upscale, though it was expected to be one at first because working was produced in SD. But then Aniplex announced that it would be recomposited in HD, which should provide better quality than an upscale, but perhaps not as good as if it had been produced in HD in the first place.

Well, Working!! now looks about as good as the average "HD" anime produced today at around 720P resolution. It would be nice if every show produced in SD could get this treatment, but I'm going to assume it costs more money than it's worth for most. And it's really only feasible if you have all the files used in working on the creation of the show, and from what I know, they don't hang on to those for a very long time for most shows.

Anyhow, here's a comparison with NISA's R1 release, which is pretty close in quality to the R2s. It's apparent that they also made some corrections/changes to the animation while recompositing:

• In the first shot, the car on the right is a physically impossible place in the DVD version, it's fixed for the BD
• In the 5th and 16th shots they adjusted the gradient in Yachiyo's hair by quite a bit
• Added blush to Inami's cheek on the 6th shot
• More shading and adjusted the gradient in Popura's hair

I'm sure if someone went through it all, they'd find dozens, if not hundreds of minor edits/corrections.

(DVD screenshots bicubic resized to 1920x1080)

01 R1DVD | BD
02 R1DVD | BD
03 R1DVD | BD
04 R1DVD | BD
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30 R1DVD | BD

Some screenshots from the Wagnaria~Natsu no Daikanshasai Event BDs

01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05

[kk1]

Originally Posted by BigOnAnime

So while I was looking back on this post with the Gurren Lagann DVD vs. BD comparison, I noticed he mentioned Kannagi being recomposited rather than upscaled. Went and looked, and he did do a comparison, as well as one for Working!! which he also mentioned being recomposited, thought it'd be of interest. Only titles I really know of that were recomposited rather than upscaled are Gurren Lagann, Elfen Lied, and now Working!! and Kannagi.

Nice, I wondered if the Working! BDs were worth it, looks like they are. Too bad no ENG subs.

[vincentric]

Checked out Sentai's Limited edition release of Persona 4. Am not sure I can say that this is a 'massive' improvement. This release still exhibits a fair amount of moderate to severe banding. And since they are continuing to stuff 9 eps into one disc, compression blocking is still very much an issue, as well.

All images captured from the first episode:

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5806/2...10088b37_o.png
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https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5757/2...22d95b56_o.png

Had I known that it would look like this, I would not have purchased. It looks like the same old shite Sentai quality.

I'll be taking a look at Brynhildr up next.

Edit: As for stats, each episode is given around 4.7 GB of data | around 4gb for the vid and 700mb for the audio. The (directors cut) ep1 runs around 5 minutes longer and is given 5.4GB; 4.7gb for the video and 700 mb for the audio

[pikagreg]

Originally Posted by vincentric

Checked out Sentai's Limited edition release of Persona 4. Am not sure I can say that this is a 'massive' improvement. This release still exhibits a fair amount of moderate to severe banding. And since they are continuing to stuff 9 eps into one disc, compression blocking is still very much an issue, as well.

All images captured from the first episode:

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5806/2...10088b37_o.png
https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5662/2...93b75eca_o.png
https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/704/22...df35e102_o.png
https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5797/2...47cea50f_o.png
https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5709/2...7d20337f_o.png
https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/715/22...8993d159_o.png
https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/738/22...f8bb71fc_o.png
https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/591/22...833aa5d8_o.png
https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/696/22...917ebb6b_o.png
https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/771/21...8b3c176b_o.png
https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/639/21...f7b3e166_o.png
https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5646/2...ecafaa2d_o.png
https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5757/2...22d95b56_o.png

Had I known that it would look like this, I would not have purchased. It looks like the same old shite Sentai quality.

I'll be taking a look at Brynhildr up next.

Edit: As for stats, each episode is given around 4.7 GB of data | around 4gb for the vid and 700mb for the audio. The (directors cut) ep1 runs around 5 minutes longer and is given 5.4GB; 4.7gb for the video and 700 mb for the audio

Just started re-watching this last night and noticed there were more extras not included in the old release as well.

[BigOnAnime]

Originally Posted by pikagreg

Just started re-watching this last night and noticed there were more extras not included in the old release as well.

Those would be the extras Sentai was unable to include originally due to their absolutely idiotic decision of trying to release the show one month after the final Japanese BD hit, which is also what prevented us from getting the Japanese audio all this time. You just don't try releasing a show that soon and cause the JP licensor to panic, you just don't. FUNi also knows about this very well with Kadokawa (FUNi solicited shows too close to BD boxes Kadokawa solicited well beforehand), and they're still paying for it.

All those new extras were already on the DVD releases which Aniplex Japan didn't cripple. Sentai should consider themselves lucky those didn't get hurt too hard from their very easy to avoid mistake.

[Naiera]

Originally Posted by vincentric

Had I known that it would look like this, I would not have purchased.

$50 shipped

[vincentric]

That's a good deal. Got mine for 60, will keep it for now but may end up selling it (for a profit hopefully) eventually.

After having seen nearly half of Sentai's BD catalog, finally have met one that's nearly band free.

Brynhildr's encode looks to have been debanded 99%. There were only a few select shots from ep1 where I saw banding (see image 9, 13, and 15) come up, kind of like a perfectly cleaned floor with only a few missed spots. Too bad compression blocking is severe, they need to start giving these eps more room to breathe, the 4gbs given to each one simply aren't enough.

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5722/2...2fd10897_o.png
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In spite of bit starved encode, the debanding looks like a nice step in the right direction that I can support moving forward. It's a big improvement from shite like this.

Have actually got a few more recent ones - Black Bullet and Appleseed (Sentai Select) plus a semi-older release - Devil Survivor 2 on their way to test out.

[Naiera]

Stuff like Chunibyo and Devil Survivor 2 looked to me like they were a notch above the rest of Sentai's releases.

[vincentric]

Originally Posted by pikagreg

Just started re-watching this last night and noticed there were more extras not included in the old release as well.

Originally Posted by BigOnAnime

Those would be the extras Sentai was unable to include originally due to their absolutely idiotic decision of trying to release the show one month after the final Japanese BD hit, which is also what prevented us from getting the Japanese audio all this time. You just don't try releasing a show that soon and cause the JP licensor to panic, you just don't. FUNi also knows about this very well with Kadokawa (FUNi solicited shows too close to BD boxes Kadokawa solicited well beforehand), and they're still paying for it.

All those new extras were already on the DVD releases which Aniplex Japan didn't cripple. Sentai should consider themselves lucky those didn't get hurt too hard from their very easy to avoid mistake.

I don't watch extras very often but that's good to know nonetheless.

Little off topic, one of my favorite extras is Yoko goes to Gainax from the UK release of Gurren Lagann. I liked seeing the in-between animation process and the quality of art work between the voice actress and the pros.

Originally Posted by Naiera

Stuff like Chunibyo and Devil Survivor 2 looked to me like they were a notch above the rest of Sentai's releases.

I've never played the DS Devil Survivor games but love the anime, I ended up binge streaming it (at crunchy) in one nerdy session over the weekend.

[vincentric]

Took a look at AoA's release of Expelled from Paradise.

The only time I saw noticeable banding and blocking was at the very start during a logo splash screen and to really nitpick, during the first magical girl hacking sequence where I had to freeze the frame step by step to even see any at all:

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5757/2...0081338c_o.png
https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/658/22...c3d85f8e_o.png
https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/564/21...d3115e8a_o.png

The rest of the show, including freeze framed action scenes, looked just about flawless. The only sore spot is some ugly aliasing that pops up every now and then which I think can be traced back to the CGI's source:

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5739/2...9175de1d_o.png
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Expelled is using 30.9GB | around 23.1GB for the video and 7.8GB for the audio.

Edit: Incorrectly linked one of the images, fixed it.

[Qixbert]

I enjoyed Expelled from Paradise on Netflix. Been considering putting what looks to be quite a worthy Blu-ray on the shelf.

[vincentric]

Originally Posted by Qixbert

I enjoyed Expelled from Paradise on Netflix. Been considering putting what looks to be quite a worthy Blu-ray on the shelf.

It's a worthy Blu-ray for sure. Along with the good picture is an equally impressive audio mix for both the English dub and native Japanese track. Treat yourself to it asap.

Like a dork, I compared the Netflix HD stream with the Aniplex BD.

The HD stream actually looks quite nice and only looks slightly softer during more static moments like these:

01 Netflix HD Stream | AoA BD

02 Netflix HD Stream | AoA BD

But predictably, the BD wins out. Banding, blocking and other video anomalies are a lot more visible in the stream. Especially whenever the action heats up:

03 Netflix HD Stream | AoA BD

04 Netflix HD Stream | AoA BD

05 Netflix HD Stream | AoA BD

06 Netflix HD Stream | AoA BD

[Girls With Guns]

Originally Posted by vincentric

Like a dork, I compared the Netflix HD stream with the Aniplex BD.

Yes, but you're our dork...

[vincentric]

Aww yeah

[vincentric]

Originally Posted by Naiera

I'm obviously less scared of banding than you and others of your skill level. I watched US Steins;Gate, on my current setup, without being bothered by it once. And by that I mean not noticing it.

I had a bad time with Divergent though. The local release had the worst banding I've ever seen.

Originally Posted by vincentric

I think repulsed would be a more accurate word for it I think I know (a technical reason) why you see less banding but I'll talk about it more in the vid thread.

It's because I think your setup supports deep color/4:4:4 sampling.

I have a calibrated Pioneer Kuro plasma which supports that deep color stuff (36 bit indicator lights up in the upper right hand corner) and it greatly alleviates the banding seen in many of the Funimation and Sentai titles that I've talked crap about in this thread.

But I also have a non-deep color setup - a Sony Bravia LCD (also calibrated) that does 4:2:0 - this set will not alleviate banding and this is where I do all of my video quality testing that separates the good encodes from the bad.

Most JP/AoA BDs pass the test, most Funi/Sentai ones fail.

Here's a screenshot from within the first 30 seconds of ep1 of Funi's Steins;Gate -



The bands on his hand, neck and shirt are greatly reduced on the Kuro thanks to the deep color sampling but are a lot more noticeable on the Sony set. Steinsgate is filled with banding that's hard to ignore.

[Naiera]

Originally Posted by vincentric

It's because I think your setup supports deep color/4:4:4 sampling.

I really don't think so. I see plenty of banding at times, but usually I just tend to shrug it off and focus elsewhere. I can't remember being bothered by any during DS2 though.

It did, however, very much surprise me when I learned how much folks hated Steins;Gate.

But I don't know.

[vincentric]

No worries, if you aren't bothered by it, then that's all that should really matter.

It just bugs the crap out of me, especially when it's for like a favorite show of mine like DS2.

Checked out the JP release of the Steins;Gate movie. Long story short, PQ is impeccable.

I looked high and low in areas where crap would be most visible -- dark and shadowy areas, static clothing and backgrounds, contrasting lights, etc... could not find any video related eyesores. It looks almost too good to be true. Video nerd in me is very happy.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/724/21...978d38a8_o.png
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As for stats, total amount is 28.9 GB | around 24.9gb for the video and 4gb for the audio. That is 24.9 GB for 90 minutes which is impressive stuff, I've seen plenty of two hour Hollywood blockbuster BDs get less than that.

I'll try posting some Devil Survivor 2 screens and stats a little later.

Edit: posted one of the images twice, fixed.

[Naiera]

Originally Posted by vincentric

No worries, if you aren't bothered by it, then that's all that should really matter.

It'd be awesome if you could tell me where in my chain (Oppo, scaler, projector) you believe it happens It's all very professionally calibrated, of course. Several times, in fact

[Naiera]

Originally Posted by vincentric

Checked out the JP release of the Steins;Gate movie. Long story short, PQ is impeccable.

Well, duh