The Anime Blu-ray Video Quality Thread - Page 252 - Blu-ray Forum

pikagreg · 07-29-2020, 05:22 AM

That is nice to hear about Elfen Lied and I will probably pick up that Steelbook. It makes me wonder if Clannad has new subs too.

BigOnAnime · 07-29-2020, 05:28 AM

Well as I've said before, the Clannad SteelBook uses entirely new discs, it uses Sentai's bland black screen logo (I miss that flashy colorful one so much), the copyright says 2020, "Toru Iwakami" is credited as "Executive Producer" instead of "Eiichi Takahashi" who left in 2018, and "Griffin Vance" is credited as "Producer". I've submitted the 2020 release credits to ANN if you're curious. Note that ANN is missing the original Blu-ray and 2017 release credits.
https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/enc...me.php?id=7809
https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/enc...me.php?id=9701

NLScavenger · 07-30-2020, 09:29 PM

Shirobako Collection #1 & #2 - Sentai Filmworks

Screenshots were captured in MPV with bilinear chroma upscaling. Thought of using higher quality chroma upscaling, but bilinear is common (VirtualDub2 and MPV use it as default) and makes comparison with the re-release easier I guess.

Collection #1

Each episode in Collection #1 weighs around 3.6GB

Collection #2

Most episodes in Collection #2 weigh around 3.66GB, several 4.11GB

Episode #01

Code:

Disc Label: Shirobako BD-1
Disc Size: 48,345,643,558 bytes
Protection: AACS
Playlist: 00005.MPLS
Size: 3,860,355,072 bytes
Length: 0:25:27.526
Total Bitrate: 20.22 Mbps
Video: MPEG-4 AVC Video / 16915 kbps / 1080p / 23.976 fps / 16:9 / High Profile 4.1
Audio: Japanese / DTS-HD Master Audio / 2.0 / 48 kHz /  2090 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz /  1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Subtitle: English / 77.531 kbps

Episode #02

Code:

Disc Label: Shirobako BD-1
Disc Size: 48,345,643,558 bytes
Protection: AACS
Playlist: 00006.MPLS
Size: 3,860,926,464 bytes
Length: 0:25:27.526
Total Bitrate: 20.22 Mbps
Video: MPEG-4 AVC Video / 16916 kbps / 1080p / 23.976 fps / 16:9 / High Profile 4.1
Audio: Japanese / DTS-HD Master Audio / 2.0 / 48 kHz /  2087 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz /  1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Subtitle: English / 82.121 kbps

Episode #13

Code:

Disc Title: Shirobako 2 BD-1
Disc Label: Shirobako Col 2 BD-1
Disc Size: 36,735,876,076 bytes
Protection: AACS
Playlist: 00005.MPLS
Size: 3,932,915,712 bytes
Length: 0:25:27.526
Total Bitrate: 20.60 Mbps
Video: MPEG-4 AVC Video / 17276 kbps / 1080p / 23.976 fps / 16:9 / High Profile 4.1
Audio: Japanese / DTS-HD Master Audio / 2.0 / 48 kHz /  2078 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz /  1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Subtitle: English / 91.905 kbps

Episode #15

Code:

Disc Title: Shirobako 2 BD-1
Disc Label: Shirobako Col 2 BD-1
Disc Size: 36,735,876,076 bytes
Protection: AACS
Playlist: 00007.MPLS
Size: 4,418,365,440 bytes
Length: 0:25:27.526
Total Bitrate: 23.14 Mbps
Video: MPEG-4 AVC Video / 19702 kbps / 1080p / 23.976 fps / 16:9 / High Profile 4.1
Audio: Japanese / DTS-HD Master Audio / 2.0 / 48 kHz /  2086 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz /  1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Subtitle: English / 94.703 kbps

MrSniper1401 · 07-30-2020, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mangaranga

General rule of thumb is that if Sentai have put out a newer release of a show they released prior to 2015, always grab the new release. Sentai bought someone on board who can actually encode properly either at the end of 2014 or early 2015, and for pretty much all re-releases their new guy completely redoes everything properly (much better video encode with correct gamma, audio without defects like mono audio, and non aliased subtitles with improved typesetting). Re-releases of titles released after the new guy stepped in will pretty much always be the same encodes, even if the discs are slightly different or for a new dubbed release.

Off the top of your head, do you recall if Clannad and K-On follow this trend?

BigOnAnime · 07-30-2020, 11:02 PM

Clannad has new discs, and K-On! has new discs.

The credits on Clannad differ from the prior releases. K-On! re-uses the credit rolls from the original releases as-is, BUT, it uses updated Sentai Filmworks and TBS logos, and has a trailer for HIDIVE which is the telltale sign there's new discs. There is unfortunately not a disc credits on any of the discs which there should be on all November 2018-present releases (they were also on all of their releases prior to 2015), so we will never know who authored the discs, but it likely was Joel McCray (he did do the S1 Blu-ray and is credited as such in the re-used 2015 credit roll on that). Rule of thumb with Sentai, assume nearly every single re-release has new discs, it's rare for them to re-use them, I can only name a few that did so.

vincentric · 07-31-2020, 01:10 AM

Recently got into CCS. Interested in getting the original TV series on Blu-ray, either domestic or English friendly import.

After some quick research, the domestic NIS release is apparently a terribad qtec dnr fest that I'd rather not support. There's a French Black Box release that utilizes an improved PQ master but it looks to contain no eng audio or subs.

Are there any imports that I missed utilizing the improved PQ master that is eng friendly? If there aren't any I wonder how much longer NIS will have the license before it expires? Would love to see Discotek end up with it (would make so much sense since they already have the movies).

On a sidenote, would a Twelve Kingdoms comparison between the 2003-2005 MB/AnimeWorks US DVD and 2019 Discotek US BD garner any interest? Was looking at starting one in the next week or so. I don't have the MediaBlasters US BD or JP BD to include in the comparison.

BigOnAnime · 07-31-2020, 01:23 AM

JP caps for The Twelve Kingdoms can be found here.

Quote:

Originally Posted by hissatsu

So I started picking up the Twelve Kingdoms BD boxes. Looks very good considering its age. About the only thing to complain about is blocky looking banding in some spots, but wherever it appears it shows up in exactly the same spot/pattern on the DVD, so it's just the way the animation is. I remember seeing something similar in GitS SAC. Anyhow, this is the oldest digitally animated HD series I know of (Spring 2002). GitS SAC started airing 6 months later. Is there anything earlier?

01 R1DVD | BD
02 R1DVD | BD
03 R1DVD | BD
04 R1DVD | BD
05 R1DVD | BD
06 R1DVD | BD
07 R1DVD | BD
08 R1DVD | BD
09 R1DVD | BD
10 R1DVD | BD
11 R1DVD | BD
12 R1DVD | BD
13 R1DVD | BD
14 R1DVD | BD

https://web.archive.org/web/20110519....php?p=1829310

professorwho · 07-31-2020, 02:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vincentric

Recently got into CCS. Interested in getting the original TV series on Blu-ray, either domestic or English friendly import.

After some quick research, the domestic NIS release is apparently a terribad qtec dnr fest that I'd rather not support. There's a French Black Box release that utilizes an improved PQ master but it looks to contain no eng audio or subs.

Are there any imports that I missed utilizing the improved PQ master that is eng friendly? If there aren't any I wonder how much longer NIS will have the license before it expires? Would love to see Discotek end up with it (would make so much sense since they already have the movies).

The 4K remaster was also done by Q-Tec, and yes, basically all the grain was removed, but, and this is shocking, it looks absolutely amazing despite that. I'm shocked that despite all the DNR, which was rather decently done to preserve detail, I might add, it looks breathtaking. It looks absolutely amazing.

The British BD release will be utilizing the 4K remaster when that releases.

Member-571539 · 07-31-2020, 02:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by professorwho

The British BD release will be utilizing the 4K remaster when that releases.

Guess I know which version I’m blowing money on.

vincentric · 07-31-2020, 03:02 AM

Will wait for that UK release as well, thanks.

NLScavenger · 08-01-2020, 07:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NLScavenger

Shirobako Collection #1 & #2 - Sentai Filmworks

[Show spoiler]

Warner Bros - Volume #1 (JP)

Sentai Filmworks - Collection #1 (US)

Comparison link:

Code:

https://slow.pics/c/Cei8qvlH

Warner Bros BD - Episode #01

AVG: 26094 kbps | MAX: 41443 kbps

Audio: 24-bit PCM / 16-bit PCM commentary track

Sentai Filmworks BD - episode #01

Code:

Disc Label: Shirobako BD-1
Disc Size: 48,345,643,558 bytes
Protection: AACS
Playlist: 00005.MPLS
Size: 3,860,355,072 bytes
Length: 0:25:27.526
Total Bitrate: 20.22 Mbps
Video: MPEG-4 AVC Video / 16915 kbps / 1080p / 23.976 fps / 16:9 / High Profile 4.1
Audio: Japanese / DTS-HD Master Audio / 2.0 / 48 kHz /  2090 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz /  1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Subtitle: English / 77.531 kbps

Logan Jones · 08-01-2020, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by professorwho

The 4K remaster was also done by Q-Tec, and yes, basically all the grain was removed, but, and this is shocking, it looks absolutely amazing despite that. I'm shocked that despite all the DNR, which was rather decently done to preserve detail, I might add, it looks breathtaking. It looks absolutely amazing.

The British BD release will be utilizing the 4K remaster when that releases.

Speaking of Cardcaptor Sakura, Q-tec's DNR may be a turnoff for some, but I think the main reason why I hated it for some anime while tolerate for others is dependent on the kind of film it was recorded onto.

For instance, the OG anime series of Dirty Pair was recorded using 16mm film (which has very blobby grain). When DNR was applied to the image, I felt that it made it look *really* bad. The end result was a blobby, out-of-focus mess that ruined the original line work.

Contrast this to the Dirty Pair Flash OVAs on 35mm film, since the grainfield was much sharper, DNR did not affect the integrity of the image as much.

Also I could go on to also talk about anamorphic aspect ratios which make the grain even more pronounced, but you get the idea.

And yeah, I think Cardcaptor Sakura's 2016 BD looks great too!

FeelsBDMan · 08-01-2020, 02:15 PM

Having both the JP and Sentai release of Shirobako, I feel there is not a major difference in PQ. Sentai did an excellent job with compression I feel, regardless of the silly 12 episodes on one disk choice.

NLScavenger · 08-01-2020, 05:36 PM

Mobile Suit Gundam Iron Blooded Orphans - Funimation BD vs Bandai Flagship Edition BD

So uhm.. Sunrise supplied the English dub video master to Funimation (same as the GundamInfo Youtube stream), which like the Japanese broadcast master has shots that were corrected in the JP BD master.

Changes between broadcast and BD seem to be minor, but I've only quickly checked episode #2. Don't know if there are any major changes in this or other episodes.

Left: Funimation BD | Right: Bandai Flagship Edition BD (All screenshots taken in MPV with Spline36 chroma upscaling)

Some of you may have watched the original Japanese version during its broadcast and noticed that in OP #1 the equipment and armor of Gundam Barbatos changes as the series progresses. Unfortunately this progression is missing in the English dub video master. The English dub video master uses the episode #3 variant in all episodes with OP #1.

Left: Funimation BD (Wrong) | Right: Bandai Flagship Edition BD (Correct)

As this uses the English dub video master from Sunrise, no one from Funimation is credited in the end credits. Japanese voice actors are credited first, English dub voice actors last.

Additional screenshots:

Funimation BD

Bandai Flagship Edition BD

Episode #2 - Funimation BD

AVG: 23998 kbps | MAX: 42940 kbps

Code:

Playlist: 00010.MPLS
Size: 5,391,378,432 bytes
Length: 0:24:29.134
Total Bitrate: 29.36 Mbps
Video: MPEG-4 AVC Video / 23998 kbps / 1080p / 23.976 fps / 16:9 / High Profile 4.1
Audio: English / Dolby TrueHD Audio / 2.0 / 48 kHz /  1085 kbps / 24-bit (AC3 Embedded: 2.0 / 48 kHz /   192 kbps / DN -26dB)
Audio: Japanese / Dolby TrueHD Audio / 2.0 / 48 kHz /   830 kbps / 16-bit (AC3 Embedded: 2.0 / 48 kHz /   192 kbps / DN -26dB)
Subtitle: English / 41.992 kbps
Subtitle: English / 4.286 kbps

Episode #2 - Bandai Flagship Edition BD

AVG: 36072 kbps | MAX: 53284 kbps

Audio: 24-bit PCM - for whatever reason there's also a completely silent 16-bit PCM track in the m2ts file

Schmullus1 · 08-01-2020, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NLScavenger

Audio: 24-bit PCM - for whatever reason there's also a completely silent 16-bit PCM track in the m2ts file

I'm guessing there are episodes with commentary on them, and if so, this is typical for Bandai Visual's Gundam BDs. The episodes with commentary will use that second track while the ones without it have a silent dummy track. Not sure why this is done, but they did it the same way on 00 (and Code Geass too) 10ish years ago.

Mangaranga · 08-01-2020, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schmullus1

I'm guessing there are episodes with commentary on them, and if so, this is typical for Bandai Visual's Gundam BDs. The episodes with commentary will use that second track while the ones without it have a silent dummy track. Not sure why this is done, but they did it the same way on 00 (and Code Geass too) 10ish years ago.

I noticed this with Aniplex's setup for Demon Slayer, and most Japanese BDs in general too. I haven't watched a BD on an actual player in years, but I assume it's set up this way so that you can change the audio track on the fly regardless of the episode, rather than having to manually select each individual audio commentary in the extras and being locked into it.

mp3dom · 08-01-2020, 09:33 PM

That's the way to make bd programming a lot easier. If you choose a second track for a movie and then jump to a content with only one track (i.e. a bonus), the user selection gets overwritten and reset when you return to the movie, unless you store the user choices in the player registers and consider what to do when a user press the TopMenu, resume a movie or jump on everything else (bonus materials).
If all the contents inside a bd have always the same number of audio streams/subtitles tracks, you don't need to do all of these checks.

VaLAndiL · 08-11-2020, 02:55 PM

I really love shirobako, I've seen the series twice in streaming services but it's such a great anime that I need to have it in bluray!

So, are there 2 US releases by Sentai? Or just the one? If there are 2 how can I tell them apart? I don't think they have different covers do they?

Do the Japanese blurays have english subs?

tuffy · 08-11-2020, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VaLAndiL

I really love shirobako, I've seen the series twice in streaming services but it's such a great anime that I need to have it in bluray!

So, are there 2 US releases by Sentai? Or just the one? If there are 2 how can I tell them apart? I don't think they have different covers do they?

Do the Japanese blurays have english subs?

The second release by Sentai is coming in October. The original release had both seasons sold separately, was sub-only, and the first half of it is out-of-print, so it might be best to wait for the new release unless you absolutely need it right now.

And the Japanese BluRays have no English subs.

VaLAndiL · 08-11-2020, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tuffy

The second release by Sentai is coming in October. The original release had both seasons sold separately, was sub-only, and the first half of it is out-of-print, so it might be best to wait for the new release unless you absolutely need it right now.

And the Japanese BluRays have no English subs.

Ohh I see, thank you so much for the detailed response. I can easily wait for the October release.

It's a shame the JP releases don't have english subs, those sets, especially the 1st print editions, are truly beautiful.

08-01-2020, 05:36 PM	#5034
NLScavenger Blu-ray Ninja Top contributor Member since:Dec 2013 Location:Netherlands 4K collection:20 Blu-ray collection:831 Trading Score:9	Mobile Suit Gundam Iron Blooded Orphans - Funimation BD vs Bandai Flagship Edition BD So uhm.. Sunrise supplied the English dub video master to Funimation (same as the GundamInfo Youtube stream), which like the Japanese broadcast master has shots that were corrected in the JP BD master. Changes between broadcast and BD seem to be minor, but I've only quickly checked episode #2. Don't know if there are any major changes in this or other episodes. Left: Funimation BD \| Right: Bandai Flagship Edition BD (All screenshots taken in MPV with Spline36 chroma upscaling) Some of you may have watched the original Japanese version during its broadcast and noticed that in OP #1 the equipment and armor of Gundam Barbatos changes as the series progresses. Unfortunately this progression is missing in the English dub video master. The English dub video master uses the episode #3 variant in all episodes with OP #1. Left: Funimation BD (Wrong) \| Right: Bandai Flagship Edition BD (Correct) As this uses the English dub video master from Sunrise, no one from Funimation is credited in the end credits. Japanese voice actors are credited first, English dub voice actors last. Additional screenshots: Funimation BD Bandai Flagship Edition BD Episode #2 - Funimation BD AVG: 23998 kbps \| MAX: 42940 kbps Code: Playlist: 00010.MPLS Size: 5,391,378,432 bytes Length: 0:24:29.134 Total Bitrate: 29.36 Mbps Video: MPEG-4 AVC Video / 23998 kbps / 1080p / 23.976 fps / 16:9 / High Profile 4.1 Audio: English / Dolby TrueHD Audio / 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1085 kbps / 24-bit (AC3 Embedded: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / DN -26dB) Audio: Japanese / Dolby TrueHD Audio / 2.0 / 48 kHz / 830 kbps / 16-bit (AC3 Embedded: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / DN -26dB) Subtitle: English / 41.992 kbps Subtitle: English / 4.286 kbps Episode #2 - Bandai Flagship Edition BD AVG: 36072 kbps \| MAX: 53284 kbps Audio: 24-bit PCM - for whatever reason there's also a completely silent 16-bit PCM track in the m2ts file

07-29-2020, 05:22 AM	#5021
pikagreg Blu-ray Ninja Member since:Jun 2014 Location:Southern California Trading Score:13	That is nice to hear about Elfen Lied and I will probably pick up that Steelbook. It makes me wonder if Clannad has new subs too.

07-29-2020, 05:28 AM	#5022
BigOnAnime Blu-ray Knight Top contributor Member since:Mar 2015 Location:Minnesota, USA 4K collection:17 Blu-ray collection:671 DVD collection:714	Well as I've said before, the Clannad SteelBook uses entirely new discs, it uses Sentai's bland black screen logo (I miss that flashy colorful one so much), the copyright says 2020, "Toru Iwakami" is credited as "Executive Producer" instead of "Eiichi Takahashi" who left in 2018, and "Griffin Vance" is credited as "Producer". I've submitted the 2020 release credits to ANN if you're curious. Note that ANN is missing the original Blu-ray and 2017 release credits. https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/enc...me.php?id=7809 https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/enc...me.php?id=9701

07-30-2020, 11:02 PM	#5025
BigOnAnime Blu-ray Knight Top contributor Member since:Mar 2015 Location:Minnesota, USA 4K collection:17 Blu-ray collection:671 DVD collection:714	Clannad has new discs, and K-On! has new discs. The credits on Clannad differ from the prior releases. K-On! re-uses the credit rolls from the original releases as-is, BUT, it uses updated Sentai Filmworks and TBS logos, and has a trailer for HIDIVE which is the telltale sign there's new discs. There is unfortunately not a disc credits on any of the discs which there should be on all November 2018-present releases (they were also on all of their releases prior to 2015), so we will never know who authored the discs, but it likely was Joel McCray (he did do the S1 Blu-ray and is credited as such in the re-used 2015 credit roll on that). Rule of thumb with Sentai, assume nearly every single re-release has new discs, it's rare for them to re-use them, I can only name a few that did so.

07-31-2020, 01:10 AM	#5026
vincentric Blu-ray Guru Top contributor Member since:Feb 2013 Location:Bay Area, CA 4K collection:321 Blu-ray collection:1003 Trading Score:266	Recently got into CCS. Interested in getting the original TV series on Blu-ray, either domestic or English friendly import. After some quick research, the domestic NIS release is apparently a terribad qtec dnr fest that I'd rather not support. There's a French Black Box release that utilizes an improved PQ master but it looks to contain no eng audio or subs. Are there any imports that I missed utilizing the improved PQ master that is eng friendly? If there aren't any I wonder how much longer NIS will have the license before it expires? Would love to see Discotek end up with it (would make so much sense since they already have the movies). On a sidenote, would a Twelve Kingdoms comparison between the 2003-2005 MB/AnimeWorks US DVD and 2019 Discotek US BD garner any interest? Was looking at starting one in the next week or so. I don't have the MediaBlasters US BD or JP BD to include in the comparison.

07-31-2020, 03:02 AM	#5030
vincentric Blu-ray Guru Top contributor Member since:Feb 2013 Location:Bay Area, CA 4K collection:321 Blu-ray collection:1003 Trading Score:266	Will wait for that UK release as well, thanks.

08-01-2020, 02:15 PM	#5033
FeelsBDMan Member Member since:Feb 2017	Having both the JP and Sentai release of Shirobako, I feel there is not a major difference in PQ. Sentai did an excellent job with compression I feel, regardless of the silly 12 episodes on one disk choice.

08-01-2020, 09:33 PM	#5037
mp3dom Active Member Top contributor Member since:Jun 2010 Location:Italy	That's the way to make bd programming a lot easier. If you choose a second track for a movie and then jump to a content with only one track (i.e. a bonus), the user selection gets overwritten and reset when you return to the movie, unless you store the user choices in the player registers and consider what to do when a user press the TopMenu, resume a movie or jump on everything else (bonus materials). If all the contents inside a bd have always the same number of audio streams/subtitles tracks, you don't need to do all of these checks.

08-11-2020, 02:55 PM	#5038
VaLAndiL Junior Member Member since:Jul 2019	I really love shirobako, I've seen the series twice in streaming services but it's such a great anime that I need to have it in bluray! So, are there 2 US releases by Sentai? Or just the one? If there are 2 how can I tell them apart? I don't think they have different covers do they? Do the Japanese blurays have english subs?

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