The Anime Blu-ray Video Quality Thread

[professorwho]

Originally Posted by BigOnAnime

So did they actually up the bitrate and video quality? HIDIVE always had the weakest video quality compared to modern Crunchyroll

So, here's the kicker... they increased the bitrate, but worsened the quality.

As with many a streaming service, the video is x264 encoded and the settings are left in. Now, if one compares the encoding settings from direct rips, yes, the bitrate can be higher (but it ironically is more capped than ever in a weird turn of events due to how the bitrate is allocated), but the actual settings are overall worse. Now, their original settings were never good to begin with, but that they somehow made them worse is an amazing feat.

[Mangaranga]

Originally Posted by BigOnAnime

That's my thinking. I wonder how season 2 compares. Also, were the JP Blu-rays from Avex also filled with banding?

Season 2 is the same. No idea what the JP BDs look like, but most JP BDs are dithered and/or debanded to varying degrees.

Also, to add to what Prof said above, they more or less doubled (or in some cases tripled) the bandwidth for HiDive video streams but very rarely is it actually much better, if at all. Old streams averaged 200-400mb, but now they're more 900mb. That's only half the story though. They massacred their audio, not only by reducing the raw audio bitrate to 128kbps aac, but using an older build of ffmpeg that's well known for being shit even at higher bitrates. There's literal holes in their audio spectrograms. To quote motbob:

Top is amazon audio, bottom is HIDIVE audio. HIDIVE uses 128k ffmpeg aac, which torpedos the audio quality compared even to something like CR (which also uses 128k AAC, but with a better encoder) and creates literal holes in the spectrogram.

HiDive literally isn't something I'd ever consider paying for at this point.

[FoFo17]

Originally Posted by professorwho

So, here's the kicker... they increased the bitrate, but worsened the quality.

As with many a streaming service, the video is x264 encoded and the settings are left in. Now, if one compares the encoding settings from direct rips, yes, the bitrate can be higher (but it ironically is more capped than ever in a weird turn of events due to how the bitrate is allocated), but the actual settings are overall worse. Now, their original settings were never good to begin with, but that they somehow made them worse is an amazing feat.

Every time someone brings up shit like this, it makes me want to kick myself again for not getting the Legend of The Galactic Heroes set when I had the money to before it went OOP. I watched it back when HIDIVE was part of VRV and was blown away. When VRV went kaput I tried HIDIVE proper to watch Revue Starlight and was appalled by how unresponsive, slow, and frankly pathetic the service was. Gave up on the show after two episodes because I didn't want to waste more time.

[jala12]

I've gotta ask, but do the Jujutsu Kaisen blu-rays have consistently bad encoding throughout the entire first season that is inferior to the streams or is it only in some instances? Secondly, do the blu-rays from Viz utilize updated/fixed shots compared to the TV broadcast versions?

[professorwho]

The Viz Blu-rays are an utter disaster that is, indeed, worse than streams on Crunchyroll. The UK Anime Limited, Italian Dynit and Japanese Toho Blu-rays are much better. The UK BD in particular is quite remarkable in how Visual Data Media Services managed to port CR’s typeset subs over 1:1 to PGS for Blu-ray.

Yes, they’re all the updated Blu-ray masters, but if you’re region locked (or refuse to import), don’t even bother with the Viz BDs.

[jala12]

I see. Though I'm guessing if I'm watching this on CR, the episodes still utilize the broadcast versions of the show. Are any of the non-Viz BDs region/English friendly?

[professorwho]

The UK release is obviously English friendly (Region B locked), and yes, CR has the broadcast masters, but IMO, it's better to watch it with the normal streaming price than to pay money for an inferior looking disc.

[BigOnAnime]

But I was told Blu-ray is always 100% better than streaming services! A Blu-ray could never look worse than a stream, DVD, or even, LaserDisc or VHS, it's impossible to be that incompetent.

Arriving on Blu-ray from VIZ Media, JuJuTsu Kaisen: Season 1 – Part 1 is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition in the original television broadcast aspect ratio of 1.78:1 widescreen. The series looks remarkable in high definition and the presentation does an exceptional job of showcasing the production. The animation is remarkably crisp and colorful looking. This is a vibrant and bold high definition encode and not a simple upscale (as on some anime productions). The results are quite impressive. The bit-rates are higher than streaming versions and will please fans with a better-looking presentation. A solid effort by VIZ Media.

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Jujut...328563/#Review

Released on Blu-ray by VIZ Media, JuJuTsu Kaisen: Season 1 Part 2 is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high-definition in the original television broadcast aspect ratio of 1.78:1 widescreen. The animation looks impressive on the release. The crisp and colorful high-definition video adds an impressive aspect to the presentation. The series colors are bold and invigorating.

Such a great animation display and the encoding capably handles the art style of the series. The animation is certainly fun – reproduced with vibrant colors and detail. The release is in native high-definition and audiences can rest easy knowing this is a native presentation and not simply an upscale (as is sometimes the case with some anime productions).

The release has the clarity that fans are hoping to find. The encoding by VIZ Media is certainly worthwhile and it is wonderful how the Blu-ray disc format offers improved picture-quality over streaming video services. For those looking for the absolute best presentation quality possible, Blu-ray disc offers improved video over streaming video services (which offer video with lower bit-rates).

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Jujut...343537/#Review

[Misioon_Odisea]

For anybody with the new Blue Giant disc and the appropriate sound equipment, how's your experience with the Dolby Atmos audio track going? Any observations or comments? How does it compare to at least the other audio options available on the disc (5.1 and 2.0)? Really curious to know how the Atmos track fares in general for this movie.



Also, it would be good to know where I should post audio-related questions in the future. Thank you.

[professorwho]

Most weebs don't have good audio setups, and even then, I wouldn't trust most people who do. Audio is rarely discussed in terms of anime. I always try to make note of it and do my research to previous releases (for older catalog titles), but I'm one of a select few who actually care about this. If I didn't discover how insane the Laserdisc audio of Akira was (as an example), would anybody else? Video detective work is done all the time, yet so few actually have done the time on the audio side of things.

Plus, even fewer people have an Atmos capable setup (with overhead speakers), so it's a niche within a niche within a niche.

[AreaFive]

Originally Posted by Misioon_Odisea

For anybody with the new Blue Giant disc and the appropriate sound equipment, how's your experience with the Dolby Atmos audio track going? Any observations or comments? How does it compare to at least the other audio options available on the disc (5.1 and 2.0)? Really curious to know how the Atmos track fares in general for this movie.



Also, it would be good to know where I should post audio-related questions in the future. Thank you.

Professor is right, anime fans with an overhead atmos setup is a small demographic to be sure. I happen to be one, however I just got this today and am very much looking forward to it. I plan to watch it on Friday and will share my thoughts then.

[Toad King]

Originally Posted by BigOnAnime

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-D...353258/#Review

Uh...
https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/scree...258&position=2
https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/scree...258&position=7
https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/scree...58&position=12
https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/scree...58&position=14
https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/scree...58&position=18
https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/scree...58&position=19
https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/scree...58&position=20

Please tell me it's in the source. I've been really looking forward to this release and have been impatiently waiting for my copy to finally ship from the Sentai Filmworks Shop. I love this show.

Also, it indeed looks "soft". I've been wondering for a bit because the HIDIVE update early last month removed the resolution selector (how do you not have something YouTube had in 2005?), so "auto" is now the only setting, and this show keeps making me wonder if it autoselected to SD.

I got my copy in the mail today and managed to find a comparison shot from the JP Blu-ray. (Allegedly, found it on a pirate encode image comparison.) Doing a comparison the JP Blu-ray has dithering and significantly less banding but if you look close enough you can still see some of it there, while the Sentai version has no dithering at all. Other than that and a very slightly different color temperature they look close to identical to me, same softness and everything.

Also this probably doesn't help to a lot of people here but I found the debanding support in MPV works very well and with it applied the Sentai version looks just as good as the JP version and cleans up the banding nearly completely. Obviously not ideal but it's an option for some people.

Here's a comparison example. First image is JP, second is Sentai, third is Sentai + MPV debanding: https://imgur.com/a/6Zb89g9

[Sendo]

I know this isn't a Blu-ray, but how are the Mushishi SAVE edition DVDs quality wise? It's on sale for super cheap on Amazon.

[BigOnAnime]

Originally Posted by Sendo

I know this isn't a Blu-ray, but how are the Mushishi SAVE edition DVDs quality wise? It's on sale for super cheap on Amazon.

Probably not great, but should be better than the singles if they had alternate angles. Mushishi was one of the shows FUNimation reauthored on less discs. Anything with alternate angles that was reauthored on less discs with those dropped looked significantly better, even though FUNimation was never that good at making DVDs with good video quality (Ex: License rescues usually would look inferior).

[SMD88]

I am wondering about the Jp Happinet Jigoku Sensei Nuube BDs. I am very, VERY wary of anything TOEI. The description says "HD remaster version", but there is no mention of "from film masters". Anyone know about this title? Happinet's releases on BD have been all over the place (as usual for modern Japan anime releases!!), so I am not sure if this is a good film master/posi remaster or another shitty upscale.

Even film masters do not guarantee a good releases though, just as their Dragon Quest: Dai no Daibouken BD "box" shows. I think it looks god-awful. I would love to buy the Nuube box, but don't want to be burned yet again.

[CrashOveride95]

Originally Posted by SMD88

I am wondering about the Jp Happinet Jigoku Sensei Nuube BDs. I am very, VERY wary of anything TOEI. The description says "HD remaster version", but there is no mention of "from film masters". Anyone know about this title? Happinet's releases on BD have been all over the place (as usual for modern Japan anime releases!!), so I am not sure if this is a good film master/posi remaster or another shitty upscale.
.

Upscaled unfortunately

[SMD88]

Originally Posted by CrashOveride95

Upscaled unfortunately

Ahhh, goddamn it. What a shame! At least they did not DNR it to hell. Figured being TOEI it would be an upscale. Yet, it looks far better to me than Dai no Dai Bouken. Also far better than every other upscale TOEI did.

I may still buy it if I can grab it for under ¥30,000 new. I have been happy with their Votoms, Vifam and Dragonar releases, so much like VAP's Tylor BDs, the upscale is probably better than the DVDs for compression, jaggies etc.

Thank you!!

[AreaFive]

Originally Posted by Sendo

I know this isn't a Blu-ray, but how are the Mushishi SAVE edition DVDs quality wise? It's on sale for super cheap on Amazon.

They are, well, about as good as you can expect a DVD to be. Comparative quality aside, it's an an easy decision however, as it's the only readily available western release of a phenomenal series.

I'd love to one day see it come to blu-ray (along with the excellent season two and OVAs) but it doesn't seem particularly likely any time soon.

[Sendo]

Originally Posted by BigOnAnime

Probably not great, but should be better than the singles if they had alternate angles. Mushishi was one of the shows FUNimation reauthored on less discs. Anything with alternate angles that was reauthored on less discs with those dropped looked significantly better, even though FUNimation was never that good at making DVDs with good video quality (Ex: License rescues usually would look inferior).

Good to know about the alternate angles thing. It's quite bizarre to see SAVE stuff still, it's like a time warp seeing those readily available still.

Originally Posted by AreaFive

They are, well, about as good as you can expect a DVD to be. Comparative quality aside, it's an an easy decision however, as it's the only readily available western release of a phenomenal series.

I'd love to one day see it come to blu-ray (along with the excellent season two and OVAs) but it doesn't seem particularly likely any time soon.

I don't mind purchasing DVDs, as long as there isn't an HD version available in another region. Mushishi seems to fall in that time period where everything was still SD, am I assuming correctly that there's no high quality source for season 1?

[BigOnAnime]

A Mushishi Blu-ray exists for season 1 in Japan, with a new 5.1 upmix, but it'll never come over here because Crunchyroll (formerly FUNimation) has a stranglehold on their licenses, and stopped bothering with Blu-ray upgrades for DVD-only titles ages ago.

Originally Posted by muhootsaver

This set was getting good reviews on video quality and new 5.1 mix sound, so I ended up getting it. This show is one of my all time favorites, and I just couldn't help it. The only reason why I hesitated getting this set was that it was SD upconvert. Also, since Funimation holds the licnese in North America, there's a good chance that blu-ray set will be available in NA in the future. However, I wasn't sure if they will have the new 5.1 mix which was getting rave reviews by the anime communities.

The picture posted on the official homepage didn't look that great, so I didn't expect much, but the package turned out to be very good. Compact and good quality. My only gripe is that I have to be careful when I take out the disc, because things are pretty tight together. Last disc has interviews of possibly every single staff involved in this series.

Video quality is decent for an upconvert. To be honest, this is my first upconvert Blu-ray, so I can't really compare with other shows, but from the screenshots I've seen, I would say it is one of the better ones. Also, I think this is one of the shows that benefit a lot from high bitrate and new codec due to its frequent dark scenes. Colors are more vibrant and you can really appreciate the background work thanks to that. However, it is still an upconvert and you will be able to see that clearly time to time.

Sound was mostly focused at the centre and the front. However, there were moments where surround mix just vibrates throughout the room, and those were pretty good. This suits the series well because this is a very relaxed show. As Mushishi is the kind of show that you appreciate the atmosphere, I believe that this new 5.1 mix will help you enjoy the show even more. At the same time, I felt that the mix was not too "fun". I guess you can say that it is very natural and not forced 5.1.

Overall, a decent purchase, more so, because I didn't have the DVDs.

*ADDED:
screenshots(スクリーンキャプチャ): shot 1 shot 2 shot 3

https://web.archive.org/web/20111108...istory.com/550