The Studio Ghibli (HK) Discussion Thread

[Exist2Inspire]

Welcome to the thread for discussion the Hong Kong releases of the Studio Ghibli Films! If you click on any of the pictures of the films, they will take you to the Blu-ray page with more information about the films.

The Hong Kong Studio Ghibli Blu-rays are released by a studio called Intercontinental Video (ICV) who, among other things, releases a lot of the films that are released under the Disney banner. The only film that will not be released by ICV is Grave of the Fireflies / Tombstone of Fireflies as they do not have the rights for the film.


Similarities to Japanese Release

• Contains the same lossless Japanese audio that's on the Japanese release
• Contains the same video encode as the Japanese disc (except for Ponyo)
• Contains the same English subtitle track that is on the Japanese release

Differences to the Japanese Release

• Does not contain an English dub
• Different/Missing bonus features
• Ponyo: Video encode is done at 1080i
• Nausicaa: English subtitle track is missing all the punctuation. Example - Thanks to Pyoko

Available Now




Coming Soon

The Tale of Princess Kaguya - February 10, 2015 YesAsia

Awaiting a Release
Ocean Waves
When Marnie Was Here

What's the difference between the Hong Kong and Japanese Blu-Rays (apart from the Hong Kong ones being a lot cheaper)?

[Leshita]

I think it's mainly packaging differences and the Japanese version having many more language options (multiple dubs and subtitles across many different languages).

[Exist2Inspire]

Originally Posted by Leshita

I think it's mainly packaging differences and the Japanese version having many more language options (multiple dubs and subtitles across many different languages).

That's pretty much about it. All of the Hong Kong ones come with a slipcover that mimics the design of the Japanese version, but the disc comes in an Amray case.

They also all include original language Japanese Audio Track, with a Cantonese and (sometimes) Mandarin track as well. All include English (and proper English too) subtitle tracks.

[manicsounds]

There are differences with bonus features as well.

For example, Arrietty and My Neighbor The Yamadas are both missing the 45 minute making-of documentaries, and Nausicaa is missing the audio commentary. (The extras on the HK discs don't have English subtitles)

[singhcr]

The HK release of Ponyo has a Japanese 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track that the US release does not (it has Dolby Digital), but it is 1080i instead of 1080p.

To me it is not a significant difference as the movie looks stunning, but it is something to be aware of if you must have 1080p.

[Braktastic]

Originally Posted by manicsounds

The extras on the HK discs don't have English subtitles

Do the extras on the JP discs have English subtitles?

[Zen_Amako]

I received my order with Only Yesterday and Kiki's Delivery Service yesterday. As expected, both look terrific. I noticed background details in KDS that I'd never noticed before. I think I saw some mild aliasing in KDS (with eyes and eyebrows) but it was very minor. Had to grab Only Yesterday since I doubt that will be released in the U.S. Grave of the Fireflies gets a lot more critical acclaim, but I think OY is a stronger work from Isao Takahata.

[svenge]

Originally Posted by Zen_Amako

I received my order with Only Yesterday and Kiki's Delivery Service yesterday. As expected, both look terrific. I noticed background details in KDS that I'd never noticed before. I think I saw some mild aliasing in KDS (with eyes and eyebrows) but it was very minor. Had to grab Only Yesterday since I doubt that will be released in the U.S. Grave of the Fireflies gets a lot more critical acclaim, but I think OY is a stronger work from Isao Takahata.

How's the video bitrate and subtitles on Kiki?

[Zen_Amako]

The subtitles are fine on Kiki's Delivery Service. It's the same script that was used for the R2 DVD. I do wish the opening and ending songs were subtitled, though (the song at the end of Only Yesterday is subtitled).

[Exist2Inspire]

My copies of Kiki's and Only Yesterday arrived today. I'm aiming to get around to them this weekend and I'll post my thoughts on them afterwards.

[disneywildcat]

Check the Which Studio Ghibli Edition to Choose? thread. https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=198117

As far as dubtitles, Castle in the Sky is the only US Blu-ray release that has that issue of the lack of a accurate original subtitle track. All other Disney blu-rays appear to have accurate subtitles for the original Japanese track (they are contained in the English subtitle track as opposed to the English SDH track which is for the dub). The thread referenced above will note if dubtitles are a problem. If it listed it as having subtitles+dubtitles, the US release is ok to consider buying.

Sent from my HTC VLE_U using Tapatalk 2

[vandeetz]

Originally Posted by disneywildcat

Check the Which Studio Ghibli Edition to Choose? thread. https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=198117

thanks for the link!!

[cardiac161]

Porco Rosso (HK version) to be released on Oct. 8:

http://www.dddhouse.com/v3/product_d...roductID=13832

[Exist2Inspire]

Originally Posted by cardiac161

Porco Rosso (HK version) to be released on Oct. 8:

http://www.dddhouse.com/v3/product_d...roductID=13832

Fantastic! Thank you cardiac161! I'm at work right now, and got a Hockey Game after work, but I'll update the first post when I'm home.

[Exist2Inspire]

Updated the first post with the links to: Kiki's Delivery Service and Only Yesterday.

Added information regarding Porco Rosso

[Turtleheart]

^ Thank you for making that clearer anyway. Having realised today that I've barely a week left till ✝mas with nothing ordered, I'm afraid that chasing this up any further and drawing any movie scenes on Post-it notes will have to wait until that's over anyway.

So just for now, here's a Totoro in figgy pudding hat.

[disneywildcat]

I got the TW release of Spirited Away and I noticed it includes a virtual version of the dubbing script like the JP releases do. Has this feature been included in the HK releases (I would probably guess not). Just wondering (I can't read Japanese).

[Show spoiler]

Svenge, although I didn't pick up the TW release of The Wind Rises, it's likely that version carries the same English subs as the JP release. The English subtitles on Spirited Away's TW release credit Aura along with Jim Hubbert and Studio Ghibli for the English translation. I also wouldn't be surprised if it has the dubbing script found in the JP release.

[MSZ]

Hotaru No Haka(Hong Kong version) will be out in two weeks.

https://www.buyoyo.com/buyoyo/Produc...67041&prtype=0

[disneywildcat]

When Marnie Was There will be released in two days (May 27, 2015). Special features are storyboards and trailer.

MovieSuper Listing (IVL Official Store)