Anime Haul - Post New Pictures!

[Naiera]

I remembered now; it's episode 7, the fight with the sharp-toothed guy going on about NAKED Naked Apes, or whatever he called them.

We can do video stats if you pop your UK disc in MakeMKV and then I'll do the same with my Aniplex disc.

Thanks for your kind words about my setup

[Norbie]

Originally Posted by Naiera

I stopped around six episodes in because the audio issue was too much for me to accept. It is not present in the Aniplex release.

Selling the UK set paid for just one Aniplex volume

I was able to solve the audio issue problem by changing my amps settings. I normaly set my amp to automaticaly a decode format on the disc, but by manually selecting the decodect the issue went away. Why it worked I have no idea, and it's the only one of two sets that Ive had to do this to fix audio issues.

And with the video issue I have a question. Firstly, those that don't know what we are talking about regarding the video; the footage affected is in SD instead of HD.

Now, why couldn't they use footage taken from a HD source to fix the problem?

[Naiera]

I don't decode sound in my receiver.

[Norbie]

Originally Posted by NoSurprises

Must've messed up my settings when swapping the discs over or something then. I'd take Naiera's word for it though, as I've only watched the first 5 minutes of the first episode of the UK set.

Had the same issue with the UK set of GL as Naiera's.

[vincentric]

Originally Posted by Naiera

I remembered now; it's episode 7, the fight with the sharp-toothed guy going on about NAKED Naked Apes, or whatever he called them.

We can do video stats if you pop your UK disc in MakeMKV and then I'll do the same with my Aniplex disc.

Thanks for your kind words about my setup

Nice, I'll keep that scene in mind next time.

Here are file sizes from the standard GL UK release using MKV. Am sure it's public knowledge by now but just in case, for the record, the 27 eps in the UK set are on 4 discs in a 8-8-8-3 layout. With all of the extras located on disk 4. Each episode can be ripped individually, or all in one larger file. I was too lazy to crop the images, apologies for that.

Disk 1:

Disk 2:

[Show spoiler]

Disk 3:

[Show spoiler]

Disk 4:

[Show spoiler]

It's an interesting layout for sure with the last 3 episodes in disc 4 getting the most breathing room. I would have preferred a 7-7-7-6 layout with a fith disc reserved for extras but that probably would have increased the price of the set. Once I get my copy of the first volume of the Aniplex version delivered, I'll take some screen capture comparisons from the first five episodes.

Originally Posted by Norbie

And with the video issue I have a question. Firstly, those that don't know what we are talking about regarding the video; the footage affected is in SD instead of HD.

Now, why couldn't they use footage taken from a HD source to fix the problem?

The way I interpreted their (All the Anime) explanation was that the HD masters they received from Gainax was the source of the problem, they had no other license or access to an HD source which resulted in two choices - a frozen screen with audio, or splicing in SD footage, they went with the latter. Am no expert so my point of view on the matter can be way off.

[Naiera]

Damn, bro. Cut your image sizes

Anyway, the Aniplex file sizes are going to be bigger than that. I'm watching the Cavs so I'm not going to get anything done right now.

[vincentric]

Next time I won't be lazy and crop for sure, haha. And no worries, you don't even have to fire up mkv unless you want to, am sure the Aniplex discs have higher bitrates/file sizes. Enjoy the game, am watching it right now, as well.

[Naiera]

The first Aniplex disc is one long title of 35.2 gigs. Five eps gets you an average of seven gigs per ep.

[Vracer111]

Originally Posted by Scarface32

I imported frm Amazon Japan twice, and it worked fine both times. Maybe they just don't like PO Boxes

Were these newly released titles directly available from Amazon Japan or a rare/OOP release being sold by a third party on Amazon Japan. Rare/OOP releases from Third Party vendors on Amazon Japan is like a freakn' quest for the Holy Grail with any non-Japanese address... you click to purchase it and it says "Nope, your given address doesn't have the right to purchase this item". Use a Forwarding service address and its all "You're Japanese now, we give it to you!"... LOL

And then there's GWG... who gets emails with subject line: "For GWG only: Special OOP Anime Blu-Ray deals of the Week direct from Third Party vendors on Amazon Japan!"

[svenge]

It does suck that seemingly 99% of the time Amazon Japan's 3rd-party sellers aren't amenable to US buyers. There's always the ones who have Amazon do the fulfillment, but that's really a crap-shoot when it comes to the availability of any given title.

I did get really lucky once (albeit on a non-anime title), though. Some 3rd-party seller (w/ Amazon fulfilling) had a copy of the 1995 Collector's Set of the Star Wars Trilogy on Laserdisc for ￥1,390; not only was it allowed to be shipped overseas, but also I was only charged the basic ￥800/shipment + ￥300/item rate for EMS delivery that's usually assessed to much lighter media like CDs and DVDs. In all it only cost $21.99 total, which was 1/5th as much as it goes for on eBay.

If you ever have owned a Laserdisc player, you know how heavy a single disc is, let alone a 7-disc box set. I'd have to assume that someone misclassified the shipping rate as it would've been better to have it under the "other" rate of 800/shipment + 1000/kg. Either way, someone lost a fair amount of money on the transaction, and that's the kind of favorable mistake that could never happen with a deputy service.

Back on topic though: I just purchased the 2007 BD/DVD release of Ghost in the Shell (the one with the DVD-sized box) from an Amazon Japan 3rd-party seller for $35 shipped, pictures to come early next week!

[Girls With Guns]

Originally Posted by svenge

Back on topic though: I just purchased the 2007 BD/DVD release of Ghost in the Shell (the one with the DVD-sized box) from an Amazon Japan 3rd-party seller for $35 shipped, pictures to come early next week!

SO, with or without a forwarder?

I also got my copy of the GitS movie combo box from a 3rd party seller on Amazon JP, without a forwarder... That was another one that I bought as "Very Good" condition, but when it arrived, it was basically brand new - both G1 cases were still sealed in plastic inside the box, and the box was As New in a nice, heavy poly bag - so I don't think it was ever opened. The only wear was some very small scuffs on the outside of the poly bag itself.

Originally Posted by Vracer111

And then there's GWG... who gets emails with subject line: "For GWG only: Special OOP Anime Blu-Ray deals of the Week direct from Third Party vendors on Amazon Japan!"

I also remember getting emails with a subject line about selling off a copy of an OOP Ergo Proxy Blu-ray Box set from a third party "vendor" - I got lucky with that one, too...

[vincentric]

Wasn't planning this but it looks like my order from RightStuf (Gurren Lagann) and KimchiDVD (GitS SAC) are both out for delivery today.

GL is arriving a lot faster than I expected, I picked free economy shipping but the speed was more like 2 day priority.

[neoz]

Man I wish my stuff would ship fast. I never get stuff from RS quick. It usually takes 5 ot 6 days.

[Thomas Guycott]

I love living in the same state as RS: I can pick the cheapest shipping option and still get my orders in a couple of days.

[vincentric]

Originally Posted by neoz

Man I wish my stuff would ship fast. I never get stuff from RS quick. It usually takes 5 ot 6 days.

I think I may have gotten lucky (which is a rare occasion for me).

I made a separate order on the same day for the Fate/Stay collections (couldn't resist bargain bin price). I picked priority for this one and it is also out for delivery today.

Am thinking that they probably combined my GL order with Fate and called it a day.

[neoz]

Originally Posted by Thomas Guycott

I love living in the same state as RS: I can pick the cheapest shipping option and still get my orders in a couple of days.

You hush you. I have had my stuff upgrade before and it got here in 3 days but that is about the fastest I have seen it. I refuse to pay for shipping as I'm cheap haha. Need to extra savings to fuel this sickness. I blame you all for bringing me back into.

[vincentric]

A bit disappointed at the moment. USPS was not able to deliver my Kimchi GitS SAC BD, apparently I have to pick it up at the post office on Monday or Tuesday (I got one of those pink slips). If there was a bright side to it, my local post office is only around a five minute drive, it's really close to my home but still, am in disappointment city at the moment.

At least my stuff from RS showed up (in two separate packages, not combined into one like I assumed they would).

Fate/Stay collection 1&2:

Gurren vol.1:

Am looking to get started on those Aniplex vs UK GL screenshot comparisons shortly.

[Thomas Guycott]

I think I've lost some of my Gurren Lagann obi strips, but I'm kind of okay with that.

[vincentric]

Am the same way, also wouldn't be too bothered if I lost one.

Well, I have some screenshot comparisons for Gurren Lagann. I'll just post one quick comparison, I don't want to bog this thread down too much with off topic posts like this.

This was taken at around the two and a half minute mark of episode 1. The UK transfer has noticeable compression artifacts all around his face, sunglasses and uniform. While Aniplex is looking pretty flawless:

GL_UK_BD | GL_Aniplex_BD

Am a bit of a video snob though and I tend to notice little things like this which I can't stop seeing afterwards once I do though, in honesty, while in motion, the compression artifacts in the UK set are less noticeable. It's just slightly bothersome to me knowing that they are there in the first place.

Anyways, I can post more comparisons in a more appropriate thread if any of you are interested.

[Norbie]

Originally Posted by neoz

Man I wish my stuff would ship fast. I never get stuff from RS quick. It usually takes 5 ot 6 days.

RS is great when it comes to packaging your items safely but with shipping it's another story, well at least to me who's in Australia. It's a 2-4 week wait, and for their shipping costs (which are high compared to amazon) I expected faster times.