The Anime Blu-ray Video Quality Thread

[Gowho]

^Oh FFS.....

[SpaceDandy]

The encode seem fine on still scenes (going by your captures), but anything with motion looks like a blocky mess. Just look at the bottom right corner.

That's another Toei Video L in my book.

[NLScavenger]

Bubblegum Crisis - 2008 & 2022 JPN BDs, 2018 & 2025 USA BDs

BDInfo Disc 1 episodes 1-6 (custom playlist with credits M2TS files removed)

Disc Title:     Bubblegum Crisis: Perfect Collection - Disc 1
Disc Label:     BUBBLEGUM_CRISIS_PERFECT_D1
Disc Size:      47,433,931,460 bytes
Protection:     AACS
Playlist:       
Size:           46,880,028,672 bytes
Length:         3:53:08.974
Total Bitrate:  26.81 Mbps
Video:          MPEG-4 AVC Video / 21,994 kbps / 1080p / 23.976 fps / 16:9 / High Profile 4.1
Audio:          English / DTS-HD Master Audio / 2.0 / 48 kHz /   895 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz /   256 kbps / 16-bit)
Audio:          Japanese / DTS-HD Master Audio / 2.0 / 48 kHz /   904 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz /   256 kbps / 16-bit)
Audio:          Spanish / Dolby Digital Audio / 2.0 / 48 kHz /   256 kbps / DN -31dB
Audio:          French / Dolby Digital Audio / 2.0 / 48 kHz /   256 kbps / DN -31dB
Audio:          Italian / Dolby Digital Audio / 2.0 / 48 kHz /   256 kbps / DN -31dB
Audio:          Catalan / Dolby Digital Audio / 2.0 / 48 kHz /   256 kbps / DN -31dB
Audio:          Korean / Dolby Digital Audio / 2.0 / 48 kHz /   256 kbps / DN -31dB
Subtitle:       English / 35.24 kbps
Subtitle:       English / 41.03 kbps
Subtitle:       English / 34.05 kbps
Subtitle:       English / 33.94 kbps
Subtitle:       German / 34.16 kbps
Subtitle:       English / 34.64 kbps
Subtitle:       Korean / 19.74 kbps
Subtitle:       English / 0.05 kbps

Encoding settings episode 1 (probably same for all other episodes)

Writing library                          : x264 core 164 r3108 31e19f9
Encoding settings                        : cabac=1 / ref=4 / deblock=1:-1:-1 / analyse=0x3:0x133 / me=umh / subme=10 / psy=1 / psy_rd=1.00:0.15 / mixed_ref=1 / me_range=24 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=2 / 8x8dct=1 / cqm=0 / deadzone=21,11 / fast_pskip=1 / chroma_qp_offset=-3 / threads=30 / lookahead_threads=2 / sliced_threads=0 / slices=4 / nr=0 / decimate=1 / interlaced=0 / bluray_compat=1 / constrained_intra=0 / bframes=3 / b_pyramid=1 / b_adapt=2 / b_bias=0 / direct=3 / weightb=1 / open_gop=1 / weightp=1 / keyint=24 / keyint_min=1 / scenecut=40 / intra_refresh=0 / rc_lookahead=24 / rc=2pass / mbtree=1 / bitrate=22000 / ratetol=1.0 / qcomp=0.60 / qpmin=0 / qpmax=69 / qpstep=4 / cplxblur=20.0 / qblur=0.5 / vbv_maxrate=31000 / vbv_bufsize=30000 / nal_hrd=vbr / filler=0 / ip_ratio=1.40 / aq=1:1.00

[jd213]

Too bad the Japanese subtitles weren't carried over from the Kickstarter BDs, those are always nice to have for those who know some Japanese but aren't native speakers (or Japanese that are hard of hearing). I wonder if the removal was a licensor requirement.

[dubudavid]

The reason the Japanese subtitles were not included was because we realized they were full of mistakes and errors. We found out much too late in the process and, to be honest, had no time to have a native speaker go through everything again.
We had already known there were lots of issues with the other language subs ahead of time, and had time to get native translators to properly go through and fix those up for us, in addition to getting new translations for other stuff, but Japanese slipped us by because we wrongly assumed they were already good to go before the native speaker on our team let us know they were basically unusable.

[NLScavenger]

Crunchyroll is beginning to roll out encodes that are up to 55% smaller than they used to be

Crunchyroll is apparently experimenting with new encode settings that use less bandwidth. They appear to have replaced the Re:Zero S3 episodes with smaller versions. The new version of Re:Zero S03E01 (the 90-minute episode) is 2.3 GB, whereas the old version was 5.1 GB. This means that the old version was ~115% bigger.

The new encoding settings have a lower bitrate cap for high motion scenes (12000kbps vs. 8000kbps). This means that action scenes, grainy scenes, OPs, etc. were 50% bigger (and thus better quality) in the old encodes.

This is a bit disappointing. Crunchyroll's video was such good quality that it even beat Crunchyroll's own Blu-Rays a lot of the time (though this is due to their inept Blu-Ray division more than anything), but that's probably not true anymore.

To be fair, there are some benefits of the new encodes:

• More efficient use of bitrate (mostly in static scenes) due to longer GOP length
• Higher quality audio (192kbps AAC vs. the old 128kbps)

https://slow.pics/c/XsD751tY

[BigOnAnime]

Again?
https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/new...atalog/.113433

(Also yay, we'll see even more "It is worth remembering that streaming video services tend to provide lower vide bit-rates and more compression compared to physical media options. Physical media tends to provide the best video presentations possible and there will always be something to cherish about this knowledge. The presentation results will be satisfactory for fans." from Neil Lumbard.)

[NLScavenger]

https://x.com/ahmadaccino/status/1900688022141555097?

i did this change and im getting friggin FLAMED dawg

all i wanted to do was help

Something about the road to hell being paved with good intentions.

[NLScavenger]

https://x.com/ahmadaccino/status/1901027410696421544

fellow anime fans. i just did the change, i can't speak on the why

but, my own two cents as a dev from a technical perspective

- decreasing file size by 55% doesn't mean decreasing quality 55%
- we're testing things out, this isn't the final profile, im looking to do a lot more work on all this
- the constructive feedback is awesome, there's not many streaming services where the user gives this detailed feedback
- if yall experience any quality drop offs that you notice from watching the shows rather than freeze framing would love to hear it
- there should ideally be less buffering/download problems on those episodes
- the fact that the size decreased by 55% and people didn't notice until someone downloaded the video and compared frame by frame is a huge win, theres a middle ground to be found tho
- high motion animation sequences will be the most vulnerable to macro blocking, so if you freeze frame those it would look worse than if you played the video
- i would love to use newer codecs and let people choose their quality, i just need time, im a one man show rn, i can only do so much

[shushutto]

So I guess this means their Blu-rays are gonna be even worse.

[SpaceDandy]

Not really. Akin to Funimation, CR seggregates entirely streaming and authoring staff, while lots of competences overlap.

Anyhow, no one know if Funiroll still employs disc authorers at this point either. They may be subcontracting that work.

[BigOnAnime]

Yeah, they eliminated the end of disc credits screen sometime in 2023, so they stopped crediting much of their staff, so who knows who is doing things anymore. Their compression, editing, and authoring staff consisted of Duncan Yan, Trace Furniss, John Andreas (stopped being credited for a few years then popped back up out of nowhere), Christine Bertolino, and Jeremy Jiminez before they changed their credits for the worst (lots of missing and inaccurate info, and people have to rely on social media posts (which often disappear quickly) for accurate credits).

Staff that hasn't been credited in a long time consists of Matthew O'Hara and Jacob Martin.

[SpaceDandy]

Short notice FYI, Anime Limited/KSM Tekkonkinkreet BD (FRA/GBR/GER) has wrong colours and poor compression. The 2007 Sony BD is much better.

[HunterKIller]

Has anyone seen/compared the "Mobile Suit Gundam: Cucuruz Doan's Island" Blu-ray vs UHD release? I have the Japanese Blu-ray release and am considering buying the UHD edition.

[BoopityBoop]

Originally Posted by HunterKIller

Has anyone seen/compared the "Mobile Suit Gundam: Cucuruz Doan's Island" Blu-ray vs UHD release? I have the Japanese Blu-ray release and am considering buying the UHD edition.

The UHD isn't anything to write home about as far as upscales go, as it still shows obvious aliasing at times; but it makes good use of HDR during the mobile suit fights.

[SMD88]

Has anyone posted screenshots of the L-Gaim and Shurato BDs?

I was watching my L-Gaim DVDs late last year and kept thinking how strange it was that the BD was still not released. The DVDs are pretty awful as they were so early, I am dying to know what the BDs look like. The box is HORRIBLY expensive though, so wanted to see the quality (or LACK OF, knowing Bandai) before I purchase it.

Shurato is a much easier to swallow ¥30,000 but I would still like to know what I will be getting. More ugly, scrubbed nonsense? Or a decent picture? Again, the DVDs for Shurato are not great, but far better than the very early L-Gaim, a decent BD release should be a huge upgrade. I also want to know if the OVAs are scanned or SD. They used LD masters for the DVDs. I was surprised to see no L-Gaim here as it is a classic Tomino Sunrise show from the golden era.

[jd213]

I found some comparisons for L-Gaim on the cat site, these are from a remux and not a re-encode:
https://slow.pics/s/feHm4EG9?image-fit=contain

Certainly looks scrubbed to a point, the details on the mountains in the background look better on the DVD, but maybe that's more of a contrast/gamma issue.

Don't see a remux for Shurato, but the re-encode has some screenshots of the BD. Looks similarly "grain-managed" with some DNR but not overdone. Would prefer it with less DNR, but I personally would still buy it if I was a big fan of the show.

[Zhou]

Originally Posted by SMD88

Shurato is a much easier to swallow ¥30,000 but I would still like to know what I will be getting. More ugly, scrubbed nonsense? Or a decent picture? Again, the DVDs for Shurato are not great, but far better than the very early L-Gaim, a decent BD release should be a huge upgrade. I also want to know if the OVAs are scanned or SD. They used LD masters for the DVDs. I was surprised to see no L-Gaim here as it is a classic Tomino Sunrise show from the golden era.

These Shurato BD screencaps are from this Fandom Post thread:

TV series:

https://s2.loli.net/2025/03/07/8Ah3HqZek9mUISJ.png
https://s2.loli.net/2025/03/07/ZRKYkQE3JqaI2LO.png
https://s2.loli.net/2025/03/07/scTuLgXRUKmWvlz.png
https://s2.loli.net/2025/03/07/aieEPndwcq19G7X.png
https://s2.loli.net/2025/03/07/2u3weAndNZStskP.png
https://s2.loli.net/2025/03/07/BE6Wdof37lzDMuZ.png
https://s2.loli.net/2025/03/07/EQNeP7Aa5jMTq8v.png

OVA:
https://s2.loli.net/2025/03/07/QpVDOsPz1UWcKEB.png
https://s2.loli.net/2025/03/07/DvRlNWBUoOZepau.png
https://s2.loli.net/2025/03/07/BSGJF9t6WmINY4o.png
https://s2.loli.net/2025/03/07/Q6WxkbvnAsBZLM7.png
https://s2.loli.net/2025/03/07/anlSeJhDj83q1dm.png
https://s2.loli.net/2025/03/07/87d3ZhPjue4qyFp.png
https://s2.loli.net/2025/03/07/BIcPtlZAEzjHQre.png

I bought this BD-box and I absolutely recommend it, as its picture quality far exceeded my wary expectations. Such a shame that my PC's Blu-ray drive crapped out just as I received it.

[SMD88]

Shurato looks like a big upgrade from the DVDs. Too bad about the grain. Those bastards at BV will never learn, will they? But at least there is grain visible in some screenshots, unlike that L-GAIM shot.

Yeah, BD has less details than an ancient "made for LD master", great job!!! There is far less visible on those mountains, I don't think it is just the gamma difference, they look like the detail should still be visible. The L-Gaim DVDs are horribly dark and have terrible colour timing, I suppose that overly scrubbed garbage will be as good as it gets. Guess I will hope for a Discotek release. I guess paying $100 for a few overly stuffed and compressed discs will ease the disappointment somewhat.

I was very surprised to see a Sentai Panzer World Galient BD set on yahoo Japan just now, I had no idea they were releasing it. Love my DVD and LD box! Stupidly missed out on the Jp BD box because I was worried it would be DNR'd to hell and back. No way to tell with WB. It is horribly expensive now.

I suppose they could go for L-Gaim, too. At least their discs are not so stuffed.

[peppapigstan]

Originally Posted by jd213

I found some comparisons for L-Gaim on the cat site, these are from a remux and not a re-encode:
https://slow.pics/s/feHm4EG9?image-fit=contain

Certainly looks scrubbed to a point, the details on the mountains in the background look better on the DVD, but maybe that's more of a contrast/gamma issue.

Worth noting it's possible the old scan was sharpened + new BD color grading is more flat & based heavily on the cels so the mountain details might appear DNR'd when really it's just that the color grading is subdued

Shurrato arguably probably has more DNR since it's difficult to spot any remaining chroma grain unlike L-Gaim, but the 16mm filmstock is probably better than what they used for L-Gaim (or the camera was more in-focus)
I'd agree that L-Gaim would benefit from less DNR given how it probably naturally looks softer & that grain removal makes the image look less pleasant, but they're using the OCNs (finally) instead of making new prints so detail loss isn't as big