The Studio Ghibli (JP) Discussion Thread

[jala12]

Awesome. Can't wait for more screens as well as comparison shots to soon follow.

[scamander]

Damn, I want these so badly but they're so expensive and I already have the 4 Ghibli movies released in Germany on BD. But Universum Anime announced, that they will not release the others for now because of bad sales.

Do you guys know if the Japanese digibooks are kind of limited? I only can afford one every 2 or 3 months. It fear some of them may be OOP before I could get my hands on them.

[MJW]

Originally Posted by scamander

Do you guys know if the Japanese digibooks are kind of limited? I only can afford one every 2 or 3 months. It fear some of them may be OOP before I could get my hands on them.

That's my same fear and I haven't even decided if I want to start importing yet.

Disney has only released Ponyo and Nausicaa in North America so far and I am getting tired of waiting for them to announce more titles. If I wasn't so frugal I would have already imported the other titles.

[DJ Hilalo]

Originally Posted by GC Riot

Judging from those shots, these releases aren't grey and brown, but rather seem to be silver and gold. These will look great!

Indeed they look lovely, can't wait for mine to arrive any day now, btw did that Howl's Moving Castle Film Cell come with the BD set? , reminds me of my Japanese DVD LE one that came with it.

[backslashio]

Originally Posted by jala12

Awesome. Can't wait for more screens as well as comparison shots to soon follow.

I might do some tonight, I've got the DVDs Howl's Moving Castle looks a LOT better

[jala12]

Awesome! I'll be eagerly awaiting them...

[backslashio]

Originally Posted by jala12

Awesome! I'll be eagerly awaiting them...

Here you go

[jala12]

Wow, the DVD looks so blurry and faded compared to its BD counterpart. I wonder if I should get it now or wait for the Disney release? The Japanese versions tend to have higher bitrates correct? At least, that's what I heard for Nausicaa.

[backslashio]

I prefer the UK releases, mainly because their slight correction of DNR + saturation (like in Nausicaa) makes them look better imo without sacrificing detail

And also the price difference/covers. I get a headache looking at those jap blurays

[DJ Hilalo]

Originally Posted by jala12

Wow, the DVD looks so blurry and faded compared to its BD counterpart.

Totally agree, the quality is by far better compared to the DVD, thanks a bunch for the comparison backslashio, but gotta say I prefer the Japanese releases both in their BD A/V quality & packaging

[jala12]

More DVD/BD comparisons here: http://www.mania.com/aodvb/showpost....7&postcount=21

I can't get over how astounding the BD looks!

[TwelveMind]

Is it cheaper to order from yesasia or amazon.jp? I ordered from the latter a couple of years back and I do seem to remember a hefty customs fee. I'm planning to have it shipped to Toronto, Canada, so I would really appreciate the latest word. Thanks.

amazon.jp = $1,700 + 300 yen per disc (I'm planning to order 5 titles)
so Howl's Moving Castle = $78.33 (shipping included, but customs fee?)

yesasia = $87.46 (shipping included and no customs fee)

Thanks in advance!

[Anamnesis]

My copies of Howl and Ponyo arrived today

Ponyo also comes with a sticker book

[Leshita]

Originally Posted by TwelveMind

Is it cheaper to order from yesasia or amazon.jp? I ordered from the latter a couple of years back and I do seem to remember a hefty customs fee. I'm planning to have it shipped to Toronto, Canada, so I would really appreciate the latest word. Thanks.

amazon.jp = $1,700 + 300 yen per disc (I'm planning to order 5 titles)
so Howl's Moving Castle = $78.33 (shipping included, but customs fee?)

yesasia = $87.46 (shipping included and no customs fee)

Thanks in advance!

If you are ordering a single Blu-ray then I think you should definitely go with Yesasia. As you said, the customs fee is killer for Amazon Japan. :/

[joelgutheil]

I for the life of me cannot find the new Ponyo English track that's meant to be on this new disc. In the special features, the English one is there, BUT, just like the old disc; has burnt in Japanese subtitles! Am I missing something? I thought the new disc had the English dub as an extra sound channel? Every other language seems to be supported without their native subtitles - can someone point me in the location of where this dub without subs is?

[GC Riot]

Originally Posted by joelgutheil

I for the life of me cannot find the new Ponyo English track that's meant to be on this new disc. In the special features, the English one is there, BUT, just like the old disc; has burnt in Japanese subtitles! Am I missing something? I thought the new disc had the English dub as an extra sound channel? Every other language seems to be supported without their native subtitles - can someone point me in the location of where this dub without subs is?

I'm guessing it's just like the old disc, and that this is the only way to watch the English dubbed version.

[filmmusic]

Hello.
I would like to ask what exactly are the differences between the Hong Kong version and Japan version for all the Ghibli films (the ones with the monochromatic package), because I was thinking of buying them, and the Japan Version is double (!!) the price of the Hong Kong one.
I'm ONLY interested in the Japan language + English subtitles which is in BOTH (meaning I don't care about the other languages and subtitles that are in the Japan version).

AUDIO COMPARISON: (according to blu-ray.com details) : all blurays have identical audio (except the Japan blurays which some add the 2.0 audio in those who have 5.1 or 6.1 but I really don't care for the stereo)

VIDEO COMPARISON: (according to blu-ray.com details): all blurays have identical video except Ponyo which is 1080i in Hong Kong version and 1080p in Japan version. (is there really a difference between these 2?)

REGION:
Japan version is Region free while Hong Kong is Region A (but I really don't care about that either)

So, are there any other differences at all? (maybe in the extras?)
and are these characteristics correct as I said above?

also 2 more questions:
-the menus are in japanese language? Is it easy to navigate?
- Do I pay much more for customs if I order from Yesasia.com?

[joelgutheil]

Originally Posted by GC Riot

I'm guessing it's just like the old disc, and that this is the only way to watch the English dubbed version.

But I thought the whole point of the re-release, aside from the packaging to follow suit with the rest of them; was that the English dubs would be added as an extra track WITHOUT subs - have I mis-read this or made this up?!

Can anyone summarise the differences on this disc from the old one released two years ago, or are there none at all?

[GC Riot]

Originally Posted by joelgutheil

But I thought the whole point of the re-release, aside from the packaging to follow suit with the rest of them; was that the English dubs would be added as an extra track WITHOUT subs - have I mis-read this or made this up?!

Can anyone summarise the differences on this disc from the old one released two years ago, or are there none at all?

I haven't recieved mine yet, but as far as I can tell, the only real change seems to be the packaging. I don't know if they've changed the menu to the silhouette theme that the other discs have, or if they've updated the preview section, but it wouldn't surprise me if the packaging really is the only change made. I sold off my old one so I can't do a direct comparison, but as far as I know, it was never stated that the English track would be anything else but an extra feature, just like the last disc. If people interpreted it any other way, then that's unfortunate.

[joelgutheil]

Originally Posted by GC Riot

I haven't recieved mine yet, but as far as I can tell, the only real change seems to be the packaging. I don't know if they've changed the menu to the silhouette theme that the other discs have, or if they've updated the preview section, but it wouldn't surprise me if the packaging really is the only change made. I sold off my old one so I can't do a direct comparison, but as far as I know, it was never stated that the English track would be anything else but an extra feature, just like the last disc. If people interpreted it any other way, then that's unfortunate.

That must be the case (that I misinterpreted it) - I can confirm the menu us the same and is not the silhouette as the others are. Same as you I sold off my other one too so can't do a direct comparison, BUT I don't remember the old disc having the English dub with the gay Jonas brothers at the end