The Studio Ghibli (JP) Discussion Thread

[hazelwu]

Finally found some packaging scans online. It looks like the special features discs in the box set are both just Japanese 2.0 audio with no subtitles.

[nusilver]

Originally Posted by yizhan123

I'm not sure if I'm the only one here with the box set though, but the 2 pictures of the boxset posted by the user 'bensunt' on page 118 of this thread are those of mine haha ~ And sorry that I couldn't answer your questions before because I have not viewed the other discs yet!

In my country, it's past sleeping time now ~ so if there's still nobody answering the questions when I wake up, I'll be sure to answer them!

Thanks

[*manics*]

Originally Posted by nusilver

Sorry, so you're the one here with the box set so far? Can you answer the question about subtitles on the bonus features discs? Specifically, are there English subtitles on Miya-san's retirement conference?

Hi there,
no Subtitles for the Pressconference and only in 1060i.
Later I´m watching the other Disc.

[*manics*]

Also for the other Extra Disc: no Subtitles but 1080p.
Really pity that On Your Mark is missing - would be great looking in HD.

[nusilver]

Originally Posted by joelgutheil

The problem with this twitter account is the person running it never responds to anything. I know some users operate that way and I appreciate that they can't respond to everyone; but he/she even teased about doing an AMA on reditt which never came about even though it was met with a positive reaction from its followers.

Yeah, I was one of the enthusiastic followers who asked them to please do the AMA (and answer the question about subs on Lupin.) What a jerk.

[nusilver]

Originally Posted by *manics*

Also for the other Extra Disc: no Subtitles but 1080p.
Really pity that On Your Mark is missing - would be great looking in HD.

Thanks! Very kind of you to check.

[Sinthetic]

Kaguya is out in France on BD on Oct 29th.

I'm hoping JP gets it Oct/Nov too.

[disneywildcat]

Originally Posted by Sinthetic

Kaguya is out in France on BD on Oct 29th.



I'm hoping JP gets it Oct/Nov too.

Interesting news, ironic it seems to be slated for release in France first (which is the one of the few countries where Disney still distributes Ghibli films, and I think they distribute the entire Ghibli owned catalog there).

Originally Posted by joelgutheil

The problem with this twitter account is the person running it never responds to anything. I know some users operate that way and I appreciate that they can't respond to everyone; but he/she even teased about doing an AMA on reditt which never came about even though it was met with a positive reaction from its followers.

Yeah, I would love to see more activity and interaction with the fans from the Ghibli Intl account. I think the account is operated by Ghibli International head Geoffrey Wexler (and possibly other staff members), as one past tweet was about a legal seminar. Googled a bit to find a bio, which does indicate that Studio Ghibli also plans to dub Marnie in English.

http://gmba.doshisha.ac.jp/studio-gh...a-students-425

Geoffrey Wexler leads the International Division at Studio Ghibli. With a B.A. from Stanford University in 1986 and a J.D. from Columbia Law School in 1993, his work includes negotiations for distribution of Studio Ghibli’s films, music and publications worldwide, production of English-language subtitled and dubbed versions of the Studio’s films, acquisition of story and music rights, and support of the Studio’s various international initiatives. Prior to joining Studio Ghibli, Jeff was the lead regional in-house counsel for The Walt Disney Company’s internet businesses, for Asia Pacific based in Tokyo and for EMEA based in London, after private practice experience in Tokyo and Silicon Valley.

Jeff was the producer of the English-language versions of “From Up on Poppy Hill” (2011) and the Academy Award-nominated “The Wind Rises” (2013) by director Hayao Miyazaki, and will produce the English-language versions of Studio Ghibli’s newest films, Isao Takahata’s “The Tale of The Princess Kaguya”, which opened in Japan in November 2013, and “When Marnie Was There” opening in Japan in summer 2014.

[*manics*]

Some further Pics (Inside Digipaks, Back etc.), Sorry for the Quality but I´m in a Rush to see the Discs .

[Bubblegum2032]

would some Cagliostro iq impressions be possible from anyone who has the set?

[EddieLarkin]

And confirmation that the colour on Nausicaa (and any others) is different.

[yizhan123]

Originally Posted by Bubblegum2032

would some Cagliostro iq impressions be possible from anyone who has the set?

I assume 'iq' means 'image quality'?

Sorry I can't do scans for you coz my computer doesn't have a bluray drive. I have seen the whole movie on the bluray and I'm telling you the transfer is top-notch. The picture is crisp and sharp, and the colour contrast is balanced. The picture restoration is like no other, really. If you have seen all the other classic Studio Ghibli movies on bluray, they all have a pretty similar restored look (compare Nausicaa and Castle In the Sky and then the slightly better restored Princess Mononoke). Cagliostro bests them all by a lot. It is a given fact that every bluray has compression artifacts, only question is how minimal. Cagliostro's compression artifacts are almost invisible, unless you really wanna be sharp eyed about it and lean forward to catch them.

However, considering that this movie was released in 1979, the picture quality may be a bit too good to be true. I wasn't expecting a picture so clean, particularly about the grains - The grains are there, but almost invisible if you choose to neglect it. One can argue that DNR is applied, but I didn't spot any symptoms of DNR. You can say that the picture looks as though it was painted and photographed yesterday on a not-so-clean film stock and then restored meticulously. If you have been watching Cagliostro on DVD, you will be blown away on the BD.

Talking about the audio choices (LPCM 2.0, DTS-HD Master 1.0 and Dolby Digital 5.1), I watched the whole movie with the LPCM audio. Like all classic theatrical mono mixes of that era, you can't expect much from the mix and the source itself. And it is because of that, I was beyond pleased with the LPCM audio. If you've seen Ghost In the Shell (1995) on bluray with its 2.0 LPCM audio, you should know what it can deliver. The voices are prioritized, and its sound effects are typically softer and non-bombastic. However, there are parts of the movie where either a song is playing or during certain score cues, the bass response is very strong, especially the scene where

[Show spoiler]Clarisse is about to be married and is escorted by Count Cagliostro

, the organ playing has a deep bass response so strong you won't believe it.

Cagliostro has only a mono mix. I have switched between the three audio tracks for certain scenes and came to this conclusion - The LPCM and DTS-HD audio sound virtually the same, but based on feel, the LPCM audio has more impact. This may defer for different ears. So there's no harm watching the movie with either audio tracks, and then the next viewing with the other. Now, about the Dolby Digital 5.1 mix - It is not a true 5.1 mix, but rather, a processed 5.1 from the original mono mix. It does has its pros and cons though. Pros - it's LFE channel does its job. Cons- it is not lossless, and the sound mix can sound very ugly for audiophiles. Whether to use this audio track or not, it is completely up to you, but I'd stick with the original mono mix.

We are seeing a U.S. BD release of Cagliostro soon, definitely with English subtitles. So if you can't afford to spend that much on a boxset where this movie doesn't have English subtitles, your only option now is to hope that the transfer used for the U.S. BD release is either the same as this, or even better (I highly doubt that's possible, because this is the best Cagliostro will ever look).

[Bubblegum2032]

Originally Posted by yizhan123

[Show spoiler]I assume 'iq' means 'image quality'?

Sorry I can't do scans for you coz my computer doesn't have a bluray drive. I have seen the whole movie on the bluray and I'm telling you the transfer is top-notch. The picture is crisp and sharp, and the colour contrast is balanced. The picture restoration is like no other, really. If you have seen all the other classic Studio Ghibli movies on bluray, they all have a pretty similar restored look (compare Nausicaa and Castle In the Sky and then the slightly better restored Princess Mononoke). Cagliostro bests them all by a lot. It is a given fact that every bluray has compression artifacts, only question is how minimal. Cagliostro's compression artifacts are almost invisible, unless you really wanna be sharp eyed about it and lean forward to catch them.

However, considering that this movie was released in 1979, the picture quality may be a bit too good to be true. I wasn't expecting a picture so clean, particularly about the grains - The grains are there, but almost invisible if you choose to neglect it. One can argue that DNR is applied, but I didn't spot any symptoms of DNR. You can say that the picture looks as though it was painted and photographed yesterday on a not-so-clean film stock and then restored meticulously. If you have been watching Cagliostro on DVD, you will be blown away on the BD.

Talking about the audio choices (LPCM 2.0, DTS-HD Master 1.0 and Dolby Digital 5.1), I watched the whole movie with the LPCM audio. Like all classic theatrical mono mixes of that era, you can't expect much from the mix and the source itself. And it is because of that, I was beyond pleased with the LPCM audio. If you've seen Ghost In the Shell (1995) on bluray with its 2.0 LPCM audio, you should know what it can deliver. The voices are prioritized, and its sound effects are typically softer and non-bombastic. However, there are parts of the movie where either a song is playing or during certain score cues, the bass response is very strong, especially the scene where

[Show spoiler]Clarisse is about to be married and is escorted by Count Cagliostro

, the organ playing has a deep bass response so strong you won't believe it.

Cagliostro has only a mono mix. I have switched between the three audio tracks for certain scenes and came to this conclusion - The LPCM and DTS-HD audio sound virtually the same, but based on feel, the LPCM audio has more impact. This may defer for different ears. So there's no harm watching the movie with either audio tracks, and then the next viewing with the other. Now, about the Dolby Digital 5.1 mix - It is not a true 5.1 mix, but rather, a processed 5.1 from the original mono mix. It does has its pros and cons though. Pros - it's LFE channel does its job. Cons- it is not lossless, and the sound mix can sound very ugly for audiophiles. Whether to use this audio track or not, it is completely up to you, but I'd stick with the original mono mix.

We are seeing a U.S. BD release of Cagliostro soon, definitely with English subtitles. So if you can't afford to spend that much on a boxset where this movie doesn't have English subtitles, your only option now is to hope that the transfer used for the U.S. BD release is either the same as this, or even better (I highly doubt that's possible, because this is the best Cagliostro will ever look).

thanks for the write up, I appreciate you taking the time to do so.

I need to ask, do lines hold up well?
the trailer whilst obviously compressed had some obliterated lines which did look to be the result of some heavy-handed use of DNR.

I'll direct you to my post earlier in this thread of my comparison between VAP's JPN Blu-ray and the digitally remastered trailer:

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...postcount=1959

Are these images indicative of how the new transfer looks? Is there less detail retention compared to VAP's release? I'd like to attribute the smudged line work in the new master to the low bit-rates of a youtube video, but seeing as you mention the lack of grain, I fear we could be getting less detail than the previous release.

[yizhan123]

Originally Posted by Bubblegum2032

thanks for the write up, I appreciate you taking the time to do so.

I need to ask, do lines hold up well?
the trailer whilst obviously compressed had some obliterated lines which did look to be the result of some heavy-handed use of DNR.

I'll direct you to my post earlier in this thread of my comparison between VAP's JPN Blu-ray and the digitally remastered trailer:

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...postcount=1959

Are these images indicative of how the new transfer looks? Is there less detail retention compared to VAP's release?

The Youtube's resolution is quite blur, doesn't reflect the actual product. The actual video is way sharper than that and more detailed. It is true that there is a new colour timing, but the Youtube video looks a bit desaturated. The actual video is an eye candy for colour, so these Youtube screen caps does not truly show how the new transfer looks, other than the confirmation of the new colour timing. Yeah, it's just like how I mentioned about the grains. Youtube's compression destroyed the grains in the video, but even when you look at the actual video, the grains are also not obvious. However, I really don't think that is the result of DNR because there are certain shots where the lines are very detailed and sharp even though the grains are not easy to see. There are definitely no edge enhancements applied.

Hmm I think maybe the reason why the grains are not obvious is because the grains are really very very small. If you look at Nausicaa or Castle In the Sky, you'd notice the grains immediately and the grains are bigger. In Princess Mononoke, there are also some scenes that are quite clean too, but the grains are still there albeit very small. I can't say if there any less retention in detail when compared to the VAP screenshots because I don't know if the VAP screenshots are compressed or not. If the screenshots are not compressed and do reflect the actual product, then I'd say the VAP version is not as sharp as the new transfer. The VAP version is similar to the new transfer in terms of grain visibility. From what I observed from the VAP screenshots, grains are also nowhere to be seen. But of course, grains are spotted easier when unpaused.

The Cagliostro DVD released by Manga Entertainment in 2000 also didn't have clearly visible grains too, and I don't think there is a transfer of Cagliostro out there for us to confirm if Cagliostro, by nature, is a very grainy film or not. So, if we establish that Cagliostro does indeed look like that by nature, then the new transfer is the winning one.

[Bubblegum2032]

Originally Posted by yizhan123

The Youtube's resolution is quite blur, doesn't reflect the actual product. The actual video is way sharper than that and more detailed. It is true that there is a new colour timing, but the Youtube video looks a bit desaturated. The actual video is an eye candy for colour, so these Youtube screen caps does not truly show how the new transfer looks, other than the confirmation of the new colour timing. Yeah, it's just like how I mentioned about the grains. Youtube's compression destroyed the grains in the video, but even when you look at the actual video, the grains are also not obvious. However, I really don't think that is the result of DNR because there are certain shots where the lines are very detailed and sharp even though the grains are not easy to see. There are definitely no edge enhancements applied.

Hmm I think maybe the reason why the grains are not obvious is because the grains are really very very small. If you look at Nausicaa or Castle In the Sky, you'd notice the grains immediately and the grains are bigger. In Princess Mononoke, there are also some scenes that are quite clean too, but the grains are still there albeit very small. I can't say if there any less retention in detail when compared to the VAP screenshots because I don't know if the VAP screenshots are compressed or not. If the screenshots are not compressed and do reflect the actual product, then I'd say the VAP version is not as sharp as the new transfer. The VAP version is similar to the new transfer in terms of grain visibility. From what I observed from the VAP screenshots, grains are also nowhere to be seen. But of course, grains are spotted easier when unpaused.

The Cagliostro DVD released by Manga Entertainment in 2000 also didn't have clearly visible grains too, and I don't think there is a transfer of Cagliostro out there for us to confirm if Cagliostro, by nature, is a very grainy film or not. So, if we establish that Cagliostro does indeed look like that by nature, then the new transfer is the winning one.

Those screenshots are compressed somewhat (1024x566 instead of 1920x1080), so the grain wasn’t captured very accurately, and like you said it’s harder to capture as opposed to full motion.
Owning VAP’s Blu-ray I can attest to it’s abundance of deep grain synonymous with 16mm film (as well as its copious amounts of noise, scratches and dust), so it almost seems certain noise reduction has been applied to this new master to a certain extent. Whether this was detrimental or not to pencil lines and brush strokes will have to wait for a full-on comparison of the new and older masters.
Your impressions do ease my mind on the transfers quality somewhat though.

[bensunt]

I received yesterday the boxset and couldn't help watching immediately Spirited Away

AMAZING is the only word coming to mind as soon as the movie starts. The celluloids come to life with gorgeous colors, the bluray is almost a whole new way to experience what is, for me, the very best movie of Hayao Miyazaki.

And I'm really really happy with the boxset, all the digipacks are very sturdy, shiny and very beautifully designed.

If the whole collection looks the same as Spirited Away, it's really like watching these masterpieces again for the first time

[joelgutheil]

Originally Posted by UseY0ur1llusi0n

Thank you SO much for your write up! It looks like our worst fears from that youtube trailer have disappeared and the new print they chose to restore truly was a gift from the heavens. I am so happy to hear Cagliostro hasn't looked better! This is exactly what I had been hoping and wishing for the longest time, and now it seems to have finally gotten the restoration it deserves! Cheers!

Sorry if I'm late to the party - does it have english subtitles though?

[yizhan123]

Originally Posted by EddieLarkin

And confirmation that the colour on Nausicaa (and any others) is different.

I have just watched Nausicaa on the Japanese BD from the boxset and yes, the red tint is there. I don't have the initial standalone Japanese BD release of the movie, so I can't tell you if they are the same or not. But I do, however, have the movie on the Disney BD release and apart from the colour scheme being different, there is also a difference in quality. The Japanese BD is sharper and more detailed than the Disney release, and has also more balance in colour. After watching it on the Japanese BD, I didn't believe what I was seeing because there were some scenes that were so sharp that I didn't recall them being so. So after the movie ended, I popped in the Disney BD and compared the scenes. Here's my conclusion - The Disney BD is brighter at some scenes, with certain scenes slightly too bright. I didn't notice it before, but now I certainly do.

Certain scenes from the Japanese BD are also more detailed than the Disney BD, as though it had been given a new 4K remaster or something. This fact alone is already a plus point of the boxset. About whether the red tint is its original colour scheme or not, I don't think anyone can really say. But here's how it looked to me - If you've seen Spirited Away on its U.S. DVD, you'll notice the red tint right away, and even till the end of the movie, the red tint will still seem obvious and weird. However, for this Nausicaa Japanese BD, the red tint will only be obvious in the beginning because you are probably used to the other releases where the video had a different colour scheme. Then after that, the red tint seemed to be natural already. It's like the colour just blends and takes form, unlike Spirited Away where no matter how you look at it, it still looks like a red filter being popped in front of the frame.

[yizhan123]

Originally Posted by joelgutheil

Sorry if I'm late to the party - does it have english subtitles though?

Nope! The lack of English subtitles for Cagliostro and the bonus features are the only downsides to the boxset, and also one of the main reasons of the worldwide debate haha

[joelgutheil]

Originally Posted by yizhan123

Nope! The lack of English subtitles for Cagliostro and the bonus features are the only downsides to the boxset, and also one of the main reasons of the worldwide debate haha

Such a shame. I hope that one or our friends here will soon be able to post screenshot comparisons of the pq for all of the box set titles when compared to the Japanese standalone releases.