Japanese HD release

[Vir]

There is a DVD box (http://www.mediafactory.co.jp/anime/rahxephon/dvdbox.html) announced for release in Japan this spring. The movie will aparently be in HD-DVD. Not sure about the series.

ADV Films had announced a HD release for 2005 of RahXephon, Noir and FMP, but that just didn't happen. Anybody know why?

More importantly, will I get to watch this show in HD with Japanese surround *and* English subtitles? Perhaps I have to get the Japanese release and take the subtitles from my ADV standard-def DVDs?

Update:

Only the movie is in HD. The rest of the series is in standard definition. >_<

[Len]

No telling you twice. You're right. Region locks prevent it. I think the HD release for Noir and FMP was delayed because they were consentrating on releasing the Thin-Pak.. which they did. I don't think they will come with subs either, if released.

[Vir]

Well, yes, it wouldn't make much sense for Media Factory to release the DVDs in Japan with English subtitles. As for ADV releasing it with English audio only: I think ADV should know their audience well enough to know that if they release it in HD in English, we would appreciate a surround track in Japanese as well, even if a DVD would fit less episodes. And subtitles take up far less room than audio and video.

By the way, it seems this special edition box (Japanese) will include the OVA as well. I see the Playstation 2 game mentioned, but I don't konw enough Japanese to determine if the game comes in the box or if it's just mentioned since the OVA originally came with the special edition of the game.

[Jinto117]

Is this on Blu-Ray or HD-DVD?

[Len]

Well, yes, it wouldn't make much sense for Media Factory to release the DVDs in Japan with English subtitles. As for ADV releasing it with English audio only: I think ADV should know their audience well enough to know that if they release it in HD in English, we would appreciate a surround track in Japanese as well, even if a DVD would fit less episodes. And subtitles take up far less room than audio and video.

By the way, it seems this special edition box (Japanese) will include the OVA as well. I see the Playstation 2 game mentioned, but I don't konw enough Japanese to determine if the game comes in the box or if it's just mentioned since the OVA originally came with the special edition of the game.

Any pics of this?

[Vir]

Is this on Blu-Ray or HD-DVD?

Definitely HD-DVD. I've checked some Japanese web shops (which I will not mention here, we're not supposed to link to other stores, right) for confirmation, but the info is temporary.

Any pics of this?
The box art is not finalized yet, but here's a sample:
http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/5007/rahhdboxartprelimtx9.th.jpg (http://img411.imageshack.us/my.php?image=rahhdboxartprelimtx9.jpg)

[Jinto117]

Hope it doesn't cost TOO much!

[Vir]

RRP is 35000 Yen, before tax. That is about USD 296.

Of course, most stores sell at a prize below RRP.

Mind you, this is a "special edition", so I would guess that later HD editions would be cheaper.

Update: Oh, did I mention that only the movie is HD in this box, while the series is regular def? Sorry for getting hopes up too high, but at least the movie is something. Although it's far from my favourite version of the story....

[animēshon]

This makes me want to learn Japanese even more now.

Darn ADV, I'll have to settle for 'standard.' Psh... lol -_-;

There is a DVD box (http://www.mediafactory.co.jp/anime/rahxephon/dvdbox.html) announced for release in Japan this spring. The movie will aparently be in HD-DVD. Not sure about the series.

ADV Films had announced a HD release for 2005 of RahXephon, Noir and FMP, but that just didn't happen. Anybody know why?

More importantly, will I get to watch this show in HD with Japanese surround *and* English subtitles? Perhaps I have to get the Japanese release and take the subtitles from my ADV standard-def DVDs?

Update:

Only the movie is in HD. The rest of the series is in standard definition. >_<

Questions that remain a mystery to myself as well...

1) Will the OVA's be in HD (with optional English subs) ?

2) Will the original series be in HD, with optional English subtitles?

3) Will the movie be in HD, with optional English subtitles?

Vir was wondering about points 2 and 3, right? >_<

[Vir]

Well, those that read Japanese tell me that it's just the movie for now.

I'm not wondering about point 3 for this release of course, because the Japanese releases almost never have subs. I'm wondering about points 1 through 3 in the sense "Will it EVER happen", yes. ;)

[Levon]

As for ADV releasing it with English audio only: I think ADV should know their audience well enough to know that if they release it in HD in English, we would appreciate a surround track in Japanese as well, even if a DVD would fit less episodes. And subtitles take up far less room than audio and video.


What do you mean? ADV never releases English audio only anime(besides one show, but they re-released it later). Although they have released many Japanese audio(with Eng subs) only releases.

[Vir]

Updated box art gallery:

http://img86.imageshack.us/img86/2241/dvdboxvisualnewcjr5.jpghttp://img411.imageshack.us/img411/5007/rahhdboxartprelimtx9.th.jpg (http://img411.imageshack.us/my.php?image=rahhdboxartprelimtx9.jpg)
http://img122.imageshack.us/img122/7655/b000lp5gx001in01ss400sckv1.th.jpg (http://img122.imageshack.us/my.php?image=b000lp5gx001in01ss400sckv1. jpg)http://img122.imageshack.us/img122/7274/b000lp5gx001ss400sclzzznp8.th.jpg (http://img122.imageshack.us/my.php?image=b000lp5gx001ss400sclzzznp8. jpg)

[Bezerker]

wow, thats a beautiful box. But alas, probably not worth the few hundred it'll lost to import.

[Mordecai]

I agree with Bezerker.. that really is a beautiful box.

[Soluzar]

Japanese DVD releases don't have English subtitles, as a rule. Why would they? Nobody over there speaks it, and there is a big chunk o' change to be made out of selling the rights to make those subtitles (and the dubs) to overseas companies.

However... if you already have the standard definition English release of the series and movies, it should be possible to rip the video from the HD DVD, and then add the subtitle track from the English release to the movie. It won't be easy, and you might have to retime the subs, but you could then watch it on your PC.

[Vir]

Yeah, Soluzar, you're right about that. What I was worrying about was the prospect of a dub-only US release.

[Vir]

Release-bump:

http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/6577/bilde298ze9.th.jpg (http://img19.imageshack.us/my.php?image=bilde298ze9.jpg)

[Roland]

I DO actually want this in english...

[Tom Servo]

What I find meself asking is -

is it necessary to have anime in HD? I can see nature programs having intricate detail that would be lost with usual DVD tech. being great and more immersive - but there isn't that level of detail in anime, if anything it may expose flaws otherwise unseen. :|

[Vir]

but there isn't that level of detail in anime, if anything it may expose flaws otherwise unseen. :|

Depends on the source work. Huge difference between Azumanga Daioh and Makoto Shinkai's work for example.

But revealing flaws is a good point: I've seen some PAL episodes where just a few pixels of a drawing was missing at the bottom. It was a person walking by the camera, and when they moved the drawing up, the background was visible in the lower edge. Felt like watching a shadow theater all of a sudden. <_<

I do remember, also, that when watching Princess Mononoke for the first time, the cell characters felt almost too clean and high quality. Lighting effects work like the excellent job done by Iso on RahXephon improves this "too clean" feel and makes it look more real.