USA region Blu-Ray Akira -- PCEFX's impressions

PC Engine Fan X! · Post by **PC Engine Fan X!** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 6:46 pm

Bandai Visual recently released the long awaited USA region Blu-ray edition of Akira. It features 1080p in 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio with the following audio output formats:

1.) Japanese language: Dolby TrueHD - 5.1 channels, 192kHz at 24 bit encoding rate

2.) Japanese language: Dolby TrueHD - 5.1 channels

3.) Japanese language: Linear PCM - Dolby Surround format

4.) English language: Dolby TrueHD - 5.1 channels

Bonus items include a special 32-page booklet and a special Akira Blu-ray slipcase.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

FIL · Post by **FIL** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 6:58 pm

I take it they're not using the old Manga Entertainment subtitles?

t0yrobo · Post by **t0yrobo** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 7:15 pm

So how is it? I heard they put so much into the audio that there's barely any space left for extras

ZOM · Post by **ZOM** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 7:42 pm

Finally. I'm still unsure if I should wait till the EU version gets released or grab this one right away.

And yes, I suppose they retranslated it this time.(Hopefully)

EDIT: Shit! EU & US aren't in the same blu-ray region, or are they?

neorichieb1971 · Post by **neorichieb1971** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 7:56 pm

USA is A
Europe is B

Although, in 70% of cases blu rays are region free.

Find what you want here - http://bluray.liesinc.net/#bruk

Its quite self explanatory. Region A includes Japan/Hong Kong/USA/Canada.. Region B includes all of Europe and Australia. Region C is china, Russia.

Pink is region locked to that region, Green is region free (per title).

Although region free blu-rays will always play the main feature of the disc (this is because the disc is in HD), region A players (inc PS3) will not play PAL content on region B discs. Although some players like the LG will play PAL, but then you need to worry about your TV supporting it if your in an NTSC region.

Although all Warner and Paramount discs use NTSC extras irregardless of region, and are 99% region free as well. I will say its the lesser known movie that usually get region locked, this is because a European small distributor will pick up the rights for such movies. Akira might be one of them.

According to the above website Akira from the USA is region free. Akira in Europe has not been released so the status of region coding is unknown. If its a different distributor, it will be locked.

PC Engine Fan X! · Post by **PC Engine Fan X!** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 9:37 pm

FIL wrote:I take it they're not using the old Manga Entertainment subtitles?

It is different subtitles this time around that does get the point across more clearer than the old Manga Entertainment subtitled standby. ^_~

ZOM · Post by **ZOM** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 9:48 pm

@neorichieb1971
Wow, thanks for the info! Exactly what I was looking for.

PC Engine Fan X! · Post by **PC Engine Fan X!** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 9:53 pm

t0yrobo wrote:So how is it? I heard they put so much into the audio that there's barely any space left for extras

It's great, however to truly listen to the Japanese language: Dolby TrueHD - 5.1 channels, 192kHz at 24 bit encoding rate setup, you'd need one of the latest stereo recievers with support for Dolby TrueHD + a decent speaker setup to handle the higher frequencies...not a cheap setup to go with btw (but if you have such a setup, you're in for an audio treat). ^_~

Of course, there is the old standby of Dolby Digtal 5.1 audio support for the older stereo recievers using Toslink setup but the audio is only in Japanese and no English Dolby Digital 5.1 support whatsoever.

The upgrade to 1080 progressive scan output really does shine in the visual department. There are certain scenes that have so much eye candy, it is quite a major improvement compared to the standard DVD release from several years back.

The 32 page Akira booket is printed in entirely in English and has chock full of details info as to how the audio was remastered for this Blu-Ray release along with other cool Akira related info. ^_~

Also, for the first time, you can check out Otomo's Akira film storyboards in their entirety thanks to the massive storage space afforded of the Blu-Ray format. This was not possible in the earlier DVD releases of Akira. ^_~

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

PC Engine Fan X! · Post by **PC Engine Fan X!** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 5:39 pm

I like the inside joke of using the name "Sany" on the A/V devices shown in the Akira anime...it is a subtle play on the name of Sony btw. ^_~

Ever notice the two dogs that eat the canned dog food turn their noses away from it after taking a big bite of it on the multi-screen TV monitor setup?

This Blu-Ray edition of Akira was outsourced to several different companies with Sony handling the HD visuals -- they did an awesome job and it shows. If you do have an older 1080i LCD HDTV monitor, it still looks great. ^_~

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

GaijinPunch · Post by **GaijinPunch** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 10:57 pm

Ordered mine last week. Can't wait. Going to watch it at a friend's who has a much better television than I.

maxlords · Post by **maxlords** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 11:10 pm

Which English dub is it? The original 80s one or the horrible new one?

Skykid · Post by **Skykid** » Thu Mar 05, 2009 12:43 am

maxlords wrote:Which English dub is it? The original 80s one or the horrible new one?

Even though it's a little in-accurate, I pine for someone to bring back that original dub. I hate dubs, but it's one of the only one's I could tolerate because it was so damn cool. Cam Clarke for the win.

Akira is simply one of the best films ever - got to see it in the Prince Charles Cinema in London just after Christmas - was awesome.

I'll be looking into this Blu Ray edition, thanks for the info!

Post by **system11** » Thu Mar 05, 2009 2:13 am

maxlords wrote:Which English dub is it? The original 80s one or the horrible new one?

I don't know the difference as I only saw it once a long time ago, but the dub on the disc is definitely horrible. I switched it to Japanese/subs within 2 minutes.

I also got in the same delivery, Wings Of Honneamise. It's also region free, but you have to buy Blu-Ray + DVD, or HD-DVD + DVD. I'm not sure about the logic of forcing people to buy a DVD version, the package contains two full DVD cases.

Anyway - that one's an awesome transfer, and a great film. It's marketed under the name 'Royal Space Force', with Wings as a subtitle.

captpain · Post by **captpain** » Thu Mar 05, 2009 4:08 am

It seemed like they were always yelling in the new dub, and I hate that!

Ed Oscuro · Post by **Ed Oscuro** » Thu Mar 05, 2009 4:22 am

PC-E Fan, I'm disappointed! You said nothing about how it held up against the original LD release, or any (unknown to me) esoteric Video CD releases.

Funny, because I had to watch this just recently as a class requirement. Streamed at something like 320x240. Although I don't think I missed all that much; hell, even the onscreen text was visible. Subtitled from the original version too.

Anyway, I noticed the BluRay version was coming out. Maybe someday I'll have a BluRay player, who knows? Race to the finish line of fail: endless credit card nickel and dimings for the sake of entertainment, or hard copies off eBay (bonus option: torrent shit as before).

Random thought: I've yet to watch either, but I got ahold of Ghost in the Shell, the movie and then the "2.0" remake. Any thoughts on that? Again this is course-related for me. :S

Random thought #2: I want to get the OST just for Kaneda's Theme. I have listened to this at least three dozen times, and I'm not kidding. I think I'm about burned out on it by now, which is unfortunate, but it always happens to me when I find something I like listening to.

GaijinPunch · Post by **GaijinPunch** » Thu Mar 05, 2009 6:25 am

bloodflowers wrote: I don't know the difference as I only saw it once a long time ago, but the dub on the disc is definitely horrible.

I also got in the same delivery, Wings Of Honneamise.

Western releases? Need to get this one too. Also note that a lot of Japanese houses do the BD + DVD release. Apparently to justify the high cost, but seriously... why bother w/ justification? Japan has been overpricing anime for since the get go.

I want to get the OST just for Kaneda's Theme.

I actually went and saw them perform. It was more of a barn house show, as they let people come up and bang on their instruments. The soundtrack though, is bar none, the best that has come out of Japanese pop culture.

In fact, if it's somewhere

<AROUND HERE>
Number two (probably Ghost in the Shell PSX theme) would be

<DOWN HERE>
The other crap would be on page 50.

GaijinPunch · Post by **GaijinPunch** » Thu Mar 05, 2009 6:32 am

I hate dubs, but it's one of the only one's I could tolerate because it was so damn cool. Cam Clarke for the win.

Back in college, they played the subtitled version at The Dobie Theatre know for independant films. A friend of mine who was known for taking things a bit too far convinced me the only way to enjoy this movie (since I had seen it so many times before) was to eat not 1, but 3 hits of acid about an hour before it started.

Well, not being one to destroy the mood, I complied, and fried balls. Man, was that fucking crazy. The seats were really small, so my dipshit friend had his feet on the next seat the whole 124 minutes, w/ his knees somewhere near his chest. When the movie was over, we were still jacked (obviously) and went home. He had some episode b/c apparently sitting in that position for two hours he "racked the shit out of himself" and just couldn't quite "get comfortable". Considering his state of mind, he just couldn't let it go. I had to take him home.

</PCEFX MODE>

Skykid · Post by **Skykid** » Thu Mar 05, 2009 10:53 am

GaijinPunch wrote:
I hate dubs, but it's one of the only one's I could tolerate because it was so damn cool. Cam Clarke for the win.
Back in college, they played the subtitled version at The Dobie Theatre know for independant films. A friend of mine who was known for taking things a bit too far convinced me the only way to enjoy this movie (since I had seen it so many times before) was to eat not 1, but 3 hits of acid about an hour before it started.

Well, not being one to destroy the mood, I complied, and fried balls. Man, was that fucking crazy. The seats were really small, so my dipshit friend had his feet on the next seat the whole 124 minutes, w/ his knees somewhere near his chest. When the movie was over, we were still jacked (obviously) and went home. He had some episode b/c apparently sitting in that position for two hours he "racked the shit out of himself" and just couldn't quite "get comfortable". Considering his state of mind, he just couldn't let it go. I had to take him home.

</PCEFX MODE>

Ha ha! That's the funniest (and scariest) thing I've heard all week

GaijinPunch · Post by **GaijinPunch** » Thu Mar 05, 2009 3:16 pm

Yeah, being a dumbass as a youngster means you have good stories to tell. Too bad I can't tell any of them to my kid.

Ozymandiaz1260 · Post by **Ozymandiaz1260** » Thu Mar 05, 2009 5:33 pm

Akira with Lucy sounds absolutely horrifying

captpain · Post by **captpain** » Thu Mar 05, 2009 5:41 pm

Ozymandiaz1260 wrote:Akira with Lucy sounds absolutely horrifying

I was *extremely* high the second time I saw it and it blew my mind. I can't imagine what it'd be like on acid. The aversion to violence and unconventional interpretation of all the symbolism would probably be nuts.

PC Engine Fan X! · Post by **PC Engine Fan X!** » Thu Mar 05, 2009 6:02 pm

Ed Oscuro wrote:PC-E Fan, I'm disappointed! You said nothing about how it held up against the original LD release, or any (unknown to me) esoteric Video CD releases.

Funny, because I had to watch this just recently as a class requirement. Streamed at something like 320x240. Although I don't think I missed all that much; hell, even the onscreen text was visible. Subtitled from the original version too.

Anyway, I noticed the BluRay version was coming out. Maybe someday I'll have a BluRay player, who knows? Race to the finish line of fail: endless credit card nickel and dimings for the sake of entertainment, or hard copies off eBay (bonus option: torrent shit as before).

Random thought: I've yet to watch either, but I got ahold of Ghost in the Shell, the movie and then the "2.0" remake. Any thoughts on that? Again this is course-related for me. :S

Random thought #2: I want to get the OST just for Kaneda's Theme. I have listened to this at least three dozen times, and I'm not kidding. I think I'm about burned out on it by now, which is unfortunate, but it always happens to me when I find something I like listening to.

Hey Ed,

Sorry, I don't own either the LD or the esoteric Video CD versions of Akira...just the VHS version of Akira (with original Japanese language), the USA region Pioneer released 2-disc Special Edition and this USA region Akira on Blu-Ray. You might get lucky, Best Buy does carry the Akira OST soundtrack whenever it does get released either on DVD or Blu-Ray.

It's possible to buy a cheap-ass Blu-Ray player for about $200 or so. Sure, the PS3 console doubles as a Blu-ray player as well. Even the PS3 Bluetooth Blu-ray remote has built-in frame advance (in either forward or reverse) + slow-motion capabilities. Sony's latest 2nd generation Blu-Ray player, the Sony BDP-S550, doesn't even have the above listed features that the PS3 has but does have built-in 5.1 Dolby TrueHD and 5.1 DTS-HD format encoding processing (so it's possible to listen to either HD audio formats if you have an older 5.1 A/V reciever with Toslink setup and just use RCA analog cables going from the Blu-Ray player into the reciever which is a bonus -- so there's no need to upgrade your reciever to Dolby TrueHD or DTS-HD formats unless you want the latest HD audio specs right now). ^_~

Speaking of Ghost In the Shell anime, it is another hallmark anime that deserves the Blu-Ray treatment. It is a thought provoking film...I don't want to spoil it for you. Just watch them both and you'll see what a masterpiece it is (the first anime). ^_~

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

GaijinPunch · Post by **GaijinPunch** » Thu Mar 05, 2009 11:30 pm

captpain wrote:I can't imagine what it'd be like on acid.

Then multiply it by 3.

PC Engine Fan X! · Post by **PC Engine Fan X!** » Sat Mar 07, 2009 1:56 am

For Ed Oscuro,

Did you know that you can rip an Akira DVD and convert it so that you can rip it as a Video CD? It'll play just fine on a DC console with the appropiate Video CD dongle adapter with handy remote setup. ^_~

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

Ed Oscuro · Post by **Ed Oscuro** » Sat Mar 07, 2009 5:01 am

But how can I use my classic metal ASCII (which I don't have) rapid shot controller on...(fist mash on keyboard goes here)

Anybody else find it hilarious they used the old song (I have no idea what it's called) for Akira's credits on Famicom? Unfortunately, the best sound in the game. here for refreshers

Specineff · Post by **Specineff** » Sat Mar 07, 2009 6:27 am

PC Engine Fan X! wrote: Speaking of Ghost In the Shell anime, it is another hallmark anime that deserves the Blu-Ray treatment. It is a thought provoking film...I don't want to spoil it for you. Just watch them both and you'll see what a masterpiece it is (the first anime). ^_~

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

Are you talking about the POS that Oshii made? BAN, PLZ.

Ed Oscuro · Post by **Ed Oscuro** » Sat Mar 07, 2009 7:05 am

Yeah he is. I've only seen two scenes from it, one being the cool diving sequence. That was fun after a night of not enough sleep. Cool cinematography though.

Snipers over the exposition hall was lol though.

pcb_revival · Post by **pcb_revival** » Sat Mar 07, 2009 8:49 am

For those who would like a more visual impression of Akira.

Blu Ray vs DVD comparision.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1123629

Dial up users heads up.

JAPJAC · Post by **JAPJAC** » Sat Mar 07, 2009 9:20 am

Akira!

That brings back memories!

The original/pre-release title in the UK was Cyber Punks. I remember as I saw some early footage of it on BBC2 years before it came out.

I then went to see it on the South Bank, London, as a little lad after C&VG hyped it `that issue`. I wasn`t old enough to see Star Wars in the cinema first time round so seeing this at the cinema made up for it a little.

I had to order it on VHS from Island Video via mail order before the Manga label was even invented. Funnily enough it was my first and last anime feature film as everything else after looked like pooh compared to be fair.

Ed Oscuro · Post by **Ed Oscuro** » Sat Mar 07, 2009 9:22 am

Shiiit, somebody needs to introduce like 1/2 of that forum crew to the concept of tacos.

Looks like a decent upgrade, shame about the outlines but eh whatcha gonna do, it's always been like that