Defective or Disappointing UK Anime Discs

anime_andrew said:
Figure I shall beat people to the punch here and walk of shame it!

For the Perfect Blue BD everything is there, but frustratingly the Japanese audio options are mis-labeled. The 2.0 track is actually the 5.1 and the 5.1 is the 2.0.

If you have a Stereo sound system at home (like I do) it won't have an impact, but if you have a 5.1 system you'll want to note that! English dub remains at 5.1 only so no issues there.

Very sorry on this one and as we'll be re-printing very soon as it's basically almost out of stock already in an Amaray version.

It shouldn't take away from your enjoyment of the film but my face is pretty red out of embarrassment right now. It's due to our 5.1 system being broken and QC being done while I was away so it was tested on a 2.0 system out of our usual environment.

AP
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I noticed but as long as both tracks are on the disc it really doesn't matter.

Speaking of out of stock, does that mean I missed my chance on the BD/DVD combo?
 
NormanicGrav said:
anime_andrew said:
Figure I shall beat people to the punch here and walk of shame it!

For the Perfect Blue BD everything is there, but frustratingly the Japanese audio options are mis-labeled. The 2.0 track is actually the 5.1 and the 5.1 is the 2.0.

If you have a Stereo sound system at home (like I do) it won't have an impact, but if you have a 5.1 system you'll want to note that! English dub remains at 5.1 only so no issues there.

Very sorry on this one and as we'll be re-printing very soon as it's basically almost out of stock already in an Amaray version.

It shouldn't take away from your enjoyment of the film but my face is pretty red out of embarrassment right now. It's due to our 5.1 system being broken and QC being done while I was away so it was tested on a 2.0 system out of our usual environment.

AP
Click to expand...

I noticed but as long as both tracks are on the disc it really doesn't matter.

Speaking of out of stock, does that mean I missed my chance on the BD/DVD combo?
Click to expand...

Amazon should have a second delivery of a couple of hundred units left (not a lot on big picture but enough til after Christmas at least). If they stop taking orders or say it may take XX weeks then start checking with me again though!

Most small retailers got a good allocation initially too and after the collectors combo is done we'll do a standard BD Amaray too :). I've got costings in too so likely all future collectors versions will get a special serial number too actually to add even more interest (I like knowing which number of a run I get anyway...)

Best,

AP
 
anime_andrew said:
Figure I shall beat people to the punch here and walk of shame it!

For the Perfect Blue BD everything is there, but frustratingly the Japanese audio options are mis-labeled. The 2.0 track is actually the 5.1 and the 5.1 is the 2.0.

If you have a Stereo sound system at home (like I do) it won't have an impact, but if you have a 5.1 system you'll want to note that! English dub remains at 5.1 only so no issues there.

Very sorry on this one and as we'll be re-printing very soon as it's basically almost out of stock already in an Amaray version.

It shouldn't take away from your enjoyment of the film but my face is pretty red out of embarrassment right now. It's due to our 5.1 system being broken and QC being done while I was away so it was tested on a 2.0 system out of our usual environment.

AP
Click to expand...

The player should have an info screen option during playback just listing what audio and video is being output from the disc, so you shouldn't have to have the speakers plugged in to tell if it's 5.1 or not.

Of course it's not perfect, it all depends on what the disc flags its contents as (I have a Contact Blu-ray that lists its 5.1 music only track as 2.0 on the player, but it is actually 5.1 despite that), but it's handy for a quick check.
 
Just Passing Through said:
anime_andrew said:
Figure I shall beat people to the punch here and walk of shame it!

For the Perfect Blue BD everything is there, but frustratingly the Japanese audio options are mis-labeled. The 2.0 track is actually the 5.1 and the 5.1 is the 2.0.

If you have a Stereo sound system at home (like I do) it won't have an impact, but if you have a 5.1 system you'll want to note that! English dub remains at 5.1 only so no issues there.

Very sorry on this one and as we'll be re-printing very soon as it's basically almost out of stock already in an Amaray version.

It shouldn't take away from your enjoyment of the film but my face is pretty red out of embarrassment right now. It's due to our 5.1 system being broken and QC being done while I was away so it was tested on a 2.0 system out of our usual environment.

AP
Click to expand...

The player should have an info screen option during playback just listing what audio and video is being output from the disc, so you shouldn't have to have the speakers plugged in to tell if it's 5.1 or not.

Of course it's not perfect, it all depends on what the disc flags its contents as (I have a Contact Blu-ray that lists its 5.1 music only track as 2.0 on the player, but it is actually 5.1 despite that), but it's handy for a quick check.
Click to expand...

I'll add it to minions check lists for when I'm not around - good point!

AP
 
anime_andrew said:
Most small retailers got a good allocation initially too and after the collectors combo is done we'll do a standard BD Amaray too :). I've got costings in too so likely all future collectors versions will get a special serial number too actually to add even more interest (I like knowing which number of a run I get anyway...)

Best,

AP
Click to expand...

I am glad you said collecters combo will be gone soon, you just got another order :p

I was leaving for in 2 weeks to see if there were any major "mistakes" in discs but since that nice package will be gone and the 5.1 problem dont worry me, I just placed my order now. :)
 
@anime_andrew I preordered Perfect Blue on Anime-on-Line months ago using a £25 coupon... I'm assume I'll get my copy soon? Since you say it's selling out soon, that sort of worries me.
 
LtDiscotek said:
@anime_andrew I preordered Perfect Blue on Anime-on-Line months ago using a £25 coupon... I'm assume I'll get my copy soon? Since you say it's selling out soon, that sort of worries me.
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I'm 100% sure you will - we printed all remaining stock and it is arriving in warehouses this week so will go out to retailers still awaiting stock then. So don't worry there, if you placed it that long ago you will be covered :).

Also, Amazon also has a surplus of stock there (couple of hundred units at least) so if you are looking still they are a good bet.

Very best,

Andrew
 
anime_andrew said:
LtDiscotek said:
@anime_andrew I preordered Perfect Blue on Anime-on-Line months ago using a £25 coupon... I'm assume I'll get my copy soon? Since you say it's selling out soon, that sort of worries me.
Click to expand...

I'm 100% sure you will - we printed all remaining stock and it is arriving in warehouses this week so will go out to retailers still awaiting stock then. So don't worry there, if you placed it that long ago you will be covered :).

Also, Amazon also has a surplus of stock there (couple of hundred units at least) so if you are looking still they are a good bet.

Very best,

Andrew
Click to expand...

Got my copy now & have to say its a very smart package so thanks for that. :)
 
Found another old one...

Samurai Champloo Volume 6 from MVM

Episode 21, at 12:57, there is one word of missing dialogue from Fuu (the subtitle pops up as "Geez!" at that point). It's in the Japanese DTS 5.1 Surround track. The Japanese DD 2.0 Stereo track is fine, as is the English dub.

In case you're wondering, the Japanese surround on the Blu-ray release from Funimation is similarly afflicted.
 
Quick update on UK discs.

Perfect Blue
In addition to the audio mix-up, Perfect Blue's LPCM for the Japanese audio is in fact Dolby Digital 2.0. AL is also using the old Manga Entertainment subtitles which carry on some subtitle errors and such in certain scenes.

Sword Art Online: Part 1
Note: Everyone is aware these parts will be downgraded in contrast to the Aniplex of America release.

UK Anime Network had this to say:
This Blu-Ray release (and, we believe, its DVD counterpart) is missing a couple of things, however. Most notably, the disc is missing any form of chapter point markers on the disk - hit the button to skip forward on your remote when the opening credits of an episode begin for example, and you'll be punched through to the start of the next episode rather than the end of those credits as you'd expect. This is, quite frankly, a massive omission from any anime release - we're led to believe this issue will also be present on the remaining volumes of the series, which is beyond disappointing. This release is also largely free of extras - understandable given the price point compared to the feature-rich North American release, but it may leave you casting envious glances across the pond, if only until you take a look inside your wallet and feel a little better about the value proposition of this UK release. To be honest, we're tempted to lop a point off our review score for the chapter marker issue alone, but we'll leave it be and let you make your own minds up as to its importance on this occasion.

If your interest resides within Sword Art Online's English dub, then you'll be pleased to hear that it's a good one - its casting seems pretty much spot-on, and the English cast nail down their roles with aplomb to ensure that this dub treatment fits like a glove. This volume's subtitles are all present and correct alongside a strong Japanese language track too, with only one or two occasions where subtitle timing or placement could have been a little more forgiving for viewers who can't read on-screen text at break-neck speed.
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Other than these events, the recent releases seem fine.
 
NormanicGrav said:
Sword Art Online: Part 1
Note: Everyone is aware these parts will be downgraded in contrast to the Aniplex of America release.
UK Anime Network had this to say:
"UK Done got screwed" (Paraphrased)
.
Click to expand...

Well, thank goodness for Lovefilm and to hell with Aniplex.

Extras? Sure, whatever, that nonsense ends up on youtube in a matter of seconds, but if you're going to remove chapter skips then the hell am I paying £20 for when I can bugger off to CR and get the show for the price of a couple of beers?
 
NormanicGrav said:
Quick update on UK discs.

Perfect Blue
In addition to the audio mix-up, Perfect Blue's LPCM for the Japanese audio is in fact Dolby Digital 2.0. AL is also using the old Manga Entertainment subtitles which carry on some subtitle errors and such in certain scenes.

Sword Art Online: Part 1
Note: Everyone is aware these parts will be downgraded in contrast to the Aniplex of America release.

UK Anime Network had this to say:
This Blu-Ray release (and, we believe, its DVD counterpart) is missing a couple of things, however. Most notably, the disc is missing any form of chapter point markers on the disk - hit the button to skip forward on your remote when the opening credits of an episode begin for example, and you'll be punched through to the start of the next episode rather than the end of those credits as you'd expect. This is, quite frankly, a massive omission from any anime release - we're led to believe this issue will also be present on the remaining volumes of the series, which is beyond disappointing. This release is also largely free of extras - understandable given the price point compared to the feature-rich North American release, but it may leave you casting envious glances across the pond, if only until you take a look inside your wallet and feel a little better about the value proposition of this UK release. To be honest, we're tempted to lop a point off our review score for the chapter marker issue alone, but we'll leave it be and let you make your own minds up as to its importance on this occasion.

If your interest resides within Sword Art Online's English dub, then you'll be pleased to hear that it's a good one - its casting seems pretty much spot-on, and the English cast nail down their roles with aplomb to ensure that this dub treatment fits like a glove. This volume's subtitles are all present and correct alongside a strong Japanese language track too, with only one or two occasions where subtitle timing or placement could have been a little more forgiving for viewers who can't read on-screen text at break-neck speed.
Click to expand...
Other than these events, the recent releases seem fine.
Click to expand...

No chapter markers, I hate when you get discs without these not that it is something you get very often at all but it is incredibly annoying so thanks for the heads up on that.
 
I had a look at Sword Art Online Volume 1 last night, at least the first three episodes, and it looks as if Manga authored the Blu-rays themselves. It's got all the signs. Only the Manga logo at the head, no others, no chapter skips, and the same awkward subtitling where they can only show one subtitle caption at a time, so that you have to be quick on the pause button when there's on screen text and dialogue at the same time, as the subtitles flash by too fast.

It's odd that they've done this, as Madman are releasing Sword Art Online as Region B in Australia. Either Madman are using Manga's masters, unlikely as they have volumes 2 and 3 scheduled ahead of Manga's, or they're authoring their own (in which case I won't be surprised at an AU geolock). Might be worth seeing what extras AU has.
 
Just Passing Through said:
I had a look at Sword Art Online Volume 1 last night, at least the first three episodes, and it looks as if Manga authored the Blu-rays themselves. It's got all the signs. Only the Manga logo at the head, no others, no chapter skips, and the same awkward subtitling where they can only show one subtitle caption at a time, so that you have to be quick on the pause button when there's on screen text and dialogue at the same time, as the subtitles flash by too fast.

It's odd that they've done this, as Madman are releasing Sword Art Online as Region B in Australia. Either Madman are using Manga's masters, unlikely as they have volumes 2 and 3 scheduled ahead of Manga's, or they're authoring their own (in which case I won't be surprised at an AU geolock). Might be worth seeing what extras AU has.
Click to expand...

You have to consider that one reason they may have done it this way is simply so that they can get it out quicker.
Manga have said a few times that their releases usually come at least 3 months after the AU date, and obviously with a series like this they'd want to get it out as quickly as possible.

Question from me, what's the audio on the UK BD like?
Obviously the Video will be degraded compared to the US release, but Aniplex's English audio was DD 640kbps whilst the Japanese was LPCM. Aniplex said the reason for lossy eng audio was something to do with Bluray limitations, and going by Fate/Zero I'm guessing it has to do with the overall bitrate at one time or something, since the eng audio on that is only 192kbps whilst the video is pretty much always going at a 40-45mb/s bitrate. (either that or they're BS'ing) This wouldn't have been an issue for Manga, so I'm interested to hear whether they went with lossless audio for both tracks.
 
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