Honneamise launch in the UK with Patlabor the Movie

Paul

Paul

Ghost of Animes
Administrator
Back during April we posted news concerning Bandai Visual's Honneamise label possibly launching in Europe. Seemingly confirming this, today Beez let us know that they will be releasing Honneamise's premium limited edition version of Patlabor The Movie in the UK (due around June, July), including "remastered visuals and improved 5.1 surround sound".

Click here to read the full press release from Beez, including images of the DVD release in question.
 
Im going to have to buy the series quickly then, I want to see them before I shell out on the limited edition movie.
 
Hmm... I'm not convinced. Many people will have this release on the now out of print Manga version that came with the Second film as well, and it doesn't strike me as the kind of film that I want to spend the hefty price tag they'll probably be asking for it.
 
If it's anything like the US Limited Edition I saw a while back then this is probably gonna be about £60. :X
 
If it isn't some mega-expensive release (I wouldn't pay more than £25 for any one film unless there was an OST included or similar) this will be a fine excuse to finally shell out on some Patlabor goodness.

Beez have (almost) always handled their releases well in the past so I have high hopes for the quality of this one too.
 
ConcreteBadger said:
If it isn't some mega-expensive release (I wouldn't pay more than £25 for any one film unless there was an OST included or similar) this will be a fine excuse to finally shell out on some Patlabor goodness.
Click to expand...

According to info on the animeondvd forums, the limited edition comes with a book and costs £60. There's a standard edition without the book which costs the standard £20 though.
 
ConcreteBadger said:
If it isn't some mega-expensive release (I wouldn't pay more than £25 for any one film unless there was an OST included or similar) this will be a fine excuse to finally shell out on some Patlabor goodness.
Click to expand...

The biggest thing going for the new release is the remastered video. The manga ent releases were old VHS masters with unspectacular encodes. THey are not bad or anything but the images lack crispness.

ConcreteBadger said:
Beez have (almost) always handled their releases well in the past so I have high hopes for the quality of this one too.
Click to expand...

This is the same Beez? Their schedule is all over the place generally and they have had serious problems with mastering quality in the past. While I have admired their attempts to do dual releases the simple fact is that it has failed more than it has succeeded. I am still sore over the whole escaflowne box sets.

Their UK Gundam strategy isn't the best either, with the exception of SEED, and I think that releasing the Gundam 0079 movies only was the right compromise. Last Blitz of Zeon is precisely the wrong part to release of Gundam 0083 though (Whats next, Millers Report? The 08th MS Team is possibly the most accessible, high quality part of the entire franchise, though already imported by everyone interested in it). A single volume release of Gundam 0080 could actually be quite prudent though.

I have hopes that they will iron out their problems (they have admitted that their plans have been a mess) because their portfolio is outstanding and they are willing to take risks on the market where it really counts, like Planetes (an astounding series), Crest of the Stars (ditto) and bring us some long overdue fan favourites like Cowboy Bebop, Wolfs Rain and Witch Hunter Robin.
 
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