AoD Advance Review: GitS - SAC Vol. #1

[Chris Beveridge]

Review (http://www.animeondvd.com/reviews2/disc_reviews/3091.php)

[Chacranajxy]

Damn, now that's an early review. Anyway, it's rare that something gets an A nowadays so it looks as though Gits SAC is definitely something worthwhile. This isn't helping me contain my anticipation for the DVD, though.

[Texhnolyze]

I still don't know if I should get the Standard or LE 3-disc version.

[millionsknives]

Awesome. Can't wait to read the review for the LE. July 27 can't come soon enough!

[TAS]

I watched the check disk for the DTS version (From the SE set) a while back and the review is just about spot on, the show realy IS that good.

I thought the CG in the opening was a bit off in a few spots but that would be my only nit pick.

The DTS sound is best use of 5.1 in a TV series I've seen, it realy kicks. I don't know if there is much difference between the DD and the DTS.

A big + from me!

[Iwakura]

Grrr! Now I'm even more hyped-up and anticipating getting my hands on the SE DVD. I can only imagine how the DTS and video look and sound.

Oh man, this is going to be a hard hard wait. Why oh why the early reviews!!??! /images/graemlins/cry00000.gif /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

Sounds like something right up my alley. After watching Ghost in the Shell II : Innocence, I've really been wanting to get my hands on this disc. This series or franchise really represents everything that I love about anime. Great review, I'll be back with my thoughts in a month. /images/graemlins/relief.gif /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

[demonanya]

[ QUOTE ]
Texhnolyze said:
I still don't know if I should get the Standard or LE 3-disc version.

[/ QUOTE ]

I suppose if you have a DTS audio system then get the LE, otherwise buy the standard version and get the OST seperately. The only reason I'm getting the LE versions is for the DTS audio, the OST is an added bonus /images/graemlins/happy.gif

[Texhnolyze]

[ QUOTE ]
Demonanya said:
[ QUOTE ]
Texhnolyze said:
I still don't know if I should get the Standard or LE 3-disc version.

[/ QUOTE ]

I suppose if you have a DTS audio system then get the LE, otherwise buy the standard version and get the OST seperately. The only reason I'm getting the LE versions is for the DTS audio, the OST is an added bonus /images/graemlins/happy.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

I guess I should stick to the standard version then. I don't have a DTS system. I would like that OST, though. I wonder if they ever plan to release a box for the series will it fit the LE discs with the slipcovers or the standarad discs?

[bakafoo]

STD. /images/graemlins/wink.gif

[Lando]

[ QUOTE ]
Texhnolyze said:
I still don't know if I should get the Standard or LE 3-disc version.

[/ QUOTE ]

Manga/Bandai haven't given us enough information about the LE, IMO. The two things I wanted to know were A) does the cd come in its own jewel case with a proper insert, and B) how much will LE volumes 2-7 cost? "Screw it," I said after pondering the matter for a while. I ordered the regular edition and the soundtrack cd, which was cheaper than getting the LE. Remember, the only "extras" you're getting on the LE dvd are a pair of half-bitrate DTS tracks.

[Rogueman_8]

[ QUOTE ]
Lando said:
[ QUOTE ]
Texhnolyze said:
I still don't know if I should get the Standard or LE 3-disc version.

[/ QUOTE ]

Manga/Bandai haven't given us enough information about the LE, IMO. The two things I wanted to know were A) does the cd come in its own jewel case with a proper insert, and B) how much will LE volumes 2-7 cost? "Screw it," I said after pondering the matter for a while. I ordered the regular edition and the soundtrack cd, which was cheaper than getting the LE. Remember, the only "extras" you're getting on the LE dvd are a pair of half-bitrate DTS tracks.

[/ QUOTE ]

well the other extra is a special edition booklet, though i don't know how thick it is. it doesn't matter to me as i have the offical log book (but that's in japanese) and i'm getting the le anyways. the cost of the volume 2 se is gonna be "GHOST IN THE SHELL TV VOL 2 STAND ALONE COMPLEX SP ED SRP: $49.98" (from the diamond updates). Anyways, i can't wait till i get my volume 1. it'll be nice revisit this awesome series again.

[Jigen_Daisuke]

Haven't seen this in a while. Looking forward to getting it.

[neaux]

one of the few new releases I'm picking up this summer.

cant wait for this.

[Chris Beveridge]

I meant to mention this on the main page but I posted it so late I forgot.

We'll be parallel reviewing this series after the first volume. It's sort of strange; essentially, I wanted to get in the review for the show early, but I'm not intending to watch the Dolby version after the first volume.

In the future, Luis Cruz will be reviewing the Dolby version. He'll be getting this volume and his review of it will be posted as an alternate angle and future volumes will be primary.

I'll be reviewing the DTS/LE versions all the way through as well. So we'll be providing two views on the show and covering both soundtracks, etc etc.

[Njr Scrawl]

Neutral. If not for DTS it would have been negative.

Guess I'm blasé, having seen so much & the original film so many times from first viewing GiTS movie. Also would have preferred Appleseed done this way.

3 episodes a disc - I'll wait for discounts too.

[Fencedude]

[ QUOTE ]
Njr Scrawl said:

3 episodes a disc - I'll wait for discounts too.

[/ QUOTE ]

Buh? its not 3 episodes per disc, is it?

[Rogueman_8]

[ QUOTE ]
Fencedude said:
[ QUOTE ]
Njr Scrawl said:

3 episodes a disc - I'll wait for discounts too.

[/ QUOTE ]

Buh? its not 3 episodes per disc, is it?

[/ QUOTE ]

it's a 7 disc release. i'm pretty sure this one is 4 eps.

[GyBaNO]

[ QUOTE ]
Fencedude said:
[ QUOTE ]
Njr Scrawl said:

3 episodes a disc - I'll wait for discounts too.

[/ QUOTE ]

Buh? its not 3 episodes per disc, is it?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah, its four! Also I'm sticking with the regular edition with this release for two reasons: 1. I'm a poor college boy who doesn't waste money when necessary(bwahahahahahaha, yeah sure). 2. I don't have a 5.1 Surround setup(Hmmmmmm, ponders one of those cheap-ass $50 ones from Wal-Mart).

[Shale]

It's a 7-disc season, so some of them will have three.

Of course, it's at a reduced price already.

[GyBaNO]

[ QUOTE ]
Shale said:
It's a 7-disc season, so some of them will have three.

Of course, it's at a reduced price already.

[/ QUOTE ]

So overall, this release will be about 14 discs total then, right? At $25 a volume, thats not too bad considering. I was already interested in this series regardless of how many volumes though, so it matters none to me in the end. /images/graemlins/wink.gif

[ QUOTE ]
Fencedude said:
[ QUOTE ]
Njr Scrawl said:

3 episodes a disc - I'll wait for discounts too.

[/ QUOTE ]

Buh? its not 3 episodes per disc, is it?

[/ QUOTE ]

From the review
[ QUOTE ]
Stand Alone Complex is quite simply with these opening four episodes a series that quenches a thirst I hadn't realized I had.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, later volumes will have 3 episodes. But each volume is 24.95, something no other company (that i can think of) has done for a 7 disc release. And for a show of this caliber, I think it's a steal.

[Chris Beveridge]

[ QUOTE ]
jarhead said:
[ QUOTE ]
Fencedude said:
[ QUOTE ]
Njr Scrawl said:

3 episodes a disc - I'll wait for discounts too.

[/ QUOTE ]

Buh? its not 3 episodes per disc, is it?

[/ QUOTE ]

From the review
[ QUOTE ]
Stand Alone Complex is quite simply with these opening four episodes a series that quenches a thirst I hadn't realized I had.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, later volumes will have 3 episodes. But each volume is 24.95, something no other company (that i can think of) has done for a 7 disc release. And for a show of this caliber, I think it's a steal.

[/ QUOTE ]

FUNimation does it with their 8 disc releases. /images/graemlins/happy.gif

[ QUOTE ]
Chris Beveridge said:
[ QUOTE ]
jarhead said:
[ QUOTE ]
Fencedude said:
[ QUOTE ]
Njr Scrawl said:

3 episodes a disc - I'll wait for discounts too.

[/ QUOTE ]

Buh? its not 3 episodes per disc, is it?

[/ QUOTE ]

From the review
[ QUOTE ]
Stand Alone Complex is quite simply with these opening four episodes a series that quenches a thirst I hadn't realized I had.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, later volumes will have 3 episodes. But each volume is 24.95, something no other company (that i can think of) has done for a 7 disc release. And for a show of this caliber, I think it's a steal.

[/ QUOTE ]

FUNimation does it with their 8 disc releases. /images/graemlins/happy.gif

[/ QUOTE ]
Yeah, but I was trying to think of a 7 disc release that was $25 a pop. I hope this is a start of a good trend and other companies will follow. It's probably helps that this is a joint license with Manga/Bandai, and more than likely it will sell well.

[Legion]

[ QUOTE ]
jarhead said:
Yeah, but I was trying to think of a 7 disc release that was $25 a pop.

[/ QUOTE ]

Final Fantasy: Unlimited.

[ QUOTE ]
Legion said:
[ QUOTE ]
jarhead said:
Yeah, but I was trying to think of a 7 disc release that was $25 a pop.

[/ QUOTE ]

Final Fantasy: Unlimited.

[/ QUOTE ]
We have a winner!

[Leak]

[ QUOTE ]
jarhead said:
Yes, later volumes will have 3 episodes. But each volume is 24.95, something no other company (that i can think of) has done for a 7 disc release. And for a show of this caliber, I think it's a steal.

[/ QUOTE ]

It'd be a steal for any show, just do the math:

7 x 24.95 = 174.65
6 x 29.95 = 179.70

Granted, the difference doesn't buy you another disc, but it sure is nice to have... /images/graemlins/happy.gif

And since DVD Pacific sells the regular edition for USD 15.15 and the LE for USD 30.04 I went for the LE, as regular + soundtrack + shipping to Europe will cost pretty much the same anyway, sans booklet and nifty packaging. /images/graemlins/happy.gif

np: Takeshi Muto - Cyme (Expect More From A Past Life)

[Leak]

[ QUOTE ]
jarhead said:
We have a winner!

[/ QUOTE ]

ITYM "A winner is you!"

*ducks*

np: Takeshi Muto - Cyme (Expect More From A Past Life)

[joelgundam01]

Hey Chris does the disc have a Dub? In the review all you have listed is the Japanese track as the only audio.

[Bonex]

[ QUOTE ]
Lando said:

Manga/Bandai haven't given us enough information about the LE, IMO. The two things I wanted to know were A) does the cd come in its own jewel case with a proper insert, and B) how much

[/ QUOTE ]

The same doubt I still have. I do prefer to have the soundtrack on a normal CD case, with its booklet, than on a DVD case. I can use an empty case and print a cover, but its not like the real thing.
Anyway, I think I'll go for the LE, for the booklet and the better packaging.

[ QUOTE ]
jarhead said:
Oh man, this is going to be a hard hard wait. Why oh why the early reviews!!??! /images/graemlins/cry00000.gif /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

Sounds like something right up my alley. After watching Ghost in the Shell II : Innocence, I've really been wanting to get my hands on this disc.

[/ QUOTE ]

Don't compare the series and Innocence too much. They are two different animals.

Atusko Tanaka only has about 30 lines in the movie and her character (if you can call it that /images/graemlins/wink.gif ) is only on screen for a very short time. She's the major (pun intended /images/graemlins/wink.gif ) character in the series. I also think the series has a better soundtrack than Innocence.

I love GitS:SAC. It's at the top of my recommendations list for this year. I just can't wait to get my R1 version, so I use it as a HT demo disc while shopping. /images/graemlins/happy.gif

[ QUOTE ]
Shale said:
It's a 7-disc season, so some of them will have three.

[/ QUOTE ]
We don't really know if it's 3 episodes per disc on later volumes or not. There are quite a few extra discs in the Japanese release. Unless they all become part of SE versions, they might end up on an extra disc release at the end.

[Jigen_Daisuke]

Voted positive.

[bakafoo]

Voted neutral. I'll be waiting for the later volumes, to see if those will change my stance. /images/graemlins/wink.gif

[Jigen_Daisuke]

To each their own. /images/graemlins/happy.gif

[BigFire]

[ QUOTE ]
Chris Beveridge said:
Review (http://www.animeondvd.com/reviews2/disc_reviews/3091.php)

[/ QUOTE ]

Just watched the show myself (store display copy), and I'll throw in a couple of more comments.

The R1 release is NOT using the broadcast version's simple character profile end credit sequence, but the R2 DVD end credit, which ends with a topless Kusanage with drawing her gun from the back holster. Those of you owning R2 DVD will know what I'm talking about.

One thing I noticed was slightly amissed in the Tachimas specials is how there are already slight vocal varation in these mini-episodes. The whole point of the Tachimas (both in the TV series and the specials) is that they don't have individuality, thus they should all sound EXACTLY alike. Just a minor nit.

Since I've seen the first episode already, I watch the first disk in English, and I'm not disappointed in its production. There really isn't anything objectionable in the first 4 episode that'll get too serverly cut in Cartoon Network broadcast (don't know when that's going to be), but some of the later episode will give censors a full work out.

[Rogueman_8]

[ QUOTE ]
Rod Su said:
One thing I noticed was slightly amissed in the Tachimas specials

[/ QUOTE ]

it's tachikomas /images/graemlins/wink.gif

[ObiKenobi]

[ QUOTE ]
Rogueman_8 said:
[ QUOTE ]
Rod Su said:
One thing I noticed was slightly amissed in the Tachimas specials

[/ QUOTE ]

it's tachikomas /images/graemlins/wink.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

not to be confused with fuchikomas /images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[Rogueman_8]

[ QUOTE ]
ObiKenobi said:
[ QUOTE ]
Rogueman_8 said:
[ QUOTE ]
Rod Su said:
One thing I noticed was slightly amissed in the Tachimas specials

[/ QUOTE ]

it's tachikomas /images/graemlins/wink.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

not to be confused with fuchikomas /images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

heh heh true true /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

[Njr Scrawl]

Both LE & SE have extras (advertised) of interviews with the director & Maj. Kusanagi's seiyuu.

The version I have seen has them interviewed, & the series composer, in a documentary type programme, following SA episodes #1 & #2. Also interviewed is a guy from Newtype (Japan) I think about the signifigance of particular characters (he also said that the introductory scene is deliberately reminiscent of the movie's first scene).

The programme also had an interview with the writers & shed light on how they chose to develop characters over the 2 series, and include a signifigant character from the 1st movie.

There was also an interview with Mamoru Oshii.

It would be interesting to know if Bandai have cut excerpts from that programme, included it wholesale, with subtitles, or have different interviews entirely.