[JP] Bandai Visual (Japan) planning a "full lineup" of Gundam on Blu-ray in 2009 for the 30th anniversary

[Buster Darkwings]

http://www.bandaivisual.co.jp/pdf/2008/pr081014.pdf

No specific titles mentioned other than the new MS Igloo series, which I believe has already been announced. Perhaps some of the releases will be bilingual and/or released in the US, but no indication of such is in the PDF.

There will also be new "HD Color" versions of the Master Grade 2.0 Gundam Mk II in November, both in AEUG and Titans colors. The recolors will be based on the newly color-corrected masters (see the small comparison image in the PDF) used for the Z Gundam Blu-rays and will have the same markings as shown on the Blu-ray box images.

[Quarkboy]

http://www.bandaivisual.co.jp/pdf/2008/pr081014.pdf

No specific titles mentioned other than the new MS Igloo series, which I believe has already been announced. Perhaps some of the releases will be bilingual and/or released in the US, but no indication of such is in the PDF.

There will also be new "HD Color" versions of the Master Grade 2.0 Gundam Mk II in November, both in AEUG and Titans colors. The recolors will be based on the newly color-corrected masters (see the small comparison image in the PDF) used for the Z Gundam Blu-rays and will have the same markings as shown on the Blu-ray box images.

Wow, that's hilarious. They're having to rematch the color of the models to their new "corrected" blu-rays... Heh.

And reading the press release, I don't think they are trying to imply there would be any new releases coming exactly. I'd use the phrase "continues to be released"... I think you could say that bandai considers the Z box sets, igloo, and gundam 00 to be a "full lineup" of gundam blu-ray. No mention of anything new.

Don't get my hopes up like that :) The only new info in that press release was the deal with the plamos.

[cristian]

i think that too blu-ray is a wonderful format but.like this exempale gundam 00
is a great anime but the anime industrie is here in the u.s.a in a bad shape. and i think if bandai ent brings only gundam 00 out on dvd becuase more will wil buy it.blu-ray is a great format but it costs are too great and risks are too high.code gease is here only on dvd r1 and r2 .blu-ray has a long way too go here.bandai u.s.a advice form me keep easy with blu-ray and slow down because you have chosen a great strategy too keep yourself alive. and blu-ray it will come. but for now is dvd.

[Buster Darkwings]

Not that this thread is about US Blu-ray releases, but I think Bandai Ent can make their own decisions without your pessimistic advice. And yes, they do plan on selling Blu-rays going by convention reports.

[Njr Scrawl]

I hope First Gundam TV gets a Blu Ray release. Movies seem more likely though.

[Buster Darkwings]

And reading the press release, I don't think they are trying to imply there would be any new releases coming exactly. I'd use the phrase "continues to be released"... I think you could say that bandai considers the Z box sets, igloo, and gundam 00 to be a "full lineup" of gundam blu-ray. No mention of anything new.

I rather doubt they'd put out something like this if they weren't planning on releasing more than what they've already announced. This is the 30th anniversary after all, so they're going to have to outdo the 2007-2008 releases, which in addition to the few Blu-rays were quite plentiful on the DVD side (08th MS Team remaster/5.1 box, First Gundam movie HD remaster box, SD Gundam collection, Gundam W remaster, plus re-releases of Z, ZZ, and Turn-A). And since it looks like Bandai Visual is pretty much done releasing "HD Remaster" DVDs, there's nothing much they can really do for Gundam on DVD anymore, so that only leaves Blu-ray.

I'd expect at least one more TV series on Blu-ray later in 2009 (quite possibly the original series because of the anniversary), and probably an OVA series.

[cristian]

its not an order what i give them.it is only what i see that blu-ray first must establish to a more standard format.what i mean for series. for movies they do for now great.and what hapend now and in the futere for japan is absolute great for the format.

[Buster Darkwings]

AV Watch article with better comparisons between the old DVD and the new remastered footage (the jpgs are still at around DVD resolution, but they really show off the improved detail, especially in dark areas):

http://av.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/20081014/bandai.htm

[cristian]

its a great improvment.by the way i have pre-ordred both blu-ray boxes.and my question is.was z gundam box the usa version dvd the same quality as the japenes.because if i have it i can look the diference with the blu-ray and dvd version.thanks for the picks

[gundamseed]

its not an order what i give them.it is only what i see that blu-ray first must establish to a more standard format.what i mean for series. for movies they do for now great.and what hapend now and in the futere for japan is absolute great for the format.

well until usa companies start bring out blu ray, me and all my ps3 friends won't be buying any more anime . our money will going to live action movies.

[cristian]

i want also want too wait as blu-ray anime comes standard for anime but compenies hasetate"s a littelbit. but it wil com absolute wait wil be rewarded.:bigsmile:

[Mazinkaizer]

i want also want too wait as blu-ray anime comes standard for anime but compenies hasetate"s a littelbit. but it wil com absolute wait wil be rewarded.:bigsmile:

I believe that the main reason that most companies aren't doing BD releases is because of the Japanese parent company not allowing them to do so before the show is out in Japan first for quite some time. Of course, there are some exceptions such as: Funi's upcoming release of Samurai 7 but that's probably due to their very good business relation with Gonzo.

[Sean_Connolly]

Please Jebus let them release all Gundam shows on BR. =)

[Pyocola]

AV Watch article with better comparisons between the old DVD and the new remastered footage (the jpgs are still at around DVD resolution, but they really show off the improved detail, especially in dark areas):

http://av.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/20081014/bandai.htm
Wow, that looks really nice. Much better colours, contrast and clarity, and brings it in line with all the other recent Sunrise HD remasters. In comparison, the previous master really has that washed-out look typical of older composite masters, albeit without the rainbows and dot-crawl.

[cristian]

i defenetly i agree whit you mazinkaizer.and the samarai seven box is great news. o yeah we live in great times indeed.and about the 30th universary of gundam. i hope they bring also a great box of gundam seed and gundam seed destiny in japan.

[ObiKenobi]

AV Watch article with better comparisons between the old DVD and the new remastered footage (the jpgs are still at around DVD resolution, but they really show off the improved detail, especially in dark areas):

http://av.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/20081014/bandai.htm

Wow very impressive. The one thing that always bugged me about the old masters is that everything had a bit of blue tinting to it that it seems they have fixed. The reds never seemed quite red, more pushed towards a purplish or pinkish color, due to this and among other things Kamille's hair never matched the color you'd see in cels and shots you'd find in art books. Though obviously things like the vastly improved contrast and shadow details just top off the package.

[ObiKenobi]

i defenetly i agree whit you mazinkaizer.and the samarai seven box is great news. o yeah we live in great times indeed.and about the 30th universary of gundam. i hope they bring also a great box of gundam seed and gundam seed destiny in japan.

Hopefully we get to see more 80s mecha hit BD soon. A BD set of Votoms would be epicly awesome.

[Cyporiean 2.0]

Hopefully they will show some comparisons on the actual show soon, rather then the amazing animation of the opening..

[ObiKenobi]

I hope First Gundam TV gets a Blu Ray release. Movies seem more likely though.

Why wouldn't both get releases? I seriously doubt they went through that extensive 4k remastering process for the TV series to just let the masters sit and rot. I may not be a business executive but that seems like a completely dumb thing to go through if you weren't going to put it out in HD at some point, no?