[JP] Kiddy Grade on Bluray!!? [TV-ENG DUB/Movie-ENG SUB]

[Shiroi Hane]

TV series:
http://www.chara-ani.com/details.asp?prdid=B09900827
(Due out November 27th at￥37,800)

Movies:
http://www.chara-ani.com/details.asp?prdid=B09900828
(Due out Christmas Day at￥22,050)

This is going to have to be an upscale as it was animated in SD at 4:3.

I want.. but heck of a lot of cash on top of finding a new job and needing a new PS3 anyway.

[Fencedude]

Hoping to capitalize on Kiddy Girl-and, perhaps?

[Shiroi Hane]

They already re-released the DVDs as box sets ^^;

Both also include the English dub in 5.1 (Japanese still in LPCM stereo). No mention of subs that I can see.
Oh, the English track is apparently also LPCM so did they got the masters from FUNimation rather than just the dolby encode?

[The Great Bear]

The price is too steep, otherwise I would consider getting the series again on BD, even if it's an upscale. Does make me wonder what else might see a BD re-release.

[something]

This is certainly the kind of thing I can see Funi releasing on BD. More likely than Kanon anyway. But like you said, 4:3 SD... so I doubt I'd bother to upgrade.

[Shiroi Hane]

AMJ links:

Series (http://www.amazon.co.jp/exec/obidos/ASIN/B002OEM1T8) (5 discs)
Moves (http://www.amazon.co.jp/exec/obidos/ASIN/B002OEM1TI) (4 discs?!)

For the series it also indicates subtitles, but not what language. Since English subs exist for the series and not the movies I'm hoping this means it includes the FUNi subs as well as the dub.

Up on CD Japan and Neowing also so we now have the product codes:

Series:
http://www.neowing.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=KAXA-1400
http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=KAXA-1400
Blu-ray box set release from anime series "Kiddy Grade." Includes four DVDs, five bonus DVDs, original illustration box and short story (16-page). Bonus DVD features setting guide, illustration gallery, TV spots, creditless intro & outro, audio commentary and more.

Movies:
http://www.neowing.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=KAXA-1500
http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=KAXA-1500
Blu-ray box set release from theatrical feature of anime series "Kiddy Grade" including three DVDs, four bonus DVDs, original illustration box. Bonus DVDs feature illustration gallery, press conference footage, interview, trailer, TV spot, audio commentary and more.

Not tried to confirm the CDJ translations but the disc counts do not tally with AMJ.. 3 discs for the movies does make some sort of sense through.


If I'm interpreting it right CDJ made the same error twice; it is actually 4 discs for the series plus a fifth bonus disc and 3 discs for the movies plus a fourth disc for the extras.



It occurs to me that, if the movies also have an English audio track that someone must have sat down and re-edited it (I'm also trying and failing to remember if any of the new scenes had dialog). Did the Japanese do this themselves or did FUNi do it - in which case might there a US release of the movies be possible?

[Shiroi Hane]

Full specs listed on the official site:
http://www.kiddygrade.com/info/090912.html
http://www.kiddygrade.com/info/090912_tv.html
http://www.kiddygrade.com/info/090912_movie.html

The series is on 4 dual-layer discs, 6 episodes per disc, with the extras on a single-layer disc. They will be split into a one triple-disc and one double-disc case.
It is encoded in 1080i MPEG-4 AVC, except some of the extras which are 480i MPEG-2.
It does have subtitles, but unfortunately only Japanese.

The movie is on 3 dual-layer discs in a triple-disc case with the extras on a single-layer disc in a separate case. Encoded as per the series.

Now here is the good news - while it doesn't in fact include an English dub (since none exists), it will have English subtitles.

[something]

The series ... does have subtitles, but unfortunately only Japanese.
The movie ... doesn't in fact include an English dub (since none exists), it will have English subtitles.
So they put subs on the part that never had an English translation in the first place but not on the one that did? :sd: Well not that I could see myself paying import prices anyway.

[Hayate Kurogane]

The movie is on 3 dual-layer discs in a triple-disc case with the extras on a single-layer disc in a separate case. Encoded as per the series.

Now here is the good news - while it doesn't in fact include an English dub (since none exists), it will have English subtitles.

That's...interesting. I wonder where they're coming from?

Not that it makes any difference for me in terms of helping me decide whether to upgrade from the DVD release, though it does mean I could show them to more people.

[Shiroi Hane]

Subtitles don't seem to be a problem for Kadokawa since they've done them for the Haruhi streams and DVDs so they have either created their own or adapted FUNimation's to fit.

Adding an English option to the movies would imply to me that they want people overseas importing their stuff.

The series only retaining the dub also suggests that they only see the need to include one English option and that dubs trump subs in their eyes when both are available.

[something]

The series only retaining the dub also suggests that they only see the need to include one English option and that dubs trump subs in their eyes when both are available.
And this is why we can't trust them to know what people want. :sd:

[Draneor]

Adding an English option to the movies would imply to me that they want people overseas importing their stuff.

Japan may have a mostly homogeneous population, but there are linguistics minorities, many who may know at least some English, given it's status as a lingua franca. Not to mention that many Japanese students study it. Ah hell. Some otaku like to listen to anime dubbed in English for whatever reason too. I can think of many reasons they might include them and still not want people importing them. I think it's best to not assume they want us to import it until it's stated on record.

And this is why we can't trust them to know what people want. :sd:

I trust that they know what Japanese fans want*. But overseas ones?

*Ignoring E8.

[something]

I think it's best to not assume they want us to import it until it's stated on record.
I can't begin to imagine why they would not want more people buying their products. :sd:

I trust that they know what Japanese fans want*. But overseas ones?
Yes, I was referring to overseas fans of course.

[Draneor]

I can't begin to imagine why they would not want more people buying their products. :sd:

There are reasons from the industry side that they may prefer the markets be more segmented. Obviously, I don't personally give a damn and act in my own self interest. In any case, when they start marketing it to us, then I'll assume they want us to buy it.

[Quarkboy]

English dub inclusion is a good selling point to local otaku. Some of them enjoy the english dubbing, actually.

[something]

English dub inclusion is a good selling point to local otaku. Some of them enjoy the english dubbing, actually.
I don't care either way about the English dub, the stupid part is not including subtitles, since they already exist and take up negligible disc space.

[Quarkboy]

English dub inclusion is a good selling point to local otaku. Some of them enjoy the english dubbing, actually.
I don't care either way about the English dub, the stupid part is not including subtitles, since they already exist and take up negligible disc space.

I'm saying that they might be including the dub purely for domestic considerations. Thinking: "Well, we released cheapish DVD box sets recently so we need to add something extra to the BD to help sales... " "We could put the english dub with japanese subs on it..."

I.e. subtitles add nothing to the release in their mind, but adding the dub and japanese subs does add something. For the domestic sales potential only, of course, but that's probably all they are thinking of.

[Shiroi Hane]

So basically, It's like when they included the English subtitled Japanese dub of the pilot episode of Red Dwarf on one of the series DVDs in the UK.

[Shiroi Hane]

This was released on the 27th and, since my copy will take a while to arrive (I still haven't received the second new Negima OAD which shipped from Yes Asia 12 days ago) so I thought I would try to see if there are any Japanese blogs reviewing and/or comparing it with the DVDs or even just some packaging shots. First thing I discovered - this is already out of print (at Amazon and CDJapan at least). All I can say is, my copy had darned well better not get lost or damaged in the post.

[Shiroi Hane]

They already re-released the DVDs as box sets ^^;

Both also include the English dub in 5.1 (Japanese still in LPCM stereo). No mention of subs that I can see.
Oh, the English track is apparently also LPCM so did they got the masters from FUNimation rather than just the dolby encode?

Kadokawa has just published an apology/errata:
http://www.kiddygirl-and.com/info/090912_tv.html#owabi

The English audio is in fact stereo LPCM, not 5.1.
Which is a shame given that FUNi produced a 5.1 mix.

[Betenoire]

They already re-released the DVDs as box sets ^^;

Both also include the English dub in 5.1 (Japanese still in LPCM stereo). No mention of subs that I can see.
Oh, the English track is apparently also LPCM so did they got the masters from FUNimation rather than just the dolby encode?

Kadokawa has just published an apology/errata:
http://www.kiddygirl-and.com/info/090912_tv.html#owabi

The English audio is in fact stereo LPCM, not 5.1.
Which is a shame given that FUNi produced a 5.1 mix.

Seems kind of fitting given the trouble FUNi seems to be having getting the best Japanese audio for it's releases.

Sucks for those who were using that as a factor for their purchase however.

[Shiroi Hane]

Proper artwork for the Movie box:

http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=KAXA-1500

[Shiroi Hane]

I can confirm Japanese and English 2.0 audio and Japanese subtitles.


In addition, the image gallery on the special disc contains pretty much all the official artwork for the show (including Megami posters and the like) and all the sound layer audio dramas from the original CDs I never bothered tracking down, but not the newer ones from the DVD boxes.


Having trouble getting screencaps as my computer can do 1080P with DXVA but I suspect is having problems with the data rate (first episode is 6.9GB) but I've taken a few from the OP and, while I'm no expert and my equipment may not be helping, it doesn't seem perfect thus far.

One of the problem scenes (http://www.kiddygrade.info/stuff/spot/) I picked out on the original DVDs seems to have improved:
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/cHX7dLqeal4Ec9d9POw8_Q?feat=directlink
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/5hpIgBpzVbQ6m0E_w2QUdQ?feat=directlink

But it the field blending hasn't gone away completely:
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/0DUXc3kmo5GVwXKaI1Ez1g?feat=directlink

There's also a lot of jagginess and blurriness in this scene:
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/NGEPYOm5HZkJA13wvTvybw?feat=directlink
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/moCnnrW0bf9aDBA-ipkIlg?feat=directlink

And streaking in some black areas like here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/vZd96HXqm4zOF3pSqY4F_w?feat=directlink

I'm going to sit down and watch some of the actual content in PowerDVD, but I won't be able to take screencaps.

[Pyocola]

Since it's in 1080i, the blending and some other artifacts could be introduced by the graphics card during de-interlacing, so it's best to turn that off (set it to weave mode) when doing screencaps.

[Shiroi Hane]

I'd ripped the first ep and opened it in MPCHC and BSplayer in order to get screencaps but it was jerky in both and audioless in the latter. I've realised that if I open the ripped file in PowerDVD it will let me take screencaps (it won't when playing from the disc) although again, no sound.
This is from Power DVD with deinterlacing disabled:
http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/lh/photo/9rzAT7O_VIzs2zL5fhTVYQ?feat=directlink

I suppose I could try disabling hardware acceleration to see if that makes a difference, but it is unlikely this PC could cope.
--edit--
Unwatchable, but screencappable:
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/c1j43z-0sWKdngAL3FgOvA?feat=directlink
--edit--
Hardware acceleration back on and explicitly set to weave:
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ZNFcDJjX5zpmBe_LXxTIGg?feat=directlink

[Skywise]

The screencapture function was disabled in PowerDVD for BDs after one of the very first ways to rip discs simply used a script that took a screencap of every frame and then advanced to the next one. You would of course get some rather large files if you did that, but I guess they figured the real pirates wouldn't care.

[kakugo]

Gravion has some similar blended scenes unrelated to general interlacing.

By the by, the 'problem scene' BD images appear to be busted.

[Shiroi Hane]

Oops, I discovered some duplicates and deleted one set, which must have been the ones I linked to - fixed.

[Shiroi Hane]

PS: the English dub track does not included the dubbed OP and ED themes; they are in Japanese on both audio tracks.

[Shiroi Hane]

Finally got my copy of the movies. They are using FUNimation's subtitles, at least as far as I have checked this far (which is only a few minutes in, granted)

I've made dvd caps in bsplayer but had to use my camera for the blu-ray caps (I got AnyDVD for the purpose of taking BD screencaps and playing discs from other regions, but if I open the .m2ts directly in PowerDVD I get no audio or subtitles, and if I open it in MPCHC I get no subtitles and my computer freaks out)

http://picasaweb.google.com/shirobane/KiddyGradeMovieSubtitles

Éclair has lost her accent however (Lumière never had one in the FUNi subs to begin with). I don't think any of the new scenes had dialogue, but I've only watched the first disc so far.

It isn't just verbatim however, a few changes I've noticed thus far

Minor change to this line:
"Ecla... (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/oWV6CIPLP-8ygQcykj4XvQ?feat=directlink)"
"Éclair... (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/PdHdI4ZFcgYJWs5nIW2Pig?feat=directlink)"

Some dialogue was cut when the movies were compiled and the subtitles have been correctly edited to suit:
"Stop teasing me! (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/N7vyklBLc4zgBGyl91qbzA?feat=directlink)"
"Stop teasing me! So then, what's with this power!? (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/zjDcvfU1JV-cUePtg6ojiA?feat=directlink)"
"I know you better than anyone else. (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/JlhINT8ZNvRRP8xTQsEVzg?feat=directlink)"
"I know you better than anyone else. The strong, quick, and gentle you... (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/oZqwCCeJZwZo1aBoJEYHPg?feat=directlink)"

In the former case the line was actually moved, so they weren't just matching the timing or the pictures; whoever edited the subtitles was familiar with English even if they weren't actually re-translating it.

Donnerschlag is now acknowledged as female, but has her name spelt incorrectly:
"Her name is Donnersclag (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/i90912H5c3yrkD2TzCknTQ?feat=directlink)"
"His name is Donnerschlag (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/df7A-oJULYw0Q-70zxkX9Q?feat=directlink)"

..unless I spot something major I'll just add more to the gallery.

General stuff: Whenever someone is communicating remotely, their text is now in italics. Where FUNimation used italics for occasional honorifics, this is now in regular. Some places were FUNimation broke lines with commas now use ellipses. Some lines just broken in different places. Where there are two lines at once they are left-aligned on the BD whereas FUNi had them centred.

The streakiness I noted in my earlier post on the series discs was also there in the lobby scene after the lights go out (as well as the OP as indicated by the screenshot) and is also present in that section of the Ignition movie - but while checking the DVDs for the subtitles I realise that it was there on the DVDs also, so must also be on the original masters and they couldn't or just didn't correct it when they were upscaling.

It has also occured to me to wonder what the "Chironian tea" line is all about. According to the script for the first episode the word is ケイローン, and this is the title of the JA Wikipedia article for Chiron, but I rather suspect they were shooting for something sensible like, say, Ceylon, and got the pronunciation wrong.

Oh, here's something - Armbrust's title has been changed from "Auditor" to "Inspector".

One line that was clearly translated incorrectly has been corrected (haven't got screenshot up for that one yet) and they have definitely decided to use "Donnersclag" (which is admittedly the spelling used in Conclusion and the Continuity Files) despite all evidence to the contrary (i.e. any German dictionary and basic pronunciation)