Isao Takahata's latest masterpiece, The Tale of the Princess Kaguya, is now available on Blu-Ray and DVD. Features include English and Japanese soundtracks, an English closed-captioned "dub-title" track, and proper English and French subtitles (these are confirmed to be accurate subs). Audio tracks on the BD are lossless. A feature-length documentary on the making of the movie is also included.
Blu-Ray.com's review of the Kaguya Blu-Ray is online:
Video Quality (5/5): Pristine as it is proficient, Universal's 1080p/AVC-encoded video presentation of The Tale of the Princess Kaguya is, quite simply, gorgeous. Though the film's watercolor palette is subdued on the whole, dazzling splashes of color punctuate the proceedings, particularly once Kaguya leaves the soft greens and browns of the forest and travels to the city. Contrast and clarity are striking as well, even if Takahata's chosen aesthetic doesn't exactly lend itself to strong lines and revealing textures. Still, what the animators have created has been beautifully preserved, without anything that might raise red flags or be cause for concern. The image is incredibly clean, without a hint of grain to be found, yet none of it is due to noise reduction or any invasive technique. It's the animators' original art, without alteration or enhancement. The encode doesn't falter either. There isn't anything in the way of macroblocking, banding, noise, aliasing or ringing, and I didn't notice anything out of sorts. This is a flawless presentation whose only imperfections are those that trace back to the artist's pen and brush.
Audio Quality (4.5/5): Despite a misprint on the back cover, the Blu-ray release of The Tale of the Princess Kaguya does indeed feature two lossless options --- English and Japanese DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround -- as it should. Both mixes are terrific, with clean, clear dialogue, perfectly prioritized soundscapes, and full, immersive experiences. LFE output is strong and supportive. The rear speakers envelop the listener in the sounds of the forest, the capital city, the countryside, snowy fields, stormy villages, and heavenly clouds, while Joe Hisaishi's score engages and delights, enhancing but never overwhelming. Dynamics, directionality and cross-channel pans are exquisite as well, leaving next to nothing to criticize. Universal's AV presentation is magnificent.
A sampling of screenshots from the Princess Kaguya BD are available after the jump break:
(Photos: Blu-Ray.com)
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