Robot Carnival [Blu-ray]

If you don't know what Robot Carnival is, you can get the gist from the product page and there are plenty of other reviews that will help explain that to you. I will only go as far as to say that this is not meant to tell a coherent or even particularly meaningful story, it's meant to show off animation techniques, some of which are quite experimental, and to evoke emotions. To that end it has always been intriguing and has resonated with me since I first saw it in the middle of the night 25+ years ago on the USA network alongside Vampire Hunter D. If you like japanese animation and want to see what it looks like when the narrative takes a backseat to the art form, then this might just be your jam.Over the years, Robot Carnival has been released in a variety of formats, with the Streamline Pictures Laserdisc sitting at the top of the pile as the definitive edition for decades. Just before I bought this collection (fall 2019) I was seriously mulling whether to spend a few more dollars to get the Laserdisc version instead because I thought that might be an experience more in keeping with 90's anime, back when the only way it made it across the ocean was if someone was passionate enough to take a huge risk on it. In the end I decided to go with this Blu-ray release because it would be easier to lend out - funnily enough most of my friends don't have Laserdisc players for some reason.Well, as it turns out I needn't have worried at all, as this Blu-ray release actually contains the Streamline Laserdisc version of the content - including the Streamline logos, streamline audio and everything, just in crystal clear lovingly transferred high-definition. Seriously, there's a menu option that lets you select between the original Japanese release and the "Streamline Laserdisc". Either version lets you select between the original Japanese audio and the Streamline Laserdisc English audio. The main differences between the versions are the intro and credits sequences and the order the segments are presented in.What was particularly awesome to me was the interviews and documentaries, learning the story of how Robot Carnival was conceived and why it was made took my love for this composition even further.If you're a fan of Robot Carnival already, you won't be disappointed by this treatment - it was done with loving care by people who are clearly passionate about it. The audio and video are clean and clear and gorgeous. This looks like a new hi-def transfer and not an upscale. There's a ton of detail here that was much harder to notice in the earlier standard-definition releases.If you haven't seen Robot Carnival before, this is the best way to see it.I wholeheartedly recommend this release.

Robot Carnivals Blu ray edition is a absolute home run of yet another stellar release from Discotek.While the UHD is available for those 4K fanatics, I will say I am perplexed by how stacked this release isThe entire film is presented in is original JP order, US theatrical order and its US lasersisc order.This release includes both the original Japanese Track and the Old Streamline DubThe visual work is nothing short of what discotek presents constantly with a new 2K scan being used to provide a clear and beautiful HD picture befitting of such high quality traditional animation.Bonuses include>reflection documentary on Robot Carnival, about its history, creation and distribution in the US>Multiple JP and US trailers>production materials including write ups, art galleries and bits of storyboards for every single short, including insight about it creation.This is a 10/10 release and I'm so greatful I could get it for cheap.If you are interested in this one I would 110% recommend it.And if you're on the fence it's on Youtube via RetroCrush so you can watch it to see if it's something you'd be interested in buying.Just note that the Blu Ray is gorgeous and preferable to the 4K because it has much more bonus material.

Wow. This is better than the official Bandai DVD release many years ago. Hard to believe, but true. And that version was color corrected, used all the original footage, and had options for both Japanese and English dialogue audio tracks. It also came along with a booklet by the various animators and directors who commented on their work.I first saw a home video VHS release about a year after the film had hit the theatres, and thought at that time that was the best anyone would get in home video short of going to the theatre, but this 2K bluray presentation is outstanding. It is in fact a reconstructed print complete with titles that were redone, and with English credits for us non-Japanese heathens.I saw this when I was in college, and I'm sorry it took so long to get a really excellent copy to the mass media home video market, because the film really is one of the great works of anime. As per the producer's comment in the documentary this is an anthology, and anthologies are hard for some people (probably most, I'm guessing) to take, but if you're wanting to experience Japanese animation (anime), then you could do worse than to rent or buy a copy of this very wonderful film.The image is super sharp, and I'm seeing details in this film I've never noticed before, and I've seen this film time and again since it was first released on home video way back in the 80s. Seeing this bluray is like seeing this film for the first time ever all over again. It's really that spectacular.Please do yourself a favor and give this film a look. You won't regret it.