2.5 Dimensional Seduction: Complete Collection Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		0.5
Overall		3.0

2.5 Dimensional Seduction: Complete Collection Blu-ray Movie Review

2.5 Dimensional Seduction is a romantic comedy drama. Created by Yū Hashimoto, 2.5 Dimensional Seduction features animation production by J.C. Staff. The series features voice performances by a ensemble including Junya Enoki, Akari Kitō, Kaori Maeda, Sayumi Suzushiro, and Sayumi Watabe.

Executive produced by Tatsuro Hayashi (Sakamoto Days, Hatena Illusion), Teruaki Jitsumatsu (King of Prism: Shiny Seven Stars, Sgt. Frog), Yūichirō Takahata (Rinshi!! Ekoda-chan, Grendizer U), and Yūji Matsukura (Alice & Zoroku, Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma: The Fifth Plate). Produced by Akihiro Sotokawa (Classroom of the Elite II, The Dangers in My Heart), Atsushi Fujishiro (The Stories of Girls Who Couldn't Be Magicians, Date A Live III), Kuninori Yoshizaki (Cutie Honey Universe, The Duke of Death and His Maid), Masahiko Takeuchi (The Eminence in Shadow, Wind Breaker), Naoki Hara (Mewkledreamy, You and Idol Precure), and Yurie Uehara (Dr. Stone: New World, My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON). Animation production and series production are excellent across the board.

Masamune Okumura (Junya Enoki) isn’t your average otaku nerd. Not only is Masamune an otaku, Masamune is one of the biggest otaku of all – with an extreme obsession with a certain character beloved to many but by few with the same level of dedication as Masamune. As a result of his infatuation with Liliel, Masamune isn’t interested in real life girls. Or at least Masamune doesn’t believe he is interested in them. Then Ririsa decides she wants to join the school club and she also has a big love and appreciation for Liliel. Ririsa even wants to cosplay as Liliel and wants Masamune to help make the videos. Could it be love in 2.5 dimensions?

2.5 Dimensional Seduction has a fun cast of characters. The supporting cast includes Mikari Tachibana (Akari Kitō), Lilysa Amano (Kaori Maeda), Nonoa (Sayumi Suzushiro), and Aria Kisaki (Sayumi Watabe). The supporting characters add a lot to the production and help the anime be as much fun as can be.

The score composed by Hiroaki Tsutsumi (Dr. Stone, Jujutsu Kaisen) is well done and is a nice highlight of the anime. The music plays a compelling role in the production. The score works well for the comedic sensibilities of the anime as well as the romantic aspects. The music adds a lot to the series and is a testament to the composer and their capabilities.

The character designs by Tomoyuki Shitaya (Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma, Sagrada Reset) are excellent across the board. The designs add a lot to the series. The designs work well for the entire cast of characters – from the leading characters to the supporting ensemble. The results work well and are certainly compelling.

The animation is one of the forefront strengths of the production. The series features superb art direction by Kōichirō Bizen (Date A Live III, Food Wars! The Third Plate) and chief animation direction by Kazumi Ono (Food Wars! The Third Plate, One Punch Man) and Masakazu Yamazaki (Dagashi Kashi, Food Wars! The Third Plate). The team of animators did fantastic work with the series and helping to bring the production to life. The style of animation is sophisticated and sleek. The aesthetic works well given the subject and genre of the anime. The tone is well established by the animators and the jubilant and joyful style works well for the series.

The cinematography by Yūshi Sakamoto (Date A Live III, The Demon Girl Next Door) is well highlighted. The aesthetic of the visuals plays a compelling role in the production. The sleek aesthetic of the anime certainly is a big part of the cinematography.

Written by Takao Yoshioka (Ikki Tousen, Magical Girl Raising Project), 2.5 Dimensional Seduction is a cute and fun anime. The scripting is well done. The characters are given good moments to shine. An entertaining story and one that gives a lot of emphasis on comedy – the comedic sensibilities were perfected for the production. The series achieves a lot of laughs and gets things going quite well. Wonderful all around.

Directed by Hideki Okamoto (Gasaraki, Flame of Recca), 2.5 Dimensional Seduction is well directed and the filmmaking is a good piece of the puzzle. The director brings out the best in the story and with the character storytelling. Director Okamoto did a great job with the tone and genre sensibilities. The fun elements are all the more compelling as a result. The series achieves a jubilant and lighthearted tone which is needed all the more these days. It is a nice and serene type of anime production and one that should appeal to slice-of-life fans as well (even if that isn’t quite the genre sensibility on the whole, the series still has elements of that at play). 

2.5 Dimensional Seduction: Complete Collection Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Released on Blu-ray by Sentai Filmworks, 2.5 Dimensional Seduction is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high-definition in the original television broadcast aspect ratio of 1.78:1 widescreen. The release features crisp and colorful animation. The team of animators made a bright and vibrant production and it is one that is well reproduced with the release. The line artwork is excellent. Background animation and fine detail is well displayed with the production. The series cast of characters wonderfully animated and reproduced with the excellent encoding by Sentai Filmworks.

One of the great things about physical media is the high-definition encoding can and often is superior to streaming video services. The bit-rates are often higher and there is less compression. For home theater enthusiasts wanting the absolute best possible presentation quality achievable, there is plenty worth celebrating with the Blu-ray release. The encoding also doesn't suffer from too much compression – which can occasionally get in the way of things with streaming series – from buffering or video data being too compressed.

2.5 Dimensional Seduction: Complete Collection Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release includes a selection of lossless audio options: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 and Japanese DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (with English subtitles). The lossless audio quality on the presentation is excellent across the board. Either option provides a quality listening experience. Enthusiasts will appreciate the attention to detail. The English subtitles are well done and are free from egregious spelling or grammatical errors. The release preserves the sound direction by Jin Aketagawa (AMAIM Warrior at the Borderline, anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day). Dialogue is clear and easy to understand. The score is well reproduced on the release.

One of the coolest aspects of physical media collecting is the lossless audio on Blu-ray disc. Streaming video services only offer lossy (non-lossless) audio encoding. For home theater enthusiasts and audiophiles who want the best possible audio quality achievable, the physical media option provides a consistency and high quality that is sometimes lost with streaming services. The high quality is something that makes the package all the more desirable to collectors.

2.5 Dimensional Seduction: Complete Collection Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Clean Opening Animations (HD, 3:04)

Clean Closing Animations (HD, 7:40)

Unfortunately, the release includes a lackluster supplemental package. The release could have used some supplements. The set could have benefited from some audio commentaries, making-of video featurettes, cast/crew interviews, behind-the-scenes, production galleries, roundtable discussions, photo galleries, and more. Alas, the set is close to barebones in the supplemental arena. In an area of streaming services being readily available, sometimes a nice collectors edition or bonus features is what is needed to bring a series from being a one-time view on a streaming service to being a purchase on physical media.

2.5 Dimensional Seduction: Complete Collection Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

2.5 Dimensional Seduction is a cute and fun anime series. The series has a joyful and vibrant sense of style. The characters are fun and charming. The animation is beautiful and was well done by the creative team.

The Blu-ray release features an excellent high-definition presentation and lossless audio encoding. The release comes with both the original language audio and an English dubbed option. The only area the set is lacking is the supplements – the set is close to barebones and could have used some additional bonus features. Fans of the series may wish to consider a purchase. Recommended.