Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		0.5
Overall		3.5

Dear Brother Blu-ray Movie Review

Dear Brother is a beloved anime melodrama. The series is considered a classic of the genre. Created by Riyoko Ikeda, Dear Brother features series animation by Tezuka Productions (Black Jack, Jungle Emperor Leo). The animation was produced by Kuniaki Nagayama. Produced by Hirotaka Matsumoto and Masakazu Shioura, Dear Brother was broadcast on NHK in Japan. The theme song lyrics are by Kei Ogura. The Dear Brother theme song is performed by Satomi Takada (OP) and Takako Noda (ED). The series will appeal to fans of classic melodramas.

Nanako Misonô (Hiroko Kasahara) has begun her school year as one of the students of the prestigious and beloved school Seiran Academy. The school is an all-girls school acclaimed for being one of the greatest all-girls schools and for having one of the best school sororities. The school sorority won’t accept more than 10 members for the entire school year. The desire from the girls to join the famed sorority is intense and the girls vying for entrance will stop at nothing to get a place at the table.

Even though she wasn’t sure what to expect and might seem like an unlikely candidate at first glance, Nanako finds herself unexpected selected as one of the select few members of the school sorority. The entrance into the sorority makes Nanako one of the most elite students of the school. The fellow girls in her school are jealous and are looking at her with envy.

The student jealousy even turns to bullying, causing problems for Nanako during her school year. Yet despite some setbacks as she joins the elite sorority, Nanako makes some new friends and even begins a journey – one of the heart. Nanako is falling in love.

The characters are a huge part of the story and why it resonates so well with audiences. The journey of the central protagonist, Nanako Misonô, is one that is compelling. The character designs produced by Akio Sugino (Aim for the Ace!, Cat's Eye) are impressive. The character design work by Sugino makes a strong impression. The results are outstanding.

The animation is one of the most essential elements of the series. Featuring art direction by Kazuo Okada (Black Jack: Child from the Sky, Armored Trooper Votoms: Big Battle) and Motoyuki Tanaka (Fist of the North Star, Ginga Nagareboshi Gin), Dear Brother is a visually stunning classic. The series features animation direction by Akio Sugino (Aim for the Ace! , Space Adventure Cobra) and art design by Kazuo Okada (Casshan, Miss Machiko). Dear Brother is a beautiful looking anime with traditional cell-based, hand-drawn animation. The efforts of all involved make the series a gorgeous classic with a filmic cinematic language.

The score composed by Kentarō Haneda (Space Adventure Cobra, The Super Dimension Century Orguss) is one of the best parts of the production. The music certainly adds something wonderful to the series. The score provides a nice dramatic backdrop to the events of the series. The composer understands exactly what to do with this story and how to handle the production.

The series features script contributions by several writers, including Chifude Asakura (Maple Town Stories, Lady Georgie), Hideo Takayashiki (Maison Ikkoku, Jarinko Chie), Katsuhiko Koide (Shaman King, Zoids), Masami Mori (Aim For The Best! Final Stage), and Tomoko Konparu (Cat's Eye, Maison Ikkoku). A robust and talented assembly of writers worked on the series. Dear Brother has a compelling storyline for the scriptwriters to explore and develop. The romantic elements play an especially big role in the series.

Directed by Osamu Dezaki (Aim for the Ace!, The Rose of Versailles), Dear Brother has a number of quality elements contributing to the series exceptional voice. The filmmaking is engaging and thoughtful. The directing is cinematic and ambitious. This is a visually stunning anime and the production is a testament to the strength of Dezaki as a director. Fans of classic anime will be thoroughly impressed.

Dear Brother Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on Blu-ray from Discotek Media, Dear Brother is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition in the television broadcast aspect ratio of 1.34:1 full frame. The presentation on the release appears naturally filmic and cinematic. The video quality is exceptionally high on the release. Colors appear beautifully reproduced. The aesthetic is outstanding. The encoding is top-notch and capably handles the animation. The visual wonderment of the production is well preserved for the release. An outstanding encode from Discotek Media. The print appears crisp and engaging (without serious print damage or wear).

Dear Brother Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release is presented in Japanese DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (with English subtitles). The lossless audio quality on the release is exceptional. Dialogue remains clear throughout the presentation. Outstanding clarity and detail. The soundstage and score sound phenomenal with lossless audio encoding. The subtitles are excellent and appreciable. A good effort from Discotek Media.

Dear Brother Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The release comes with a beautiful looking o-card slipcover. On disc supplements:

Disc 1:

Trailer (HD, 1:12)

Dear Brother Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Dear Brother is a compelling classic anime series. Fans of melodramas will appreciate the series and its storytelling approach. The animation is incredible and is clearly one of the best highlights of the series production.

The Blu-ray release from Discotek Media features a stunning video and audio presentation. The release is well worth owning for series fans. Recommended.