7.7 | / 10 |
Users | 4.6 | |
Reviewer | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
On November 22, 2010 ten missiles strike Japan. This terrorist act does not result in any casualties, however. Three months later, Saki Morimi is in the United States of America on her graduation trip. But just when she stands in front of the White House, she finds herself in trouble, and only the unexpected intervention of one of her fellow countrymen saves her. But this man is a complete mystery - not only is he an amnesiac, but he is stark naked save for the gun in one hand and the mobile phone, charged with billions of yen in digital cash in the other.
Starring: Saori Hayami, Ryohei Kimura, Motoyuki Kawahara, Shinji Ogawa (I), Nobuyuki HiyamaForeign | 100% |
Anime | 99% |
Action | 18% |
Romance | 13% |
Mystery | 1% |
Thriller | Insignificant |
Drama | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Japanese: Dolby TrueHD 5.1
English: Dolby TrueHD 5.1 (48kHz, 16-bit)
Both are 16-Bit
English
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A, B (locked)
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
Over the years, anime branched out into a number of new genres that often don’t fit within the normal categories established and standardized by the western studio system. Some might say this has more to do with the inherent creativity of the individuals who dream up such productions, but I’d attribute it to two key elements that set anime apart from the risk-weary Hollywood system. First, anime exists entirely within the realm of artistry, thanks in no small part to the reliance on animation. Once you break down the boundaries that exist in the live-action world, it opens the door to creating something entirely foreign and allowing one’s imagination to run wild. The second element at work in most anime is the lack of reliance on a defined genre or category for most productions, effectively opening the door for a wider target audience. By tossing elements of romance or comedy into a science fiction extravaganza, we end up with something worthwhile across the board, allowing each member of the audience a different impression on why the story worked. Surely there are some occasions when this melding of genres dilutes the production as a whole (occasionally destroying the pacing of a series), but at the end of the day, that variety is one of the key factors that makes anime so unique and appealing. For those of you wondering why this little analysis was necessary as a lead in to my review of Eden of the East, I’ll simply mention that this is one of the better examples I can point to when discussing productions that meld several genres in an effective manner, since it created an end product capable of leaving a lasting impression on a diverse audience.
Unfortunately, single frame screenshots don't fully convey the beauty of the animation.
Presented in 1080p utilizing the AVC codec (at an average bitrate of 28Mbps), Eden of the East looks absolutely spectacular on Blu-ray. After weathering the onslaught of upscaled anime productions over the course of the past two year, it's a real treat to witness such an artistic work from Production I.G. in native high-definition. Beyond the fluid nature of the animation itself, the series incorporates a number of creative design elements that ramp up the scope of most scenes, surpassing the typical quality of a budget-conscious television production. As a result, the visuals often rival the standards set by a typical theatrical anime release, imparting greater depth and texturing during the action-oriented moments of the show. Given the precision and beauty of the animation, there's increased pressure on FUNimation to deliver a home run transfer that remains entirely faithful to such impressive source material. Even the slightest flaw would emerge as unacceptable to the well trained eye, and spark a wave of discontent among the growing hordes of anime enthusiasts. With great pleasure, I'm here to confirm we can put those fears aside, and revel in the flawless nature of the visual spectacle. From the consistency of the line art to the stability of the computer generated effects, every element works in unison to create a series of environments and atmosphere that captivate the eyes. A portion of the visual strength should be attributed to the profound use of color and lighting effects that populate the series. One moment you'll be mystified by the neon glow of a nighttime cityscape, while the next scene reveals the lush greens of a grassy field or the vivid blues of the daytime sky. In a way, it's that sense of variety that makes Eden of the East such a pleasure to watch, and dramatically increases the replay value of the production.
Sporting a choice of lossless surround options in native Japanese or dubbed English, Eden of the East delivers an audio experience that nearly rivals the proficiency of the visual presentation. This should come as no surprise given the level of effort Production I.G. put into the every aspect of show, right down to the hiring of renowned composer Kenji Kawai, whose collaborations with Mamoru Oshii (Ghost in the Shell, The Sky Crawlers) earned him recognition as a premiere musical talent in the anime world. Listening to the whimsical soundtrack throughout each episode it's clear Kawai was going for contrasting elements to accompany the dire circumstances presented in the plot, effectively adding new layers to an already complex series. Beyond the beauty of the musical aspects of the production, the robust sound effects incorporated into the more aggressive sequences are among the best I've heard on the Blu-ray format, taking full advantage of spatial separation across the sound field, and creatively using subtleties to increase the immersive nature of the experience. Volume levels are well-balanced throughout, clarity is superb, and I could hardly differentiate between the proficiency of the English or Japanese selection. Bottom line, this is a dream come true for anime audiophiles.
Director Kamiyama & Original Character Designer Umino Interview (1080i, TrueHD 2.0, 21:49 min): The two primary creative minds behind the series sit down for a discussion of what attracted them to working with one another, the unique elements in Umino's art, and how the Eden of the East project came about. I'm not sure why, but the camera-shy Umino is never shown despite her equal billing and involvement in the interview (there's a stuffed animal blocking our view of her).
Kimura (Takizawa) & Hayami (Saki) Interview (1080i, TrueHD 2.0, 18:32 min): The Japanese voice actors who portray the two main protagonists in the series sit down together and banter about their involvement in the series, discussing particulars of the production and breaking down the roles they play.
Directors Kamiyama & Oshii Interview (1080i, TrueHD 2.0, 27:15 min): This is the real gem in the batch of interviews, since it involves a dynamic analysis of various elements in the series from the perspective of the master (Oshii) evaluating his pupil's (Kamiyama) work. During the discussion, Kamiyama touches on some of the deeper aspects of the storyline or animation, which are then broken down further by Oshii (who acts as a critical viewer searching for more than just superficial meaning).
Art Director Takeda Interview (1080i, TrueHD 2.0, 15:36 min): If you're looking for a technical analysis of the fantastic animation and artwork, set aside 15 minutes to soak up this supplement.
Composer Kawai Interview (1080i, TrueHD 2.0, 10:47 min): As a longtime composer for director Oshii, Kawai worked on a number of well regarding theatrical and television productions. Here, he provides background on the elements he picked for the Eden of the East musical selections, and his focus on making the series sound cheerful.
Rounding out the extras, we're given TV spots, a promotional video, the textless closing song, and a series of trailers for other FUNimation releases.
Eden of the East is a groundbreaking series from Production I.G. that demonstrates just how far anime has come in its quest for relevance. Mixing action, suspense, mystery, comedy, romance, and the supernatural, there's something worthwhile for every member of the audience (provided said audience is mature enough to comprehend the cerebral plot and weather implied sexual violence). From a technical standpoint, this stands as one of the best anime products currently on the Blu-ray market, combining audio and video proficiency that sets a new benchmark for televised anime to follow. If you couldn't tell by now, consider Eden of the East highly recommended.
Higashi no Eden
2009
東のエデン / Anime Classics
2009
Essentials / Higashi no Eden
2009
2009
2009
Combo Pack
2010
Anime Classics / フルメタル·パニック!
2002
2010
S.A.V.E.
2006
Anime Classics
2008-2009
Essentials
2007
Classics
2005
Limited Edition | バッカーノ!
2007-2008
Anime Classics
2002
Anime Classics
2007
2005
時をかける少女 / Toki o kakeru shôjo
2006
S.A.V.E.
2008-2009
ストレンヂア 無皇刃譚
2007
Classics / フリクリ
2000-2001
Evangerion shin gekijôban: Jo
2007
Essentials
2009
S.A.V.E. Edition
2005