7.3 | / 10 |
Users | 4.5 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Sousuke Sagara, a seventeen year old military specialist working for the secret organization MITHRIL, has been assigned to protect the latest "Whispered" candidate Kaname Chidori. To complete this task Sousuke will have to deal with enemies from his past as well as the occasional panty thief. Unfortunately for Sousuke, the toughest part of his mission isn't only protecting Miss Chidori but also getting used to living an average High School students life, no easy task for someone raised on the battlefield.
Starring: Tomokazu Seki, Satsuki Yukino, Akio Ôtsuka, Shin'ichirô Miki, Michiko NeyaAnime | 100% |
Foreign | 94% |
Action | 34% |
Sci-Fi | 25% |
Comedy | 19% |
Romance | 14% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p (upconverted)
Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.33:1
Japanese: Dolby TrueHD 2.0
English: Dolby TrueHD 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
Both tracks are 24-Bit
English
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Three-disc set (3 BDs)
Region A, B (locked)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 3.0 | |
Audio | 3.0 | |
Extras | 2.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Continuing with their onslaught of newly released anime series on the Blu-ray format, Funimation dug deep this time to bring fans the original 24 episode series of Full Metal Panic, remastered (upscaled) in high definition, and delivered in the native 4:3 aspect ratio of its original broadcast. Though it may seem a bit odd to find the initial series hitting the Blu-ray format more than a year after the sequel danced into our high definition collections, I can understand the choice to wait on this release until fans accepted the idea of double-dipping on titles that don’t offer an extreme visual upgrade. Despite such worries, many of the Blu-ray series offered by Funimation have hit a price point that often falls at or below the current asking price for these series on DVD, so despite the occasional modest returns for those of us considering a double dip, I rarely feel as if we’re being taken to the cleaners. That doesn’t mean we should all run out and sell our DVD box set of Full Metal Panic now that a Blu-ray version has emerged, but if you’re a format purist like myself, the prospect doesn’t seem altogether painful.
Sousuke operating his Armored Suit.
Presented in 1080p utilizing the AVC codec (in the original aspect ratio of 4:3), Full Metal Panic looks about as good as anyone expected going in. The series was initially released in 2002, so we're witnessing a production that wasn't created with a focus on high definition visuals. What that translates into is a Blu-ray experience that demonstrates increased stability over the prior DVD version (reduced banding, aliasing, and other transfer specific anomalies), but rarely offers much improvement in the precision of lines or a reduction in haziness. Thankfully, the series never looked overly weak in the first place, so most scenes still offer average detail levels, though those looking for a significant overhaul will likely feel underwhelmed. On the positive front, we have a boost in the richness of the color scheme throughout the series, which seemed a bit muted on the prior DVD box set. Additionally, black levels and contrast appear consistent and well defined in all but a handful of scenes, adding to the depth of the predominantly hand-drawn animation.
In summary, Full Metal Panic won't knock your socks off with tremendous visuals, but for non-HD source material there's little to complain about.
As with most Funimation offerings, Full Metal Panic includes a lossless English 5.1 offering, and a Japanese 2.0 offering. Switching back and forth between the native language mix and the dubbed version, I failed to notice much difference in the level of surround separation, leaving almost every element firmly entrenched in the front sound stage. While this may be disappointing to most audiophiles, it makes it much easier for most of us to justify a decision to stick with the better of the two tracks (I always tend to prefer the original rather than the dubbed option, despite the impressive voice talent utilized by FUNimation). Getting down to the particulars of the lossless upgrade, the show contains a reasonable level of clarity, but never reaches the robust heights of more recent productions. This is most apparent in the LFE elements throughout the series, which provide only average bass response during the more intense moments of the storyline.
Koichi Chigira x Shouji Gatou Special Interview (1080i, Dolby Digital 2.0, 23:22 min): Filmed in a Japanese café in 2008, this interview session stars the director of the anime series, the writer of the original Full Metal Panic story, and features producer Atsushi Ito as the interviewer. Overall, this is a candid assessment of the production history from three men with intricate involvement along the entire creative process, but there are times when the choppy editing of the supplement tends to create confusion (presented in Japanese with English subtitles).
Piracy Warnings (480p, Dolby Digital 2.0, 8:23 min): Each of the main characters from the series present a brief warning to anyone considering pirating the production.
Rounding out the extras, we have original TV spots (480p), textless opening and closing songs (1080p), and various trailers for other Funimation titles.
On the surface, Full Metal Panic may seem like yet another mobile suit series with rival military factions engaged in constant conflict. However, dig a little deeper and you'll find a funny, action-packed experience with characters worth revisiting on multiple occasions. From a technical standpoint, the Blu-ray version offers a minimal upgrade over the prior DVD box set, but should still stand as the preferred choice for those who don't currently own the series in any prior iteration. For all others, the decision boils down to your level of dedication to remaining a format purist, which could vary wildly among anime enthusiasts.
Classics
2003
Anime Classics
2005
2010
2008-2009
コードギアス 反逆のルルーシュ / コードギアス 反逆のルルーシュR2
2006-2008
10th Anniversary Edition
2007-2009
Essentials
2004
2018
Anime Classics
2002
Suzumiya Haruhi no shôshitsu / 涼宮ハルヒの消失
2010
Essentials / 涼宮ハルヒの憂鬱
2006-2009
Essentials
2006
2010
Classics / フリクリ
2000-2001
ソウルイーター
2008-2009
Evangerion shin gekijôban: Jo
2007
Anime Classics
2011-2012
2005
Higashi no Eden / 東のエデン
2009
2007-2008