7.3 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
When he was three, Taro Komori and his sister were kidnapped, but the kidnapper was run over and killed before the ransom could be delivered. The police eventually found Taro, but not before his sister died. Eleven years later, Taro still has nightmares of the events surrounding the kidnapping and is haunted by a tall, featureless specter. Now, Taro searches for answers in the Hidden Realm, but something sinister is brewing there. The spirits are restless and a malevolent ghost is appearing with increasing frequency. In the "real" world, an out of favor religious cult is finding dozens of new converts, especially among high ranking politicians. And just what the scientists at Dai Nippon Bio are up to is a question in need of an answer. Can Taro and his friends find the answers they need in time to save their friends and families? Unseen spirits, ghosts and out-of-body experiences all combine in an intriguing exploration into the workings of memory and our perception of the world. Don't miss the latest masterpiece from Masamune Shirow and Production I.G: Ghost Hound!
Starring: Akiko Yajima, Kenshô Ono, Jun Fukuyama, Sôichirô Hoshi, Yoshinori FujitaAnime | 100% |
Foreign | 100% |
Mystery | 1% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Horror | Insignificant |
Video codec: VC-1
Video resolution: 1080i
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Japanese: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 16-bit)
Both are 16-Bit
English
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Three-disc set (3 BDs)
Region A (locked)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 0.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Produced to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the Production I.G anime studio, Ghost Hound is a 22 episode series from the mind of famed anime mastermind Shirow Masamune (Ghost in the Shell). Though far from being the first of its kind, the series blends elements of youthful innocence and supernatural phenomena to create a gripping mystery full of twists and turns. Those with an appreciation for Serial Experiments Lain or the work of the late Satoshi Kon should be intimately familiar with the category this production falls within, and have likely eyed this release with great anticipation. Provided that’s the case, you’re probably also aware that Production I.G is quickly becoming the top producer of big budget television productions (in the anime market), so the fact that this series marks a profound point in their history should tell you something about the level of respect it garnered.
A perfect example of the haunting visuals scattered throughout the opening portion of the series.
Despite a printing error on the packaging that describes a 1080p presentation, this is actually an interlaced transfer (otherwise known as 1080i). As a result, there's a tendency for scan lines to show up in the screenshots of the review, though I've attempted to remove and replace any shots that don't offer an accurate representation of the pristine visual quality.
As mentioned earlier in the review, Production I.G is rapidly becoming the premiere studio among anime big shots, so the fact that Ghost Hound was created in native high definition should come as little surprise. What did catch me off guard is the somewhat underwhelming quality of the animation itself, which delivers a realistic world by downplaying texturing and details in the animation. After recently completing a review of their spectacular 2009 production Eden of the East, I assumed Production I.G would pull out all the stops for their 20th anniversary celebration. I'm well aware this was released during 2007 and 2008, but advancements in the world of animation shouldn't generate such drastic leaps during the span of 2 years. Instead of assuming this was a budgetary choice or other easily defendable limitation, I'll speculate this was an intentional decision on the part of the series creators, who probably felt the simplistic animation was fitting for the somber tone of the series. As a result, it's difficult to knock the artistic design of the show, though I'll stand on my opinion that this is not the greatest visual release from Production I.G.
Animation nuances aside, there's plenty to appreciate about this breakout release from Sentai Filmworks. Combining a rich color palette, deep blacks, and razor sharp precision, Ghost Hound demonstrates yet again how amazing anime can look when given a proper Blu-ray presentation. Throughout the 22 episode run, I strained to find even a hint of aliasing, banding, or villainous edge enhancement, but all my efforts produced little return. Furthermore, the pesky scan lines found in weak 1080i presentations were non-existent here, making it easier to forgive the incorrect information on the back cover of the case. In summary, I wouldn't call this demo caliber material (thanks to the nature of the animation), but the proficiency of the transfer is first rate.
Prepare to be blown away. Production I.G has turned out some truly amazing mixes over the years, but Ghost Hound is the deserving recipient of the top spot. Sitting in my theater as episode one kicked off, I was caught off guard by the intricate surround separation during a sequence showing a little fly buzzing around a gruesome scene. The critter darted around my room in distinct correlation with the movement on the screen, creating an effective sense of unease that defines the tone of the series. Unfortunately, these moments of highly creative sound design are used sparingly throughout the 22 episode run, often stepping aside for the dominating presence of dialog in the track. This isn't always a bad thing when it comes to psychological thrillers, since long stretches of discourse leave us with a false sense of comfort or safety, allowing horrific elements to catch us off guard. Moving along to the technical quality of the dual lossless tracks (native Japanese and newly created English dub), I couldn't be happier with either option. Every element in the track is crisp and robust, with zero hiss or dropout, and a perfect blend of highs and lows. Volume balance is equally proficient, combining dialog, effects and music that interact with one another to create an immersive presentation, without overwhelming a particular element. Without a doubt, this is an audio experience that should be heard by every anime fan, and serves as a tremendous value-added component of the overall Blu-ray presentation.
The only extras included on the discs are textless opening and closing songs.
Ghost Hound isn't the game-changing production many anime fans suspected it would be, but it still deserves a place among notably cerebral anime of the past few years. Having said that, if you lack the patience for long discourse on the inner workings of the human brain, or roll your eyes at the concept of out-of-body experiences, there's a good chance you'll eventually grow tired of the path chosen for the latter stages of the show (though the initial journey is still thrilling). Personally, I loved the thought-provoking aspects of the overall story, but felt there were too many missed opportunities along the way. In addition, I struggled to accept the dramatic change in direction around the midpoint of the series, and the decision to abandon most of the suspense built during the early episodes. There's still plenty to enjoy if you consider this genre your cup of tea, but hold your expectations in check and prepare for some drastic tonal shifts along the way.
2011
2011
2009
Limited Edition
2011
2009
Combo Pack
2010
2007
Limited Edition | Combo Pack
2010
2008
Essentials
2008
2012
Classics / エルゴプラクシー
2006
Essentials
2008
Higashi no Eden / 東のエデン
2009
2000
2012
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2011
Gekijouban Bureiku bureido Daiyonshou: Sanka no chi
2010
Gekijouban Bureiku bureido Daisanshou: Kyoujin no kizu
2010
Gekijouban Bureiku bureido Daiisshou: Kakusei no koku
2010