K-ON! The Movie Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.5

K-ON! The Movie Blu-ray Movie Review

Less about a trip to London and more about friendship. In other words, right on target.

After two seasons, thirty-nine episodes, two OVAs and a collection of bonus minisodes, K-ON! steps on stage one last time for a feature film released in Japanese cinemas: the simply titled K-ON! The Movie. As delightfully low-key as the show that precedes it, and as sweet, lighthearted and unassuming as any anime could be, the series' big screen finale keeps things small in scope and stature, just as it should. That said, 100-minutes is a loooong time to spend with a group of chatty young girls, no matter how endearing its mainstays prove to be. While the series hinged on the everyday mundane misadventures of five Japanese high schoolers, it did so in bite-sized chunks perfect for such an airy treat. Expanded into a feature-length movie, though, K-ON! is stretched a bit too thin... not that adoring crowds will mind all that much. The story is a touch slow-going, but the restraint it exercises, the joy it offers, and the music it unfurls is strangely infectious, as is the girls' graduation and surprise gift to Azusa. In truth, very little happens over the course of the movie. In reality, everything that needs to happen happens. K-ON! remains true to itself, the girls' stay true to one another, and the film is as cute and innocuous as the series itself. What more could a fan want? Other than something that couldn't be dismissed by detractors as "more of the same," accurate as such criticism might be.

K-ON! The Movie Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

K-ON! The Movie takes center stage with a lovely, delicate 1080p/AVC-encoded video transfer free from blemishes and issues. The film's pastel palette is perfectly pleasant, with soft purples, desaturated yellows, rose-petal pinks, and dainty but satisfying black levels. Detail is outstanding, without any significant ringing or aliasing to speak of. Lines are clean and refined, subtle background textures are beautifully resolved, and any TV "smallness" has been overcome, even though the series' style remains as minimalistic as it's always been. Best of all, artifacting, banding, noise and almost every other anomaly are either nowhere to be found or held at bay. I, for one, am most pleased with the results.

K-ON! The Movie Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

K-ON! The Movie includes two lossless audio options: an original Japanese-language DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track and an English dubbed DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track. Both mixes are excellent, with resounding clarity, precision and flawless prioritization. The English track sounds a bit crisper and clearer, particularly when flipping from one to the other, but not enough to warrant any alarm. Voices are neatly centered and reasonably well grounded in the mixes, the film's music and songs are full and involving, LFE output is reserved but dependable, and the rear speakers (though hardly what I'd call aggressive) lend the soundfield an exceedingly subtle, masterfully crafted quality that goes beyond the series to help The Movie live up to its namesake. No complaints here.

K-ON! The Movie Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Minami Tanaka's Dubbing Investigative Report (HD, 23 minutes): TBS Announced Minami Tanaka interviews the film's Japanese voice actresses -- Aki Toyosaki, Yoko Hikasa, Satomi Sato, Minako Kotobuki and Ayana Taketatsu -- in the K-ON! production studio in this rather lightweight behind-the-scenes feature.
• London Bus & Press Conference at TBS (HD, 19 minutes): More with the Japanese voice actresses (who arrive on a double decker bus), this time at a press conference in which the ladies answer questions from an off-camera moderator.
• Navi Show 1-2-3 is K-ON! (HD, 24 minutes): A talk show promo that celebrates and dissects the series, movie and its characters a week before the film debuts in theaters. Once again, the Japanese voice actresses make an appearance.
• Movie Premiere Event (HD, 22 minutes): The Japanese voice actresses and director Naoko Yamada host a lively Q&A at the movie's Japanese theatrical premiere.
• Director Naoko Yamada in London (HD, 29 minutes): Yamada visits London and tours the sights.
• Good Luck Music Hall: K-ON! Music Hall (HD, 15 minutes): Another televised K-ON! special.
• Clean Opening and Closing Animations (HD, 4 minutes)
• Trailers and TV Spots (HD, 5 minutes):

K-ON! The Movie Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Fans of K-ON! the series will obviously get the most out of K-ON! The Movie. But the film finale (or sequel if you prefer) does a fine job of functioning as both a continuation and a culmination, as well as an entertaining standalone movie for those who've never watched the show. Are there problems? Sure, mainly involving small screen aspirations being played out on the big screen. Still, fans will be happy to embrace more K-ON!, whatever the form. Thankfully, the form it all comes in amounts to a fantastic Blu-ray release. With a striking video transfer, two solid DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround tracks, and more than two hours of special features, the Blu-ray edition of K-ON! The Movie is a must-have for any K-ON! fan. Newcomers may find they enjoy the girls' trip to London and the subsequent journey back to graduation almost as much. Perhaps they'll even be inspired to dig back through the series, all of which has already been made available on Blu-ray.