7.3 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Rin Asogi is an immortal private detective with a thirst for vodka and a talent for attracting things that go bump in the night. In a series of nightmarish vignettes spanning sixty-five years, Rin's lush body is sadistically pierced, blown up, and mulched to a bloody pulp. The fiend behind her tortured existence is Apos, an eternal being obsessed with sacrificing Rin to Yggdrasil, the tree of all life. While Rin struggles to unravel the secrets of her endless agony, Apos lurks in the shadows, eager to tear into her ripe body and devour the memories of her countless lives. Rin's no stranger to the realm of the dead, but her next visit could last forever.
Starring: Mamiko Noto, Rie Kugimiya, Sayaka Ôhara, Akira Ishida, Rie TanakaAnime | 100% |
Foreign | 94% |
Action | 22% |
Erotic | 16% |
Horror | Insignificant |
Mystery | Insignificant |
Thriller | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p (upconverted)
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.78:1
English: Dolby TrueHD 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
Japanese: Dolby TrueHD 5.1
English
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (locked)
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 2.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Given the tendency for anime adaptations to follow on the heels of their original manga counterparts, it comes as a bit of an oddity to find a successful series spawned on its own accord. Such is the case with Rin: Daughters of Mnemosyne, a joint venture between Xebec and Genco anime studios. Directed by Shigeru Ueda and written by Hiroshi Onogi, the series encompasses six segments running 45 minutes in length (each). Well known for its racy subject matter and extreme propensity for violence (primarily against females), the series isn’t suggested viewing material for squeamish adults or younger members of the audience, making this an entirely “mature” experience. If you’re still with me at this point, rest assured this is one of the better anime series in recent memory, and a fine example of solid storytelling.
Where'd the rest of her wedding dress disappear to?
Presented in 1080p utilizing the AVC codec (at an average bitrate of 20Mbps), Rin: Daughters of Mnemosyne registers as a fairly solid
visual presentation for an upconverted anime series. Fine object detail never reveals extensive depth or precision, but the lack of hazy textures
or DNR application remains a notable strength in what appears to be an accurate portrayal of the source material. Stair-stepping diagonal lines
appear in an unobtrusive fashion from time to time, serving as a reminder that this is a non-HD production, but aside from that one minor quibble
I struggled to identify many distractions in the visual experience. Pesky compression issues are all but absent, color banding never rears its ugly
head, and aliasing is kept to a minimum. Black levels fall toward the darker end of the depth chart and contrast maintains accurate control over
shade differential despite the gloomy nature of the show. Color reproduction ranks nearly as high, though there are a handful of shots that
appear a touch on the washed-out side (likely due to lighting choices in the source material).
In the end, this release from FUNimation
falls between their best to average anime upconversions, likely ranking somewhere in the 80th percentile. It's a shame such a wonderful series
can't be enjoyed in native high definition, but considering this is likely the best we'll ever get, the Blu-ray is the version to own in your home
theater collection.
After growing accustomed to the inclusion of a lossless 5.1 English mix next to a 2.0 Japanese mix on the majority of anime series, I was thrilled to find dual 5.1 mixes, allowing fans of either language option adequate reason to rejoice. Switching back and forth between both tracks, I failed to land on a preference from a technical standpoint, so I chose the native Japanese track for the majority of my assessment. I wouldn't rank Rin extremely high on my list of game-changing audio experiences, but it manages to hit enough high notes during the course of the six episode series to provide a nice complement to the visuals. Paying close attention to the dialog, sound effects and musical score, I never detected a shred of volume imbalance, negating any temptation to reach for my remote. Surround sound incorporation could have been a bit more effective in creating a heightened sense of immersion, but despite the lack of profound spatial separation among the rear channels, we're still shown creative elements here and there. Clarity and richness are everything one would hope for, lending precision to each gun blast or blade swipe, and adding highly effective monster effects that enhance the cringe-inducing tone of the subject matter (I mean that in a good way). Unfortunately, the one element that left me slightly disappointed is the lack of robust lows in the LFE portion of the mix, leaving the majority of the audio experience feeling a bit bright. It's not something that will affect the entertainment value for most viewers, but is still worth mentioning as a partial explanation for why I didn't score the audio higher.
English Cast & Crew Commentary (Episode 2): Incorporating four members of the English production staff, this commentary track is surprisingly
refreshing in comparison with prior offerings of this type. Everyone involved has a blast reminiscing on the adult subject matter and the
additional freedom it provided during the completion of the English dub. It certainly helps that each contributor has a wonderful sense of humor,
avoiding any uncomfortable moments of silence.
Japanese Cast Interview (480p, Dolby Digital 2.0, 13:43 min): The female Japanese
voice cast assembles for an informal discussion of the various characters in the series, while tackle certain pre-defined subjects of little
importance. Expect extensive giggling to ensue.
Rounding out the extras, we have a series of original FUNimation trailers for Rin
(high-def, censored and uncensored), promotional videos used to market the series (480p), and textless opening/closing songs.
I'll readily acknowledge that Rin: Daughters of Mnemosyne is not the type of series that will appeal to all anime fans, but we can hopefully admit that's not always a bad thing. Everyone has their own threshold for sadistic elements of this sort, and although I found some moments a bit off-putting, I never once considered walking away. There are simply too many reasons to love this show to get hung up on the occasionally uncomfortable sequences in the series, making this a worthwhile addition to the Blu-ray collection of most mature anime fans.
Essentials
2006
2007
2010-2011
2010
S.A.V.E.
2010-2011
Limited Edition
2011
Essentials / Higashi no Eden
2009
Essentials
2008
Evangerion shin gekijôban: Jo
2007
Anime Classics / フルメタル·パニック!
2002
2009
Limited Edition
2010
Limited Edition | Combo Pack
2010
Director's Cut | マルドゥック・スクランブル 圧縮
2010
2009
2009
2007-2008
X/1999
1996
2011
Essentials
2008