Time of Eve: Complete Collection Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		3.0

Time of Eve: Complete Collection Blu-ray Movie Review

Time of Eve: Complete Collection contains the entire production of the short form series. The release provides the original release version as created for distribution as an original web production. Featuring a story by Yasuhiro Yoshiura, Time of Eve features theme music performed by Rie Tanaka. Time of Eve also features impressive animation production by Studio Rikka (Harmonie, Kikumana). An ambitious anime production, Time of Eve won the Tokyo Anime Award for Best OVA series in 2010.

Time of Eve was first released with 6 short form web episodes. The production was then adapted into a feature-film version comprising the OVA episodes originally produced for the web and re-edited as a theatrical feature. Produced by Tom Nagae (Pale Cocoon, Patema Inverted), Time of Eve has gained a cult following over the years and has been licensed for distribution on home media by AnimEigo. Featuring the voices of Jun Fukuyama, Kenji Nojima, and Rie Tanaka.

Slavery might be a thing of the past but the future holds a key to new technology. The future includes a world bustling with personal robots. The people of the future can have their own servants who carry out every task for them – all people need is their own servant robot. While some people take their robots for granted and treat them exclusively as technology-driven slaves or servants, others treat them as something special and worth celebrating.

Over the course of time, students Rikuo (Jun Fukuyama) and Masaki (Kenji Nojima) become close to robots and begin to have conversations with the robot servants as a café. The robots delve into matters concerning the questions of who are people and who are robots. As philosophy merges with technology and convenience, the robots bring more eye-opening wisdom than the teenagers ever expected to find.

The characters are charming and one of the strengths of the production. The main characters are compelling and add something interesting to Time of Eve. The characters are also given notable character designs by Ryuusuke Chayama (Patema Inverted, Harmonie). The designs impress.

Featuring a score composed by Tohru Okada (Video Girl Ai, Mobile Suit SD Gundam Festival), Time of Eve highlights impressive music and a sense of wonder. The score is certainly one the best components of the feature. The score works well for the drama and the subtle intricacies of the production.

Written, storyboarded, and directed by Yasuhiro Yoshiura (Pale Cocoon, Patema Inverted), Time of Eve is beloved with numerous anime fans and is considered a gem with some audiences. Even so, Time of Eve is nonetheless somewhat disappointing to me. The aesthetic is impressive and various other elements are well-done yet the storytelling simply feels lackluster on some level. The screenplay poses some interesting questions but doesn’t manage to provide much compelling resolution to these ideas – it manages to feel more abstract and it could have been more fulfilling with a more thought-out script. Time of Eve just isn’t as emotionally resonant or engaging as it aims to be either and not everyone will connect with it. Well-made on some level but it feels strangely inert.

Time of Eve: Complete Collection Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Released on Blu-ray by AnimEigo, Time of Eve is presented in a theatrical aspect ratio of 1.78:1 widescreen. The high-definition presentation is impressive and provides a pleasing transfer of the feature-film. The animation is bold and visually engaging on the release.

The colors pop with good clarity. The presentation capably provides both versions. The feature-film has a somewhat reserved style and as a result the animation is easier to reproduced – even with the somewhat average bit-rate on the release the presentation still impresses.

There are possible gains over streaming video services, too. Streaming video services often have more compression to the video. There can also be other variables that impact the presentation quality and physical media can provide some improvements.

Time of Eve: Complete Collection Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release includes a selection of lossless audio options: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 and Japanese DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (with English subtitles). The Blu-ray release capably presents the sound direction by Yasuhiro Yoshiura. The lossless audio encoding provides a solid presentation of the soundtrack. The score is well reproduced. The soundstage is surprisingly decent for a 2.0 audio design. The release could have benefited somewhat from a 5.1 surround sound track and it is a little disappointing that one is not provided.

One of the benefits of physical media and the Blu-ray format is lossless audio encoding. The audio encoding quality is an advantage over streaming video services. Streaming video services tend to provide lossy (non-lossless) audio and there is more compression. Streaming services have more compression with lower bit-rates and other variables. Streaming variables can include streaming service tiers, internet speeds, data caps, number of connected users, and other variables. With physical media there is a dependability in having a physical product.

Time of Eve: Complete Collection Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The release comes packaged in a standard Blu-ray case. The release does not include any additional physical goodies. The AnimEigo webstore exclusive comes with a bonus slipcover option. The slip is provided only with purchases made on their webstore and does not come with purchases made by other retailers. For slipcover fans, the bonus of a collectable slipcover might entice some fans to consider the exclusive release.

On disc supplements include:

Original Web Series –

Play All Option (HD, 1:53:22)

Act 01 – Akiko

Act 02 – Sammy

Act 03 – Koji & Rina

Act 04 – Nameless

Act 05 – Chie & Shimei

Act 06 – Masaki

Behind the Scenes (HD, 6:41)

Opening Day Event (HD, 11:31)

Original Trailer (HD, 1:43)

US Blu-ray Trailer (HD, 1:18)

Feature Length Audio Commentary

Sign Gallery (HD, 38:03)

Short Films –

Aquatic Language (HD, 9:23) –

Original Japanese

English Dubbed

Trailer (HD, 00:38)

Pale Cocoon (HD, 24:30) –

Original Japanese

French Dubbed

German Dubbed

Yoshiura Interview (SD, 37:12)

Trailer (HD, 1:29)

Vintage Interviews –

Jun Fukuyama (Rikuo) (HD, 8:22)

Rie Tanaka (Sammy) (HD, 5:40)

Rina Sato (Nagi) (HD, 7:53)

Kenji Nojima (Masaki) (HD, 6:48)

Yasuhiro Yoshiura (Writer/Director) (SD, 16:01)

Retrospective Interview with Writer/Director Yasuhiro Yoshiura (2024) (HD, 16:15)

Also Available from MediaOCD (HD, 6:00)

AnimEigo did a fantastic job with the supplemental package for the Blu-ray release. The release is jam-packed with bonus features. The Blu-ray release has so many extensive supplements and fans of the web series or feature version will appreciate the amount of care and attention to detail given to the production. Between the numerous interviews, retrospectives, short films, audio commentary, and the options to select between the original web versions or theatrical version – the package is extensive and satisfying.

Time of Eve: Complete Collection Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Time of Eve Complete Collection contains both the original web series and the theatrical feature film. The production features excellent animation and the production values are impressive. Time of Eve certainly has a fanbase and some anime fans will respond to its examination of man and machine – exploring the way in which robots are treated as slaves and the way technology has a habit of sometimes replacing humanity.

Even despite some impressive qualities, Time of Eve feels strangely inert to me, and I have watched the film twice – once years ago and now on this well-produced Blu-ray release. Both viewings left me feeling strangely cold despite some excellent merits. Fans of Time of Eve will want to consider a purchase but newcomers might want to consider streaming this one first. The Bu-ray release provides a solid high- definition presentation, lossless audio encoding, and a massive assortment of bonus features including interviews and short films. The release has so many extensive supplements that fans will certainly want to indulge.