COMPANY: KITTY FILM / SHOGAKUKAN
CAST: Yamaguchi Kappei, Hayashibara Megumi, Hidaka Noriko and more.
DIRECTED BY: Shuji Iuchi
PRODUCED BY: VIZ VIDEO
RATING: Not Rated
COMPANY WEBSITE: Â http://www.viz.com
TYPE OF MOVIE:
DURATION: 375 minutes
12 original video episodes on 3 DVD’s. Romance, comedy, martial arts mayhem, multiple personality changes, devlish dolls, haunted caves, magical phoenixes, evil ogres, legendary monsters and more.
DVD EXTRAS:
• Region 1 encoding (US and Canada only)
• Color, Animated, Box set
• Production notes
• Theatrical trailer(s)
• Includes 12 Original Video Episodes On 3 DVDs!
• Bilingual: English & Japanese!
• Music Videos
• Character Profiles & Info
• Number of discs: 3
KNOWN DVD SECRET(S):Â None that I know of
DVD REVIEW:
I have always been a fan of the Ranma 1/2 series and when VIZ released the OAV box set of Ranma 1/2, I was very happy.
First, let me get this out of the way… Continuity-wise, there are a total of 9 Ranma 1/2 OAV’s. The others included are Ranma 1/2 MOVIE #3 – The Phoenix episode, Ranma 1/2 Special 1 and 2 (“Reawakening Memories par 1 & 2”).
Second, this is how the quality should be compared to the bad master that the movies were treated. The colors are bright and sharp and the episodes do not look dated like the movies.
Third, the major flaw for me was the cost. I got mine for $89 but you go to Suncoast and this set sells for $119. Ouch!!! But then again, why should I complain because back then I bought the Ranma 1/2 LD box set and OAV LD’s via import for so much…But those used to paying less for anime DVD’s in the US may get a headache paying so much.
So, I talked about the video. How is the audio for this DVD. The audio is digital hi-fi stereo. As for the DVD all in all, it comes with the basics like trailer and the dubbed (can’t stand dubs) and subtitles for the purists. I’m glad they put the opening and ending themes without the titles for the music videos.
There has been discussion of people experiencing major artifacts in the beginning of the episodes. I have not encountered that. Other problems which are more towards people looking for problems are inverted sounds in the dub versions vs. the Japanese version. I don’t watch dubs, so I can’t comment on that.
All in all, although the cost was expensive, when I bought the import LD’s at $59 a pop, this DVD collection is worth it. Especially for the Ranma 1/2 fan at heart.
A must buy for Ranma 1/2 fans!
THE ANIME:Â A+
THE DVD EXTRAS:Â A-
THE DVD OVERALL:Â A+