Ralph Jenkins

AKIRA was first published by Marvel Comics (under the Epic Comics brand) as 38 prestige format comic books. These books were colored by Steve Oliff (AKIRA was a B&W series in Japan with only a few color pages). The Marvel version also had the speech balloons redrawn to look more like those in American comics. It was collected in a number of limited edition hardcovers, but to my knowledge, they never released all of it in that format. The Dark Horse version, while also flipped (so that it reads from left to right), more closely mirrors the original Japanese version. While Marvel was publishing the series in the U.S., Dark Horse was serializing it in the U.K. (in B&W). The 6 B&W graphics novels reprint the Dark Horse version. These are the same size and have the same color pages as the Japanese volumes.

Eric F

The Dark Horse B&W collected manga (the one without the balloons) is considered one of the best mangas ever made. That's why I didn't even bother mentioning the color editions (it's all there on the Wiki page), plus it's almost impossible to get the color version as well.

You'd do better just picking up the Dark Horse B&W versions off eBay or Amazon Resellers.

Eric F

The Dark Horse B&W collected manga (the one without the balloons) is considered one of the best mangas ever made. That's why I didn't even bother mentioning the color editions (it's all there on the Wiki page), plus it's almost impossible to get the color version as well.

You'd do better just picking up the Dark Horse B&W versions off eBay or Amazon Resellers.

RocShemp

Only after first doing a complete restoration and/or remastering of them first. I just finished watching my DVD copy of Mononoke Hime and I couldn't believe how many glaring print flaws were all over that thing.

Now I'm gonna have to check my DVD of Porco Rosso.

toddly6666

I hope they transfer all of those extras from the Akira DVD to the Blu Ray version. Out of all my 600+ DVDs, I have only been really impressed with extras from two DVDs - The Lord of the Rings Extended Trilogy and the AKIRA 2-disc DVD.

Bob330i

Thanks for the confirmation. I wasn't able to complete the entire series for some reason but I know I have 1-30 something. Any thoughts on how to get the last handful from the Epic series? Been looking on and off at comic book stores but as expected, it's a niche item.

EDIT: ok, seems to be fairly available on Ebay. I'll go that route unless others can suggest other options.

WTK

• Running Time: 124 minutes
• Retail Price: $49.98
• Release Date: 2/24/2009

Key Sales Points:

• Directed by Katsuhiro Otomo (Steamboy, Metropolis)
• Newly remastered 1080p High Definition Picture!
• Critically acclaimed cult classic returns in HD!
• 32-page booklet (Initial Pressing Only)
• Slipcase (Initial Pressing Only)

Bonus Features:

• Teaser #1 & # 2 / Trailers #1 & #2 / TV Commercial /
• Complete Storyboards / Initial Pressing includes Original
• 32-page booklet & slipcase

Specifications:
Color / Approx. 124 minutes / Japanese Language Audio
Dolby TrueHD (5.1ch, 192kHz, 24bit), Dolby Digital 5.1ch & Linear PCM Stereo / English Language Audio Dolby TrueHD 5.1ch / AVC / BD50G / 16:9 (1080p High Definition) / Optional Japanese & English Subtitles

The Bus

For $50, it should be a tin.

Dan Average

Getting something off my chest: Have all widescreen video releases of this been 16:9 or 1.85:1? (I know the Criterion LD and the Pioneer DVD were.) It was made in 70mm, so shouldn't the AR be 2.2:1? The storyboards are in that ratio, and I'm pretty sure you can see some of the actual 70mm frames in the making-of material on the DVD. It doesn't look bad in the narrower formats, but it seems weird they would animate in 2.2:1 only to chop off the sides for video.

Giles

from in70mm.com (which state it's a 70mm/35mm blowup)

Akira / Spherical (1.85:1) / July 16 (Japan) / 6-Track Dolby Stereo / US 35mm release in 1991. Many sources (including the Criterion Collection LD liner notes & IMDb) indicate this film was originated in 65mm.

Doctorossi

Wow- gorgeous cover!

naitram

Awesome cover, can't wait for this. Hopefully the picture is unmolested.

Dan Average

Then why storyboard at 2.2:1? If the negative format was spherical 35mm, then it should've been animated at 1.85:1 (or even 1.37:1, for the sake of television/home video) and either cropped to 2.2:1 or pillarboxed to 1.85:1 for the 70mm blowup. In either case, you wouldn't expect it to be animated at 2.2:1.

For anyone with the DVD on hand, does the Production Report give any indication of the negative format, or whether the animation was actually done at 2.2:1?

WTK

GenPion

Is that a tin or a slip cover? I can't tell from the pic exactly.

In any case, it looks beautiful.

WTK

It's the first edition slipcover and booklet.

GenPion

I see that in your Key Sale Points now. Thanks for the quick answer WTK.

I can't wait to get this one! I guess I should sell my 2-Disc DVD pretty soon.

LickTheABCs

That looks really pretty. Price-point is absurd, but I'm sure somebody will have it for cheaper.

DthRdrX

I hope you get the slipcover and booklet if you order with Amazon. I'm really looking forward to this release, minus the price.

MichaelMeyers

I can't wait to pick this up...still have my tin from the first release on DVD and will pick this one up on release day.

LorenzoL

I'll be getting this.

BuckNaked2k

Akira Blu-ray

tonymontana313

Thanks!

WTK

DVD Pacific has it for $28.49. Free S/H and no tax (unless you're in FL).

kms_md

thanks from me as well - i hope amazon will drop the price more as release approaches.