Ghost In The Shell - Stand Alone Complex Release Announcment.
04-17-04 | 12:39 AM
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Ghost In The Shell - Stand Alone Complex Release Announcment.
Taken from another forum...
So wow, look at this SE, you shell out over double the price and get exactly the same thing, but with a different audio track. One is totally redundent. Oh, and a booklet! You get a booklet too!
What a ripoff. The soundtrack is nice, it's not worth double the drive, nor is getting a DTS track. There is a lot of material they could put out on a second disc.
I'd buy it if one disc had the Jap Dolby and Jap DTS, and the other had the End Dolby and Eng DTS, because then I'd never have to worry about accidently watching the dub :P
I love this show so much, I'd have easily have bought the SE it it was just by it's self, it's worth that money just for the show. But I'd get the show on the (much) cheaper version, and it won't be any different. Now, all I have to override my "But..but... but... it's a SE!!! every fan needs one!!!" drive...
Oh, and details on the show are linked in my signature if you don't know what it is.
April 14,2004 - Chicago, IL - Manga Entertainment and Bandai Entertainment announce their joint DVD release of the first volume of the highly anticipated anime series Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex on July 27th. The series was co-produced by both Manga and Bandai and created by the revered animators at Japan's Production I.G (Kill Bill, Ghost in the Shell). Directed by Kenji Kamiyama (Blood: The Last Vampire, Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade) with music by Yoko Kanno (Cowboy Bebop), GITS:SAC Volume 1 will feature the first four half-hour episodes of the explosive 26 episode sci-fi series. The complete series will be released bi-monthly and presented on seven DVD volumes over the next year along with a subsequent U.S. cable television broadcast on Cartoon Network.
This all-new futuristic anime series continues the story of the acclaimed anime feature film Ghost in the Shell which was based on the popular manga by Masamune Shirow. Female cyborg Major Motoko Kusanagi and her fellow police officers of Section 9 hunt down a host of criminals in both the real and online worlds. In the first four episodes Kusanagi and Section 9 must resolve a hostage crisis, hunt down a runaway state-of-the-art killing machine, solve a mystery behind recent android suicides and investigate a high level conspiracy involving a mysterious computer hacker. Set in the not too distant future where technology plays a key role in everyday life, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex utilizes the latest in full CG animation presenting illustrious characters and meticulous design along with dramatic animated action.
Encoded directly from high-definition masters, each DVD volume will be released in two versions. The GITS: SAC Volume 1 - Standard Edition will contain one disc featuring four thirty-minute episodes presented in anamorphic widescreen, Dolby Digital 5.1 English & Japanese surround sound, English subtitles, interview with director Kenji Kamiyama, interview with Atsuko Tanaka (Japanese voice of Motoko), trailers and weblinks.
The GITS:SAC Volume 1 - Special Edition will contain three discs in collectors packaging along with a Special Edition booklet. Disc one will contain the original Standard Edition DVD. Disc two will contain four thirty-minute episodes presented in anamorphic widescreen, English and Japanese DTS 5.1 Surround Sound and Stereo. Disc three will contain the original series soundtrack CD. Each new DVD volume released will feature new interviews from the production team and acting talent of the series.
"Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex" has recently made its debut on Japanese television and will begin airing in the U.S. on Cartoon Network's late night Adult Swim block later this year. Visit www.ghostintheshell.tv for previews, trailer, contests, information and more.
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex - Volume One DVD
Standard Edition: Running Time: 120 minutes
SRP: $24.95 / Barcode: 6-69198-25200 (6)
Special Edition: Running Time: 120 minutes
SRP: $59.95 / Barcode: 6-69198-25220 (4)
Bandai Entertainment Inc. is the premier distributor of Japanese animation on DVD home video in North America. The company has distributed notable titles like Superior Defender Gundam Force,hack//SIGN, Cowboy Bebop, and Witch Hunter Robin. Bandai Entertainment Inc. is a subsidiary of Bandai America Inc., who makes the toys for the hit television series, Power Rangers, Digimon, and Mobile Suit Gundam. All U.S. operations are headquartered in a large, ultra-modern facility in Cypress, Calif. Bandai Co., Ltd is the third largest toy company in the world comprising 53 subsidiaries in 18 countries. In addition to toys and children's entertainment, Bandai Co.'s global interests include video game software, multimedia, music and full-length feature films, vending machines, trading cards, candies, and licensed apparel. Bandai Entertainment is headquartered in Cypress, California and additional company and product information is available through our website at www.bandai-ent.com.
Manga Entertainment Inc. specializes in the production and distribution of Japanese animation for theatrical, DVD and home video release worldwide. Manga's cutting-edge film catalog also features Asian live-action, cult, pop-culture, and international animation. The company has offices in New York, London, and Tokyo, and is headquartered in Chicago. Manga Entertainment Inc, is a division of Chris Blackwell's Palm Pictures. www.manga.com
This all-new futuristic anime series continues the story of the acclaimed anime feature film Ghost in the Shell which was based on the popular manga by Masamune Shirow. Female cyborg Major Motoko Kusanagi and her fellow police officers of Section 9 hunt down a host of criminals in both the real and online worlds. In the first four episodes Kusanagi and Section 9 must resolve a hostage crisis, hunt down a runaway state-of-the-art killing machine, solve a mystery behind recent android suicides and investigate a high level conspiracy involving a mysterious computer hacker. Set in the not too distant future where technology plays a key role in everyday life, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex utilizes the latest in full CG animation presenting illustrious characters and meticulous design along with dramatic animated action.
Encoded directly from high-definition masters, each DVD volume will be released in two versions. The GITS: SAC Volume 1 - Standard Edition will contain one disc featuring four thirty-minute episodes presented in anamorphic widescreen, Dolby Digital 5.1 English & Japanese surround sound, English subtitles, interview with director Kenji Kamiyama, interview with Atsuko Tanaka (Japanese voice of Motoko), trailers and weblinks.
The GITS:SAC Volume 1 - Special Edition will contain three discs in collectors packaging along with a Special Edition booklet. Disc one will contain the original Standard Edition DVD. Disc two will contain four thirty-minute episodes presented in anamorphic widescreen, English and Japanese DTS 5.1 Surround Sound and Stereo. Disc three will contain the original series soundtrack CD. Each new DVD volume released will feature new interviews from the production team and acting talent of the series.
"Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex" has recently made its debut on Japanese television and will begin airing in the U.S. on Cartoon Network's late night Adult Swim block later this year. Visit www.ghostintheshell.tv for previews, trailer, contests, information and more.
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex - Volume One DVD
Standard Edition: Running Time: 120 minutes
SRP: $24.95 / Barcode: 6-69198-25200 (6)
Special Edition: Running Time: 120 minutes
SRP: $59.95 / Barcode: 6-69198-25220 (4)
Bandai Entertainment Inc. is the premier distributor of Japanese animation on DVD home video in North America. The company has distributed notable titles like Superior Defender Gundam Force,hack//SIGN, Cowboy Bebop, and Witch Hunter Robin. Bandai Entertainment Inc. is a subsidiary of Bandai America Inc., who makes the toys for the hit television series, Power Rangers, Digimon, and Mobile Suit Gundam. All U.S. operations are headquartered in a large, ultra-modern facility in Cypress, Calif. Bandai Co., Ltd is the third largest toy company in the world comprising 53 subsidiaries in 18 countries. In addition to toys and children's entertainment, Bandai Co.'s global interests include video game software, multimedia, music and full-length feature films, vending machines, trading cards, candies, and licensed apparel. Bandai Entertainment is headquartered in Cypress, California and additional company and product information is available through our website at www.bandai-ent.com.
Manga Entertainment Inc. specializes in the production and distribution of Japanese animation for theatrical, DVD and home video release worldwide. Manga's cutting-edge film catalog also features Asian live-action, cult, pop-culture, and international animation. The company has offices in New York, London, and Tokyo, and is headquartered in Chicago. Manga Entertainment Inc, is a division of Chris Blackwell's Palm Pictures. www.manga.com
What a ripoff. The soundtrack is nice, it's not worth double the drive, nor is getting a DTS track. There is a lot of material they could put out on a second disc.
I'd buy it if one disc had the Jap Dolby and Jap DTS, and the other had the End Dolby and Eng DTS, because then I'd never have to worry about accidently watching the dub :P
I love this show so much, I'd have easily have bought the SE it it was just by it's self, it's worth that money just for the show. But I'd get the show on the (much) cheaper version, and it won't be any different. Now, all I have to override my "But..but... but... it's a SE!!! every fan needs one!!!" drive...
Oh, and details on the show are linked in my signature if you don't know what it is.
04-17-04 | 01:35 AM
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Well, I will be getting the SE release of course, how can I not.
Good news is that the $59.95 price tag is wrong it is actually $49.95:
^From AnimeonDVD.
The way they are releasing this set is stupid in my opinon. No box (so far) and with a redundant disc. They should have just put the extras on an extra disc with some other SE only extras and left it at that. Giving the same episodes just with DD and the extras is frankly stupid and a waste.
Good news is that the $59.95 price tag is wrong it is actually $49.95:
GitS: SAC Update (02:18 PM EST): After the announcement yesterday, we went and talked briefly with Bandai Entertainment about it. According to them, the special edition release will list for $49.95 and not the listed $59.95 in the press release. We also got confirmation that the entire series will be done in DTS and there are multiple special editions planned, though no details given on what would be in them.
The way they are releasing this set is stupid in my opinon. No box (so far) and with a redundant disc. They should have just put the extras on an extra disc with some other SE only extras and left it at that. Giving the same episodes just with DD and the extras is frankly stupid and a waste.
04-17-04 | 02:24 AM
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I agree. Apparently, they are using the Yukikaze SE model, in which they simply pop in a second disc with the same episodes but in DTS. It's like bundling Apollo 13 CE and Apollo 13 DTS in a slim double Amaray keepcase and sell it for more $$.
04-17-04 | 08:15 AM
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So we have to pay extra just to get the show in widescreen? I'm guessing it wasn't originally broadcasted in widescreen, was it?
Fantastic news though, I have been awaiting this to be released in any other region than Japan due to their pricing.
Fantastic news though, I have been awaiting this to be released in any other region than Japan due to their pricing.
04-17-04 | 10:28 AM
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No,
Will Cartoon Network be showing the series before the release date of Volume 1? I'd like to check out at least a couple episodes before dropping my money.
I wonder if CN will be presenting the show in widescreen...
The GITS: SAC Volume 1 - Standard Edition will contain one disc featuring four thirty-minute episodes presented in anamorphic widescreen...
I wonder if CN will be presenting the show in widescreen...
04-17-04 | 11:35 AM
#9
DVD Talk Hero
Originally posted by flashburn
So we have to pay extra just to get the show in widescreen? I'm guessing it wasn't originally broadcasted in widescreen, was it?
So we have to pay extra just to get the show in widescreen? I'm guessing it wasn't originally broadcasted in widescreen, was it?
Both versions are anamorphic widescreen. That's probably how it was broadcasted because 16x9 TVs are the standard in Japan these days.
I agree that this is a stupid way to release these. If you buy the SE, you end up with a practically redundant disc since the episodes are repeated on both discs. Great idea.
Last edited by cultshock; 04-17-04 at 11:39 AM.
04-17-04 | 11:57 AM
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Originally posted by cultshock
Both versions are anamorphic widescreen. That's probably how it was broadcasted because 16x9 TVs are the standard in Japan these days.
I agree that this is a stupid way to release these. If you buy the SE, you end up with a practically redundant disc since the episodes are repeated on both discs. Great idea.
Both versions are anamorphic widescreen. That's probably how it was broadcasted because 16x9 TVs are the standard in Japan these days.
I agree that this is a stupid way to release these. If you buy the SE, you end up with a practically redundant disc since the episodes are repeated on both discs. Great idea.
That is incredibly lame that the only difference between the two discs is DTS.
05-27-04 | 11:33 AM
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First season is 26 episodes second season is also 26 episodes. So that's 7 volumes for each season for $50 for each volume of the Special Editions that comes out to $700 MSRP over a 2 1/2 year period. Very costly series and definitly looking foward to the GiTS: SAC. I've seen the first episodes but can't really remember since it was a while ago but the series is heavy on the CG and awesome OST. Worth getting on DVD since it was released anamorphic widescreen and Japanese 5.1 track. All I'm hoping is that Bandai and Manga releases it on glitch free DVD's.
Last edited by Ollin; 05-27-04 at 11:36 AM.
05-27-04 | 12:52 PM
#17
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I really liked this series, much more than the movie. Good overall quality and good story arc. I can't wait to get it on DVD.
Also, I thought the special edition was also supposed to come with the soundtrack (or first soundtrack) to the series. I can't find the link to that information at the moment, but I held off buying the import soundtrack because I was hoping they would release it with the DVD, and was happy to see that in an announcement (will post the link if/once I find it).
*edit again* I'm an idiot, the announcement posted above had the soundtrack info. So my only real contribution to this thread is:
Also read that they are going to release a new volume every 2 months and that there will be no pause between seasons as they start releasing the 2nd season
- burninator
Also, I thought the special edition was also supposed to come with the soundtrack (or first soundtrack) to the series. I can't find the link to that information at the moment, but I held off buying the import soundtrack because I was hoping they would release it with the DVD, and was happy to see that in an announcement (will post the link if/once I find it).
*edit again* I'm an idiot, the announcement posted above had the soundtrack info. So my only real contribution to this thread is:
Also read that they are going to release a new volume every 2 months and that there will be no pause between seasons as they start releasing the 2nd season
- burninator
Last edited by burninator; 05-27-04 at 03:35 PM.
05-27-04 | 01:40 PM
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05-30-04 | 11:13 AM
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darqleo: I've seen it, and the series is very good, IMHO. I'm not going to say more than that though... it just is. I have some details on my website, but haven't written any reviews. If you're the type of person who watches mainly for the art and animation, then I think you'd be very happy. You can watch the trailer linked to above, which is the same trailer that's been out for a couple years now... just with a crappier logo 
I think the series suffers somewhat in it's 3rd quarter (but this is not unusual in most anime I've seen) but my biggest disapointment was the final episode. I won't go into it. I still say there's nothing really "bad" about it though, just stuff not as good.
The second season is not as strong as the first, so far, but it has an interesting tone to it, which is fairly different. I think it will get better as time goes on.
Yeah, we need more details on this DVD release, we're not far away now... If anyone sees anything, post it.
So far, from what I heard, the print is the same as on the Japanese discs, meaning the credits feature the new artwork. I'm curious about sub quality and any other possible screwups.
I think the series suffers somewhat in it's 3rd quarter (but this is not unusual in most anime I've seen) but my biggest disapointment was the final episode. I won't go into it. I still say there's nothing really "bad" about it though, just stuff not as good.
The second season is not as strong as the first, so far, but it has an interesting tone to it, which is fairly different. I think it will get better as time goes on.
Yeah, we need more details on this DVD release, we're not far away now... If anyone sees anything, post it.
So far, from what I heard, the print is the same as on the Japanese discs, meaning the credits feature the new artwork. I'm curious about sub quality and any other possible screwups.
05-30-04 | 11:34 PM
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Originally posted by Kant
did you like the movie more or what do you mean?
did you like the movie more or what do you mean?
The movie does have nicer visuals. That's not a surprise since the movie has some of Japan's best-ever animation and artwork. However, the TV show still looks very good. There is a lot of attention to detail. You can tell they spent a great deal of time on the designs and choosing shots and all that. The TV show is only lacking if you are comparing it to the biggest budget anime movies.
However, the movie had terrible writing. It seemed like everything would stop so that characters could philosophize endlessly and yet they never said anything particularly profound. The movie bored me sometimes. In contrast, the TV series manages to incorporate philosophy and complex ideas while telling a fast-paced, understandable story in under 30 minutes. It's an adult show; the storylines are often mature and deep. Yet there's also kick-ass action, jaunty banter between the dudes, and all that entertaining stuff. Wait til you see the sniper with the orbital satellite link-up.
To summarize:
MOVIE:
+ Amazing art and animation
- Slow story and ponderous, empty philosophy that kills the pacing
TV SHOW:
+ Very good art and animation
+ Great stories that both entertain and provoke thought, but do it all without ever slowing down.
I don't own the movie on DVD, but I plan to buy the TV series.
Last edited by John Spartan; 05-30-04 at 11:37 PM.