UlasanAnime.com – The ongoing format war between HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc (BRD) might be drawing to a close, especially with major American studios shifting their allegiance to BRD. However, this decision doesn’t significantly impact the broader landscape of media consumption.
Previously, there were reports of adult film studios favoring the HD DVD format due to perceived lower production costs. Yet, the influence of this on the format war is questionable, as the internet has long since become the dominant platform for adult content. This trend extends beyond adult entertainment, with on-demand delivery services via cable/telephone providers, and platforms like Apple TV, Xbox Live, and Netflix increasingly shaping how we consume media.
In the realm of anime, very few titles have truly impressed me with their high-definition presentation, with “True Tears” being a notable exception. While the internet offers “high-definition” encodes of various shows, the quality is often subpar. Many of these suffer from poor upscaling, encoding issues, or simply a weak source material.
You might also be interested in : What Goes with a Shooting Star?
The true appeal of high-definition formats lies in their ability to deliver a breathtaking visual experience, not just a marginal improvement over older standards. A key indicator of genuine HD is its immediate impact; if it doesn’t “punch you in the face,” it’s likely not true HD. While upscaling can enhance visuals, especially in anime, it cannot replace a proper high-definition treatment. Although “True Tears” may not reach the overwhelming visual impact of, for instance, the high-definition “5cm/s” trailer released over a year ago, it significantly surpasses other HD anime releases this season.
High-definition anime is becoming increasingly prevalent, with standard TV broadcast channels adopting the technology. It’s high time this advancement is reflected in home video releases. Japan needs to step up and provide high-quality HD anime for home consumption.
The notion of “reverse-import” is becoming increasingly irrelevant, and any further mention of it is unwelcome.
