Please note, I only own the El Hazard: Magnificant World series, which is only one of the three series that come in this box set, however I-A does not have a seperate listing for each series. Disk 1 - Contains the first Magnificant World OVA (eps 1-7). The quality of these episodes are a insult to a truely beautiful series. The vibrant colors and smooth lines and hacked away with heavy pixilation. However, I do not remember seeing any macroblocking at least. This first disk has a VCD quality feel to it. Rating: D+ (and yes, I am rather picky when it comes to video) Disk 2: Contains the second Magnificant World OVA (eps 1-4). This set is a huge improvement over the first. With only 4 episodes, it had better be. This set was much cleaner and pleasant to watch, even tho it was not quite the R1 quality either, it was standart for HK anime. Rating: A-

Good audio throughout the set at least.

This is a great series. It was sad to see it so mistreated. I do not like the Alternative World (sequel to the OVA) at all, nor do I care to watch the Wanders (alternative telling of the original OVA) so you will have to find out information reguarding those from another review.

***Please note that I have only watched the first 5 eps of the first of the 3 serises included in this box set (The Magnificent World of El-Hazard) and that it is towards this set that I will be basing this review :) Hmmm?, so now how do I describe the video quality, without making people want to give up entirely on this set, but to still convey just how bad it can really get during about 50% of the time (possibly more/less depending on the amount of movement/camera pans in any given scene)? How?s this, imagine if you will, an amalgamation of DVD quality colour (as the colours are QUITE striking) and image, during non to very (and I do stress VERY? lol) low action scenes, and VCD quality action/pan scenes, and you?ve got a pretty good picture of just how messed up the video quality can get. I mean we?re taking at times that you can actually COUNT the blocks that make up what the screen brakes up into, and then there?s times when everything looks as like a pixilated mess (which happens during most action/pan scenes) but then there are times when the picture quality is perfectly gorgeous, with GREAT colours, perfect lines (gads do I WISH that this were the case more often then not, but alas, this is not the case :( I mean sure, the colours are always vibrant, regardless of the quality of the picture at any given moment, but the picture quality, I?d liken to watching a strobe light effect at a night club, as it kinda makes you nauseous at first, but then you kinda (but never fully) get use to it. Update: new info on, The Magnificent World of El-Hazard, firstly, these appear to be laserdisc rips (as the Pioneer end logo, has an LDC after it, which I?m interpreting to mean, Laser Disc Company) and NOT from the DVD?s. Secondly, I finished the first disc, and can report that the video quality stays consistently inconsistent, through out the entire 7 eps on this disc. And thirdly, I?ve started into the second disc in this set titled, The Magnificent World of El-Hazard 2, consisting of 4 eps, and I?m glad to announce that the dread blocking/pixilating during action/pans, is gone, BUT, the picture quality over all, is not as crisp as the first disc (during still moments, that is) having a slight second generation look to it, BUT (again? lol) the quality IS consistent (from what I?ve seen so far).

The audio (unlike the picture quality) is consistent and quite nice.

The audio (unlike the picture quality) is consistent and quite nice.

To buy, or not to buy (I mean lets face it, if you?re looking at this review, chances are that it?s either: a) you want to know if the sets worth your money, or: b) you?re having a problem with something about this set, and (for piece of mind) want to know if anyone else has reported it (and for this reason, I always find it amazing that (I don?t know about you, but) I personally, hope that it?s just a problem with my DVD player, and that the DVD?s are okay. Which, when you stop to think about it, is QUITE odd, as in most cases, the DVD(s) in question, are usually cheaper to replace then the DVD player in question? lol) Personally, though it is true that the video quality did kinda put me off for a bit (having been spoiled with the GREAT jobs that FX has done on such sets as, Hellsing, Trigun and more recently, RahXephon) once I got watching the series (which actually isn?t a bad little bit of ?Fluff? :) the video quality kinda took a back seat to the story (though, not totally, as I have a persistently ?Picky? eye, that refuses to let me NOT see the inherent imperfections in most everything. Alas, a curse that I alone must bare, as my wife and friends have to actually have these imperfections pointed out to them, before they too, can see them :) and when you calculate in the price of actually buying these 3 sets in the R1 versions, in comparison to the $49 bucks to get the entire series in one, nicely packaged shot, then, in my humble opinion, I?d say that it was WELL worth it to put up with the (for mentioned) video quality. Hey, but if you happen to have the cash and/or want a persistently clear picture then I?d steer clear of this set (but, reality check boys and girls, these ARE rips we?re talking about here, and the only real reason that ANYONE would be buying them, instead of the R1 versions IS the, ?L.O.F. factor? (or, Lack Of Funds factor, for those of you who thought that the L.O.F. stood for Laughing On the Floor :) and pretty much only care that the DVD?s actually load up (without TOO many needs to open/close the disc try, before it will recognize that there IS in fact a DVD in the try? lol) and that the menus, have SOME semblance of English on them (so that you can actually FIND the sub menu that controls the Jap/Eng language track/subtitles, without the need to visit EVERY FREAKING sub menu present, on each disc) and only then, is audio/video, etc, REALLY of any true importance. But of course, this could only be me? lol Bottom line is; it?s cheap, it?s both playable AND watchable, and is a nice little anime, which I think (in my oft than not, misguided opinion :) WELL worth the monies spent.

Since I have not seen the Region One DVDs I cannot comment on how good a rip this is or if any faults with the video are due to the source material or FX or the fact that this is an older TV show instead of an OVA series but I can say that overall this series only looks OK. There is some minor pixellation and the colors never look solid and always look kind of grainy and pixelly especially dark colors in nighttime scenes.

No problems with the Japanese audio track at least as it was always clear and in sync with the video

No problems with the Japanese audio track at least as it was always clear and in sync with the video

*Please note that this review is for The Wanderers TV set by FX only.* That set did not have its own place on Import Anime as of now. The extras are minimal and include creditless opening A and B and a creditless ending. The first disc has the first eight episodes with each subsequent disc with nine episodes each. Each episode is divided up by chapter into Opening, Part A, Part B, Closing, and Next Episode Preview.

A lot of pixelation around the characters during action scene, but video is pretty good.

Nothing to say, japenese audio is good as usual, english dub is here but i don't ...

Nothing to say, japenese audio is good as usual, english dub is here but i don't ...

I don't think i'll rewatch this anime soon but i do not regret buying it . for info about the anime have a look on animenfo.