Video:

I pretty much have the same responses as the person below me. Flawless Video! Clear and Beautiful 16:9 Animorphic Widescreen!

Audio:

No Problems here whatsoever! Even registered as 5.1! Awesome!

Subtitle:

Again, Perfect pull. no out of sync, great translation!

Comment:

This is one of my most favorite releases! I didnt think I was going to get such great quality on 3 discs! I am so greatly apreciative that they did a great job!

Video:

AV gave us a flawless R1 rip in anamorphic widescreen here. I searched for possible signs of pixelation and macroblocking everywhere but couldn't find any. Not even in fast-motion scenes or CG sequences. Wow!

Audio:

You can choose from 4 audio tracks: Japanese DD 5.1 + 2.0 and English DD 5.1 + 2.0. Everything sounded excellent to me. However, there's no DTS track since this is not the special edition.

Subtitle:

As expected, this release has perfect english subs, taken from the R1 discs. I watched into several episodes now and couldn't find any missing or mistimed lines. Only strange thing is that eps. 6-9 (end of disc 1) have white instead yellow subs. But don't worry, they are the same perfect R1 subs as before, just using a different color now. It's still the same font, size and everything. From disc 2 on, they are yellow again and remain like that 'til the end. The optional subtitle track for on-screen text stays yellow all the time. Songtitles are green. I really don't see how this detail could affect my overall rating, so no deduction was made here.

Comment:

Earlier this year, when FX released a gorgeous-looking SAC boxset sourced from R2 Japan-DVD (at least disc 1-3, disc 4 was TV ripped) I was wondering how a future R1 rip with just 3 DVDs would look like. The answer: just as beautiful if not even better! Extras: - Interview with director Kenji Kamiyama, 11 m, fullscreen - Interview with Atsuko Tanaka (jpn. voice of Motoko Kusanagi), 10 m, fullscreen - textless OP/ ED, anamorphic ws The extras are the same for each disc (wtf?!). Both interviews are part of a longer "supplement" feature already known from the older FX set. But this time with perfect english subs. The omake segments "Tachikomatic Days" follow each episode and are perfectly subbed, too. Misc: Episodes 1-26 on 3 double layered DVDs, no stinky DVD-Rs. Episode distribution: 9/9/8. Gatefold packaging with well-functioning M-locks and clear slipcase. English front & backcover text. Artwork & disc colors are strong and vivid. Simply beautiful. Sku: DVD-438-E. (testing equipment: Panasonic S75 multiregion DVD player, Sony Wega 25" flat screen TV, RGB scart connection, Kenwood & JBL stereo setup)