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HD DVD NEWS TAGGED "HIGH-DEF ANIME"

'Freedom: 5' Announced For HD DVD This April

Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 01:00 PM ET
Tags: Disc Announcements, High-Def Anime, Bandai Visual (all tags)

Bandai Visual says it will bring the next installment in the popular anime series 'Freedom' to HD DVD this April.

Originally presented as a seven-part series in its native Japan, Bandai has retained the same strategy for 'Freedom's stateside debut, issuing a new 30-minute episode as a stand-alone release every few months.

Due in stores April 22, 'Freedom: 5' will again see a "twin format" configuration -- just like each of the first four volumes of the series, which Bandai first began releasing in the US back in June.

Tech specs will also be consistent, featuring a 1080p/VC-1 transfer (at 1.78:1 widescreen), and Japanese racks in Dolby Digital-Plus 5.1 Surround (1.5mbps) and PCM 2.0 Stereo (optional English subtitles are also provided).

Extras remain slim, with the disc proper including only a theatrical trailer, and for web-enabled users, a "digest version" of 'Freedom: 4' plus a TV spot for 'Freedom: 5.'

Retail for the HD DVD is a suggested $39.99.

You'll find disc details for 'Freedom: 5' linked from our HD DVD Release Schedule, where it's indexed under April 22.

We've also set up a dedicated thread for Bandai's latest in our Forums area -- click the following link to discuss the 'Freedom: 5' HD DVD release.

Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
Freedom: 5 (HD DVD)
Freedom: 4 (HD DVD)
Freedom: 3 (HD DVD)
Freedom: 2 (HD DVD)
Freedom: 1 (HD DVD)

'Freedom: 4' Headed to HD DVD This February

Wed Jan 23, 2008 at 11:00 AM ET
Tags: Disc Announcements, High-Def Anime, Bandai Visual (all tags)

Bandai Visual has announced that it will bring the fourth installment in the anime series 'Freedom' to HD DVD this February.

Originally presented as a six-part series in its native Japan, Bandai is following the same release pattern here in the US, issuing a new 30-minute episode as a stand-alone release every few months.

Due for release on February 26, 'Freedom: 4' will mirror the "twin format" configuration of the first three volumes of the series, which Bandai first began releasing Stateside back in June.

Also mirroring the previous releases will be a slim extras package, with the disc proper including only a theatrical trailer, plus a 'Freedom: 3' digest version and TV spot for 'Freedom: 4' available to web-enabled users.

Retail for the HD DVD has been set at a suggested $39.99.

You'll find disc details for 'Freedom: 4' linked from our HD DVD Release Schedule, where it's indexed under February 26.

We've also set up a dedicated thread for Bandai Visual's latest in our Forums area -- click the following link to discuss the 'Freedom: 4' HD DVD release.

Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
Freedom: 4 (HD DVD)
Freedom: 3 (HD DVD)
Freedom: 2 (HD DVD)
Freedom: 1 (HD DVD)

'Appleseed Ex Machina' Gets HD DVD, Blu-ray Date

Tue Nov 27, 2007 at 11:00 AM ET
Tags: Warner, High-Def Anime, Disc Announcements (all tags)

Warner has announced it will bring the latest installment in the popular Appleseed anime series to Blu-ray and HD DVD combo disc this March.

Produced by action auteur John Woo and directed by Shinji Aramaki, 'Appleseed Ex Machina' is a sequel to the 2004 hit 'Appleseed,' which was based on the popular Japanese manga of the same name. Though the original film has yet to hit high-def, Warner says it will debut the all-CGI follow-up on both Blu-ray and HD DVD/DVD combo disc, day and date with the standard-def DVD on March 11, 2008.

No specs or supplemental details were available at press time, but a full press release is expected in the coming weeks, so stay tuned.

Warner has set matching suggested list prices of $34.99 for both next-gen versions.

You'll find preliminary disc details for 'Appleseed Ex Machina' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule and our HD DVD Release Schedule, where it's indexed under March 11, 2008.

We've also set up dedicated threads for Warner's latest in our Forums area -- click the following links to discuss the 'Appleseed Ex Machina' Blu-ray release and the 'Appleseed Ex Machina' HD DVD release.

Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
Appleseed Ex Machina (Blu-ray)
Appleseed Ex Machina (HD DVD)

'Freedom: 3' HD DVD Due This December

Fri Oct 19, 2007 at 01:00 PM ET
Tags: Disc Announcements, High-Def Anime, Bandai Visual (all tags)

Bandai Visual has announced it will bring the third installment in the anime series 'Freedom' to HD DVD this December.

As our own Kenneth Brown has discussed at length in his earlier HD DVD reviews of 'Freedom 1' and 'Freedom 2,' this six-part anime series is being released one half-hour episode at a time in its native Japan. Instead of issuing the entire seres as a single box set here in the US, Bandai is following the Japanese release pattern, releasing new a installment every few months.

Set for release December 11, 'Freedom: 3' will mirror the "twin format" configuration of the first two volumes of the series, which Bandai first began releasing Stateside back in June. Tech specs will also be consistent, featuring a 1080p/VC-1 encoded transfer at 1.78:1 widescreen, and Japanese tracks in Dolby Digital-Plus 5.1 Surround (1.5mbps) and PCM 2.0 Stereo (optional English subtitles are also provided).

Extras will be slim, with the disc proper including only a theatrical trailer, but Bandai says we can expect 'Freedom 3' to include a few as-yet-unannounced web-enabled features.

List price for 'Freedom: 3' will be $39.98.

As always, you'll find disc details for this latest installment in the 'Freedom' series linked from our HD DVD Release Schedule, under its release date of December 11.

We've also set up a dedicated thread for Bandai's latest in our Forums area -- click the following link to discuss the 'Freedom: 3' HD DVD release.

Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
Freedom: 1 (HD DVD)
Freedom: 2 (HD DVD)
Freedom: 3 (HD DVD)

'Freedom: 2' Bound for HD DVD this September

Wed Aug 15, 2007 at 07:55 AM ET
Tags: Disc Announcements, High-Def Anime, Bandai Visual (all tags)

Bandai Visual has announced it will bring the second volume in its popular anime series 'Freedom' to high-def this fall as a HD DVD/DVD twin-format release.

Due on September 25, 'Freedom: 2' will mirror the "twin format" configuration of 'Freedom: 1,' which Bandai first released stateside back in June. Not to be confused with double-sided HD DVD/DVD combo discs, twin-format discs can contain up to three layers of recorded content on a single-sided disc. Like 'Freedom: 1,' 'Freedom: 2' will use two of those layers -- a 15GB HD DVD layer, and a 4.6GB standard-def DVD layer.

Tech specs for 'Freedom: 2' include a 1080p/VC-1 encoded transfer at 1.78:1 widescreen, and Japanese tracks in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround and PCM 2.0 Stereo (optional English subtitles are also provided).

Bandai Visual has not yet announced whether any supplemental features will be included on 'Freedom: 2.' However, since the first volume featured a groundbreaking set of exclusive extras, we can hope for more goodies on this follow-up.

Bandai has set a list price of $39.98.

We've added a new listing for 'Freedom: 2' to our complete HD DVD Release Schedule, under September 25. Stay tuned for more details in the weeks ahead.

(Thanks to Mike for the tip!)

See what people are saying about this story in our forums area, or check out other recent discussions.

Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
Freedom: 2 (HD DVD)
Freedom: 1 (HD DVD)

'Wings of Honneamise' to Fly on Blu-ray, HD DVD this September

Mon Jul 16, 2007 at 07:55 AM ET
Tags: Disc Announcements, High-Def Anime, Bandai Visual (all tags)

One of the classics of anime will make its high-def debut when Bandai Visual brings 'Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honneamise' to Blu-ray and HD DVD this fall.

Due to hit both Blu-ray and HD DVD on September 11, Bandai will present the acclaimed anime masterpiece in a newly-remastered 20th Anniversary Edition.

Tech specs are identical on both versions, and are set to include a restored print remastered in full 1080p video, along with the original Japanese soundtrack in both Dolby Digital TrueHD and uncompressed PCM 5.1 surround versions. (An optional English dub in standard Dolby Digital 5.1 will also be included.)

Intriguingly, both next-gen releases are being billed as "two-disc sets," with the second disc being a standard-def DVD. At press time, it wasn't clear what might appear on that second disc -- the fact that Bandai is calling both next-gen releases "combos" has led some to speculate that the standard-def DVD may just be a duplicate copy of 'Honneamise' in standard-def. Here's hoping that's not the case, and that the second disc will contain some as yet unannounced supplements, instead.

Bandai has set a rather pricey $79.99 MSRP for both the Blu-ray and HD DVD versions of 'Wing of Honneamise.'

We've added listings for 'The Wings of Honneamise' to both our Blu-ray Release Schedule and HD DVD Release Schedule under September 11. Watch for full supplemental details and box cover art to be revealed in the coming weeks.

We've also set up dedicated threads for Bandai Visual's latest announcement in our Forums area -- click the following links to discuss the 'Wings of Honneamise' Blu-ray release and the 'Wings of Honneamise' HD DVD release.

Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
Royal Space Force: Wings of Honneamise (Blu-ray)
Royal Space Force: Wings of Honneamise (HD DVD)

Bandai Visual Announces First Anime HD DVD Release with 'Freedom: Vol. 1'

Wed Mar 21, 2007 at 06:58 PM ET
Tags: Bandai Visual, High-Def Anime (all tags)

Bandai Visual today becomes the first North American anime studio to throw its hat into the next-gen ring, announcing its debut HD DVD title 'Freedom: Vol. 1' for release this summer.

The first in the popular sci-fi anime series, 'Freedom: Vol. 1' will see a simultaneous debut in the U.S. and Japan on June 26. The title will be packaged as an HD DVD/DVD combo release, and distributed in North America by Bandai Visual USA through their distributor Geneon Entertainment

Bandai Visual intends to "utilize the expanded technological capabilities of the HD DVD format" to present viewers with high added-value on its titles

Full specs are not yet available for 'Freedom,' but the release will include a 1080p/VC-1 encoded transfer, and make use of the HD DVD format's HDi authoring environment, which suggests cutting-edge features including picture-in-picture video and more.

After 'Freedom Vol.1,' Bandai Visual will start releasing other HD DVD and Blu-ray titles in Japan. They have not yet announced any Blu-ray titles for North American distribution, including 'Freedom: Vol. 1.'

We'll keep you posted as more details come in for 'Freedom,' as well as future Bandai Visual announcements.

We've also added a new listing for 'Freedom: Vol. 1' to our complete HD DVD Release Schedule, under June 26.