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TORRENT DETAILS
[Scoped] Akira (1988) [BD X264, JPN FLAC, ENG ASS]
***
Sources:
Video: ITBD [hydes]
Japanese:
2.0 Original - JPBD [WPR]
5.1 Hypersonic - UKBD [Kaze]
5.1 Classic - ITBD [hydes]
Subtitles: USBD [brap]
[mediainfo](https://pastebin.com/5cmeC1Wk)
***
**Video Modifications:**
[Cropped](https://slow.pics/c/siQFsx1W).
[Rescaled](https://slow.pics/c/2czgEhC4).
[Stabilised](https://slow.pics/c/xhlk4TBV)
[Dehaloed](https://slow.pics/c/8LkxrExt).
[Sharpened](https://slow.pics/c/svwS6SCv).
[Grained](https://slow.pics/c/BSixCWuE).
**Audio Modifications:**
Japanese 2.0 Original - LPCM 2.0 (48kHz, 16-bit) converted to FLAC.
Japanese 5.1 Hypersonic - Dolby TrueHD 5.1 (192kHz, 24-bit) converted to FLAC 5.1 (96kHz, 16-bit).
Japanese 5.1 Classic - DTS-HD MA 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit) converted to FLAC (48kHz, 16-bit).
**Subtitle Modifications:**
OCRed and font-changed (font changed by me).
Reinstated honorifics (Tetsuo-kun for instance)
Reverted to Japanese name order (Shima Tetsuo instead of Tetsuo Shima)
Used some lines from THORA's subtitles for lines Funimation didn't translate.
De-Boomered the translation when required.
Retimed every line.
***
**Why This Exists:**
All the BDs for Akira look a bit shit, the Dynit one is considered the best but it leaves a lot to be desired with it being based around a 2001 DVD master.
I decided with this filtering to approach it from an enhancement perspective, instead of just fixing the [haloing](https://i.slow.pics/WVCqQuZx.png) present and calling it a day.
***
**Filtering Details:**
The restoration this BD is based on a 2001 restoration, and was a [4:3](https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/481891099711897602/861394413422510100/unknown.png), [1080i](https://youtu.be/i_lIoXoBMDs?t=124) restoration which was cropped to the intended AR resulting in it being 774p, which means it is upscaled for any BD. Rescaling to this res manages to sharpen the image and [bring out details](https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/481891099711897602/861389624257150986/2DyfA9IRI9.mp4) that weren't obvious before.
Video has been stabilised to counteract gate-weave due to inherent characteristics of film scanning. Only 4 pixels horizontally and vertically has been lost.
This source has a rather ludicrous amount of haloing, dehaloing was applied to make a nicer image.
Next a sharpening filter was applied as the source is rather blurry. Sharpening the video achieves a remaster look that makes it visually pretty astonishing.
During the original restoration degraining was applied as well as the grain in general being rather ugly. A grain filter has been applied to give it a more uniform look as well as further giving it a remaster look.
[5 Comparison Shots](https://slow.pics/c/lNHqSUqX)
***
**A brief history of Akira in the Digital Era written by WPR:**
Akira has been one of the most re-released anime films of all time, with several editions, and tons of audio mixes in both its original Japanese and often many languages receiving multiple dubs.
Released theatrically in Japan in 1988, it wasn’t the animation masterpiece we know today. Around 200 visual fixes were produced for the Japanese Laserdisc released later that year, and the audio was fully remixed. Among said changes were the end credits: originally in Japanese, they were completely remade from scratch, fully spelled out in English. This updated Laserdisc release is what we know and love, and was overseen by director Katsuhiro Otomo. The theatrical version has never been released on home video... ever.
Despite the numerous releases, however, in the digital age, Akira has only been restored twice: once by IVC in Chicago using a newly made interpositive struck from the original camera negative by Bandai in Japan. The IP was scanned on a Spirit Datacine, and was restored using both automated and manual cleanup. The film restoration and simultaneously produced new English dub were examined and approved by THX... and secondly by Q-Tec in Japan, also using a newly made interpositive struck from the original camera negative, scanned at 16-bit HDR from a Lasergraphics 6.5K scanner, and restored through Q-Tec’s own FORS Master Process.
It’s a tale of two restorations: one, a respectable, but dated remaster with pure intentions to deliver the definitive presentation possible in said era, let down mostly by technological restraints... and the other, a disastrous restoration utilizing a superb scan (still of an IP, because Bandai are too scared to use the neg), only to be mutilated by destructive filtering to the filmic integrity of the source, resulting in a less detailed and refined presentation, with only a solid HDR pass as its saving grace. As such, the 2001 restoration by IVC and THX is still the best source of the film to date, with the most recent Italian Blu-ray by esteemed distributor Dynit as the best encoded version of it on disc.
Bandai Visual claimed their 2009 Blu-ray featured a brand new restoration, however, when compared to the 2001 DVD restoration by IVC, it appears the general qualities are very similar, if not nearly identical.
With regards to audio in Japanese, said original audio mix has never been released, and as such, the Laserdisc Dolby Surround track should be considered the “original” standard mix. Alongside the 2001 restoration, a new Japanese 5.1 remix was produced, staying mostly faithful to the sound design and mixing of the ‘88 LD track. However, fundamental changes begin here which persist in every subsequent remix.
In 2009, when Bandai Visual released Akira on Blu-ray for the first time, one of the major selling points was a brand new remix utilizing the full bandwidth of the Dolby TrueHD codec: lossless 5.1 surround at 192kHz at full 24-bit. Simply put, the 2009 Hypersonic mix is an absolute beast of a track, featuring absolute reference quality clarity and fidelity, resulting in one of the best sounding audio tracks to any film ever made... on a technical level. With regards to the mixing, while frequently stunning, it is far removed from the ‘88 LD track, with many changes both logical and illogical, producing a track both highly respected and criticized for its revisionist nature. Still, it deserves to be heard by any and all audiophiles with the caveat regarding faithfulness to the source material.
And lastly, for its 4K UHD Blu-ray release, a second Hypersonic track was performed, with a number of changes from its 2009 cousin, but with very few positives. Major noise reduction has been applied to the mix, resulting in less clear dialogue and distorted effects, but the mixing has even more questionable changes. Sound effects have been boosted to compensate for the severe NR, and audio levels are nowhere near as refined as the 2009 track, where an intricate balance of intensely crafted action and quieter, yet immersive sound mixing has been traded for a sonic whiplash of brash and distorted action with moments so filtered it’s hard to even hear the tiny background effects in less intense moments. Due to such sonic stupidity, the 4K hypersonic track has not been included.
As such, my personal suggestion is to watch the film with the 2.0 Dolby Surround track, as it is a faithful representation of how the film was intended to be heard on home video. If you demand discreet and not matrixed surround sound, the 2001 5.1 mix is a decent alternative. Finally, the 2009 hypersonic mix is a must listen, but as an alternative track due to its many changes in the core design and elements at play.
***
**A brief message from a fan-favourite character:**
Had to retime every line because Funi didn't get the memo that you're supposed to time the subtitles to the dialog. They also thought it was a great fucking idea to translate a bunch of irrelevant signs but not bother with the dialog.
I mean if you bought a Funimation release in the first place then you probably can't glance at a sign and read dialog at the same time though. Guess they know their audience. Wait? What's that? A line of dialog appearing on screen for a tenth of a second right after a sign that was sitting on screen for almost 12 seconds? Great job Funi! We all had time to read that.
Thank you THORA for being the only release group in existence to my knowledge that actually translated the missing lines.
***
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[Scoped] Akira (1988) [BD x264, JPN FLAC, ENG ASS].mkv
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