Your Lie in April 2 (Shigatsu wa kimi no Uso) (Blu-ray) (2014)

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General		Extras
Category	Anime	Audio Commentary-x 1 More…-Textless Opening Song More…-Textless Closing Song More…-Bloopers (6:22)
Rating
Year Of Production	2014
Running Time	251:30
RSDL / Flipper	Dual Layered Dual Disc Set	Cast & Crew
Start Up	Menu
Region Coding	2,4	Directed By	Takehiko Shinjo
Studio Distributor	Madman Entertainment	Starring	Natsuki Hanae / Max Mittelman Risa Taneda / Erica Lindbeck Ayane Sakura / Erica Mendez Ayane Sakura / Erica Mendez Saori Hayami / Erika Harlacher Yuuki Kaji / Erik Scott Kimerer Mie Sonozaki / Carrie Keranen Ai Kayano / Stephanie Sheh
Case	?
RPI	?	Music	Masaru Yokoyama

Video		Audio
Pan & Scan/Full Frame	None	English Linear PCM 48/24 2.0 Japanese Linear PCM 48/24 2.0
Widescreen Aspect Ratio	1.78:1
16x9 Enhancement
Video Format	1080p
Original Aspect Ratio	1.78:1	Miscellaneous
Jacket Pictures	No
Subtitles	English	Smoking	No
		Annoying Product Placement	No
		Action In or After Credits	No

     In the second set of episodes (12-22) of Your Lie in April Kousei (voiced by Natsuki Hanae / Max Mittelman) has been forced by the beautiful, strong-willed and vivacious Kaori (Risa Taneda / Erica Lindbeck) to play the piano again; she has also persuaded (or railroaded) him into being her accompanist during an upcoming school gala performance. At the same time Hiroko (Mie Sonozaki / Carrie Keranen), a master pianist and friend of Kousei’s mother who has known him since he was little, reappears on the scene to help mentor Kousei. On the day of the gala performance Kaori does not show up; Kousei performs alone and finally rises beyond his mother’s influence to become his own performer.

     We learn that Kaori did not arrive for the performance because she had collapsed and was taken to the hospital, where her medical condition leaves her confined to bed. Kousei, Tsubaki (Ayane Sakura / Erica Mendez) and Watari (Ryota Ohsaka / Kyle McCarley) visit her but Kousei is devastated; Kaori in hospital brings back memories of the time his mother was dying in hospital. Are things being repeated? At this time a talented younger girl, Nagi (Ai Kayano / Stephanie Sheh), begs Hiroko to be her piano teacher. Hiroko surprisingly agrees because she has a plan to help Kousei out of his depression over Kaori and instructs him to be Nagi’s teacher. Kousei recognises that Nagi’s attitude to the perfection of music is not unlike his own younger self so he instructs her. However, Nagi does have a hidden agenda which is put to the test when Nagi and Kousei play a piano duet at her school. But as Kaori’s condition deteriorates and becomes life threatening, can Kousei find the will to carry on and play in the important competition that will determine his future as a pianist and as a person?

     Based on the manga by Naoshi Arakawa, Your Lie in April (Shigatsu was kimi no uso) is an unusual slant on the early teen experience of growing up and finding yourself. While music remains the key, the tone in this second half of the season is rather different with an emphasis on friendship and young love, and especially the anguish, hope and despair of undeclared love, and there are numerous episodes which feature copious displays of tears!

     With Kaori sick in hospital the focus changes initially to the other female characters Tsubaki and Nagi. Tsubaki finally acknowledges her love for Kousei to herself, but is unable to combat Kousei’s feelings for Kaori and his music. The younger Nagi, like Kousei’s rivals Emi (Saori Hayami / Erika Harlacher) and Nagi’s brother Takeshi (Yuuki Kaji / Erik Scott Kimerer), is another pianist who wants revenge on Kousei but who ultimately is inspired by his musical genius. While Watari remains pretty much himself, in this second set of episodes Kousei’s story arc is more complex; he manages to rise beyond the musical influence of his mother and to acknowledge, in his climactic performance, all the people, both friends and rivals, he has touched and inspired with his music. Finally, the story returns to Kaori and a devastating climax.

     The second 11 episodes of Your Lie in April are both much darker and far more emotional than the initial 11 episodes because the sorrows of young love, with its anguish and despair, is juxtaposed with a life threatening illness that transcends hope. This is heavy stuff which on occasion does drift into overly sentimental territory. However, the series is rescued by its humour, the magnificent music and the heartbreaking, emotional and very powerful climax. And at the end, when we find out why Kaori targeted Kousei, there would hardly be a dry eye in the house!

     Twenty two episodes of Your Lie in April have been aired on Japanese TV. This Blu-ray release contains episodes 12-22 on two discs.

Video

     Your Lie in April is presented in an aspect ratio of 1.78:1, the original broadcast ratio, in 1080p using the MPEG-4 AVC code.

     This is beautiful anime. There are quite a few static sections of anime but the lines are always firm. The backgrounds are stunning though, with pastel like watercolour images, but as this group of episodes are set in summer and winter there are no pink drifting cherry blossoms except at the end. However, the autumn colours are out in force with the yellow and red of the trees and the sky while the night sky is a luminous dark blue with twinkling stars and the snow a delicate white. Blacks are firm and shadow detail is fine. I did not notice any marks or artefacts.

     The English subtitles are in American English in a clear white font. The subtitles are not burnt in when the Japanese dub is selected so they can be removed for Japanese speakers. I noticed no errors.

Video Ratings Summary

Sharpness
Shadow Detail
Colour
Grain/Pixelization
Film-To-Video Artefacts
Film Artefacts
Overall

Audio

    Audio is a choice of the original Japanese or an English dub, both LPCM 2.0 48 / 24.

     Both tracks were surround encoded and were quite enveloping with music, voices, audience noises, rain and general ambience in the rears. The dialogue was clear. The English dub is good but I still prefer the original Japanese voice acting.

     The score by Masaru Yokoyama is haunting and the inclusion of powerful classical music, including Chopin, Kreisler and Tchaikovsky, is also a highlight.

     It is anime; lip synchronisation is approximate in either audio track.

Audio Ratings Summary

Dialogue
Audio Sync
Clicks/Pops/Dropouts
Surround Channel Use
Subwoofer
Overall

     The extras are on the second disc.

Commentary – Episode 22

     The same group as for the episode 1 commentary, US ADR director Patrick Seitz plus Erica Lindbeck, Erica Mendez, Kyle McCarthy and Max Mittelman (the voices of Kaori, Tsubaki, Watari and Kousei) reflect upon the emotional impact of the show and especially this last episode; there are moments of silence as they get distracted watching the episode, which is hardly surprising.

Textless Opening Song (1:31)

     The opening song without the credits.

Textless Closing Song (1:32)

     The closing song without the credits.

Bloopers (6:22)

     Stumbles, stuff-ups and fun with the US voice cast.

     Our release is identical to the Region A US Blu-ray including the FBI anti-piracy warning.

     Your Lie in April is one of those rare shows which stay in the memory after the end credits roll. It is complex, intelligent, amusing, sentimental, heartbreaking, emotional and compelling, aided by the thoughtful scripting and the powerful music.

     The video is stunningly beautiful, the audio fine. The extras are the same as available in the US.

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall