Ga-Rei-Zero Collection (Blu-ray) (2008) |
|
Ga-Rei-Zero Collection (Blu-ray) (2008) |
|
|
| BUY IT |
| General | Extras | ||
| Category | Anime |
Featurette-Behind The Scenes-Location Specials TV Spots-Series Promo Videos TV Spots-DVD Promo Videos Music Video-Textless Opening and Closing Videos Trailer |
|
| Rating |
|
||
| Year Of Production | 2008 | ||
| Running Time | 300:00 | ||
| RSDL / Flipper |
Dual Layered Dual Disc Set |
Cast & Crew | |
| Start Up | Ads Then Menu | ||
| Region Coding | 1,2,3,4 | Directed By | Ei Aoki |
|
Studio
Distributor |
FUNimation Ltd Madman Entertainment |
Starring | None Given |
| Case | ? | ||
| RPI | ? | Music | Noriyasu Agematsu |
| Video | Audio | ||
| Pan & Scan/Full Frame | None |
English Dolby TrueHD 5.1 Japanese Dolby TrueHD 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 | ||
Ga-Rei-Zero, a 12 part anime series from Funimation and distributed in Region B by Madman Entertainment, has the most daring,perplexing and heart-stopping opening episode gambit of any film, let alone anime, in recent memory. The fact that the series itself never reclaims that level of innovation or excitement is a pity though anime fans will still find enough to satisfy their cravings.
What to say about Episode 1 without spoilers...
Suffice to say that the filmmakers spend a good deal of time stitching together a detailed and quite engrossing carpet only to pull it out from under us.
Some may know the Ga-Rei series from the manga The Enchained Spiritual Beast Ga-Rei by Hajime Segawa. If you do then chances are you will know about the fate of the central characters Yomi and Kagura. As with the last three Star Wars movies this series is a prequel of sorts to the manga which explains how the two demon hunters came to blows.
But I digress...The story for the series begins at a crucial stage in the battle between Yumi and Kagura. It then takes a long digression through the past to introduce these characters from the day of their first meeting.
Kagura, a young girl, is an heir to the paranormal slaying tradition that comes with being a member of the Tsuchimiya family. When her mother dies battling a spirit entity her father assumes the mantle of spirit warrior leader. He has no time for his daughter and she is placed with the Isayama family, another family of secret warriors. She is taken under the wing of talented fighter Yomi, an orphan taken in by the Isayama family when she was young.
Yomi and Kagura become "sisters". Little Kagura tags along with Yomi and her team of fighters, all members of an elite Depatment of the Environment squad, dedicated to keeping the things that go bump in the night in their place. There is the drill handed leader, the twins Nabu who share the same name and the briefcase wielding fighter, not to mention the young and handsome Noriyuki, with his spirit fighting foxes.
Yomi possesses her family sword capable of unleashing the fearsome chimera Rankuren. Kagura's father has a spirit chained to him, the dragon/snake Byakuei. It will be chained to Kagura when he dies.
The theme of dynasty and destiny are central to Ga-Re. Whilst the Japanese government is shown to be bungling in its attempts to provide an unified attack force against the spirits, the spirit fighting families are not much better. An arranged engagment between Yumi and Noriyuki provides some love interest and humour for the first few episodes but things turn darker when the question of heirdom comes up. Should it be Yumi , the "daughter" of the Isayama's or Mei, a tough fighter who is one step removed from inheritance but is of genuine Isayama blood.
The central story pairs the growing friendship of Yomi and Kagura and the fighting education of Kagura, with the sinister presence of a white haired boy, with his trademark cloud of butterflies. He has a powerful sesshoseki (in the English dub "bane-stone") for an eye and an appetite for destruction. His greatest power it seems is to bring out the secret longings and petty jealousies of those infected with it. Ironically, it is this stone which allows the Kagura's father to chain his spirit beast.
There are a lot of elements to Ga-Re-Zero and their handling varies. The spirit fighting is pretty exciting but the close friendship between the girls leans too much towards fan service and ultimately the turning of Yomi to the "dark side" is inexplicable. There is perhaps a better film lurking within this anime but, still, it was eminently watcheable and at times thrilling.
Ga-Rei-Zero comes to Blu-ray in a transfer consistent with its High Definition televison origins - a native 1.78:1.
The transfer is reasonably sharp throughout in its depiciton of the warriors and their spirit adversaries. The daytime shots are largely subject to diffused light which gives an overall softness to many of the interiors however this seems to be a stylistic choice.
The lines are cleanly drawn and the colours bright throughout.
The animation is occasionally interspersed with CGI, such as the "lizard demons" feet which looks a little jarring.
Overall quite a serviceable image without being a standout.
There are subtitles in English.
| Sharpness |   |
| Shadow Detail | |
| Colour | |
| Grain/Pixelization | |
| Film-To-Video Artefacts | |
| Film Artefacts | |
| Overall | |
The sound for Ga-Rei-Zero comes in two forms. There is an English True HD Dolby Digital 5.1 track and a Japanese True HD 2.0 track.
Purists will be ready to storm the barricades. The truth is that the English dub is pretty good and that both soundtracks have sufficient heft to impress. The English track is more expansive in sound though the surround sounds aren't so imposing as to demand a surround track.
The sub-woofer kicks in from time to time. The dialogue is clear and easy to understand.
The opening theme, Paradise Lost, is performed by Minori Chihara while the ending theme, Yume no Ashioto ga Kikoeru, is performed by Kaoru Mizuhara. Both get under your skin by the end of the series.
| Dialogue | |
| Audio Sync | |
| Clicks/Pops/Dropouts | |
| Surround Channel Use | |
| Subwoofer | |
| Overall | |
An intriguing feature comprising six video diaries following the team as they look at various locations which would find their way into the finished animation. It is an interesting idea but for three issues. Firstly, the locations seen in the anime seem generic Japanese backgrounds not really distinguishable from other shows. Secondly, the featurettes are fairly rough and ready (something which is acknowledged at the outset). Finally the fact that they stretch some two hours which be a challenge for even the most die hard anime fan. Worth a skim.
Paradise Lost, by Minori Chihara without the credits.
Yume no Ashioto ga Kikoeru by Kaoru Mizuhara without the credits.
More trailers than you can slice a katana at!:
NOTE: To view non-R4 releases, your equipment needs to be multi-zone compatible and usually also NTSC compatible.
This is a Region A and B Blu-ray.
Ga-Rei-Zero is an entertaining diversion though it falls short of greatness. The fighting is entertaining and the backstory has some nice moments, though it is a little overdone. The best part of the show is the rivalry aspects betweeen the clans but this fades out towards the end. Still, for anime fans a decent watch.
The Blu-ray is of decent quality throughout and it sounds pretty good too.
The extras didn't add much to the package.
| Video | |
| Audio | |
| Extras | |
| Plot | |
| Overall | |
| Review Equipment | |
| DVD | Cambridge 650BD (All Regions), using HDMI output |
| Display | Sony VPL-VW80 Projector on 110" Screen. Calibrated with Video Essentials. This display device is 16x9 capable. This display device has a maximum native resolution of 1080p. |
| Audio Decoder | Built in to amplifier/receiver. Calibrated with Ultimate DVD Platinum. |
| Amplification | Pioneer SC-LX 81 7.1 |
| Speakers | Aaron ATS-5 7.1 |