After lots of problems in 2008, with quite a few recalls, it’s time for one of Bandai’s big 2009 products, a new year, a new start, let’s see how Bandai does with their first Blu-ray, of Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence.

Unfortunately this will not be a full review, because once again, Bandai puts out a shoddy product with issues, none of the issues are really deal breakers, but theres so much ‘wtfs’ with this disk, I just can’t do a full review of it, because I half suspect the disk will be recalled, so instead of a full review, I’ll just be looking at what works, and what doesn’t, and what is wrong.

While the majority of these problems are specific to the Blu-ray version due to formats, chances are one specific problem will carry over to the DVD).

First, the video quality is decent, maybe a bit above average, but I was expecting more.

Second, we get the new Bandai dub, the Manga UK dub, and the Japanese language track.  All are normal Dolby tracks, because rather than give us a quality dual layer disk for the product, it’s single layer only…yay.

Third, the UK dub’s pitch is wrong, so everything sounds deep and mechanically distorted.

This isn’t a 40 dollar product, and frankly, it’s an embarrassing try by Bandai.

Quick comparison

Original Japanese disk Audio- PCM, Dolby EX, DTS-ES, and Dolby (all in Japanese)
Newer Japanese disk Audio- Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD MA, Dolby EX, and DTS-ES (all Japanese)
American Disk- Dolby (English Bandai, English Manga UK, and Japanese)

This disk just pissed me off, and I’d assume the problems with the Manga UK dub crossover to the DVD.

If you just want a disk with an English dub and the Japanese track and don’t notice audio quality, and you don’t care about the Manga UK dub, chances are this disk will be fine for you, everyone else, need not apply.

Also, a weird thing, this disk apparently was made by Bandai, but Bandai doesn’t hold the copyright on it, everything is copyrighted to Go Fish (Dreamworks arthouse label that did the original DVD), so I’m a little curious the story…  did Bandai actually license it from Dreamworks, or how did that work? …..am I supposed to complain to Dreamworks about the product?…  well regardless, shame on Bandai for a disk with just to many problems.

I’ll do a full review when/if the product is fixed.

Also,  just to ask the obvious question once again… why if they had the UK dub, which has the primary characters largely played by the same actors, did Bandai redub this?

Tags: Animation, Anime, Blu-ray, DVD, Ghost in the Shell, Ghost in The Shell 2, Ghost in The Shell 2: Innocence, GITS, Innocence: Ghost in the Shell, Review