The Place Promised in Our Early Days (2004)
雲のむこう、約束の場所
Animation, Adventure, Drama, Romance • 1h 30m
Overview
In a post-war alternative timeline, Japan is divided into the North, controlled by the Union, and the South, controlled by the United States. A mysterious high tower rises within the borders of the Union. Three high school students promise to cross the border with a self-built airplane and unravel the secret of the tower.
Director: Makoto Shinkai
Director: Makoto Shinkai
Hong Kong Neofilms 4K Blu-ray
US/UK Crunchyroll 4K Blu-ray
Hong Kong Neofilms 4K Blu-ray
Hong Kong Neofilms 4K Blu-ray/Japan Toho 4K Blu-ray
Hong Kong Neofilms 4K Blu-ray has better bitrate and detail than Japan Toho 4K Blu-ray, both releases have English subtitles.
The original theatrical Atmos mix has not been given a home release.
Director: Makoto Shinkai
Hong Kong Neofilms 4K Blu-ray
US/UK Crunchyroll 4K Blu-ray
Hong Kong Neofilms 4K Blu-ray
Hong Kong Neofilms 4K Blu-ray/Japan Toho 4K Blu-ray
Hong Kong Neofilms 4K Blu-ray has better bitrate and detail than Japan Toho 4K Blu-ray, both releases have English subtitles.
The original theatrical Atmos mix has not been given a home release.
Director: Makoto Shinkai
Director: Makoto Shinkai
Director: Makoto Shinkai
Director: Makoto Shinkai
Director: Makoto Shinkai
Director: Makoto Shinkai
Japan "4K Remastered" Disney Blu-ray has the original 6.1 mix
Japan Disney 4K Blu-ray for the DTS:X remix
Funimation US Blu-ray for the Bandai dub
Manga Entertainment UK Blu-ray for the Manga Entertainment dub
Italy Dynit Blu-ray has the best picture quality but has no English subtitles or original theatrical 6.1 mix.
All "4K Remastered" and 4K Blu-ray releases (including from Disney) are taken from a 35mm filmout rather than the original digital source, and then heavily DNR'd, destroying original detail and making lines smearier than before. The Japan Disney 4K Blu-ray is the least bad presentation of the 4K remaster, being encoded with a very healthy bitrate and HDR10+ metadata, with the original 6.1 mix included on the pack-in "4K Remastered" Blu-ray.
The film has multiple English subtitle translations, and the Disney subtitles done by Linda Hoaglund and Judith Aley with Aura are often seen as the best translation, with these subtitles present on the Japan Disney 4K Blu-ray.
Japan "4K Remastered" Disney Blu-ray has the original 6.1 mix
Japan Disney 4K Blu-ray for the DTS:X remix
Funimation US Blu-ray for the Bandai dub
Manga Entertainment UK Blu-ray for the Manga Entertainment dub
Italy Dynit Blu-ray has the best picture quality but has no English subtitles or original theatrical 6.1 mix.
All "4K Remastered" and 4K Blu-ray releases (including from Disney) are taken from a 35mm filmout rather than the original digital source, and then heavily DNR'd, destroying original detail and making lines smearier than before. The Japan Disney 4K Blu-ray is the least bad presentation of the 4K remaster, being encoded with a very healthy bitrate and HDR10+ metadata, with the original 6.1 mix included on the pack-in "4K Remastered" Blu-ray.
The film has multiple English subtitle translations, and the Disney subtitles done by Linda Hoaglund and Judith Aley with Aura are often seen as the best translation, with these subtitles present on the Japan Disney 4K Blu-ray.
Director: Katsuhiro Otomo
Japan 4K Blu-ray beats the other 4Ks and includes English subtitles
Dynit IT Blu-ray
All 4K releases are upscales of the same master with a substantial amount of DNR.
1988 Pioneer JP LaserDisc for the original 1988 home video audio
2001 Dynit IT Blu-ray for the 2001 remix
2009 Bandai Visual JP Blu-ray / 2011 MHE UK Blu-ray for the Hypersonic remix
1992 Criterion US LaserDisc for the 1988 Streamline English dub
2013 FUNimation US Blu-ray the 2001 Animaze English dub
Due to budgetary constraints, the original theatrical mix was mono. It was replaced with Dolby Surround for all subsequent releases and was never re-released.
LaserDisc is the best souning version of the original home video mix, as all later releases attentuate bass significantly and lower dynamic range. Comparison
The Japanese audio was remixed in 5.1 twice, first time in 2001 for the DVD release, and second time in 2009 for the BD release ("Hypersonic" remix). While the 2001 remix remains mostly faithful to the 1988 mix, the 2009 Hypersonic remix is highly revisionistic. However, its fidelity is outstanding, and despite many changes made, it's a worthwhile alternative experience for fans of the film. The 4K release includes the Hypersonic mix, but with a tonne of unnecessary noise reduction and unbalanced levels.
Comparison between mixes, list of changes between mixes
Director: Katsuhiro Otomo
Japan 4K Blu-ray beats the other 4Ks and includes English subtitles
Dynit IT Blu-ray
All 4K releases are upscales of the same master with a substantial amount of DNR.
1988 Pioneer JP LaserDisc for the original 1988 home video audio
2001 Dynit IT Blu-ray for the 2001 remix
2009 Bandai Visual JP Blu-ray / 2011 MHE UK Blu-ray for the Hypersonic remix
1992 Criterion US LaserDisc for the 1988 Streamline English dub
2013 FUNimation US Blu-ray the 2001 Animaze English dub
Due to budgetary constraints, the original theatrical mix was mono. It was replaced with Dolby Surround for all subsequent releases and was never re-released.
LaserDisc is the best souning version of the original home video mix, as all later releases attentuate bass significantly and lower dynamic range. Comparison
The Japanese audio was remixed in 5.1 twice, first time in 2001 for the DVD release, and second time in 2009 for the BD release ("Hypersonic" remix). While the 2001 remix remains mostly faithful to the 1988 mix, the 2009 Hypersonic remix is highly revisionistic. However, its fidelity is outstanding, and despite many changes made, it's a worthwhile alternative experience for fans of the film. The 4K release includes the Hypersonic mix, but with a tonne of unnecessary noise reduction and unbalanced levels.
Comparison between mixes, list of changes between mixes
UK Anime, Ltd. 4K Blu-ray
Any of the Blu-rays, they're all the same with only minor differences (Dynit 4K Blu-ray is 24-bit). Previous sources are from an inferior transfer, and minor censorship.
UK Anime, Ltd. 4K Blu-ray
Any of the Blu-rays, they're all the same with only minor differences (Dynit 4K Blu-ray is 24-bit). Previous sources are from an inferior transfer, and minor censorship.
More Animation on Blu-ray
Director: Mamoru Oshii
Bandai Japan 4K Blu-ray
All the Anime FRA 4K Blu-ray | Caps comparison: Ghost in the Shell (1995) | Slowpoke Pics
All the Anime FRA 4K Blu-ray
The All the Anime FRA and the Lionsgate USA run to the same frame and come from the same source, while the Bandai JPN is a separate assembly, and these three discs do not share a master and are graded differently. The French and the Japanese hold the same hue throughout; the Lionsgate is shifted, and by different amounts from scene to scene. The Lionsgate is the only Dolby Vision Profile 7 FEL (when the All the Anime is Dolby Vision Profile 7 MEL and The Bandai is only HDR10) and the extra coding precision is genuine, but it buys nothing here: the grain dithers the gradients on its own and none of the three discs bands.
What separates them is texture, and it is not close. The All the Anime FRA is very clearly superior to both others: far more fine detail, tighter edges with no sign of sharpening, and real gradation in the shadows where the other two simply go to black. It is a beautiful master, filmic and untouched. Both the US and the Japanese discs have had DNR applied: flat areas and edges are smoothed alike, so a great deal of the texture the French keeps is simply gone. The Lionsgate also falls apart on darker shots, and the Bandai is the softest of the three on top of a very conservative grade.
The French disc is the one to get, by a wide margin.
Caps comparison: Ghost in the Shell (1995) | Slowpoke Pics
Be warned that the All the Anime FRA is not English-friendly at all: it carries no English audio track and no English subtitles while being well served on the Japanese side, with the 6.1 mix from Ghost in the Shell 2.0 and the original 2.0 mix, both retaining the original 1995 end credits music, alongside the modern Dolby Atmos track.
Worth noting: the KSM GER release may carry the same master as the All the Anime FRA, but without a copy on hand I can neither confirm nor rule it out.
Director: Mamoru Oshii
Bandai Japan 4K Blu-ray
All the Anime FRA 4K Blu-ray | Caps comparison: Ghost in the Shell (1995) | Slowpoke Pics
All the Anime FRA 4K Blu-ray
The All the Anime FRA and the Lionsgate USA run to the same frame and come from the same source, while the Bandai JPN is a separate assembly, and these three discs do not share a master and are graded differently. The French and the Japanese hold the same hue throughout; the Lionsgate is shifted, and by different amounts from scene to scene. The Lionsgate is the only Dolby Vision Profile 7 FEL (when the All the Anime is Dolby Vision Profile 7 MEL and The Bandai is only HDR10) and the extra coding precision is genuine, but it buys nothing here: the grain dithers the gradients on its own and none of the three discs bands.
What separates them is texture, and it is not close. The All the Anime FRA is very clearly superior to both others: far more fine detail, tighter edges with no sign of sharpening, and real gradation in the shadows where the other two simply go to black. It is a beautiful master, filmic and untouched. Both the US and the Japanese discs have had DNR applied: flat areas and edges are smoothed alike, so a great deal of the texture the French keeps is simply gone. The Lionsgate also falls apart on darker shots, and the Bandai is the softest of the three on top of a very conservative grade.
The French disc is the one to get, by a wide margin.
Caps comparison: Ghost in the Shell (1995) | Slowpoke Pics
Be warned that the All the Anime FRA is not English-friendly at all: it carries no English audio track and no English subtitles while being well served on the Japanese side, with the 6.1 mix from Ghost in the Shell 2.0 and the original 2.0 mix, both retaining the original 1995 end credits music, alongside the modern Dolby Atmos track.
Worth noting: the KSM GER release may carry the same master as the All the Anime FRA, but without a copy on hand I can neither confirm nor rule it out.
Director: Kenji Iwaisawa
Japan Pony Canyon Blu-ray for original 7.1 mix
Director: Kenji Iwaisawa
Japan Pony Canyon Blu-ray for original 7.1 mix
Paramount 4K Blu-ray has the original colour grade
Paramount 4K Blu-ray has the original colour grade
Director: Pierre Perifel
2D version: Universal 4K Blu-ray
3D version: Australia Universal/Sony 3D Blu-ray
2D version: Universal 4K Blu-ray
3D version: Australia Universal/Sony 3D Blu-ray
Director: Pierre Perifel
2D version: Universal 4K Blu-ray
3D version: Australia Universal/Sony 3D Blu-ray
2D version: Universal 4K Blu-ray
3D version: Australia Universal/Sony 3D Blu-ray
Directors: Tony Bancroft & Barry Cook
2020 Disney 4K Blu-ray
Digital re-render: 2020 Disney 4K Blu-ray, caveat: no Dolby Vision metadata from 4K Streaming
Original theatrical 35mm render: WOWOW HDTV broadcast
Directors: Tony Bancroft & Barry Cook
2020 Disney 4K Blu-ray
Digital re-render: 2020 Disney 4K Blu-ray, caveat: no Dolby Vision metadata from 4K Streaming
Original theatrical 35mm render: WOWOW HDTV broadcast
Directors: Andrew Adamson & Vicky Jenson
2011 Blu-ray (4K Blu-ray is upscaled; former PDI animator Jonathan Gibbs confirms the film was originally rendered at 1828 pixels wide to save file space)
2011 Blu-ray (4K Blu-ray is upscaled; former PDI animator Jonathan Gibbs confirms the film was originally rendered at 1828 pixels wide to save file space)
The old 2 disc DVD has extras missing from 4K Blu-ray
Directors: Andrew Adamson & Vicky Jenson
2011 Blu-ray (4K Blu-ray is upscaled; former PDI animator Jonathan Gibbs confirms the film was originally rendered at 1828 pixels wide to save file space)
2011 Blu-ray (4K Blu-ray is upscaled; former PDI animator Jonathan Gibbs confirms the film was originally rendered at 1828 pixels wide to save file space)
The old 2 disc DVD has extras missing from 4K Blu-ray
3D Conversion: Disney 3D Blu-ray
3D Conversion: Disney 3D Blu-ray
7.1 Remix: Disney 4K Blu-ray/3D Blu-ray/Blu-ray
Original Dolby Stereo: 1994 Disney LaserDisc
Disney 4K Blu-ray recycles the same 7.1 remix from the past releases, but it's a very faithful remix and sounds better, more detailed, and more dynamic than past mixes.
3D Conversion: Disney 3D Blu-ray
3D Conversion: Disney 3D Blu-ray
7.1 Remix: Disney 4K Blu-ray/3D Blu-ray/Blu-ray
Original Dolby Stereo: 1994 Disney LaserDisc
Disney 4K Blu-ray recycles the same 7.1 remix from the past releases, but it's a very faithful remix and sounds better, more detailed, and more dynamic than past mixes.
Directors: John Musker & Ron Clements
OG theatrical version: Disney Deluxe Edition LaserDisc
2004 restored version: Disney 4K Blu-ray
OG theatrical version: Disney Deluxe Edition LaserDisc
2004 restored version: Disney 4K Blu-ray
OG theatrical version - uncensored: Pre-1993 35mm scans
OG theatrical version - censored: 1993+ 35mm scans or Disney Deluxe Edition LaserDisc
OG theatrical version has a racially insensitive lyric in opening "Agrabah" song replaced for re-releases, available on OG soundtrack CD and pre-1993 35mm prints only
Every release since the 2004 restored version on the OG Disney DVD has the line "Come on, good kitty, just take off and go" replaced with "Take off, good kitty" due to the 1992 line being misheard as "Come on, good teenagers, take off your clothes" (an occurrence called a "mondegreen")
Directors: John Musker & Ron Clements
OG theatrical version: Disney Deluxe Edition LaserDisc
2004 restored version: Disney 4K Blu-ray
OG theatrical version: Disney Deluxe Edition LaserDisc
2004 restored version: Disney 4K Blu-ray
OG theatrical version - uncensored: Pre-1993 35mm scans
OG theatrical version - censored: 1993+ 35mm scans or Disney Deluxe Edition LaserDisc
OG theatrical version has a racially insensitive lyric in opening "Agrabah" song replaced for re-releases, available on OG soundtrack CD and pre-1993 35mm prints only
Every release since the 2004 restored version on the OG Disney DVD has the line "Come on, good kitty, just take off and go" replaced with "Take off, good kitty" due to the 1992 line being misheard as "Come on, good teenagers, take off your clothes" (an occurrence called a "mondegreen")
Director: Goro Miyazaki
2011 Japan Studio Ghibli Blu-ray
Director: Goro Miyazaki
2011 Japan Studio Ghibli Blu-ray
Edit History
