Macross DYRL in 4K UHD with English Subtitles

[Steady]

There's only one version of the film on the disc--the new 4K version.  I have not watched the blu-ray that came with this set yet.  So I cannot comment on what it looks like.  I'm assuming that its a downscaled version of the new 4K master.  But I'll give it a look.

There are 3 audio tracks:  2 are from 2016 (DTS-HD- 5.1 and a Linear PCM Surround).  The other track is from 1984 (Linear PCM Mono I think)

The footage at the end of the film during the credits when Minmay sings Angel's Paints, unfortunalely, does not look as good as the movie.  Not sure what happened there.  Its feels like its from a different print or they used a different method to try and clean it up.  I know this sequence was done after the movie was completed.  Maybe that is part of it.  But just about all detail has been smeared away.  Also included is the video of Angel's Paints from Flashback 2012.  It does not look good either.

[Duke Togo]

14 minutes ago, Steady said:

The footage at the end of the film during the credits when Minmay sings Angel's Paints, unfortunalely, does not look as good as the movie.

They lost the original elements. They've been re-releasing the video captured from the laserdisc for decades. There is no better video of it.

[Steady]

3 minutes ago, Duke Togo said:

They lost the original elements. They've been re-releasing the video captured from the laserdisc for decades. There is no better video of it.

Aw man.  I didn't know that--really sad.  That sequence contains some incredible animation.

[efisher]

Currently watching it on my 77inch LG C3 OLED and i think it looks good to great depending on the the scene. Yeah, some of the scenes at the beginning are very out of focus/smeary but I sorta remember the second blu-ray release having similar problems. When Hikaru and Minmay go joyriding in the VT-1, the picture gets really sharp with very noticeable grain. The HDR is really good and pops. The black levels look much better as well.  I wish there was a 5.1 surround sound mix for the 1984 version of the film though (2.0 PCM only). All in all, I'm happy with this purchase so far.

Edited Tuesday at 11:55 PM by efisher

[Steady]

Cool.  Yeah, some sequences look better than others.  I'll have to take a closer look later.  I used to own the official Japanese VHS (actually it might be at my parent's house) release and the Dolby Surround on that was really good.  I remember the opening battle scene sounding great on that. 

[Powered Convoy]

53 minutes ago, efisher said:

Currently watching it on my 77inch LG C3 OLED and i think it looks good to great depending on the the scene. Yeah, some of the scenes at the beginning are very out of focus/smeary but I sorta remember the second blu-ray release having similar problems. When Hikaru and Minmay go joyriding in the VT-1, the picture gets really sharp with very noticeable grain. The HDR is really good and pops. The black levels look much better as well.  I wish there was a 5.1 surround sound mix for the 1984 version of the film though (2.0 PCM only). All in all, I'm happy with this purchase so far.

The 1984 version of the film is just the same film without the color corrections fixed, no? Is the picture quality the same for both versions?

[Gamma00Ray]

I got the blu ray today, too. From CD Japan. I already watched the UHD disc and used the 2016 version with the 5.1 audio, with English subtitles of course. I don't have a 4K TV, but it looked brilliant on my 1080p plasma TV. I've never seen HDR with my own eyes, but I've got to imagine the effect comes close with this disc and my old plasma TV. Some parts do look out of focus like they always did. Everything else looked clean and captivating. It might not be the most film-accurate, but gosh if it isn't a feast for the eyes. The only thing I didn't like was the song subtitles getting in the way of the top of the picture sometimes. I think it was an older bootleg blu ray that I have that has song subtitles off to the side in one corner. It's so rare to see something like that in a commercial product, though. The regular subtitles in this new edition seem pretty nice. I like them a bit better than the bootleg's subtitles. In short, I really like this new blu ray. It will probably be my go-to just because it looks absolutely outstanding even if the song subtitles aren't the best.

And who whoever it was that was asking, the poster has the same illustration as the booklet. The cover of the booklet is shown on page 6. It's above the blu ray case where it says 4K Ultra HD. The poster was rolled.

Also, the booklet appears to only be Japanese text inside. No art like in the Delta movies or the newer Zero set.

[lavinrac]

I Just finished watching the 4K and the Music Video.. Here's a photo of a few copies of the movie. 

I'm a fan of this release, but I also own the prior releases. so any perceived 'loss'.. I still have it. 

COLORS POP - The colors look incredible. They are much more saturated than the previous Blu Ray, but there is no bleeding.

SHARPNESS (and sharpening) - The scenes that were sharp are sharp(er?) The Processes they used really brought out some detail that make it look like pure animation cels.

BLURRY SCENES - The scenes that were blurry on 1080 are still blurry on 4K

All the gore I can remember is still present. The Budweiser missile is still there. I have not found any content missing.

 

You can tell its been messed with quite a bit.

This release is not for purists.

 

I am glad I have my other copies but I'll be honest.. this is the one I want to watch. If you strongly prefer film grain. you will NOT like this.   I popped the older blu ray in after I finished watching. the Blurry stuff is the same mess on both. The grain is SO evident on the blu ray and its pretty much gone on the 4k.. BUT, to my eyes, the blu ray's 'grain' comes mixed with mpeg/compression artifacts mixed in.. like the two seem to go hand in hand if you pause.. I've probably spent about a million hours editing in photoshop and premiere and such.. So its interesting that while I don't mind film grain, I hate what I call 'JPG worms' This is going to be either really devisive, or I will be alone in liking it.

 

Edited yesterday at 01:15 AM by lavinrac
typo

[Powered Convoy]

Someone showing off the reversible slip cover. 

https://www.reddit.com/r/macross/s/KjKjvPFzNk

[Steady]

Hey, that's a nice touch.  But I like the classic cover.  I'm just not much of a fan of Mikimoto's current style.

[Gamma00Ray]

1 hour ago, lavinrac said:

I Just finished watching the 4K and the Music Video.. Here's a photo of a few copies of the movie. 

I'm a fan of this release, but I also own the prior releases. so any perceived 'loss'.. I still have it. 

COLORS POP - The colors look incredible. They are much more saturated than the previous Blu Ray, but there is no bleeding.

SHARPNESS (and sharpening) - The scenes that were sharp are sharp(er?) The Processes they used really brought out some detail that make it look like pure animation cels.

BLURRY SCENES - The scenes that were blurry on 1080 are still blurry on 4K

All the gore I can remember is still present. The Budweiser missile is still there. I have not found any content missing.

 

You can tell its been messed with quite a bit.

This release is not for purists.

 

I am glad I have my other copies but I'll be honest.. this is the one I want to watch. If you strongly prefer film grain. you will NOT like this.   I popped the older blu ray in after I finished watching. the Blurry stuff is the same mess on both. The grain is SO evident on the blu ray and its pretty much gone on the 4k.. BUT, to my eyes, the blu ray's 'grain' comes mixed with mpeg/compression artifacts mixed in.. like the two seem to go hand in hand if you pause.. I've probably spent about a million hours editing in photoshop and premiere and such.. So its interesting that while I don't mind film grain, I hate what I call 'JPG worms' This is going to be either really devisive, or I will be alone in liking it.

 

Yes! I wasn't quite sure how to describe it, but it looks like animation cels on the TV screen. It was quite the thing to see. Kind of like Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo HD Remix with its literal comic book art moving on screen. I love how you said COLORS POP, too. The laser blasts going across the screen are out of this world. There is an intensity behind them that really adds to the look of the movie.

[onnasake]

3 hours ago, Duke Togo said:

They lost the original elements. They've been re-releasing the video captured from the laserdisc for decades. There is no better video of it.

 

Huh.  I had no idea.  Guess that explains why Flashback 2012 has only been released on LD and DVD.

That really sucks.  Even though it's only 5 minutes long, it's my favorite bit of Macross aside from the original series.

[Powered Convoy]

10 minutes ago, onnasake said:

 

Huh.  I had no idea.  Guess that explains why Flashback 2012 has only been released on LD and DVD.

That really sucks.  Even though it's only 5 minutes long, it's my favorite bit of Macross aside from the original series.

I love me some Angel Paints. They did release it on Blu-ray too as part of the Hybrid Pack. But it looks bad like the DVD. 

 

[Steady]

I hope they find that footage someday.  I would love to see those brief shots of the VF-4 flying and the SDF-2 launching in 4K.  The detail level in that sequence is crazy.  I think the animation in that short video is better than DYRL.  

[kajnrig]

7 hours ago, Seto Kaiba said:

CDJapan still has it available at time of writing.

https://www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/BCQA-20

7 hours ago, treatment said:

The one that is out of stock at amz-jp is the one with the poster.

The regular LE without the poster (like the cdjapan-link) is still available at amz-jp:

https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B0DDSPHF8D

Thanks for the assist. I didn't realize (or just forgot) the one I'd ordered was the poster version. I was in luck and received a shipment confirmation just a bit ago, so it seems I just have to wait now.

7 hours ago, Powered Convoy said:

The reason you can order it to a Japan address but not one outside of Japan is because it's only available from themurd party sellers who only ship to Japan. None that ship outside of Japan like Amazon itself. 

I see, thanks. I didn't realize I was pointing to the initial release listing and there was an alternate page for just the LE itself. I thought I was all out of luck and HG had made a legal move against importing it or something. Good to know that's not the case and is just the poster version being scarce.

[lavinrac]

9 hours ago, onnasake said:

 

Huh.  I had no idea.  Guess that explains why Flashback 2012 has only been released on LD and DVD.

That really sucks.  Even though it's only 5 minutes long, it's my favorite bit of Macross aside from the original series.

They Put 2012 on Blu Ray as well.  It Came with DYRL and a Playstation 3 game This was the edition with the gore in DYRL censored with white flashes. I don't think putting it on Blu Ray improved the videotape-like quality at all based on numerous watchings. It's a real shame the originals seem to be lost

 

[Duke Togo]

Amazon Japan charged my card, but it has not yet shipped. Estimated delivery is Feb 3rd through the 12th.

[Macross77]

1 hour ago, Duke Togo said:

Amazon Japan charged my card, but it has not yet shipped. Estimated delivery is Feb 3rd through the 12th.

Mine on japan  amazon , estimated delivery date: feb, 25 😅

[Powered Convoy]

I ordered the version from A-On. Now I just have to ship it. 

https://a-onstore.jp/item/item-1000232378

[themarvelknight]

Kind of disappointed with the poster. I was really hoping that it was the slipcover art in one solid image. 

[Duke Togo]

Does anyone know (or can now check) if the included HD blu is the remaster or the 2016 release?

Edited yesterday at 05:15 PM by Duke Togo

[Steady]

Not sure if this has been posted yet, but I found this article dated Jan 22, 2025.  Kawamori talks about how they created the 4K version.  Pretty much what I expected--lots of AI.  😩

https://www.cbr.com/macross-do-you-remember-love-remaster-release/

[rick.vale]

2 hours ago, Duke Togo said:

Does anyone know (or can now check) if the included HD blu is the remaster or the 2016 release?

It's the remaster...and it also has the English Subs. I've had that question too.

[rick.vale]

Can't take credit for its production, but here are 17 screenshots comparing the 2007 DVD, 2012 BD, 2016 BD, and the new 4K. 
Macross DYRL 4K comp. | Slowpoke Pics 

[Duke Togo]

1 hour ago, rick.vale said:

It's the remaster...and it also has the English Subs. I've had that question too.

I was kinda hoping they'd do what is fairly common in the US: new 4K disc, along with the existing HD disc. Except with subtitles.

[Steady]

33 minutes ago, Duke Togo said:

I was kinda hoping they'd do what is fairly common in the US: new 4K disc, along with the existing HD disc. Except with subtitles.

Yeah, but sometimes it doesn't work out like we want, like Predator (1987).  They finally got the image quality looking great with the 4K version, but the blu-ray included in that release was the old version with the heavy DNR that made all the people look like wax.  So unfortunately, you never really know.

[brouken]

2 hours ago, rick.vale said:

Can't take credit for its production, but here are 17 screenshots comparing the 2007 DVD, 2012 BD, 2016 BD, and the new 4K. 
Macross DYRL 4K comp. | Slowpoke Pics 

Hey, thanks for this! Good reference to compare the various releases. 🙂

I'm expecting my copy to arrive this afternoon. Will try to provide my own feedback on the watching experience. 

[Duke Togo]

3 hours ago, rick.vale said:

Can't take credit for its production, but here are 17 screenshots comparing the 2007 DVD, 2012 BD, 2016 BD, and the new 4K. 
Macross DYRL 4K comp. | Slowpoke Pics 

Is it just me, or does the 4K look blurry compared to the 2016 release in a bunch of those shots?

[rick.vale]

6 minutes ago, Duke Togo said:

Is it just me, or does the 4K look blurry compared to the 2016 release in a bunch of those shots?

It is a situation where having a higher quality scan of the film shows both the clear parts clearer and thus blurry parts seem blurrier. They did try to use AI to sharpen up some of it. To varying degrees of success. 

I'm certainly not going to defend anything as I had no involvement in this remaster, but there is a myriad of things that can cause portions of animation cels to not be captured perfectly clear. And since the assets have all been sold off to collectors, the odds of recapturing the work from scratch are all but impossible.

This is arguably, the closest to the original intent of the creators that DYRL may ever be.

[Steady]

It looks like something was blurry and they tried to sharpen it...if that makes any sense.  All things considered, I think the 2016 version looks the best.  I'll always prefer the photo-chemical film look.  It feels more alive to me.  The new version feels cold and static.  Its difficult to explain.

The main problem I have in general with a lot of recent 4K releases, is that they want to make analog look digital.  It would be better to me if they just followed this simple rule:  If it was originated in the analog world, then do your best to make sure it retains that organic look.  If it was created digitally, then work hard to maintain the digital appearance.

Just my opinion.

[rick.vale]

6 minutes ago, Steady said:

It looks like something was blurry and they tried to sharpen it...if that makes any sense.  All things considered, I think the 2016 version looks the best.  I'll always prefer the photo-chemical film look.  It feels more alive to me.  The new version feels cold and static.  Its difficult to explain.

The main problem I have in general with a lot of recent 4K releases, is that they want to make analog look digital.  It would be better to me if they just followed this simple rule:  If it was originated in the analog world, then do your best to make sure it retains that organic look.  If it was created digitally, then work hard to maintain the digital appearance.

Just my opinion.

That's a fair assessment. I myself am on the opposite side of the spectrum. I feel that getting the work to look as close as possible to the original artwork is a great goal. I don't want the art to look like it was printed on sandpaper. I want to see the clean lines and the vibrant paints. 

The beauty of a film as old as this is that people have 40 years worth of releases to choose from. I'm very happy to have this option and prefer it over the others. Not gonna toss out all my other copies, but I will definitely be watching this one over those.

Edited 20 hours ago by rick.vale

[Steady]

3 minutes ago, rick.vale said:

That's a fair assessment. I myself am on the opposite side of the spectrum. I feel that getting the work to look as close as possible to the original artwork is a great goal. I don't want the art to look like it was printed on sandpaper. I want to see the clean lines and the vibrant paints. 

The beauty of a film as old as this is that people have 40 years worth of releases to choose from. I'm very happy to have this option and prefer it over the others. Not gonna toss out all my other copies, but I will definitely be watching this one over those.

I can see both sides.  The cels would not have the grain and all the artifacts that film has until they were photographed.  But they are trying to sharpen what has already been photographed.  And where do you draw the line?  In a few years, They may think, "Hey, now we can make it even more clean looking."  Its a slippery slope for sure.

I read an article that they started with a new 5K scan of the film elements.  I would really like to see how that 5k scan looked before they ran it through their AI program.  

[rick.vale]

31 minutes ago, Steady said:

I can see both sides.  The cels would not have the grain and all the artifacts that film has until they were photographed.  But they are trying to sharpen what has already been photographed.  And where do you draw the line?  In a few years, They may think, "Hey, now we can make it even more clean looking."  Its a slippery slope for sure.

I read an article that they started with a new 5K scan of the film elements.  I would really like to see how that 5k scan looked before they ran it through their AI program.  

Totally agree. There is such a thing as too much. And I personally would love for studios to give release options that cater to both audiences. Call one the "Theatrical Edition" and one the "Creators Edition" or something more clever than that.

[Steady]

25 minutes ago, rick.vale said:

Totally agree. There is such a thing as too much. And I personally would love for studios to give release options that cater to both audiences. Call one the "Theatrical Edition" and one the "Creators Edition" or something more clever than that.

True.  Directors need to realize that once its out in the wild, fans attach themselves to the movie and it becomes part of their memories.  Directors may want to change something (sometimes for the better, sometimes for worse), but fans are used to it being a certain way.  I like how Ridley Scott handled Blade Runner.  He made his Final Cut, but he also kept the other versions available for people who liked those too.

[locidm]

To me the biggest change is the colors, really makes it pop like cels. However, not all is good, the shot with Miria, her green hair seems oversaturated, so is the skin tone of one of the Minmay shots. There are shots where the 2016 version looks better, but for the most part this 4k release looks better.