This disc is the first of three from Classic Media based around the 1978 animated Godzilla TV show by Hanna-Barbera studios. While it's probably the best way to watch the TV program today, it's not exactly stellar quality. In fact, the video and audio are merely acceptable, while the disc is also devoid of extras.
| Video: |
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Across the four TV episodes, the video quality remains fairly consistent overall, offering an acceptable presentation. However, there are some notable differences between the episodes in terms of their video tracks. First, the color reproduction varies. Episodes 1 and 4 feature accurate colors with good black levels, while episodes 2 and 3 have a slight blue tint and weaker black levels. All four episodes show some signs of source damage, such as scratches and specks. Episodes 1, 2 and 4 also feature a faint blue line along the left side of the frame, whereas episode 3 and 4 have a slightly more noticeable black line at the top of the screen. Around 6:15 in episode 2, there's also a brief flash that spans the entire screen for less than a second, which is momentary but still distracting.
As for compression, it ranges from acceptable to poor. Movement-heavy scenes, in particular, suffer from noticeable compression issues, which is expected. Unfortunately, the show frequently uses shaky "camera" effects to convey the massiveness of Godzilla and the other monsters, exacerbating the compression problems. Episode 4, in particular, suffers from especially poor compression, with noticeable pixilation that's worse than the other episodes.
Probably worth comparing, but in contrast to the versions on YouTube that Toho uploaded themselves, the DVD versions have more source damage. However, the YouTube ones are very badly compressed, featuring much worse pixilation as opposed to what's found on the DVDs. In the end, the DVD release offers a clear improvement in video quality despite the source damage issues.
Godzilla: The Original Animated Series is presented in its original
aspect ratio of 1.33:1.
| Audio: |
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This disc provides a straightforward audio presentation without any frills. On the positive side, the TV episodes are presented in their original mono format. The overall quality is decent, though there are a few minor inconsistencies where the audio can become slightly shrill, particularly toward the end of the opening theme. However, the dialogue remains clear throughout, suggesting that any issues may stem from the original source mix rather than the disc itself.
Sadly, the disc is devoid of any closed captions.
| Extras: |
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Other than an opening menu, the DVD has zero bonus features. Heck, it doesn't even have selectable chapter breaks, beyond being able to select which episode to play.
| Overview: |
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Ultimately, this will probably remain the best, if not slightly flawed, way to watch these first four episodes for quite some time. While not nearly as accessible as the YouTube versions that Toho distributes for free now, this disc does at least offer superior video quality for the content.
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