This is the second volume from AnimEigo featuring OVAs and movies based on Kimagure Orange Road, and unfortunately, it doesn't hold up well. The video quality across all four OVAs is lacking, plagued by issues like compression, print damage and problematic brightness levels. On a positive note, the audio is clear and consistent, without noticeable issues. However, when it comes to extras, the disc falls short, offering little more than some linear notes inside the DVD case.
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The video quality across the four OVAs on this DVD are generally disappointing, with each track presenting a variety of issues that affect the viewing experience.
Hearts on Fire, Love on the Stage! Springtime Idol suffers from a surprising amount of print damage, including scratches and specks, which is surprising considering the film was only 14 years old when it was first released on DVD. The compression is also a problem, with red hues smearing and the image showing signs of shimmering, where a rainbow band is visible on fine details. While not as soft as some other releases in the Kimagure Orange Road series from AnimEigo, the video still displays light damage in the lower right corner throughout the OVA. On a positive note, the colors are fairly vibrant, with a nice range of tones and deep blacks, which stand out against the otherwise lackluster presentation.
The video track for Hearts on Fire, Love on the Stage! Birth of a Star is quite similar to the first OVA in terms of quality, with the same print damage and shimmering. However, compression is more noticeable here, leading to more artifacting, especially in dark blues, which detracts from the overall clarity. The quality feels slightly worse in comparison, though the colors still hold some vibrancy.
Unexpected Situation features poor video quality, with the image appearing washed out due to an excessively high brightness level. This affects the overall color saturation, making the visuals feel flat. There is also noticeable print damage in the top left of the frame, and the shimmering effect on fine details is even more prominent. While the colors are somewhat distinct, the overly bright image makes them less effective and harder to appreciate.
Message in Lipstick shows source damage in both the upper left and lower right corners, with scratches visible throughout. The brightness level is still too high, although not as extreme as in Unexpected Situation. The colors here are more muted, though, with reds in particular looking dull. There's also a faint brown tint that pervades the image. Compression artifacts and shimmering also affect the video quality, and the overall image feels soft due to the heavy compression applied.
The four OVAs are presented in their original
aspect ratio of 1.33:1.
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The audio presentation is the standout feature of this release. Like the previous DVD, each OVA includes a single audio track, which is the original Japanese audio in two-channel stereo. Both the dialogue and music are clear, with overall sound quality being strong. This is especially notable considering the number of musical sequences featured in the first two OVAs.
Each OVA's audio track is accompanied by removable English subtitles. There are two subtitle options available here: one with limited translations and another that offers full translations of both the dialogue and on-screen text.
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This release is practically devoid of extras, especially when it comes to the disc itself. While there is a main menu, there are no selectable chapter breaks for the four OVAs. The only supplementary content included is a pair of simple, black-and-white linear notes found inside the DVD case. These notes are dedicated to translations of the lyrics for the songs featured throughout the four OVAs.
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Bottom line, this release is somewhat underwhelming. While it remains the only option for acquiring these OVAs on DVD in North America, it falls short in several areas. If you have access to a Blu-ray player, I would highly recommend seeking out Discotek's Blu-ray version instead. The quality on their Blu-ray release is a significant improvement over AnimEigo's early 2000s DVD offering, with enhanced video and audio, making it a far superior option for fans of the series.
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