DVD: Kimagure Orange Road: TV Series Volume 7 (AnimEigo)

Order

Kimagure Orange Road: TV Series Volume 7


English DVD Title (Region 1)

Kimagure Orange Road: TV Series Volume 7 - Episodes 25-28

Sound:

Japanese (2.0 Stereo)

Subtitles:
Length:
Release:
Company
:
Discs:
Aspect Ratio:

English
100 minutes
2003
AnimEigo
1
1.33:1

Movie:

Kimagure Orange Road

DVD

Extras

  • Menus (English)
  • Chapters (4)
  • Extended Credits (English)

Captures


Review

By: Anthony Romero

Volume seven of the Kimagure Orange Road television show on DVD. From AnimEigo, this disc has episodes 25 through 28. It's not a good release... but it's actually okay if one doesn't mind ugly menus and no extras. That's thanks to the video quality improving from the earlier volumes while the audio tracks continue to shine on these releases.


 Video: Star Rating


Color me surprised, as AnimEigo has stepped up their game for the video quality on these releases. Is it good? No, but okay is a notable improvement over where these releases started. In fact, it's gotten to the point where the isolated track for the show's intro, with the same one used across all four episodes, is actually lower quality than some of the standard episodes here rather than being better.

Now, as expected, the quality between the episodes is inconsistent. Episode 25 is the weakest of the bunch here, having not just muted colors but a slight yellow tint to it. This episode also has super unstable scene transitions for what feel like the first third of the episode. On the plus side it's not as blurry as others have been, although there are some scenes that have issues such as around the six minute mark. Artifacting is naturally still present as well in the form of pixilation, seen on flat colors.

For the additional three episodes, they are handled better. The colors are still muted, but feel more natural without a tint to them. Frame damage at the top also appears sometimes, such as episode 26 around 2:49 and episode 27 around 6:30, but it's not overpowering like the 25.

Kimagure Orange Road is presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.33:1.

 

 Audio: Star Rating


Even with the improved video quality, the audio presentation here remains the bright spot. Each of the four episodes is featured with a single audio track in Japanese. This is a two channel presentation, which doesn't make much use of the directionality but that's more on the show than this DVD release. Clarity on the dialogue and sound effects continues to be good, and didn't detect much in the way of source material damage either.

The audio on the four episodes for this disc can be accompanied by removable English subtitles. Two options are present: limited translations or all speech and text will be translated.

 

 Extras: Star Rating


Virtually nada here when it comes to extras. There is a ugly, ugly menu and some chapter selections to the start of the episodes. Beyond some expanded credits, which play full subtitles over the show's outro, there really isn't anything else to talk about here.

 

 Overview: Star Rating


Bottom line, I'm probably increasing the overall score too high here, which is likely due to the improvement angle. AnimEigo actually did improve things versus the earlier volumes. That means mediocre video paired with good audio and no extras. Does that deserve 2.5/5? Maybe not, but at least it's heading in the right direction and as before for those wanting a DVD option for the series at least this exists for the US market.