Funi has their own video site, there they hosted several show in either dub or sub form (mostly sub, some has dub and both). In principal, you can only view these videos online for FREE, if you ever want to own it, you need to pay $1.99 for each episode in wmv format (not sure about the spec). But apparently bitcomet can download them in flv format for FREE (spec as below)… Never a huge fan of FUNi, but I would only recommend doing this only if the connection is slow or want to watch the videos without internet. After viewing, you should delete them… (the quality isn’t particular good that you want to store it anyway…)
General
Complete name : L:[FUNi]Gunslinger Girls 2[FUNi]Gunslinger Girl 2 - ep01.flv
Format : Flash Video
File size : 204 MiB
Duration : 25mn 18s
Overall bit rate : 1 126 Kbps
Video
Format : VP6
Duration : 25mn 17s
Bit rate : 1 000 Kbps
Width : 640 pixels
Height : 360 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 16/9
Frame rate : 23.976 fps
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.181
Audio
Format : MPEG Audio
Format version : Version 1
Format profile : Layer 3
Duration : 25mn 18s
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 128 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Sampling rate : 44.1 KHz
Resolution : 16 bits
The picture quality is actually NOT too bad for casual view, the average bitrate 1000kbps is good enough to support the relatively low resolution. But it’s still not as good as some experienced fansub’s work (for the same file size with a good RAW). It seems that this VP6 codec used here is NOT as efficient as xvid or x.264, probably due to its design for online streaming. The bitrate seems constant, fast scenes suffer pixelation, smearing, and a few scenes have banding. But it’s still better than youtube’s high quality setting. And for the playback, VLC is recommended. I tried MPC and KMP, the two suffered bottom smearing, not sure why though, while VLC almost doesn’t exhibit this problem. The audio quality is more than sufficient though, FUNi put mostly 192K(new half season sets) or 256K(old singles) on their DVDs.
sample images:
Rico is even more evil in this sequel…
This one isn’t as good as the original done by Madhouse, but it’s still decent enough, at least on par with Noir. As by someone who got the one piece Blu-ray by FUNi, apparently FUNi has plan to put the original series on Blu-ray (along with Blue Gender). If that day comes, I’ll be happily enough to double dip (if it’s a good upgrade over the crappy quality on DVD now) since the original series is just so good (already have the original boxset with cloth scroll on wall right in front of me!).
Next info is PS3 firmware v2.60 which was released two weeks ago.
Not too much function has been added in this release. Divx 3.11 is now supported, and a new photo viewing application was provided for optional installation. I won’t take pictures again this time since I am lazy…
Next you’ll be greeted with a Dolby TrueHD demo, this demo is the 5.1 channel version, I think on the Dolby sound of High Definition disc, they have a 7.1 channel version.
Disc1 menu stuff:
The menu is done quite well, especially the animated buttons are used which I’ve never seen anyone else has been utilizing this feature to the fullest. These buttons here really demonstrates the possibility of animated buttons.
A title menu is also provided:
BDInfo scan on first disc:
Disc Title: MACROSS_ZERO_BOX_01
Disc Size: 30,412,255,224 bytes
Protection: AACS
BD-Java: No
PLAYLIST REPORT:
Name: 00001.mpls
Size: 30,241,155,072 bytes
Length: 1:32:32 (h:m:s)
Total Bitrate: 43.57 Mbps
Description:
SUMMARY:
Disc Title: MACROSS_ZERO_BOX_01
Disc Size: 30,412,255,224 bytes
Protection: AACS
BD-Java: No
Playlist Count: 3
Total Length: 1:33:23
Total Size: 30,392,266,752
Total Bitrate: 43.39
Video: AVC / 36.57Mbps / 1080p / 23.976fps / 16:9 / High Profile 4.1
Audio: Japanese / Dolby TrueHD 5.1 / 2235Kbps / 48kHz / 16-bit
The disc size is 28.3 GB, Video is 1080p 24fps, and audio is 1600K Dolby TrueHD 5.1 and 1536K LPCM 2.0. The three episodes on disc 1 don't look too good... Some scenes are very soft and fuzzy, colors aren't very vivid. Overall they don't look like 1080p HD or even 1280 High Vision that much, it might be somewhere 960*540 since there's a scene in the first episode where they examine the body part of the human bird, they show a screen with this resolution... (960*540 is 1/4 of the size of true 1080p resolution).
Two interesting findings while watching this show again is that Sheryl's earring appearing in a scene where Mao had a conversation with Sara.
Another one is in episode 3 when the island people were watching TV, they showed Kawamori's earlier work - Earth Girl Arjuna, although it's only a split of second...
Second disc:
BDInfo scan for second disc:
Disc Title: MACROSS_ZERO_BOX_02
Disc Size: 27,580,221,172 bytes
Protection: AACS
BD-Java: No
PLAYLIST REPORT:
Name: 00002.mpls
Size: 22,059,085,824 bytes
Length: 1:05:50 (h:m:s)
Total Bitrate: 44.67 Mbps
SUMMARY:
Disc Title: MACROSS_ZERO_BOX_02
Disc Size: 27,580,221,172 bytes
Protection: AACS
BD-Java: No
Playlist Count: 7
Total Length: 1:58:11
Total Size: 49,589,047,296
Total Bitrate: 55.94
Video: AVC / 36.01Mbps / 1080p / 23.976fps / 16:9 / High Profile 4.1
PLAYLIST REPORT:
Name: 00004.mpls
Size: 4,116,940,800 bytes
Length: 0:12:54 (h:m:s)
Total Bitrate: 42.51 Mbps
Description:
FILES:
Name Size Length Time In Time Out
---- ---- ------ ------- --------
00008.M2TS 4,116,940,800 0:12:54.774 0:00:00.000 0:12:54.774
VIDEO:
Codec Bitrate Description
----- ------- -----------
MPEG-4 AVC Video 38897 kbps 1080i / 29.970fps / 16:9 / High Profile 4.1
AUDIO:
Codec Language Bitrate Description
----- -------- ------- -----------
LPCM Audio Japanese 1536 kbps 2.0 / 48kHz / 16-bit / 1536kbps
CHAPTERS:
Number Time Length Avg Video Rate Max 1-Sec Rate Max 1-Sec Time Max 5-Sec Rate Max 5-Sec Time Max 10Sec Rate Max 10Sec Time Avg Frame Size Max Frame Size Max Frame Time
------ ---- ------ -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- --------------
1 0:00:00.000 0:12:53.773 38,935 kbps 44,162 kbps 00:12:52.505 40,064 kbps 00:12:48.501 39,472 kbps 00:12:43.496 162,391 bytes 344,807 bytes 00:12:53.172
2 0:12:53.773 0:00:01.001 7,821 kbps 0 kbps 00:00:00.000 0 kbps 00:00:00.000 0 kbps 00:00:00.000 32,618 bytes 32,618 bytes 00:12:53.840
STREAM DIAGNOSTICS:
File PID Type Codec Lang. Code Lang. Name Seconds Bytes Packets Bitrate
---- --- ---- ----- ---------- ---------- ------- ----- ------- -------
00008.M2TS 4113 (0x1011) 0x1B AVC 774.77 3,767,072,462 20,486,697 38,897
00008.M2TS 4352 (0x1100) 0x80 LPCM jpn Japanese 774.77 148,756,800 929,730 1,536
The second disc size is 25.6 GB, Video is 1080p 24fps, and audio is 1600K Dolby TrueHD 5.1 and 1536K LPCM 2.0. Last episode also has a commentary track but I haven't listened to it yet. The two episodes here look better than the first disc, colors are better, object and backgrounds are better defined... There is a 13 min seiyuu interview. The video is 1080i with a high bitrate transfer, but it looks rather soft, almost like from some home video.
So to conclude this review:
1. The content: A-/B
A- for the first four episodes, and B for the last episode. The show starts quite promising, but the last episode pretty much ruins the energy it builds up for the previous four episodes. As for the three important elements in all Macross works, the show includes triangle relationship, song, and VF fighter. The song isn't heavily emphasized this time though, which makes it quite unique. As a Macross fan, I'm a little disappointed with this aspect.
2. The Video: B/B+
B for the first three episodes, and B+ for the last two episodes. Video quality wise, these aren't demo material, but there’s no obvious flaws such as aliasing and banding. Animation wise, I think the production value is really high, there are quite a few dogfight scenes enough to get your adrenaline pumping. The three mode fighter, gerwalk, battleroid are heavily used, and the fights are quite unique. The only downside is that the fighter movements are a bit awkward, they act almost like no gravity and rather video game like...
3. The Audio: A-
The audio is in Dolby Digital TrueHD 5.1, but I can only get Dolby Digital 5.1 due to limitations on my equipment. This is the only work that has a surround mix in all Macross series. (Well, count ADV’s Macross English dub as one if you really want to.) And the surround effects are pretty good. This mix isn't very aggressive, the dynamic range is rather narrow, bass is a bit low. The mix provides enough directionality, and all the dialogues are clear. Overall, I'm pretty satisfied with this soundtrack, although it's not some demo material, either.
4. The Extras: B
The extras are Macross Zero Zero which is a special video for apple Genki kun; Seiyuu comment video after last episode; and audio commentary (Shoji Kawamori with Shin and Sara’s seiyuu) for last episode. The longest running feature the seiyuu commentary video which runs for 12min. It's a talk between the four characters (Shin, Mao, Sara, and Aries). The interview doesn't really provide inside view of the work, but rather how they feel towards it. It's not really worth watching.
Shoji Kawamori showed up briefly, but no interview was given.
There’s a pop-up menu which you can return to the previous menu.
Macross Zero Zero is a feature about preview of making of the adventure of Apple Genki kun.
Information has the usual Macross Frontier, Code Geass, Code Geass R2, and keitai sousakan 7 trailer:
Lastly, scans:
And screencaps: