Idol Densetsu Eriko Episode 1 (BD version) released!

We have finally gotten the Idol Densetsu Eriko Blu-Rays, and that means we can now use them as our source.  We will be redoing all the previous episodes with the new raws while concurrently proceeding on with the episodes that we have not released.

There are three different encodes: a 1080p 10-bit h.264 encode, a 720p 8-bit h.264 encode, and a 480p XviD encode.  Both h.264 encodes are softsubbed, based on feedback that we have received.

It was well worth getting these Blu-Rays.  This new version looks positively stunning.

Little Women II - Jo's Boys Episode 35 released!

The little house looked as quiet, sunny, and home-like as when Meg entered it as a bride, ten years ago, only then it was early summer, and rose blossomed everywhere; now it was early autumn, and dead leaves rustled softly down, leaving the branches bare. 

The bride was a widow now; but the same beautiful serenity shone in her face, and the sweet resignation of a truly pious soul made her presence a consolation to those who came to comfort her. 

"O Meg! how can you bear it so?" whispered Jo, as she met them at the door with a smile of welcome, and no change in her gentle manner, except more gentleness. 

"Dear Jo, the love that has blest me for ten happy years supports me still. It could not die, and John is more my own than ever," whispered Meg; and in her eyes the tender trust was so beautiful and bright, that Jo believed her, and thanked God for the immortality of love like hers.

- Little Men, Chapter 19

In this episode, which is the last of this three episode arc, the aftermath of what happened to everyone after John Brooke's funeral is revealed, including Nan's inner struggle with what a doctor is all about.

My Annette Episode 33 released!

 

In this episode, Lucien, Anton, and Jean attempt to play pranks on unsuspecting bystanders.  When they try to do it to Annette, things go completely wrong very quickly....

1080p hardsubs? 720p softsubs?

Idol Densetsu Eriko Blu-Rays are scheduled to be released in Japan on the 26th. 

This actually will be the very first time a series that we're working on has a Blu-Ray source, and it has brought about some discussion on how we will handle the encoding.  Assuming that the material is 1080p, we've decided at a minimum we will do the following:

• 1080p 10-bit h.264 softsubs
• 720p 8-bit h.264 hardsubs
• 480p XviD hardsubs

However, this leaves us with two other possibilities that we might consider.

• 1080p 8-bit h.264 hardsubs
• 720p 10-bit h.264 softsubs

Basically, I would like to ask the following:

1.  Would there be any benefit to encoding a 1080p hardsubbed version, considering the potentially very limited subset of people who would want it?  The subset of folks who might want this is even smaller than those who want XviD encodes.

2.  Would a 720p softsubbed version make sense with a 1080p softsubbed version?  I'm not aware of a situation where someone who would prefer a 720p softsubbed version versus a 1080p softsubbed version, but there might be situations where there might be such a preference.

Please keep this discussion civil; if you need to insult someone, insult me instead of your fellow commenters.

Idol Densetsu Eriko Episode 14 released

In this episode, Eriko finds a ray of hope against all the abuse the scandal has caused.  This ray of hope is a girl in the hospital who is a huge fan of Eriko's singing.

Little Women II - Jo's Boys Episode 34 released!

They were all there father and mother, Uncle Teddy, and Aunt Amy, old Mr. Laurence, white-haired and feeble now, Mr. and Mrs. Bhaer, with their flock, and many friends, come to do honor to the dead. One would have said that modest John Brooke, in his busy, quiet, humble life, had had little time to make friends; but now they seemed to start up everywhere, old and young, rich and poor, high and low; for all unconsciously his influence had made itself widely felt, his virtues were remembered, and his hidden charities rose up to bless him. The group about his coffin was a far more eloquent eulogy than any Mr. March could utter. There were the rich men whom he had served faithfully for years; the poor old women whom he cherished with his little store, in memory of his mother; the wife to whom he had given such happiness that death could not mar it utterly; the brothers and sisters in whose hearts he had made a place for ever; the little son and daughter, who already felt the loss of his strong arm and tender voice; the young children, sobbing for their kindest playmate, and the tall lads, watching with softened faces a scene which they never could forget. A very simple service, and very short; for the fatherly voice that had faltered in the marriage-sacrament now failed entirely as Mr. March endeavored to pay his tribute of reverence and love to the son whom he most honored. Nothing but the soft coo of Baby Josy's voice up-stairs broke the long hush that followed the last Amen, till, at a sign from Mr. Bhaer, the well-trained boyish voices broke out in a hymn, so full of lofty cheer, that one by one all joined in it, singing with full hearts, and finding their troubled spirits lifted into peace on the wings of that brave, sweet psalm.

As Meg listened, she felt that she had done well; for not only did the moment comfort her with the assurance that John's last lullaby was sung by the young voices he loved so well, but in the faces of the boys she saw that they had caught a glimpse of the beauty of virtue in its most impressive form, and that the memory of the good man lying dead before them would live long and helpfully in their remembrance. Daisy's head lay in her lap, and Demi held her hand, looking often at her, with eyes so like his father's, and a little gesture that seemed to say, "Don't be troubled, mother; I am here;" and all about her were friends to lean upon and love; so patient, pious Meg put by her heavy grief, feeling that her best help would be to live for others, as her John had done.

 - Little Men, Chapter 19 

In this episode, John Brooke suddenly passes away, and his funeral is being held.  For those of you who have read the Little Women novel, the type of person that married Meg and is the father of Demi and Daisy deserves the beautiful and dignified funeral that he got, with a memory that will last many lifetimes.

For those of you who haven't been to a Christian funeral in the United States, the hymn that Nat plays during the funeral is called "Amazing Grace".  There are many variations to this song in terms of the words that are sung to the melody.

Little Women II - Jo's Boys Episode 33 released!

This episode seems fitting for our Easter Sunday release this year.

This episode is the first of three episodes in this arc, which happens to be my favorite part in the whole series.  In this episode, Jo and some of the Plumfield children go to the Brooke's home for Demi and Daisy's birthday party.  For those of you who remember the Little Women novel, Demi and Daisy's mother is Meg, Jo's elder sister.

My Annette Episode 32 released!

In this episode, everyone is worried about Lucien, as he ends up getting lost on his way back.

Idol Densetsu Eriko Episode 13 released!

In this episode, Eriko and everyone around her have to deal with the tabloids and all the false rumors.

Idol Densetsu Eriko Episode 12 released!

In this episode, which is the first episode of a three-part arc, Eriko goes to Guam to shoot a promotional video.

Little Women II - Jo's Boys Episode 32 released!

"Fritz, I see what we can do for that child. She wants something to live for even now, and will be one of the sharp, strong, discontented women if she does not have it. Don't let us snub her restless little nature, but do our best to give her the work she likes, and by and by persuade her father to let her study medicine. She will make a capital doctor, for she has courage, strong nerves, a tender heart, and an intense love and pity for the weak and suffering."

- Little Men, Chapter 15

 

In this episode, Nan figures out what she wants to do with her life, namely becoming a doctor.  However, is the way she is going about it the right way?

Update

I apparently have caught whatever flu bug or virus that has been floating around here, and today is probably the first day which I felt reasonably decent.

We should have some releases ready by next week.

Idol Densetsu Eriko Episode 11 released!

In this episode, Kousuke's plan was revealed as Eriko attempts to perform in the middle of chaos.  If it weren't for Rei, Eriko might have been maimed or killed.

The Diary of Anne Frank version 2 (Hi10P)

A version 2 was released of the Hi10P version of The Diary of Anne Frank.  This version addresses some issues involving aspect ratio and filtering that were brought up by various folks on BakaBT during the offer.

We would like to give special thanks to revo on BakaBT for providing his encode for us to use for this release.

My Annette Episode 31 and 30v2 released!

In this episode, Lucien is absent from school for the second straight day.  Annette, Marianne, Jean, Anton, and Franz go look for him.

We have also released a version 2 of episode 30.  This addresses editing issues that were found after the release.

Idol Densetsu Eriko Episode 10 released!

In this episode, Kousuke asks Eriko to be a guest singer at one of Rei's concerts.

Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch Pure Episode 18 released!

This surreal episode is probably one of my very favorites in the entire series.  In this episode, Hippo and Seira make a combined wish at the Cove of Miracles, which causes everyone to be put in an alternative world where Seira was a student with Lucia, Hanon, and Rina, and causing the former minions of Gaito to come back alive (albeit in a good fashion).  This allowed Hippo to meet with Yuuri again one last time, and there was no time to waste as the effects of the combined wish only lasts for one day....

Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch Pure Episode 17 released!

 

In this episode, the Mermaid Princesses try to get Nagisa and Hanon to go on a date together to a party.  However, when Nagisa loses the tickets, he ended up having to do a bit of improvisation.

Little Women II - Jo's Boys Episode 31 released!

For an hour the old willow sighed and sung to itself, talked with the brook, and watched the lengthening shadows as the sun went down. The first rosy color was touching its graceful branches when a boy came stealing up the avenue, across the lawn, and, spying Billy by the brook-side, went to him, saying, in a mysterious tone,  "Go and tell Mr. Bhaer I want to see him down here, please. Don't let any one hear."

Billy nodded and ran off, while the boy swung himself up into the tree, and sat there looking anxious, yet evidently feeling the charm of the place and hour. In five minutes, Mr. Bhaer appeared, and, stepping up on the fence, leaned into the nest, saying, kindly, "I am glad to see you, Jack; but why not come in and meet us all at once?"

"I wanted to see you first, please, sir. Uncle made me come back. I know I don't deserve any thing, but I hope the fellows won't be hard upon me."

 - Little Men, Chapter 15

In this episode, Jack returns to Plumfield.  Professor Bhaer uses this opportunity to teach the children a lesson about forgiveness.