Perfect Blue (Ultimate Edition Blu-ray) Unboxing [NSFW]

Perfect Blue is a 1997-98 theatrical anime film based on the novel Perfect Blue: Complete Metamorphosis (Perfect Blue: Kanzen Hentai) by writer Yoshikazu Takeuchi. The anime was adapted by studio Madhouse and directed by the late Satoshi Kon.

Much like a lot of Madhouse’s films at the time, this is a dark and mature anime with scenes of violence and sexual content. The film is a cult classic and among one of Manga Entertainment’s most popular titles at the time to help broaden the interest in anime throughout the UK & US alongside the likes of Akira, Ghost in the Shell and Ninja Scroll.

After being out of print for many years, Perfect Blue was rescued by UK distributor Anime Limited in 2013, released on both Blu-ray and DVD. The Blu-ray transfer was based on the masters that were available in doable condition to the distributor, as the original masters are supposedly lost/destroyed. The UK release was presented first as a collector’s edition combo pack followed by a standard edition later down the line.

In 2018 it was announced that Anime Limited would give the film another shot with a new transfer done by Media OCD member Justin Sevakis, known for his work with Discotek Media and NIS America. The transfer aims to improve the presentation of the film while also amending any of the disc quality control issues that were in the original.

Note: Due to the artwork presented this unboxing is declared ‘Not Safe For Work‘ so readers advised.

The 2018 transfer tries to provide a clearer and better quality presentation for the film and despite the comparison shots presented, the fan reception was quite controversial – primarily due to the grain being removed which reduces detail on parts of the animation. This transfer has also been used for the GKIDS release for US & Canadian viewers in 2019.

Anime Limited’s Ultimate Edition offers more variety than the 2013 collector’s edition set. For starters, the size of the set is much larger, going at an A4 size. The large box includes two big books; an A4 artbook and an A4 Hardcover Storyboard Collection that includes the film on Blu-ray and the original soundtrack on CD, the latter of which is currently out of print in Japan.

The Storyboard collection is the main selling point for this Ultimate release, as it covers the entire story plus deleted scenes in storyboard form which has been left untranslated at the request of those who worked closely with Satoshi Kon. The Artbook meanwhile contains a ton of illustrations and promotional artwork for the film. The Blu-ray disc also contains a couple more bonus content as well as the film’s original standard definition transfer.

Released in April 2019, Perfect Blue from Anime Limited contains the film on a single Blu-ray disc. The audio options available include the main Japanese language with English subtitles as well as the Manga Entertainment English dub from the 90s. The white subtitles are unlockable during playback, however, the disc is region locked for B Blu-ray players.

Blu-ray Specs (Main Feature):

Languages: English, Japanese
Audio: 2019 Ver.: English Dolby Digital 5.1, Japanese DTS-HD MA 5.1, Japanese Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
Audio: SD Ver.: English Dolby Digital 5.1, Japanese Dolby Digital 5.1, Japanese Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
Video: 2019 Ver.: 1080p High Definition Native format in Widescreen 16:9
Video: SD Ver.: Standard Definition in NTSC format with 4:3 ratio
Region: B
Subtitles: English, English Hard of Hearing
Locked Subtitles: No
Discs: 1

Plot Synopsis (via Anime Limited):

“Mima Kirigoe is ready to leave her career as a pop idol behind and forge ahead towards a bright new future as an actress. However, casting aside her former image proves to be far more difficult than she imagined, and the murky world of show business threatens to drag her into the depths of despair. As the strains of her new career path take their toll, and a menacing presence from her pop star past lurks in the background, is Mima able to keep a firm grasp on the things that define her? And as delusions, fiction and reality blend together in her mind, just what is it that defines her anyway?”

Blu-ray On-Disc Extra Features:

Original SD Version
Satoshi Kon Lecture
English Credits
“Angel of Your Heart” Recording Session
“Angel of Your Heart” Full English Version
Original US/UK Trailer
UK Re-release Trailer
Japanese Trailer
Interviews with Satoshi Kon (Director)
Interviews with Junko Iwao (VA for Mima in Japanese)
Interviews with Ruby Marlowe (VA for Mima in English)
Interviews with Wendee Lee (VA for Rumi in English)
Interviews with Bob Marx (VA for Me-Mania in English)

Ultimate Edition Extras:

Rigid Box with Clean Artwork & Title on Spine
Original Soundtrack CD
384-page Japanese Storyboard Collection book
48-page English translated companion book

Perfect Blue is available on Blu-ray and DVD from Anime Limited.