Spice and Wolf - Merchandise (Figurines, Artbooks, DVDs, etc.)

[Kaguya]

Originally Posted by Masanori Ota

Interesting, thanks for the comparison pics.

Btw, do you know when the "visual novel" goes on sale for preorder? Like when it gets listed on websites, before April 30th.

Although I do not know an exact date,
if it is not periodicals, limited production, and build to order, a shop will begin to accept those orders from about one week before a release date.

"All of the Spice and Wolf" and light novels were so.

But since Episode 0 DVD is included this time, it may be sold out quickly.

[relentlessflame]

Originally Posted by Kaguya

I have to say that the quality of "Spice and Wolf Blu-ray Disc" is not necessarily high as a Blu-ray video disc.
Like the following images, I thought that I was uncomfortable about the horizontal stripes included in an outline.

Can you provide more information about the methodology of the test? Are these from the actual discs, or from P2P re-encodes of the discs? That simply looks like interlacing, which could mean that the show was produced in 1080i and then was (poorly?) resampled to 1080p/24 or something? Or maybe it was just poorly composited or something? Who knows... Then again, at least the image comparison proves the main thing I was thinking -- it's still the nicest looking Spice & Wolf version of all.

(And yes, I couldn't find a very good split point, but I moved the discussion from the season 2 thread, since it really belongs here.)

[Kaguya]

Originally Posted by relentlessflame

Can you provide more information about the methodology of the test? Are these from the actual discs, or from P2P re-encodes of the discs? That simply looks like interlacing, which could mean that the show was produced in 1080i and then was (poorly?) resampled to 1080p/24 or something? Or maybe it was just poorly composited or something? Who knows... Then again, at least the image comparison proves the main thing I was thinking -- it's still the nicest looking Spice & Wolf version of all.

(And yes, I couldn't find a very good split point, but I moved the discussion from the season 2 thread, since it really belongs here.)

Sorry, since I captured from the still picture, the frame interpolation was invalid.
The progressive picture was added.
Since Blu-ray is progressive from the first, it has not changed.
In passing, I added the video image encoded by H.264.
Although I do not know the image quality of P2P version, I think that this is the nearest.

Spoiler for large image:

What should be observed is the following two points.

1. In Aired version and Blu-ray version, the striped pattern on an outline is completely the same like the following pictures.

Spoiler for large image:

In a word, these striped patterns show that there is a problem in not player's problem but the master source.

2. In the effect of the filter which makes an outline thin, in the Aired version, the picture encoded by H.264 looks beautiful.
This will look the most beautiful if it is made to display on PC monitor.
As a weak point, when it is displayed on HDTV, a color is a flat.
Moreover, the curve may be distorted.

As a result, if compared by the still picture, the P2P edition to which the filter was applied will be the most beautiful.
However, if a scene with movement is compared, Blu-ray which adopts MPEG-4 AVC High Profile and has a bit rate of 36 Mbps or more will be overwhelmingly beautiful.
However, since Anime has many stillness scenes, judgment is difficult.
These striped pattern problems are only the cases of Spice and Wolf Blu-ray Disc, and were not seen in other HD master Blu-ray Disc which I own.

Lastly, Blu-ray raw, Aired version, and Blu-ray raw + WarpSharp Filter + No Compression Encording image which were compared in 1920x1080 pixels are shown below.

Spoiler for large image:

[relentlessflame]

Thanks for all your detailed information! A very curious technical issue, to be sure. As a matter of personal preference, perhaps, I think the WarpSharp version is really too "WarpSharpened", but you're right that it makes for somewhat-better still pictures. In any event, it does seem clear from those pictures that due to the compositing and the resolution of the art, it isn't really a perfect 1080p transfer. But, given that the problem does appear to be in the source material (since it affects all version equally), perhaps this is the best we're going to get. As you said before, hopefully the producers of the next season will do an even-better technical job in the HD production.

One thing I will still say is that, despite the less-than-perfect HD transfer, it's still way better than the DVDs (and the DVDs are a victim of the same problem anyway since, as you point out, it must be in the source).

[Ryuou]

Is there any way to get the filters to work while watching the Blu-Ray disk on a player or PS3? Or will it only work if played on a computer? Cause the last one is much sharper.

[Masanori Ota]

Originally Posted by Ryuou

Is there any way to get the filters to work while watching the Blu-Ray disk on a player or PS3? Or will it only work if played on a computer? Cause the last one is much sharper.

It's easy to mess with filters on the fly if you have MPC and the correct codecs.

[Ryuou]

Originally Posted by Masanori Ota

It's easy to mess with filters on the fly if you have MPC and the correct codecs.

That's for the PC though right? I'm asking for use of the PS3/Blu-Ray player.

[Masanori Ota]

Ah, I'm sorry, I don't know about that. Maybe with Linux on the PS3.

[Ryuou]

That's okay. Thanks anyway though.

[Kaguya]

http://www.azone-int.jp/azonet/detai...=4571117000796

It is pre-order Hybrid Active Figure Horo 1/6 scale by azonet.
The price is 15,750 yen ($164).
I think that the tail should be changed for the strap of a right picture.

[ASR1FanSubs]

Originally Posted by mikoo

I second that!

Also... cast off clothing would be nice, too.





http://www.hlj.com/hljlist2/?Scale=0...&GenreCode=All
Spice And Wolf T-Shirt
Price : 2900 Yen

Holy meat! I am so getting one of those shirts!

[Masanori Ota]

I have one, it's pretty good except that the design takes up the entirety of the front. Can't wear it out in public. :L

[Lightly_Toasted]

Originally Posted by Lightly_Toasted

Well using some pictures I obtained off of the internet, I made my own Spice and wolf shirt. I got a couple stares from people at school.(The back is a bit racy) But I just love it. It is just so cool. Only thing is the front is a LITTLE blurry, not bad enough to dissuade me from remaking and and ordering a new one. Still looks really cool.
http://www.zazzle.com/spice_and_wolf...09497329925988

I might post up some pictures of it on me later on this week. BTW I'm a guy.

All i have to say if you want a SaW shirt.....

[Vexx]

Originally Posted by Kaguya

http://www.azone-int.jp/azonet/detai...=4571117000796

It is pre-order Hybrid Active Figure Horo 1/6 scale by azonet.
The price is 15,750 yen ($164).
I think that the tail should be changed for the strap of a right picture.

Wow.... though I'd be more impressed if the ears had been integrated rather than tacked on.... the rest of it (clothing, tail, etc) is marvelous.

I don't know about having a wolf tail charm dangle though... sounds a bit like something evil was done to get it.

[ASR1FanSubs]

Originally Posted by Lightly_Toasted

All i have to say if you want a SaW shirt.....

Its 15 bucks!
Plus shipping wouldnt it easier to make one 0-0

[Starburst]

Appears there's a re-release of the Kotobukiya Horo in July.

[Uzumaki174]

I'am wait for my Horo 1/8 from HLJ [ Good Smile edition] it is sweet and kawaii.
http://www.hlj.com/product/GSC96516

[Starburst]

Waiting on mine as well. The detachable ears though look kind of iffy. I know they're removable to add the hat, but I don't think she wore that hat with those clothes anyway... But I own all the PVC Horos so far, and will own any made in the future (Unless they're absolutely terrible).

I like the GSC one, though my favourite still remains the Kotobukiya Horo I think. She seems the cutest of them. The GSC one follows in Cospa's footsteps but does it right I guess. Her pants look much better on the GSC one than Cospa's. Her face looks better, and her tail looks a lot better than the Cospa Horo.

My only peeve with GSC's Horo is it looks like they just redid Cospa's. Would have been nice if they did something more original.

[Ashlotte]

Finally a Horo worth buying...



Even though I love Horo I've passed on all her past figures, because none of them really captured her essence to me, but this really does it for me...Especially that top right Alternate head...Yummy.

[Vexx]

Damn it, why do I always buy the one just BEFORE the one I wanted comes out?