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Freedom: Volume 2 (HD DVD)
Bandai Visual USA // Unrated // September 25, 2007 // Region 0
List Price: $39.99 [Buy now and save at Amazon]
Bandai Visual continues their release of the six part OVA series Freedom onto these shores with this second volume. Freedom is set 
several hundred years in the future, well over a century after a catastrophic collision with a space station ravaged the Earth and prompted a series of wars decimating what few survivors remained. The last remnants of mankind were those residing in the lunar colony of Eden, and 160 years later, their descendents continue to be housed in a series of colossal domes designed to mimic the azure skies and lush foliage of a planet that's now smoldering in ruins.
At least, that's what Takeru had been led to believe for all of his fifteen years on Eden. The series opened by focusing largely on Takeru rebelling against the regimentation of this far-flung future by illegally racing his souped-up Lunar Terrain Vehicle, but this second volume begins to better explore why the series is titled Freedom in the first place. This installment picks up immediately where the previous one left off, following Takeru as he investigates a violent crash while serving his punishment outside the protection of the array of domes. The only thing he finds in the crater is a photograph of a beautiful young girl standing in front of some sort of launch pad, with a brief message reading "We are safe. Is anybody out there?" scrawled on the other side.
Takeru immediately becomes obsessed with the girl in the photo, determined to track down wherever it is in Eden the picture was taken. He and his friends scour as much of the colony as they can, but they're wholly unable to turn up any trace of her, and the city's computer network fails to match the background of the photo to anything in its extensive database. On a lark, Takeru decides to cross-reference it with the last recorded images of Earth. This at first just turns up the same images he'd seen all his life of the scorched, barren planet, but his continued persistence shuts down the entire network. Alan -- the mysterious codger Bisu befriended in the first volume -- offers to lend him a hand, but Alan's unexpected familiarity with the hidden innards of Eden inadvertently places Takeru in grave danger as the colony's protectors prevent an elaborate conspiracy from starting to unravel.
This second volume of Freedom takes a decidedly different approach than the largely introductory installment that came before it. The premiere volume spent much of its lean runtime establishing these characters and the unrelentingly tight reins of this futuristic society, bookended by a pair of kinetic racing sequences. This volume bridges that foundation with the struggle that's to follow as Eden's shadowy caretakers scramble to protect their secrets. It focuses almost entirely on the investigation into the meaning of that photograph; the sole race this time around follows one of Takeru's rivals in Team Moonshine as he tries to strut his stuff in a time trial, and the only other particularly action-oriented sequence is a brief chase at the tail end.
Despite its diminished emphasis on that sort of action, this second volume of Freedom still manages to move along at nearly as blazingly fast a clip as the first. The only time the pacing stutters is when Takeru trawls the city in search of the girl in the photograph. Some of these scenes drag on long enough to seem as if they're there just to pad out the already lean runtime, and it doesn't help that Takeru seemingly has no motivation for such an exhausting, time-consuming search beyond being enthralled with a pretty girl in a picture. Sure, he's fifteen, but I'd think someone who's already predisposed to questioning social norms would find at least something more compelling about the photograph without having to have another character point out the obvious to him.
I admittedly wasn't quite sure what to make of Freedom when I gave the first volume a look a few months back -- it was too introductory to spark much of a review -- but watching the first two installments back to back, I found myself much more engaged by this futuristic world. Freedom
establishes a reasonably strong sense of paranoia and intrigue, striking a balance with its tone that avoids feeling overly grim or deflatingly flippant. The investigation that makes up much of this second volume is a slower burn than the first, but Freedom still held my interest throughout, and with the chaos that rains down at the end of this installment and throughout the teaser for volume three, I'm definitely onboard for the rest of the series.
Bandai Visual has done a commendable job bringing Freedom to HD DVD, giving the cel-shared animation a sparkling 1080p presentation and bolstering it with one of the most striking presentations of next-gen extras I've seen to date. This attention to quality comes a steep cost, but anime fans who were intrigued by the first volume of this search for the truth in a dystopian future should continue to be impressed with Katsuhiro Ôtomo's character designs, the series' striking visual style, and an underlying tension that's quickly coming to a head.
Random Aside: Freedom was commissioned by Nissin Cup Noodles to ring in its 35th anniversary, and although there is some product placement, it's not especially heavy-handed. A character or two will slurp down the salty contents of one of their distinctive styrofoam cups in each episode, inevitably finding some excuse for the camera to close in and linger on the packaging for a half-second longer than you'd otherwise expect.
Video: Freedom boasts the same technical specs as its first volume, with its VC-1 encoded video presented at an aspect ratio of 1.78:1. The 1080p animation is a marked improvement over the DVD layer of this twin disc, offering considerably crisper linework and an overall stronger sense of definition. The image is consistently razor-sharp, boasting bold, vivid colors and robust black levels. Some slight banding is visible at the end of the prologue as well as some of the gradients in the sky, and one extreme close-up near the climax reveals some heavy aliasing around Alan's eyebrows. These are extremely minor concerns, of course, and considering that they appear in the DVD presentation as well, they look to be an issue with the source.
Even if much of its imagery was rendered on a bank of computers somewhere in the East rather than drawn by hand, Freedom continues to show how much 2-D animation stands to gain from the additional resolution and clarity that high definition offers, and I hope there's much more of it is to come.
Audio: Freedom defaults to Japanese Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 audio with a removable English subtitle stream enabled. A Japanese 2.0 LPCM track has also been provided.
The sound design is at its most aggressive during Taira's time trial showcase and the closing chase, bolstered by a thunderous low-end and seamless pans from one channel to the next. The mix is understandably more subdued outside of those more action-oriented sequences, but there's a decent sense of ambiance throughout and even some occasional directionality, particularly as Takeru scours the bustling metropolis of Eden as part of his search. This second volume of the series is even more heavily focused on dialogue than the first, and the cast's line readings are reproduced cleanly and clearly.
Extras: Freedom is again being issued
exclusively as a twin format disc. Whereas the more familiar combo releases have a DVD on one side of the disc and a high-definition presentation on the other, twin format discs place the DVD and HD DVD layers on the same side, allowing for screened art and easier handling. Freedom comes packaged in a transparent, oversized jewel case that slips inside a cardboard sleeve.
The extras are similar to the first volume but are a bit slimmer this time around. Instantly accessible on the disc is a minute and a half high-def preview for volume three that promises to intermingle the conspiracy bent and sci-fi action that closed out Freedom's second installment with the high-speed tube racing of the first. As I write this, at least, its online interactivity is limited to unlocking a short high definition trailer for the series. This 68 second clip is different than the one offered on the first volume of Freedom.
Bandai Visual's implementation of picture-in-picture video is the most robust of any studio releasing on HD DVD at the moment. The 'computer graphics simulation' feature overlays test renders and pencil-sketched backgrounds on top of the episode, and the picture-in-picture window can be zoomed in and out, moved around freely, toggled to fill the entire screen, and placed side-by-side with the episode itself. The interface is so flexible that even the opacity of the window can be changed with the press of a button.
The buttons can also be used also bring up storyboards and English credits throughout the episode, and the disc additionally allows viewers to bookmark up to seven of their favorite scenes.
As was the case with the first volume, none of Freedom's extras are available on the DVD layer of the disc.
Conclusion: Freedom's daunting sticker price will likely scare away all but the most rabid anime fans, but those who bought or rented the series' first volume should find this follow-up well worth a look. Freedom holds up well to repeat viewings, and Bandai Visual has clearly taken great care in presenting this second installment at the highest quality possible and continuing with its striking set of next-generation extras. Freedom as a series comes recommended, but because of the hefty price tag of each individual volume, I'd suggest sticking with a rental. Rent It.
Related Reviews: DVD Talk also has reviews of Bandai Visual's other high-definition releases, including the first volume of Freedom and Royal Space Force - The Wings of Honneamise.
several hundred years in the future, well over a century after a catastrophic collision with a space station ravaged the Earth and prompted a series of wars decimating what few survivors remained. The last remnants of mankind were those residing in the lunar colony of Eden, and 160 years later, their descendents continue to be housed in a series of colossal domes designed to mimic the azure skies and lush foliage of a planet that's now smoldering in ruins. At least, that's what Takeru had been led to believe for all of his fifteen years on Eden. The series opened by focusing largely on Takeru rebelling against the regimentation of this far-flung future by illegally racing his souped-up Lunar Terrain Vehicle, but this second volume begins to better explore why the series is titled Freedom in the first place. This installment picks up immediately where the previous one left off, following Takeru as he investigates a violent crash while serving his punishment outside the protection of the array of domes. The only thing he finds in the crater is a photograph of a beautiful young girl standing in front of some sort of launch pad, with a brief message reading "We are safe. Is anybody out there?" scrawled on the other side.
Takeru immediately becomes obsessed with the girl in the photo, determined to track down wherever it is in Eden the picture was taken. He and his friends scour as much of the colony as they can, but they're wholly unable to turn up any trace of her, and the city's computer network fails to match the background of the photo to anything in its extensive database. On a lark, Takeru decides to cross-reference it with the last recorded images of Earth. This at first just turns up the same images he'd seen all his life of the scorched, barren planet, but his continued persistence shuts down the entire network. Alan -- the mysterious codger Bisu befriended in the first volume -- offers to lend him a hand, but Alan's unexpected familiarity with the hidden innards of Eden inadvertently places Takeru in grave danger as the colony's protectors prevent an elaborate conspiracy from starting to unravel.
This second volume of Freedom takes a decidedly different approach than the largely introductory installment that came before it. The premiere volume spent much of its lean runtime establishing these characters and the unrelentingly tight reins of this futuristic society, bookended by a pair of kinetic racing sequences. This volume bridges that foundation with the struggle that's to follow as Eden's shadowy caretakers scramble to protect their secrets. It focuses almost entirely on the investigation into the meaning of that photograph; the sole race this time around follows one of Takeru's rivals in Team Moonshine as he tries to strut his stuff in a time trial, and the only other particularly action-oriented sequence is a brief chase at the tail end.
Despite its diminished emphasis on that sort of action, this second volume of Freedom still manages to move along at nearly as blazingly fast a clip as the first. The only time the pacing stutters is when Takeru trawls the city in search of the girl in the photograph. Some of these scenes drag on long enough to seem as if they're there just to pad out the already lean runtime, and it doesn't help that Takeru seemingly has no motivation for such an exhausting, time-consuming search beyond being enthralled with a pretty girl in a picture. Sure, he's fifteen, but I'd think someone who's already predisposed to questioning social norms would find at least something more compelling about the photograph without having to have another character point out the obvious to him.
I admittedly wasn't quite sure what to make of Freedom when I gave the first volume a look a few months back -- it was too introductory to spark much of a review -- but watching the first two installments back to back, I found myself much more engaged by this futuristic world. Freedom
establishes a reasonably strong sense of paranoia and intrigue, striking a balance with its tone that avoids feeling overly grim or deflatingly flippant. The investigation that makes up much of this second volume is a slower burn than the first, but Freedom still held my interest throughout, and with the chaos that rains down at the end of this installment and throughout the teaser for volume three, I'm definitely onboard for the rest of the series. Bandai Visual has done a commendable job bringing Freedom to HD DVD, giving the cel-shared animation a sparkling 1080p presentation and bolstering it with one of the most striking presentations of next-gen extras I've seen to date. This attention to quality comes a steep cost, but anime fans who were intrigued by the first volume of this search for the truth in a dystopian future should continue to be impressed with Katsuhiro Ôtomo's character designs, the series' striking visual style, and an underlying tension that's quickly coming to a head.
Random Aside: Freedom was commissioned by Nissin Cup Noodles to ring in its 35th anniversary, and although there is some product placement, it's not especially heavy-handed. A character or two will slurp down the salty contents of one of their distinctive styrofoam cups in each episode, inevitably finding some excuse for the camera to close in and linger on the packaging for a half-second longer than you'd otherwise expect.
Video: Freedom boasts the same technical specs as its first volume, with its VC-1 encoded video presented at an aspect ratio of 1.78:1. The 1080p animation is a marked improvement over the DVD layer of this twin disc, offering considerably crisper linework and an overall stronger sense of definition. The image is consistently razor-sharp, boasting bold, vivid colors and robust black levels. Some slight banding is visible at the end of the prologue as well as some of the gradients in the sky, and one extreme close-up near the climax reveals some heavy aliasing around Alan's eyebrows. These are extremely minor concerns, of course, and considering that they appear in the DVD presentation as well, they look to be an issue with the source.
Even if much of its imagery was rendered on a bank of computers somewhere in the East rather than drawn by hand, Freedom continues to show how much 2-D animation stands to gain from the additional resolution and clarity that high definition offers, and I hope there's much more of it is to come.
Audio: Freedom defaults to Japanese Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 audio with a removable English subtitle stream enabled. A Japanese 2.0 LPCM track has also been provided.
The sound design is at its most aggressive during Taira's time trial showcase and the closing chase, bolstered by a thunderous low-end and seamless pans from one channel to the next. The mix is understandably more subdued outside of those more action-oriented sequences, but there's a decent sense of ambiance throughout and even some occasional directionality, particularly as Takeru scours the bustling metropolis of Eden as part of his search. This second volume of the series is even more heavily focused on dialogue than the first, and the cast's line readings are reproduced cleanly and clearly.
Extras: Freedom is again being issued
exclusively as a twin format disc. Whereas the more familiar combo releases have a DVD on one side of the disc and a high-definition presentation on the other, twin format discs place the DVD and HD DVD layers on the same side, allowing for screened art and easier handling. Freedom comes packaged in a transparent, oversized jewel case that slips inside a cardboard sleeve. The extras are similar to the first volume but are a bit slimmer this time around. Instantly accessible on the disc is a minute and a half high-def preview for volume three that promises to intermingle the conspiracy bent and sci-fi action that closed out Freedom's second installment with the high-speed tube racing of the first. As I write this, at least, its online interactivity is limited to unlocking a short high definition trailer for the series. This 68 second clip is different than the one offered on the first volume of Freedom.
Bandai Visual's implementation of picture-in-picture video is the most robust of any studio releasing on HD DVD at the moment. The 'computer graphics simulation' feature overlays test renders and pencil-sketched backgrounds on top of the episode, and the picture-in-picture window can be zoomed in and out, moved around freely, toggled to fill the entire screen, and placed side-by-side with the episode itself. The interface is so flexible that even the opacity of the window can be changed with the press of a button.
The buttons can also be used also bring up storyboards and English credits throughout the episode, and the disc additionally allows viewers to bookmark up to seven of their favorite scenes.
As was the case with the first volume, none of Freedom's extras are available on the DVD layer of the disc.
Conclusion: Freedom's daunting sticker price will likely scare away all but the most rabid anime fans, but those who bought or rented the series' first volume should find this follow-up well worth a look. Freedom holds up well to repeat viewings, and Bandai Visual has clearly taken great care in presenting this second installment at the highest quality possible and continuing with its striking set of next-generation extras. Freedom as a series comes recommended, but because of the hefty price tag of each individual volume, I'd suggest sticking with a rental. Rent It.
Related Reviews: DVD Talk also has reviews of Bandai Visual's other high-definition releases, including the first volume of Freedom and Royal Space Force - The Wings of Honneamise.
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