Orbital Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray of "TO" arrives with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.78:1. The overall video presentation is characterized by crisp, sharp visuals, befitting an animation entirely rendered in the digital domain. Director Sori's preference for a smooth, slightly featureless look on human characters is clearly evident, and while the character designs are distinct and visually pleasing, they lack the depth often found in Western animations. The real visual strength lies in its backgrounds, particularly in "Symbiotic Planet," where the inventive alien topography stands out. Colors are beautifully graded, especially within the gray scale, though they can be somewhat muted at times.

Despite these strengths, the Blu-ray transfer is not without its flaws. The opening sequences reveal a minor aliasing issue that becomes more prevalent during the main segments. Vertical lines on character outlines and clothing exhibit shimmering and aliasing, causing lines to disappear and reappear erratically. This problem is more noticeable in "Symbiotic Planet," where it disrupts the visual integrity of the Aon character. While detail levels are generally phenomenal and artifacting is negligible, occasional chroma fringes and minor aliasing around hair strands do detract from the overall experience.

In summary, although "TO" showcases excellent detail levels and minimal banding issues, persistent aliasing and shimmering on vertical lines significantly hamper the viewing experience. Notwithstanding these drawbacks, the Blu-ray still manages to impress with its sharp visuals, vibrant backgrounds, and minimal artifacts, maintaining a unique and inviting aesthetic.

The Blu-ray of "Orbital" boasts two lossless Dolby TrueHD 5.1 tracks—one in Japanese and the other in English. Both tracks are effectively identical regarding effects, underscore, and overall balance. Immersive soundscapes enhance the viewing experience, although they are not overwhelmingly present. Specific standout moments include the outer space gun battle in "Elliptical Orbit," which demonstrates excellent discrete channel utilization, and some subtle yet compelling planetary landscape sounds in "Symbiotic Planet." Throughout both tracks, fidelity remains consistently high, underscoring the excellent voice work.

In terms of audio performance, the Dolby TrueHD 5.1 tracks are solid and occasionally remarkable. The soundtrack permeates the room effectively, with precision movement effects that enhance immersion within the OVAs. Light bass is particularly notable in "Elliptical Orbit," adding depth to the viewing experience. Dialogue is clear and well-prioritized, with mechanical-like filters adding authenticity to characters such as terrorists and engineers in space suits. While "Symbiotic Planet" doesn't match the action-oriented levels of "Elliptical Orbit" and is more verbal and emotional, it still offers a fine audio experience. It is worth noting that the default track is the English dub, consistent with FUNimation releases.

Overall, these audio tracks provide a fine auditory backdrop for a fine release, ensuring a balanced and engaging listening experience.

The Blu-ray extras for "Orbital" provide a deep dive into the making and thematic elements of the film. The special interviews, featuring director Fumihiko Sori and prominent voice actors like Akio Ohtsuka, Romi Park, Jun Fukuyama, and Aya Hirano, are thorough, albeit bordering on overly lengthy. Sori elaborates on the unique 3D live anime style and the intent behind the title "TO," while the actors share their experiences and character insights. While filled with valuable information, the interviews can be visually cluttered due to unnecessary text overlays. Additionally, the disc includes a comprehensive array of promotional materials, from trailers to TV spots and a teaser. The inclusion of a DVD copy is a worthwhile addition for those seeking versatility in viewing options.

Extras included in this disc:

• Special Interview with Director Fumihiko Sori, Akio Ohtsuka, and Romi Park: Discussion on the 3D live anime style and their collaboration.
• Special Interview with Director Fumihiko Sori, Jun Fukuyama, and Aya Hirano: Insights into characters and the creation of "TO."
• Elliptical Orbit trailer: Promotional teaser.
• Symbiotic Planet trailer: Promotional teaser.
• Promo Video (Rental): Marketing footage for rental release.
• Promo Video (Sale): Marketing footage for sale release.
• TV Spots: Short promotional clips.
• Teaser: Early promotional material.
• DVD Copy: Bonus DVD for flexible viewing.

"Orbital," an anime adaptation of Yukinobu Hoshino's manga "2001 Nights," directed by Fumihiko Sori, offers a mixed yet compelling sci-fi anthology. This Blu-ray release includes two space-themed stories, "Elliptical Orbit" and "Symbiotic Planet," each with its unique narrative and an array of appealing visuals. While the project may be constrained by its brevity, it manages to present thought-provoking and scientifically plausible tales that pay homage to classic science fiction literature and cinema.

"Elliptical Orbit," the first of the two stories, follows a cargo station crew dealing with a terrorist hijack. Although reminiscent of "Die Hard" set in space, the episode is weakened by thin character development and rapid pacing, which undermine the narrative's dramatic potential. Despite these shortcomings, the plot features some innovative scientific elements, including liquid proton energy and a mysterious spacecraft known as The Flying Dutchman. The episode's highlight is an unexpected twist at the end, although some pivotal moments are disappointingly underplayed.

Conversely, "Symbiotic Planet" presents a more gripping and visually stunning narrative. Set on a distant planet in the Beta Hydri system, it portrays a Romeo and Juliet-esque love story against the backdrop of inter-colonial conflict between American and Eurasian settlers. The story explores intriguing scientific themes around a mysterious fungus that threatens colonization efforts. It successfully interweaves personal and political subplots, creating a more immersive experience than its predecessor. The alien landscapes, filled with floating spores and jellyfish-like creatures, provide striking visual appeal. Despite a slightly sentimental conclusion, "Symbiotic Planet" effectively sustains audience engagement through its dynamic storytelling and rich graphic design.

Overall, "Orbital" is a commendable work that balances intrigue, visual excellence, and speculative scientific scenarios. While each story has its strengths and weaknesses, together they offer a nuanced exploration of humanity's future in space.

The Blu-ray release of "Orbital" provides an engaging and mostly satisfying dive into classic science fiction anime. Comprising two standalone stories, 'Elliptical Orbit' and 'Symbionic Planet,' this CG-animated pair offers a blend of intriguing narrative elements and visually captivating sequences. Director Fumihiko Sori’s innovative techniques manifest in stunning animation and dynamic world-building that should entice sci-fi aficionados. While 'Elliptical Orbit' offers a tense, action-focused storyline, 'Symbionic Planet' delves into more introspective themes, ensuring a varied viewing experience.

However, the presentation is not without its flaws. The most notable issue is pervasive aliasing, which diminishes the visual quality across both features. Despite this, the high-definition transfer excels in other respects, capturing intricate details and vibrant color palettes effectively. Enhanced audio tracks further elevate the immersive experience, although they can’t entirely compensate for the visual shortcomings. The content itself, however, shines enough to recommend "Orbital," especially for those with a penchant for old-school science fiction.

Once again, Fumihiko Sori proves that he's one of the most innovative and visually ingenious directors currently working in anime. "Orbital" would have benefited immensely from another 30 minutes or so of content, just enough to fill in some blanks and develop backstories and character motivations. Otherwise, though, this is a fantastic looking outing that has a number of really intriguing story aspects that should enchant science fiction lovers. Highly recommended.