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Feature Presentation:
Special thanks to ADV Films for sending a copy for a review for this site. Here is another volume of this mysterious series called Prétear. This set of episodes is getting more intense! Yes, you still get the same cool music & see more prét transformation. Of course, all the laughter when Himeno give a punch to Hayate! Himeno is trying her best with her new life of the wealthy, as well, being a Prétear. Her skills & fighting abilities get better & better with every fight. However, something goes really wrong, the Princess of Darkness is starting to haunt Himeno & feel her with fear, at times, making her not able to concentrated on the battle. Then, the Knights reveals something that they are hiding from Himeno, the truth about the Princess of Darkness. But, at the end, all of this event is having a toll on her. Will she able to fight?
Video:
ADV Films did a very great job. I found no problem, the image are clear & the color looks perfect. The only thing that bugs me there is now only three episodes on this volume. Bummer! The episodes are on a different track, so there will be a small loading time when you move on to the next episode. Each episodes are separated into 6 parts: the prologue, the introduction, part A, part B, ending & the preview for the next episode! I do note that you can skip all those warnings & logos when you first load the DVD by just pressing the "Menu" button on your remote control.
Dubbing: English:
The dubbing is really great. ADV Films really capture the funny parts like the original Japanese dialogue. It's about 85% of the original Japanese.
Audio 01: English 5.1:
Unable to test it, since I don't have a 5.1 surround system, I can't really say much.
Audio XX: English 2.0:
Just letting you know, there isn't an English 2.0 audio track on this DVD. This is artificially made from the 5.1 audio track, that's why I noted it as "XX". I found no problem with the audio, but I bet it would be alot more interesting with the 5.1.
Audio 02: Japanese 2.0:
No problem found.
Subtitle:
ADV Films have selected a great font, very easy to read. They use yellow for the introduction, ending themes & the Japanese dialogue & white for Japanese signs & text. There are two tracks of subtitling. One track is for the sign subtitling & the other one is for the Japanese dialogue. I might note that every odd numbered episodes, the intro & ending subtitles are in English, while the even numbered episodes are in Japanese on this volume.
Menu Option:
The menu remains the same, starts off with looks like crystal roses, then the selections appears. There isn't a "Play All" feature, just a selection of one of the 3 episodes, "Screen Access", "Set Up" & "Extras". There isn't any special effects if you select any options. The main theme is playing in the background in the main menu, as well as other sections, except for one, which they use the ending theme as the background music.
DVD Extras:
I don't know why, it got the same non-credit opening & ending. What a waste, having it again. There is also another set of a production sketches. The cool part of the extras are the behind the Anime with Chris Patton (Sasame), Victor Carsrud (Kei), Spike Spencer (Go) & Greg Ayres (Mannen), which gives them a little what they do & about themselves. It's more of an interview, but there is a little commentary as well on the series.
Packaging:
Keeping the same design, the packaging remains very nice. On the cover, you see Sasami & her step-sister Mawata, which I got no idea why she is on the cover, since you don't see her much during the episodes. Yes, there is the crystal roses in the background, like the menu. In the back, you get three screenshots. Though, the description about this series, the fonts is a little too small & it's hard to read if you don't look closely. The insert is pretty simple, just the same picture as the cover, as well a listing on what's on this DVD, the episodes, what's in the extra, though no chapter list. A big note, there is a huge typo error on the episodes list both in the back & the insert. I think they put the wrong episodes titles. I hope they will correct it soon! On the DVD disc itself, it's just simple, snowflakes with a greenish background, same as the previous volume. It should have a cool picture to match the awssome package.
PC Viewing:
Watching it on the PC is the same as watching it on the TV. Very clean, no problem at all, very little pixel (little squares popping in & out), both normal mode & full screen mode. The sound is just great. Since the episodes are on different tracks, it will take time to load when you move on to the next episode. Like on your regular DVD player, you can skip the warnings & logos when you load the disc, just use the "menu" option to go to the menu screen.
Overall DVD Rating:
Now, it's getting more interesting. The truth about the Princess of Darkness is reveals. Though, I hate it when the action ends mid-way on the last episode! Guess I just have to wait on the next episode! This series got cool music, great story line & a little humor added in!
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