Quality of the US old toon DVD's VS German
 

Hey guys,

If any of you are looking for the best quality picture to watch the old toon, I have to say that the picture quality on the German releases is considerably better than the US versions.

I don't know if it's a mastering issue or what, but the US versions have a very grainy pixelated look to them. This always seemed wrong to me. But when I noticed some shots of Planet of the Turtleoids from the German DVDs on another post, they seemed so much better that I figured it would be worth it to order and compare.

For me, it's almost like watching the show for the first time, like how it was meant to be seen. You see, growing up I never had cable, so I had to watch the show through bad TV antennae reception. So it's wonderful to finally see everything so clearly, without a layer of grain (although there is still minor DVD artifacting, but not nearly as bad as in the US version).

The German DVDs actually contain 2 versions of each episode: German and US. Why? Because the German version was edited for content (nunchucks I guess). So, there are no 'alternate audio tracks.' It's simply 2 different files. Since German is PAL (region 2), I ripped the DVD on my computer and just kept the US version files. I prefer watching files off the computer anyway, as it's faster than loading through a DVD player.

I've also noticed that the sound seems better on the German version. The bass sounds fuller and richer, and the overall sound has more presence.

I ordered the "Box 1" (25 episodes from season 1 to 3) from the german ebay (ebay.de), translated with google chrome, and it was pretty easy. Just found a seller who shipped internationally. I had tried ordering from Amazon but it was too confusing. It was about $30 after shipping and everything. Not bad for 25 episodes.

PS: I haven't watched the Laserdisc versions yet, but I'm guessing the German DVD's would still win out on picture quality, although I hear that sound quality on Laserdisc is better than DVD since it's not compressed. We'll have to wait till I get a Laserdisc player though to settle this...

About the german Quality:

KSM was asked last year when they rereleased Box 1 as a 3 Disk Set instead of a 5 Disk Set if they would remaster the Episodes like they did with they He-Man, She-Ra, Galaxy Rangers Rereleases before. They responded by saying that they already remastered all episodes of TMNT they released on DVD (both german & english) because they had to "minimize" the Filesize to get 10 episodes (5 german, 5 english) onto one Disk.

So yeah, they episodes were remastered in picture and audioquality by KSM, which are known in Germany for their special remastering techniques which allowe them to get 13+ half-hour episodes on 1 DVD without loosing any Quality.

We could still compare the german Sets with the US Lionsgate Sets, sadly I only own the german Sets, but if anyone has the US Sets and posts some Images include Infos from which episodes they are, I would provide the german ones ;)

Check out the screencaps thread, as tone-master has posted some high-quality DVD images that are good for comparison. Many members have the episode scene in mind as well. You can clearly see some wear/faded color on many of these pictures as a result of dust/friction on the tape masters. I feel that the Laserdisc version maybe of higher quality since those were optical and pressed when the master tapes were still fresh.

http://forums.thetechnodrome.com/sho...=9523&page=151 This page has "Krangenstein Lives" and "Turtle Tracks" included.

I have the US dvds the quality is what you would expect, full screen but a little stretched. Fun fact! On the volume four dvd it says they do kung fu instead of ninjitsu!

Here's some comparisons from the 1st episode.
I don't have the American DVD's from season 2 and 3.

Of course, this isn't the same as seeing it in motion. When watching it, the German version is smoother, with the solid colors looking more solid and smooth, rather than grainy as the US one does.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/43402383@N04/7411725008

http://flic.kr/p/chX2LL

http://www.flickr.com/photos/43402383@N04/7411725008/
http://flic.kr/p/chX2LL

Attachment 2976

Attachment 2977

I can't seem to display the images here. Sorry about that.

All we need now is for someone to find out who did the UK 20th Anniversary set and how it compares to the KSM and US DVD sets. However I have a feeling that the UK DVDs are ports from the KSM release of Box 1 probably because they're Region 2 already so easier to copy.

I can tell you that they used the LionsGate Version and "PAL"ed it themselves and not the KSM Port ;)

Alright: Here are som Screens from the "English Track" on the german DVDs of Turtle Tracks (Screenshots from the US Set from tone-master21)

What program did you use to take those snap shots? The German version looks stretched vertically.

I'm playing my files with VLC and taking the snap shots with it too. It also looks like the resolution is higher, unless you're shrinking the pictures.

Here's my version of the Raph shot:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/43402383@N04/7415628254/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/43402383@N04/7415628254/

EDIT: I just noticed that this Flickr site is adding JPEG artifacts to the image that really aren't there in the original file.
How are you displaying the images? Are you uploading them to another site?

I use Media Player Classic.
I use the german Site http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/ which uploads the Images just like they are ;)

It's odd the UK got the US masters and not the KSM masters since it would have been easier to port the versions that are already in a Region 2 format. Judging my the screenshots and I do find it hard to tell but the KSM captures show slightly more colour and are slightly sharper, less fuzzy than the Lionsgate ones.

One of the problem with remastering Ninja Turtles episodes is that however well you do it at the end of the day it depends on the original source material. The animation in Ninja Turtles was never consistant. Season 3 had about four different animation companies working on those episodes so even the best standards set by KSM aren't going to look great when we have episodes that upon the original broadcast had dull colours, off key animation and a picture roughness. Take a look at episodes like Mean Machines, Mutagen Monster and 20,000 Leaks Under the Sea as well as a lot of the European Vacation episodes.

while you guys in Germany might have got better picture for the DVDs im just happy they released that at all :)

I just got another DVD in the mail, and decided to do a screen cap comparison of Plan 6 From Outerspace... especially since it was released twice in North America.

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/file...or2-2-c81e.png

As you can see, the German version is larger and smoother. Of course a still image isn't the same as watching it in motion. When watching the North American versions the layer of grain/artifacts is more apparent.

Oh well, maybe us poor deprived Americans can get the best transfer on the inevitable re-release. :ohwell:

Only skimmed over Box 1 so far. The PAL speed-up makes everyone sound like they've been inhaling helium.

The pitch change is easily solved with this program called "ReClock": http://www.videohelp.com/tools/ReClo...ectshow-Filter

What I did is I ripped the .VOB files to my computer, and I play them through Media Play Classic. With ReClock installed, it asks me if I want to adjust the sound/frames. Sounds great and looks great.

I really can't imagine us getting a higher quality version of the show unless they re-do it for BluRay. Not that I'm getting my hopes up for that.

I'm considering re-selling my DVD's now that I have backups. If any of you guys would like Box 1 and 3 without paying for expensive german shipping charges and exchange rates, let me know.

Do the Germany dvds have any bonus features like interviews? What is the difference between the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Box 1 3 DVD set and Box 1 5 DVD set?

O_O There's a 5-disc S1 set? :x

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - Box 1 (5 DVDs)
http://www.amazon.de/Teenage-Mutant-...338819&sr=1-11


Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - Box 1 (Episoden 1-25) [3 DVDs]
http://www.amazon.de/Teenage-Mutant-...2338819&sr=1-2

There's no difference (don't be angry gobo)

It's all the same, excapt the fact that instead of 5 Disks, there are now only 3.
I compaired the Quality months ago on a german DVD Board: It's the same.

KSM is well known in Germany for rereleasing DVD Boxsets in smaller Sets but still put out the best Quality.