As a massive Daft Punk fan, I've been wanting to clear the air on Interstella 5555. Specifically, why the NTSC version is the BEST one around & why a 4K AI upscale re-release was inevitable.
This is a story of a great film's preservation going awry. 🧵 x.com
This is a story of a great film's preservation going awry. 🧵 x.com
Daft Punk wanted a companion film to visualize their album Discovery. Ultimately, the duo tapped Leiji Matsumoto-san to oversee the film, which we eventually knew as Interstella 5555.
We don't know what released in theatres, but the home version was mastered on Japanese NTSC. x.com
We don't know what released in theatres, but the home version was mastered on Japanese NTSC. x.com
When the film was ported to non-NTSC formats, the studio had to remaster it for PAL DVD & eventually Blu-ray.
This effectively required them to port a 29.97 FPS movie into 25 FPS. When the time came for a Blu-ray release, the NTSC Master was lost, & so the PAL Master was used. x.com
This effectively required them to port a 29.97 FPS movie into 25 FPS. When the time came for a Blu-ray release, the NTSC Master was lost, & so the PAL Master was used. x.com
In the current age of 4K UHD, rights holders wanted to release the film again via a 4K theatrical release. But without the original NTSC master gone, this left them with the poorly released PAL version to go off of.
The end result? Framerate, timing, & animation issues:
1. Japan NTSC DVD
2. PAL DVD
3. US Blu-ray
4. AI Remaster
The end result? Framerate, timing, & animation issues:
1. Japan NTSC DVD
2. PAL DVD
3. US Blu-ray
4. AI Remaster
Masters serve as the best version of a film & are the basis of where film preservation begins. Without a good Master, studios are relegated to AI tools to help "fix" the issue.
When pixel aspect ratio, resolution, and framerates shift, the end result is a guaranteed mess.
1. AI Remaster
2. US Blu-ray
3. PAL DVD
4. JP NTSC DVD
When pixel aspect ratio, resolution, and framerates shift, the end result is a guaranteed mess.
1. AI Remaster
2. US Blu-ray
3. PAL DVD
4. JP NTSC DVD
Although the team behind the 4K AI attempt did their best, we're ultimately left with the best version being the NTSC version to date. Providing the cleanest animation of Interstella 5555. Although, the Blu-ray version did provide the best audio mastering.
One last comparison:
1. AI Remaster
2. US Blu-ray
3. PAL DVD
4. Japan NTSC DVD
One last comparison:
1. AI Remaster
2. US Blu-ray
3. PAL DVD
4. Japan NTSC DVD
There aren't any plans for a physical 4K release at this time. However, if you must own a copy I can't recommend anything beyond the NTSC version. If you prefer audio over visuals, the Blu-ray version is the best way to go.
I'm hopeful someone will release a 4K upscale that blends the NTSC visuals & Blu-ray audio. It's worth adding that there's 2K upscale floating around that's the best option around for those interested!
Hope you found this information useful! And perhaps Daft Punk will reunite for one more tour! (End)
I'm hopeful someone will release a 4K upscale that blends the NTSC visuals & Blu-ray audio. It's worth adding that there's 2K upscale floating around that's the best option around for those interested!
Hope you found this information useful! And perhaps Daft Punk will reunite for one more tour! (End)
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