Orphan does many of its show from analog sources - laserdisc by preference, VHS if need be. This reflects the team's interest in the "anime that time forgot" rather than nostalgia for old technology. But occasionally, as with the recent Amon Saga, we'll use an analog source (in this case, laserdisc) instead of an available digital source (in this case, DVD). This raises a valid question: why? Aren't modern digital sources always better?
For modern anime, which are created on computers, the answer is always yes. For back catalog shows, particularly those originating on film stock, the answer is mostly yes. Digital sources have error correction; analog sources do not. Digital sources can be replayed and will always yield the same bit stream; analog sources will not. However, there are cases where an analog source is a valid alternative to a digital source, or even a preferable alternative.
Case 1 - the digital source has been altered in some irremediable way. A notorious example of this is the Maze TV series. The DVDs ares censored; the laserdiscs are not. Further, the series masters are apparently lost, so the laserdiscs are the only possible source for the original version. Another example is Legend of the Galactic Heroes (the 110 episode OVA version). Scenes in episodes 06, 07, 15, 18, 20, 21, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 31, 34, 35, 37, 38, 39, 40, 42, 43, 44, 46, 47, 48, 50, 52, 56 and 92 were redrawn for the digital releases. Is the new animation better or worse? I don't know (reviewers have mixed opinions), but it's different.
Case 2 - the digital source has been carelessly mastered. This is more controversial, because the appearance of a source is in the eye of the beholder. In the early days of DVDs, mastering was often terrible. For example, the Yawara! DVDs looked like VHS transfers, and the Laughing Salesman DVDs were awful too. Erik of Piyo Piyo Productions ripped Amon Saga despite the availability of a DVD (something he almost never does) because prevailing opinion said the DVD was terrible. Members of the Orphan team prefer the laserdiscs of Project A-ko to the DVDs and, apparently, so does Discotek.
Case 3 - the digital source is unaffordable. Yes, economics play a role, especially in a volunteer hobby like fansubbing. Some DVDs were produced in small quantities and have become collector's items. For example, Heart Cocktail was released on six laserdiscs; the first four were released on DVD. When it's for sale, which is rarely, the second-hand DVD sells for hundreds of dollars. So if Orphan ever does sub Heart Cocktail, it will be from laserdiscs. Cost considerations may also dictate the use of a VHS source rather than a laserdisc source. The Aoki Honoo laserdisc, and the first volume of Kasei Yakyoku, when they come up for sale, sell for exceedingly high prices, so Orphan used VHS tapes for those shows.
For modern anime, which are created on computers, the answer is always yes. For back catalog shows, particularly those originating on film stock, the answer is mostly yes. Digital sources have error correction; analog sources do not. Digital sources can be replayed and will always yield the same bit stream; analog sources will not. However, there are cases where an analog source is a valid alternative to a digital source, or even a preferable alternative.
Case 1 - the digital source has been altered in some irremediable way. A notorious example of this is the Maze TV series. The DVDs ares censored; the laserdiscs are not. Further, the series masters are apparently lost, so the laserdiscs are the only possible source for the original version. Another example is Legend of the Galactic Heroes (the 110 episode OVA version). Scenes in episodes 06, 07, 15, 18, 20, 21, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 31, 34, 35, 37, 38, 39, 40, 42, 43, 44, 46, 47, 48, 50, 52, 56 and 92 were redrawn for the digital releases. Is the new animation better or worse? I don't know (reviewers have mixed opinions), but it's different.
Case 2 - the digital source has been carelessly mastered. This is more controversial, because the appearance of a source is in the eye of the beholder. In the early days of DVDs, mastering was often terrible. For example, the Yawara! DVDs looked like VHS transfers, and the Laughing Salesman DVDs were awful too. Erik of Piyo Piyo Productions ripped Amon Saga despite the availability of a DVD (something he almost never does) because prevailing opinion said the DVD was terrible. Members of the Orphan team prefer the laserdiscs of Project A-ko to the DVDs and, apparently, so does Discotek.
Case 3 - the digital source is unaffordable. Yes, economics play a role, especially in a volunteer hobby like fansubbing. Some DVDs were produced in small quantities and have become collector's items. For example, Heart Cocktail was released on six laserdiscs; the first four were released on DVD. When it's for sale, which is rarely, the second-hand DVD sells for hundreds of dollars. So if Orphan ever does sub Heart Cocktail, it will be from laserdiscs. Cost considerations may also dictate the use of a VHS source rather than a laserdisc source. The Aoki Honoo laserdisc, and the first volume of Kasei Yakyoku, when they come up for sale, sell for exceedingly high prices, so Orphan used VHS tapes for those shows.
I maintain a list of "problematic sources" used in prior Orphan releases. The team has standing searches on Japanese second-hand sites to find better source material, but most of the searches have been fruitless, even over several years. The best hope may be that the properties show up on a streaming site, either remastered or with a good transfer, but that's unpredictable. The ownership rights for old shows can be very murky, and the masters may no longer exist. Still, you never know.
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