- Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
- Video Codec: AVC/MPEG-4
- Resolution: 1080p/24
- Audio Codec: Japanese Dolby TrueHD 2.0, English Dolby TrueHD 5.1
- Subtitles: English
- Region: AB (No Region C)
- Rating: TV-14
- Discs: 4 (2 x Blu-ray + 2 x DVD)
- Studio: Funimation
- Blu-ray Release Date: June 28, 2011
- List Price: $69.98
[amazon-product]B004TP55LQ[/amazon-product]
Purchase RideBack on Blu-ray+DVD Combo Pack at CD Universe
Shop for more Blu-ray titles at Amazon.com
Overall
[Rating:4/5]
The Series
[Rating:4/5]
Video Quality
[Rating:4/5]
Audio Quality
[Rating:4/5]
Supplemental Materials
[Rating:2/5]
Click thumbnails for high-resolution 1920X1080p screen captures
(Screen captures are lightly compressed with lossy JPEG thus are meant as a general representation of the content and do not fully reveal the capabilities of the Blu-ray format)
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The Series
[Rating:4/5]
Based on a manga series by Tetsurō Kasahara, RideBack is a futuristic anime series that looks at a dystopian future where people are ruled by a worldwide oppressive military regime and their only hope becomes an unlikely college girl with the uncanny ability to operate a RideBack, mechanical half robot/half motorcycles that respond to their riders’ commands and movements.
When Rin Ogata, a promising young ballet dancer, suffers a career-ending injury, she retires from dancing and settles into the normal life of a college student with her best friend Shōko. One day during a rainstorm, she wanders into the campus’ RideBack club seeking shelter, where she discovers that she has an amazing talent for controlling these special machines. It is a fateful moment that will spark revolution.
The world had fought a war against an oppressive superpower, and the GGP (Global Government Plan), once a small resistance group, played a large part in their overthrow. RideBacks were essential to their victory. Now the GGP has grown in military might and finally become the ruling governmental body of the entire world. But they have been plagued by a “terrorist” group known as the BMA (Borderless Military Alliance). The BMA has been using RideBacks against the GGP, and the GGP has begun to implement RideBacks on the police force in Japan. A major event has made them go even one step further, however, and that is Rin rushing in on her RideBack, Fuego, to save her from a burning building after a terrorist attack. It set off a series of events leading the GGP and the public to believe that Rin, from there on out known as “RideBack Girl” was connected to the BMA and fighting against the opressive GGP regime. It would get even worse when the RideBack police force would attack Rin’s younger brother Kenji and his RideBack gang. When she jumped to his defense, obliterating the police force it would lead to a ban and confiscation of all RideBacks by the GGP and a public outcry, putting Rin and all of her friends in danger, on the government’s wanted list.
RideBack is a surprisingly thoughtful anime series. Its story is really strong for what, presumably, falls into the mecha category, which is littered with mindless brawn over brains entertainment. Not this, however. There’s a linear story arc with just the right amount of action and a few compelling characters that make it thoroughly enjoyable; a real delight to watch.
Video Quality
[Rating:4/5]
This is a good, clean 1080p/24 transfer with little artifacts from Funimation. I did notice at least once a bit of aliasing in some of the CG work used in the animation, but other than that, color banding and video noise are not a problem, line art is sharp and overall detail looks quite strong even in backgrounds.
Audio Quality
[Rating:4/5]
Both lossless Dolby TrueHD soundtracks in Japanese and English are quite good. The English is 5.1 and the Japanese is a 2.0 stereo mix. Neither mix is as aggressive as one would expect, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. The 5.1 mix sounds quite spacious with lots of ambience in the surrounds and deep, tight bass. It gets a bit more discrete during some of the more action-intensive sequences, but there are good dynamics and natural sounding highs. The Japanese mix is even more subtle, with a slightly narrow stereo soundfield and less lows, but the dialogue is still clean and there are still lots of atmospheric sounds in the background to make things interesting.
Supplemental Materials
[Rating:2/5]
The strongest extras included in this combo pack are the episode 4 and episode 10 commentaries. There’s really nothing else, unless you include the textless opening and closing songs.
Disc 1:
- Episode 04 Commentary
Disc 2:
- Episode 10 Commentary
- Textless Opening Song
- Textless Closing Song
- Trailers:
- Trigun
- TO
- Evangelion
- Soul Eater
- Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
- Noir
- Eden of the East
- Last Exile
- Funimation.com
- DVDs – 2 DVDs of the series.
The Definitive Word
Overall:
[Rating:4/5]
Not your typical mecha, this anime series slows down the action just a tad for a little bit more story, but don’t worry, with the awesome speed demons in this story, there is more than enough in-your-face action to keep you on the edge of your seat.
Additional Screen Captures
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[amazon-product]B004TP55LQ[/amazon-product]
Purchase RideBack on Blu-ray+DVD Combo Pack at CD Universe
Shop for more Blu-ray titles at Amazon.com
Overall
[Rating:4/5]
The Series
[Rating:4/5]
Video Quality
[Rating:4/5]
Audio Quality
[Rating:4/5]
Supplemental Materials
[Rating:2/5]
