Future Boy Conan: The Complete Series Blu-ray

Future Boy Conan: The Complete Series

Future Boy Conan: The Complete Series Blu-ray Review

Future Boy Conan is available on disc for the first time in the North America from GKids and Shout Factory. The classic anime series was long deemed as too difficult to ever license for home. The series is now available with a stunning new 4K restoration. Executive produced by Kōichi Motohashi (Anne of Green Gables, A Dog of Flanders ), Future Boy Conan was first broadcast in Japan on Bandai Channel and NHK.

The theme music is composed by Shinichiro Ikebe (OP,ED) with lyrics by Hikaru Kataoka. Theme song performances by Naozumi Kamada (OP,ED) and Yuko Yamaji (OP,ED). The animated classic is produced by Junzō Nakajima (Pollyanna, A Little Princess Sara) and Shigeo Endo (Little Lord Fauntleroy, Locke the Superman). The series animation is produced by Nippon Animation (Anne of Green Gables,  A Little Princess Sara). Future Boy Conan is esteemed as an anime classic for its involvement of pre-Ghibli filmmakers – including Hayao Miyazaki.

Conan (Noriko Ohara) is a young boy living a simple life on an island. Conan has the instincts of a hero on this isolated island. A war caused earth to change dramatically twenty years ago. The earth had its axis change and both earthquakes and chaos in the waters led to humanity and civilization as it was once understood to change completely.

Conan is now living with his adoptive grandfather. Lana (Mieko Nobusawa) is a young girl who washes ashore on the island. Trouble ensues as a group of dangerous agents pursue Lana. The agents have a goal in mind and it involves using Lana to take control over the remnants of the entire world. Conan manages to take on a new role as a hero and an epic adventure unfolds with perils left and right. A sweeping epic of old-school adventure.

Future Boy Conan has stunning animation. This is one of the central reasons the series has become such a beloved classic. There are so many creative and talented individuals who were involved with the animation for Future Boy Conan. The character designs by Hayao Miyazaki and Yasuo Otsuka are exquisite and there is so much to appreciate about them. The art direction by Nizo Yamamoto (Grave of the Fireflies, Princess Mononoke) is phenomenal and a great showcase for the genius of Yamamoto. An incredible art style.

The series features animation direction by Yasuo Otsuka (Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro, Lupin the 3rd). The animation direction is first-rate and a huge part of the reason the series achieved such an impressive aesthetic. Otsuka is a terrific animation director and the results here are stunning.

A must-own series by Hayao Miyazaki (Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro).

The animation is essential to the series and its beauty. The animators do great work with the production and the animation team brings to life the original storyboards by Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata, Keiji Hayakawa, Noboru Ishiguro, Seiji Okuda, Takayoshi Suzuki, and Yoshiyuki Tomino. The storyboards certainly were a huge part of the production process. It is a wonder with multiple Ghibli directors involved.

The mecha designs by Hayao Miyazaki add to the series sense of adventure. The mecha elements are ambitious and play a nice role in the series, too. Miyazaki is no stranger to mecha in his films and this early example of his understanding of this art design element is compelling as one can see some of these artistic origins.

The cinematography by Katsuji Misawa (Akira, Jarinko Chie) is breathtaking and the visual language of the series makes a big impact on the series. Misawa is a talented cinematographer and the series is a colorful and robust looking production with superb cinematographic flair. A stunning work of art and something to commend – the cinematography aiding the storytelling.

The score composed by Shinichiro Ikebe (Winter Days, Mirai Shōnen Conan Tokubetsu- hen - Kyodaiki Gigant no Fukkatsu) is epic in scope and adds to the sense of adventure from the series. The music certainly enhances the filmmaking. The epic sense of action-packed adventure is enhanced by the original music.

Hayao Miyazaki (Spirited Away , Kiki's Delivery Service) began his directing career with Future Boy Conan. As chief director of Future Boy Conan, Miyazaki imbues the series with the same iconic sense of style which has made the filmmaker one of the most cherished directors in world history. A legend in the industry, Miyazaki already showed his incredible sense of style and artistic vision with this early television work.

In addition to Miyazaki, the series also features direction by Isao Takahata (Grave of the Fireflies, Only Yesterday) on select episodes as well as Keiji Hayakawa (Sherlock Hound, Urusei Yatsura). Working from the scripts from Akira Nakano (Manga Aesop Monogatari, Miimu Iro Iro Yume no Tabi), Satoshi Kurumi (Fūsen no Doratarō), and Sōji Yoshikawa (Lupin the 3^rd, Time Bokan), Future Boy Conan benefits from quality scriptwriting. The sense of old-school adventure is a huge part of the story and this is an important aspect of the television series.

Future Boy Conan should be considered a must-see classic era anime series for its involvement of Hayao Miyazaki. The director is one of the most important anime filmmakers. The filmmaker showcases his unyielding sense of creativity even in his early works. The joy of anime is felt with Future Boy Conan.

Released on Blu-ray from GKids and Shout Factory, Future Boy Conan is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high-definition in the original television broadcast aspect ratio of 1.33:1 full frame. The video presentation is fantastic. The release is sourced from a recent 4K restoration of the television series.

For those who reside in North America and are not 4K UHD equipped, the Blu-ray presentation from distributor GKids and Shout Factory is worthwhile. The video quality is impressive with good color reproduction, overall clarity, and detail. The animation is fluid and action scenes play well.

A region-free 4K UHD release is available in the United Kingdom (released by Anime Limited). However, you will need a 4K UHD player in order to see the series with the full 2160p video presentation. If you can't see the series in full 4K resolution, this Blu-ray set certainly provides an impressive presentation that is also excellent (if a tad less detailed).

The release includes a selection of lossless audio options: Japanese DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (with English subtitles) and English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. The English dub was newly produced. Clarity is exceptional and detailed. The score is beautifully reproduced on the release. Either option is satisfactory. However, I recommended the original Japanese language version over the dub.

The first print run of the release includes an o-card slipcover.

16-page booklet featuring character art sketches

Trailer (HD, 1:22)

Future Boy Conan is one of the most heralded anime series of all time. The series has long been completely unavailable on home media in North America and was long believed to be too difficult to license. The series has recently been given an impressive 4K restoration. Though GKids opted to not released the series on 4K UHD disc as distributor Anime Limited has done in the United Kingdom, the North America Blu-ray release includes the same quality 4K restoration as a source for the presentation.

Fans of master filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki (Spirited Away, Kiki's Delivery Service) will consider this a must-own series as it marks the directorial debut of the Studio Ghibli filmmaker. The release comes with a nice slipcover and a booklet including sketches. Unless you own a 4K UHD player and can import the region-free 4K UHD box set from the United Kingdom instead, the GKids Blu-ray release of Future Boy Conan comes highly recommended.

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