ブルーレイburure
Quick definition:Blu-ray is a high-capacity optical disc format used for high-definition video, and in anime fandom Blu-ray releases are the main way to own a series with the best picture and extra content.
Meaning
Blu-ray is a type of disc that stores high-definition video and audio, and it is a common way for fans to buy anime. A disc release may include a full season or film, along with extras such as non-credit openings, interviews, commentary, booklets and artwork. The picture and sound are usually better than those of broadcast or standard discs.
Anime in Japan is often released on disc in volumes of a few episodes, with high prices and limited printing. Overseas, companies often release complete seasons in boxed sets. Fans buy discs to support studios, to own a favourite series and to enjoy the improved quality, and some releases fix minor errors in the original broadcast.
Disc releases matter because streaming catalogues can change, and a disc stays available to its owner. Collectors enjoy special editions with cases, posters and soundtrack CDs. Disc sales also help the industry, since in Japan they have long been an important source of income for series, although streaming and other sources are growing.
Origin:Blu-ray takes its name from the blue-violet laser that reads the disc, and the spelling omits the letter e from blue for trademark reasons. The format was introduced in the mid-2000s and became the standard for high-definition video discs. In Japanese it is written in katakana and often shortened to BD, and anime fans use both terms.
Example:After a series ends, a fan orders a boxed set on disc with a thick art book, a soundtrack CD and a slipcase showing the main characters. He watches the final episode again, notices details in the background that were less clear when broadcast, and enjoys the audio commentary with the cast. Did you know?Some Japanese disc volumes include fixes and touch-ups to the animation, so the version on the disc may look slightly different from the television broadcast. Fans compare these changes carefully, and sometimes extra episodes are included only on disc.
