Last Exile #1: First Move (DVD)

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Video:
The video aspect ratio is anamorphic 1.78:1 (full-screen on 16:9 monitors). The colors and quality is absolutely perfect. I was surprised to see the video aspect ratio, as that ratio is usually reserved for films. When it comes to films, they use a wider aspect ration because the screen is larger, and your eyes can focus on objects that are wider than tall. For TV, the screens are all pretty similar in size with respect to where you sit, so making the anime in a different screen ratio than the what the TV screen is results in empty space on the TV screen. In the end, the results depends on the directing of the feature. For "Last Exile", the aspect ratio is used to good effect, as wide shots are used to show off the spacious vistas of the fantasy world. Still, I can´t help but wonder if this decision was perhaps made to save money (the less screen spaced used, the less animation that has to be drawn).

Audio:
You can watch the show in either Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo Japanese or DD 2.0 stereo English. There is an option for English subtitles. I watched it in Japanese with English subtitles. I couldn´t hear any problems in the audio. In a show with so many mechanical wonders, you expect the sounds effects to be diverse, and in "Last Exile" you will not be disappointed. Perhaps not blown away, but at least the flying and shooting sounds don´t sound like the effects in every other science fiction flick.

Extras:
There are a slew of the usual suspects in the Extras portion of the disc. There´s a creditless opening animation sequence, the original Japanese opening animation sequence (same as the English one, just printed in Japanese instead of English), and the Japanese promotional trailer. There is also an art gallery which contains twenty five character and design sketches. Most are various vanship designs.

The stand out extra is an interview with Mahiro Maeda, the Production Designer for the series. Most of what he has to say is interesting only from a nuts-and-bolts-of-animation perspective, but it´s still nice to see an interview with someone who is integral in creating animation.

--Miscellaneous--
The DVD comes with a single-page, fold out colored insert with chapter listings on the back. The front is a nice color sketch of Lavie handing Claus, who is sitting in their vanships cockpit, a canteen. On the inside are three schematics of Claus and Lavie´s vanship.

Film Value:
"Last Exile" has gotten off to a good start. The animation style is unique and well done, the audio effects are a little above standard, and the plot is interesting. There´s no real clue as to where the whole thing is going, but it looks like the ride will at least be a good one.

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