Copyright © 1999 Fujishima Kousuke, TBS, Bandai Visual, Toei, Studio DEEN

Seemingly out of nowhere, a new TAIHO SHICHAUZO (YOU'RE UNDER ARREST) movie was suddenly announced last year and, within months, it hit theaters in Japan. Veteran EX readers probably remember the excellent movie review from Ivevei Upatkoon a few issues ago. From the screenshots to the theatrical trailer released, one could tell that this was going to be an awesome quality production. After months of waiting, TAIHO SHICHAUZO: THE MOVIE comes to DVD, in both Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound and a fabulous DTS 5.1 Sound Limited Edition version! And, after reviewing both versions, let me say that Emotion/Bandai have only further raised the bar on quality DVD productions. Both TAIHO SHICHAUZO: THE MOVIE DVDs (DTS and DD 5.1) join the ranks of SPRIGGAN Dolby Digital 5.1 DVD and DTS DVD as two of the highest quality anime DVDs ever created!
The visuals are downright stunning: a gorgeous 1.85:1 (16 x 9) Anamorphic Widescreen transfer makes this one of the sharpest, cleanest anime DVD's out there. The transfer rate throughout ranged from a ~ 8.5 up to 10.0 at times. There was never a hint of any artifacting or shimmering. The quality was especially apparent during the many dark sequences: all the blacks held up perfectly, with no problems whatsoever. In addition, the quality of the animation is great. While it doesn't reach the heights of SPRIGGAN DVD (import), Studio Deen's work is still very impressive. You will never see better looking renditions of Natsumi and Miyuki than in this movie.
The sound is where this disc truly shines: on the Dolby Digital 5.1 DVD, the sounds were solid, taking full advantage of all five channels and with great use of the subwoofer for explosions. When compared to the DTS DVD version, these sounds come across as very similar, but the DTS Edition edges out the DD version ever so slightly. The complex outdoor scenes in downtown Tokyo are just wonderful—while subtle, you can hear automobiles or motorcycles driving by behind you, as well as the chatter of various people. The clarity and volume level is what separates the DD 5.1 version and the DTS version here. Similarly, during a scene at Bokuto Station (Natsumi and Miyuki's precinct), a few of the police gals are chatting away, which uses the front center channel, but then when Detective Kinoshita walks in and talks to the chief (and the camera pans around to their conversation), the side and then the back soundstage is filled with the police gals' chatter. This wouldn't seem that impressive to anyone who has Dolby Digital 5.1, but the naturalness and clarity that is created here in DTS was not present on the Dolby Digital version. Finally, the huge explosions and intense action sequences in DTS Sound are slightly more impressive (deeper lows, better fill of all six channels) than the Dolby Digital version.
Yet the most compelling part of this disc is the story: YOU'RE UNDER ARREST is a fantastic anime series that has partially made it over here to the U.S. (courtesy of Animeigo—now where's the OVA/TV DVDs, guys??). It's a police comedy/action series with two lovely and talented female protagonists: Tsujimoto Natsumi, the brash, hot-headed gal, and Kobayakawa Miyuki, the smart, gentle, level-headed one. In the movie version, the creators have decided to follow the PATLABOR MOVIE approach: taking a primarily comedy-driven show and placing the cast in a very serious, dramatic scenario. This movie really does feel like a PATLABOR movie (as was also pointed out by Ivevei), and one key reason would be that the music was composed by none other than Kawai Kenji, who did the music for PATLABOR and GHOST IN THE SHELL! Kenji's compositions here are wonderful and different, but there is one action music piece that could've been straight out of PATLABOR: THE MOVIE.
Even the story itself bears great resemblance to the PATLABOR movies. Everything seems fine, then all of a sudden all the traffic lights in a key intersection in downtown Tokyo malfunction and go haywire (similar to the situation with the malfunctioning, rampaging Labors in PATLABOR MOVIE 1). Accidents happen, and then later, a weapons smuggling ring is discovered. Soon after, telephone lines are cut and one of Tokyo's main bridges into and out of the city is destroyed by a massive bomb. We discover that a former policeman, Detective Emoto, created a plan that simulates a terrorist attack to cripple and take over a police station. The simulation was so perfect, that the top brass shelved it for fear that it could really be used to cripple all the law enforcement forces. After that happened, Emoto disappeared, never to be heard from again. But now, all these 'malfunctions' and seemingly coincidental incidents turn out to be all related—they are all part of a live enactment of Emoto's Terrorist Attack Simulation. To make matters worse, they find out that the plan was revised so that it would target key economic centers as well! At this point, one can see that Emoto might as well have been called "Eichi Hoba" (from PATLABOR MOVIE 1) and that this social infrastructure crippling plot is very similar to PATLABOR MOVIE 2.
But there are plenty of aspects that separate TAIHO SHICHAUZO: THE MOVIE from the PATLABOR movies, and on its own, this is a great, compelling story with the cast of YOU'RE UNDER ARREST. While it is this reviewer's wish that they dwell more on the comedic, light-hearted side to Natsumi, Miyuki and company, this movie is certainly not a disappointment. Seeing the entire cast placed in a powerful, gripping storyline makes this DVD worth it.
In addition there are some very nice extras, including what has to be the best DVD Menu ever created—it's a fully animated DVD menu that is keyed and choreographed to a great Kenji Kawai piece of music, and it serves to introduce the whole cast! The whole segment plays for three-four minutes, and the slick style at which it introduces and showcases each of the main characters is nothing short of wonderful. Also, the Chapter search menus are nicely animated—when you choose to go there, the buttons rotate and form into their final position, as if you were navigating a fancy Shockwave computer interface. Lastly, they've included a stunning 24 page Illustration Booklet, containing the Making-Of-Taiho: the Movie, as well as pages and pages of gorgeous full-color artwork from YOU'RE UNDER ARREST. And I almost forgot the three great postcards of Miyuki and Natsumi as well. And the transparent DVD slipcase.
Overall, if you have the capability to play both Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS 5.1 DVDs, get the DTS version if you can afford it. I hope in the future, all U.S. anime companies look into bringing out DTS versions of various anime series, or at the very least, put in the overall high production values that Emotion/Bandai used in creating this outstanding product. YOU'RE UNDER ARREST: THE MOVIE DTS Sound Limited Edition, is an awesome import DVD that should be seen by all anime fans.

Released in Japan by Emotion / Bandai
DVD (Region 2), 92 minutes
Features: Japanese 5.1 DTS Language Track, Original Movie Trailer, Original TV Trailer, Special Animated Menu, Bonus Full Color Postcards (3), Bonus Booklet with Full Color Illustrations
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Anamorphic Widescreen
BCBA-320 (Regular Edition) / BCBA-344 (DTS Edition)
¥11,550 (Regular Edition) / ¥13,650 (DTS Edition)
Available now in Japan
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