OVERALL: R2

The Japanese 4-Disc SE includes the most extras for the film; however it does not include English subtitles for the DTS-ES track, but only for the Dolby Digital 2.0 tracks. Do note that the R3 Korean SE includes the film with DTS-ES with English subtitles plus good extras but both discs do not contain English subtitles for any extras.

The best English-friendly version is the R2 UK and R4 LE release which contains the film with a Dolby Digital 5.1 audio track and extras with English subtitles.

An image comparison between the R1, R2 Japan LE and UK release is available here: http://whiggles.landofwhimsy.com/writings/dvdimage-howl.html

CUTS:

• R1 America- Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment - No cuts (119:19 NTSC).
• R2 Finland & Norway- Pan Vision - No cuts (114:18 PAL).
• R2 France- Buena Vista Home Entertainment - No cuts (114:17 PAL).
• R2 Collector’s Edition France- Buena Vista Home Entertainment - No cuts (114:17 PAL).
• R2 Germany- UFA Anime / Universum Film - No cuts (114:19 PAL).
• R2 Limited Edition Germany- UFA Anime / Universum Film - No cuts (114:19 PAL).
• R2 Japan- Buena Vista Home Entertainment - No cuts (119:02 NTSC).
• R2 Special Edition Japan- Buena Vista Home Entertainment - No cuts (119:02 NTSC).
• R2 Collector's Edition Spain- Aurum - No cuts (114:18 PAL)
• R2 United Kingdom- Optimum Releasing - No Cuts (114:16 PAL)
• R3 Hong Kong- IVL - No cuts.
• R3 Special Edition South Korea- Daiwon - No cuts (119:02 NTSC).
• R4 Limited Edition Australia- Madman - No cuts (114:17 PAL).

Do you own a release not listed? Then please visit our forums and let us know!

Comparison added by BrunnenMatt on 29/11/05
Comparison last updated by James-Masaki_Ryan on 28/01/21

UPDATE LOG:

08/05/13: Added DVDBeaver link.
01/04/11: Fixed typo in Image comparison link.
31/10/11: Fixed typo in the Overall.
28/01/21: Added Spain.