Unboxing [UK]: HAL - Collector's Edition (BD/DVD)

Anime Limited brings out a fault-free release with WIT Studio's next work after Attack on Titan.

HAL is a relatively short film in a similar length to Garden of Words and it's a simple romantic story between a teenage girl and a robotic boy. Funimation released the film with a special slipcover and multiple reverse covers to accompany it while Anime Limited have done something of their own.

The Collector's Edition (or Limited Edition given the name keeps changing with their special packaging) set contains all of the on-disc content from Funimation's release, that's the film and extra content. The difference between Anime Limited and Funimation's release is that this UK release includes a rigid chipboard artbox and a booklet containing a manga and more. Both the Blu-ray and DVD are region locked with unlockable subtitles.

Blu-ray Specs:

Languages: Japanese, English

Audio: Dolby True HD 5.1 [Japanese], Dolby True HD 5.1 [English]

Video: 1080p HD Native 16:9
Region: B

Subtitles: English [On-Screen/Lyrics], English [Japanese language]

Subtitles Locked: No

Discs: 1

DVD Specs:

Languages: Japanese, English

Audio: Dolby SS 5.1 [Japanese], Dolby SS 5.1 [English]

Video: SD NTSC 16:9
Region: 2

Subtitles: English [On-Screen/Lyrics], English [Japanese language]

Subtitles Locked: No

Discs: 1

Plot Synopsis (via Back cover):

Kurumi‘s heart was broken by the sudden death of her boyfriend in a tragic airplane accident. Forced to carry on without her beloved Hal, she fell into a reclusive and joyless existence. Kurumi had given up on the world, but a brilliant scientist devised a plan to win her back.

By melding futuristic technology with the binary equivalent of human emotion, they created an ultra-lifelike robotic surrogate to take Hal’s place and lure Kurumi from her shroud of solitude. Resistant at first, this shattered beauty slowly yielded to her feelings of longing and took comfort in the company of a robot. Though their unique bond grew stronger with each passing day, Kurumi and Hal would soon discover that nothing about their artificial love story was quite as it seemed.

Extra Content:

Chipboard Limited Edition Artbox

Booklet

Actor Commentary
Making Of: Production Process
Making Of: Animatics & Scratch Tracks
Original Trailer
Textless Closing Song
U.S. Trailer

HAL is available as a Blu-ray/DVD combo pack from Anime Limited in United Kingdom. The film is also available as a combo pack by Funimation in North America, and as separate formats in Australia by Madman.