Sony’s Metamorphosis (1990 Analog HDTV HDVS High-Definition Dolby Surround Demonstration Videodisc)

This is the legendary Sony high-definition 12“ HDVS videodisc called “Metamorphosis“ (HDP-1622) produced in limited numbers in Japan for demonstration. The HDVS disc format was designed to be a highly portable 12“ laserdisc-derived media format for Sony’s “High-Definition Video System“ or “Hi-Vision“ back in the early 1990’s! Back then, high definition was a little different from how it is now. The majority of the signal was analog & close to but slightly different in resolution to the 1080i picture we receive over the air today as it was 1035i (hence the large upper border in the picture). Before the earliest high-definition media was available to the public (via satellite, MUSE Laserdisc, & W-VHS tapes), Sony and other companies began shooting footage, performing research, and showing public displays of high-definition television. There were three main ways of storing HDTV (or HDVS) at that time: Reel-to-reel tape (HDV/HDD-1000), cartridge tape (HD