This is an interesting project, but looking at your first 3 steps:
- Copy the original DVD-Stream (VOB-Files) from the NTSC-DVD (SD-Resolution at 720x480p in 4:3 at VFR between 23,976 and 29,970 FPS)
- Recode the episode to conform to a constant Framerate of 23,976 FPS
- Deinterlace the episode to go from interlaced to progressive
I spot some problems there. I strongly doubt there’s any variable frame rate on those DVDs *
What you should have is a standard NTSC 3:2 pull-down for the 24fps film segments, and standard 60fps video for the effect composites.
So your first step would be to get rid of the pull-down, and that would also remove any interlace artifacts on the film segments. You get 24fps non interlaced video.
The effect sequences require a separate treatment. There a normal deinterlace filter would do, coupled with frame rate conversion (60 » 24fps).
- Your SD sample from the DVD is very strange. It’s a 60fps video with doubled frames. Did you run a deinterlacer on it ? There’s some residual interlaced frames when it switches to the battle scene (frame 2212).
Can you share the original sequence in unchanged VOB/MP2 format ?
As you are doing, you are running a line doubling deinterlacer (step 3). I seem to see some deinterlace artifacts on your SD-Quality (NTSC DVD) link images. And why are those images in 768x576 ?
I not saying this to put you down, just to prevent you from spending more time with something that has problems from the start. PM me to further discuss this, perhaps I can help!
(of course I might be wrong, but from the images you posted I seem to stop these problems)