The STUDIO GHIBLI thread

[Ren Hoek]

Studio Ghibli is the biggest animation studio in Japan. With 2001's SPIRITED AWAY, the manga and anime artist Hayao Miyazaki even managed to outgross TITANIC, thus taking the #1 spot on the list of Japan's most successful films of all time. Some critics like to refer to Miyazaki as the "Japanese Disney", a title the director hates with a passion. Even though he admires Disney for his acumen and passion for movies, the reclusive Miyazaki sees himself more as a craftsman and artist, preferring the work in an animation studio with his crew to public appearances and the promotion of his work. Together with the equally gifted Isao Takahata (GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES, ONLY YESTERDAY), he has created compelling characters and magic worlds which are unrivalled in the world of animated films up to this day.


http://www.wingsee.com/ghibli/totoro/art/imagetotoro02.jpg

Along with GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES, MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO (1988) is my favourite Studio Ghibli movie. It is also Miyazaki's breakthrough film and the work which got me hooked on his and his studio's oeuvre, and therefore will always have a special place in my heart. TOTORO is a film about two young girls, Satsuke and her younger sister Mei, who move into a countryhouse with their father and later discover that the nearby forest is inhabited by magical creatures (called Totoros). They soon befriend the Totoros, and experience strange, magical adventures. The whole movie feels almost like a dream and works for children as well as adults. I'm sure that kids will "dig" the cute creatures while adults will appreciate the whole surrealistic level of this movie (well, at least I did). And it tells us (cynical schmoes :p) a lot about the world as seen through the eyes of a child and what problems and fears young kids have to confront... but it also illustrates what a wonderful, dream-like quality life can have when you're young and is a wonderful showcase for Miyazaki's childlike sense of wonder. Bizarre, trippy, and just lovable!

http://images-jp.amazon.com/images/P/B00005GFE9.09.LZZZZZZZ.jpg


SPIRITED AWAY, PRINCESS MONONOKE, GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES, KIKI'S DELIVERY SERVICE, NAUSICAA, CASTLE IN THE SKY, ONLY YESTERDAY, PORCO ROSSO... what is your favourite Ghibli movie? What do you love most about about them? Do you prefer Miyazaki's magical, wondrous worlds to Takahata's gritty, heartbreaking realism? Any thoughts? Opinions? Questions?

:)

[Tuukka]

None of these flick are available in Finland, but I've been fortunate enough to see the brillian Spirited Away (9/10) in it's theatrical release and Porco Rosso (7/10) and My Neighbour Totoro (9/10) on TV.

Spirited Away and My Neighbour Totoro belong to the top 3 of their respective years. BRILLIANT movies!

[Tuukka]

BTW, here is a review of Totoro I wrote a year ago:

- - -


Sometimes you get to see a film that you know perfectly nothing about. Just a small recommendation on you local newspaper (giving it three stars out of five), and a curiosity towards animation in general. When I taped this film from morning TV around 1997 I had no idea who the brilliant Hayao Miyazaki is. He has later on gained a lot of fame for Mononoke Hime, which is the most popular movie ever in Japan.

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/6303118240.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

Tonori No Totoro was made in 1988 and is easily one of the greatest animation films ever made. It the best japanese animation film I have ever seen (Haven't seen Mononoke Hime). It's primarily made for little kids, but it suitable for everyone who appreciates high quality art. The flick tells about two little girls who go to countryside for a holiday. In there they make friends with a mystical creature called Totoro and some other surreal, magical animals that live in the forest. The films is very episodic by nature and basically shows off a series of mini-adventures by the girls.

While the overall storyline is pretty thin, the film shines in everything else. The characters are instantly loveable and in many cases unforgettable. The psychological aspects are well handled and individual scenes are written with plenty of poetry and imagination. The visuals are often brilliant and the overall design in the movie is dead-on. The magical creatures are probably the best looking animated charaters I have ever seen (by their design). Music is wonderful and helps to create the already strong atmosphere even stronger.

But what really sets the film apart from just about any film I have ever seen is it's sense of poetry. The film has wordless, magical scenes that give shivers everytime I see them. Brilliantly directed with stellar visuals and music. The giant tree growing in the night, the first meeting with Totoro, the cat taxi. I wish that every fantasy film maker could achieve the subtlety, beauty and a sense of wonder the Miyazaki is able to capture in this film. The best scenes in this film are so damn perfect that it hurts. Every shot, every composition, every movement is used to maximum effect. Granted, there are also moments when the film is "only" good.

The film might not be suitable for cynics. It's a very innocent film and primarily targeted at kids around 3-6 years old. But like all best children't films, it has plenty to offer for adults as well. This film made me feel like a little kid again. It possible the most succesful description of MAGIC and FANTASY I have ever seen. And the magic in this film is light, fun, warm, positive and soaked in originality.

9/10

[Damned Martian]

Man, I really want to see Totoro badly...

From the mentioned, I've seen just Sen to Chihiro no Kamikashu (Spirited Away), Mononoke Hime (Princess Mononoke), Hotaru no Haka (Grave of the Fireflies) and Kurenai no Buta (Porco Rosso). i have to say that i like them all, but the one i like the most is:

GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES - 9.5/10 - This movie made me cry as no movie had made before. It's so sad and beautiful... Unforgettable and completely UNMISSABLE for any film lover.

Princess Mononoke would be second (8.5/10). It's a very beautiful and heartmoving movie, with a powerful message that shouldn't be underestimated. The soundtrack, the animation, etc all of it makes it a little gem that probably will win with repeated views.

Spirited Away would be the close third (8.5/10). What i said about Mononoke can be also said here. Precious and cute.

Porco Rosso (7/10) is the poor man here, but it still is a very entertaining and funny movie, with a sad little love story beneath the surface (a la Casablanca). It only lacks in a bit difuse narrating, luckily fixed in Miyazaki's next movies.

So all i can say is:

http://jm.g.free.fr/smileys/Hail.sml.gif STUDIO GHIBLI!

[Tuukka]

I love Spirited Away and Totoro equally, and it seems that I just HAVE to see Fireflies.

What really sets Miyazaki apart from any other filmmaker is his sense for everything magical. He just has his own "touch" when it comes to describing something in the realm of fantasy.

[Dead Halloween]

"Nausicaa of the valley of the wind" is my favorite of Miyazaki.:)
http://www.yale.edu/anime/imgarchive/nausicaa/nauwc10.jpg

[Slim]

Originally posted by damned martian
GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES - 9.5/10 - This movie made me cry as no movie had made before. It's so sad and beautiful... Unforgettable and completely UNMISSABLE for any film lover.




I watched this movie again the other day. This is arguably the best film that this studio has produced. I didn't cry like a baby, unlike martian. ;) BUT I was on the verge of tears. I don't recall another movie that was able to accomplish that! 10/10

My Neighbour Totoro would be the perfect companion to Grave of the Fireflies, since it's uplifting and magical. 9/10

http://jm.g.free.fr/smileys/Hail.sml.gif STUDIO GHIBLI!

[Damned Martian]

Originally posted by Tuukka
What really sets Miyazaki apart from any other filmmaker is his sense for everything magical. He just has his own "touch" when it comes to describing something in the realm of fantasy. Couldn't have said it better myself. No, really, i couldn't. I'm noticing that i'm very poor in translating my feelings about a movie to words, and even more to english...:(

I didn't cry like a baby, unlike martian. ;) Well, then you... you... are... ñnmnñmnñ... let me alone! http://www.planetsmilies.com/smilies/sad/sad02.gif


:D

[JCPhoenix]

WOOOHOOO!!!! GHIBLI THREAD!!!

anyway i'll be back later to post a lengthier post, but I have to finish up Porco Russo first :D

But anyway, STUDIO GHIBLI KICKS THE ASS OF EVERY ANIMATION STUDIO IN NORTH AMERICA














...except Pixar. They're tied.

[dh1989]

The only film Hayao Miyazaki has made that I don't LOVE is Spirited Away (6/10). All of his films are rich, exciting, lovingly made, and extremely entertaining.

His best film, IMO, is Castle In The Sky, or Tenku no shiro Rapyuta. While the film may run just over 2 hours, Miyazaki managed to create a richely woven world. I love how he blends the fantastic (magic crystals, pirates) and the real (government, secret agents). And the homages to great authors such as Jules Verne are spectacular. A great family film that all should enjoy!

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00005JKYG.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

[bowieee]

I knew it was only a matter of time before ren took advantage of the foreign movies foreign for this topic. :D He should be the poster child for the studios public affairs office.


Anyways I adore these movies. All of them are like the magical cartoon trips into these aamzing worlds unlike any i have ever seen before. My favorite of the bunch and my favorite animated movie of all time is princess mononoke yet all the others I have seen are masterpieces in their own right. Thank God Spirited Away opened up the doors for these works to be introduced to more of the masses here in the states.

[Ren Hoek]

Originally posted by bowieee
I knew it was only a matter of time before ren took advantage of the foreign movies foreign for this topic. :D He should be the poster child for the studios public affairs office.
Uh, yeah... I take that as a compliment. Still waiting for Mr. Miyazaki's phone call, though.
Originally posted by Dead Halloween
"Nausicaa of the valley of the wind" is my favorite of Miyazaki.:)
Have you read the mangas? I've been told that their overall tone is much darker and gritty than anything you can see in the film and I'm being curious about how much they differ from the Anime in content and style. Please tell me if I'm wrong - my sources aren't THAT reliable ;)

[bowieee]

Originally posted by RenHoek
Uh, yeah... I take that as a compliment. Still waiting for Mr. Miyazaki's phone call, though.



it was meant as one. :)

[Lazy Boy]

I love all the SG films, and words can't express how I feel about them. The most positive thing I can say about each and every one is that after viewing them, there is a sense of ecstasy. Not like the drug, but more like I'm on some sort of cloud after watching them, being transported to another world and involving myself with these characters and their imaginative situations.

I've repeated, ad nauseum, the love I have for Spirited Away, and other works by Miyazaki are marvels in traditional hand drawn animation. Let's hope that the traditional classic style won't go the way of the dinosaur...

Castle in the Sky is my second favorite, full of nonstop action, not seen since the likes of the Indiana Jones films.

The only Studio Ghibli film I've never mustered enough enthusiasm over is Princess Mononoke; a muddled story, and never once could I look past its (admittedly) great animation to connect with the characters.

[flowrchild]

In order of the ones I've seen:

Grave Of The Fireflies: 9.5/10. One of the saddest most touching movies I've ever seen. I truly cared about the characters and never felt as though I were watching animations.

Spirited Away: 8.5/10. Extremely quirky and interesting movie, filled with unique twists and turns. The animation was outstanding. My only real complaint about the movie is that the little girl's voice in the English version was annoying as hell.

Kiki's Delivery Service: 8/10. Very cute enjoyable movie. Not much more to say about it except that it gave me a joyous high when I was watching it.

Princess Mononoke: 6.5/10. Good moral message and animation, but I felt bored and detached from the story and characters too often. I couldn't really get into it.

[Slim]

Originally posted by flowrchild
Spirited Away: 8.5/10. Extremely quirky and interesting movie, filled with unique twists and turns. The animation was outstanding. My only real complaint about the movie is that the little girl's voice in the English version was annoying as hell.

And that is why a lot of us do not watch anime with the English dubbing. Japanese with subtitles is the best way to watch these movies, IMHO.

[Hannibal21]

I haven't seen Nausicaa or Porco Rosso yet, but the other ones I've seen I loved them ALL. They all get 9/10's or 10/10's from me, but my personal favorite has got to be...

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/6303118240.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

Now this movie was a childhood favorite of mine and always will have a special place in my heart. It's just too lovable, innocent and completely magical. Every time I think about it, I could always look back on those child memories when I watched the movie, an utter fantastical masterpiece this was, and always will be. It's an adventure, an exciting ride, and a unforgettable journey.

[Ren Hoek]

*LOL* Good to see that there are some other schmoes who love TOTORO as much as I do. I bought the soundtrack CD earlier this month and have been listening to it over and over again for the past couple of weeks. My roommates are already calling me crazy because I always hum along to the songs. Mrs. Hoek found it "cute" for a while, but now it's starting to get on her nerves, as she told me yesterday. Ignorant pack! :D

[scottish-movie-freak]

Originally posted by RenHoek
*LOL* Good to see that there are some other schmoes who love TOTORO as much as I do. I bought the soundtrack CD earlier this month and have been listening to it over and over again for the past couple of weeks. My roommates are already calling me crazy because I always hum along to the songs. Mrs. Hoek found it "cute" for a while, but now it's starting to get on her nerves, as she told me yesterday. Ignorant pack! :D

Hey Ren, since you live in Scotland (like me), I was just wondering how you saw Totoro cause I haven't seen it on dvd anywhere or had it play in any cinemas! :confused:

The only Miyazaki film I've seen is Princess Mononoke which I loved and I hope to see more in the future.

[bowieee]

Hey ren there are a ton of Totoro toys out there floating around that you might want to keep your eye out for. At the comic con I was at this weekend I found a stand that sold at least 20 -30 different my neighbor totro merchandise. I thought you might dig that info....

[flowrchild]

Originally posted by SlimX
And that is why a lot of us do not watch anime with the English dubbing. Japanese with subtitles is the best way to watch these movies, IMHO.

It makes sense, but truthfully, I don't like watching these movies with subtitles as much as I do with other foreign films. I spend so much time reading that I miss all sorts of interesting things and little touches with the animation.

[bowieee]

I just watched castle in the sky for the first time and it was breathtaking. I felt like a kid watching an epic for the first time.
The storyline like always with studio ghibli was extremely good and the characters were very likeable. This whole movie oozed with adventure and discovery and I for one am super glad I finally got to see this most triumphant movie.

[Annie Hall]

I've seen

Spirited Away--7.5/10

The more I think about this movie, the more I enjoyed it, but I don't think it lives up to the amazing hype.

Grave of the Fireflies--6/10

I feel quite bad for not liking this one as much as I feel it deserves to be liked.

My Neighbor Totoro--8/10

I remember loving this one quite a bit, but I have to check it out again to be really sure...


If, using the above ratings, anyone can recommend an anime movie they think I'd enjoy, I'd love to know some :)

[Ren Hoek]

Thanks for the heads up, Bowieee! I've seen quite of lot of TOTORO merchandise floating around on the internet and it looks quite cool. I'd also love to get all the THE ART OF books, but my empty wallet says "NO". ;)

[i]Originally posted by scottish-movie-freak
Hey Ren, since you live in Scotland (like me), I was just wondering how you saw Totoro cause I haven't seen it on dvd anywhere or had it play in any cinemas! :confused:
The only Miyazaki films that are available in the UK are PRINCESS MONONOKE and THE CASTLE OF CAGLIOSTRO (Miyazaki's first feature film, made in the pre-Ghibli era). I got most of my R2 DVDs from amazon.co.jp, but since nearly all of his films have been released in the US, it's probably cheaper to get it the R1 versions from playusa.com now. Be careful with the MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO DVD though. The shitty Fox release (see Hannibal21's post for the cover artwork) is fullscreen and doesn't have the original Japanese audio track. As for SPIRITED AWAY: the UK distributor (Pathe) has been sitting on the rights for this gem for over two years and can't be arsed to release it. They did the same with PRINCESS MONONOKE: secured the distribution rights in 1997, kept talking about a theatrical release for 2 1/2 years, and sold it back to Disney which ultimately released it on DVD in 2000. Bastards! :mad:

[Psychocandy]

I'm having a Studio Ghibli marathon viewing session tomorrow. I'm going to watch Kiki's Delivery Service, Spirited Away and Castle In The Sky. I've yet to see any of these and am looking forward to losing myself in a world of fantasy for a few hours (reality has been kinda getting me down a little lately so th escape will be welcome).

As for what Ghibli movies i've seen and how I would rate them...well...here you go...

Princess Mononoke - 4.5/5
My Neighbour Totoro - 5/5
Porco Rosso - 4.5/5
Grave Of The Fireflies - 5/5

More than any of these I really want to see Nausicca. I've read countless artices about both this and the manga from which it is adapted and i'm very intrigued. Hopefully i'll see it soonish.

[bowieee]

Originally posted by Psychocandy
I'm having a Studio Ghibli marathon viewing session tomorrow. I'm going to watch Kiki's Delivery Service, Spirited Away and Castle In The Sky. I've yet to see any of these and am looking forward to losing myself in a world of fantasy for a few hours (reality has been kinda getting me down a little lately so th escape will be welcome).

As for what Ghibli movies i've seen and how I would rate them...well...here you go...

Princess Mononoke - 4.5/5
My Neighbour Totoro - 5/5
Porco Rosso - 4.5/5
Grave Of The Fireflies - 5/5

More than any of these I really want to see Nausicca. I've read countless artices about both this and the manga from which it is adapted and i'm very intrigued. Hopefully i'll see it soonish.

Psychocandy watching those movies is just what the doctor ordered. Castle in the sky totally lifted my spirits yesterday while I was sort of in the dumps. Have fun!

[Ren Hoek]

Originally posted by Annie Hall
If, using the above ratings, anyone can recommend an anime movie they think I'd enjoy, I'd love to know some :)
Usually I would pick ONLY YESTERDAY because I think that this little flick is terribly underappreciated. But since it's virtually impossible to get it in any part of the Western world (I myself only own a somewhat, uh, semi-legal copy on VCD), I'll recommend KIKI'S DELIVERY SERVICE:

http://images-jp.amazon.com/images/P/B00005J4ST.09.LZZZZZZZ.jpg http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00005JM2O.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

This is the first movie Miyazaki directed after the unexpected financial success of TOTORO. The production values are higher this time around (the quality of the animation is amazing!), but the plot is still vintage Miyazaki. The film tells the story of Kiki, a 13-year-old witch, who has spend one year alone in a new town to become a "full witch". She finally arrives in the capital of an unknown country (which actually looks very South-European because Miyazaki is obsessed with all things Italian/French), where she makes use of her only magic skill (flying a broom) to set up a delivery service. Miyazaki uses this simple plot to tell a coming-of-age story about a girl who has to deal with feelings like loneliness, shyness, and self-doubt. And though most of the film is just a wonderfully orchestrated and animated piece of escapism, there are also some serious scenes which depict the emotional problems Kiki has to confront. KIKI'S DELIVERY SERVICE is very much like TOTORO insofar that it tells a fantastic story with all kinds of magical creatures, yet the characters never lose their human touch and have to realise that life's real problems can't be solved with magic but only with a strong will and a good heart. It's actually a morality tale, but so are all of Miyazaki's movies beneath the surface. I really think you would like it, Annie :)

[Psychocandy]

My Studio Ghibli marathon viewing session was scuppered and has been postponed until tomorrow. Goddamn these addictive messageboards. I spend more time on here talking about movies than I do watching the fucking things. :confused:

[bowieee]

You ever do that marathon? I want to know your thoughts!

[Psychocandy]

Originally posted by bowieee
You ever do that marathon? I want to know your thoughts!

It all went pear shaped. My Spirited Away DVD went tits up about halfway through and no matter what I did I couldn't get it to play beyond a certain chapter. I wouldn't have been annoyed if the movie had been mediocre but it was shaping up to be one of the best movies i've ever seen. The amount of imagination on display is absolutely startling. Anyway...after an hour of farting about and trying to get it to work I gave up in frustration. I wasn't really in the mood for watching anything else so my viewing of Kiki's Delivery Service and Castle In The Sky has been postponed. Buggering fuck!!! :mad:

[Kim_EZ]

I actually didn't care for Spirited Away that much. There are much better Miyazaki movies... my favorite is Laputa.

[scottish-movie-freak]

I just went to see Buffalo Soldiers (great film, 8/10) and before hand, guess what I got a trailer for????

SPIRITED AWAY, THATS WHAT!

Surely that means it'll be coming out soon? We gotta live in hope! :(

[bowieee]

Originally posted by Psychocandy
It all went pear shaped. My Spirited Away DVD went tits up about halfway through and no matter what I did I couldn't get it to play beyond a certain chapter. I wouldn't have been annoyed if the movie had been mediocre but it was shaping up to be one of the best movies i've ever seen. The amount of imagination on display is absolutely startling. Anyway...after an hour of farting about and trying to get it to work I gave up in frustration. I wasn't really in the mood for watching anything else so my viewing of Kiki's Delivery Service and Castle In The Sky has been postponed. Buggering fuck!!! :mad:


Ack. I hate glitches so muuuuch. Evens tarted a rant on it over in rants. Don't fret psychocandy the other 2 will cheer you up when you watch em :)

[Psychocandy]

Originally posted by bowieee
Ack. I hate glitches so muuuuch. Evens tarted a rant on it over in rants. Don't fret psychocandy the other 2 will cheer you up when you watch em :)

Um...erm...perhaps the glitch had something to do with the fact that the DVD wasn't an original. I've never had any problems with original DVDs (nothing serious anyway). I got the copy from a colleague and next time I see him i'm gonna make him eat it. :eek:

[scottish-movie-freak]

I owe my friend a drink (or five), she has a much better computer than I do and she claims that she will download some Miyazaki movies (Spirited Away included) and we'll have a whole "Miyazaki Day", is how she put it...This is gonna be sweet! :)

[platanero79]

I only watch Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi aka SPIRITED AWAY 9.5/10 & Mononoke-hime aka Princess Mononoke 8.5/10

I hope to see more of Studio Ghibli films

[Ren Hoek]

Here's a mildly interesting article I found in The Guardian (http://www.guardian.co.uk/arts/fridayreview/story/0,12102,1009626,00.html). I actually couldn't care less what Nick Park has to say about Miyazaki, but the very last sentence of the article got me totally excited. But read for yourself :)
Shinto daydreams

Spirited Away is the most successful Japanese film ever. Nick Park [CHICKEN RUN, WALLACE & GROMIT] pays tribute to its creator.


Hayao Miyazaki has a style that is pure and rich. His films work well in the west because, although they are very Japanese, they manage to avoid being "manga", which is something that has tended to alienate western audiences.
Spirited Away is the story of a little girl, Chihiro, who enters a spirit world. Travelling with her parents to their new home in the countryside, they take a detour to explore an old-fashioned Japanese bath-house, which is actually a bath-house for spirits. Her parents are transformed into pigs, and she is trapped in a world of supernatural creatures.

Miyazaki's work is reminiscent of Tintin. His simple graphic style and attention to detail reveal great imagination: the smallest movement on the girl's face conveys a whole series of emotions. When Tintin creator Hergé drew cars, ships or planes, you could see a love for the subject itself. You see that with Spirited Away. There is a love of the process of animation. Each shot is composed and looks gorgeous.

Miyazaki is as concerned with atmosphere as he is with action. Spirited Away has shots of grass being blown by the wind, of lovely clouds. They bring back childhood memories of lying and staring at the sky and letting your mind wander. We are allowed to look at a scene and take things in. It's a slow film; it might be thought that children in the west would find it hard, but I don't think we should underestimate young audiences.

Miyazaki says that many of the bizarre images come from his childhood memories of traditional Japanese culture, and of the spirits and stories from the Shinto religion. The film is full of weird ideas, like a giant baby who turns into a mouse, a scary old lady running the bath-house who has a giant head, and the three heads bouncing around who are her bodyguards. It is genuinely frightening without ever being bombastic.

Miyazaki starts by lulling us into a false sense of security. Chihiro's parents look western, and they are driving a modern car, but then they turn into pigs and everything becomes very strange indeed. There is a creature with six arms that operates the furnace of the bath-house, and a spirit called No-Face who tempts people with gold before eating them. It is almost like a Freudian nightmare, yet you never know if the creatures are good or bad. Even the scary old lady with the giant head turns out to be all right in the end.

I've always been a big fan of Rupert the Bear, which frequently had unexpected references to Japanese culture; there is a lot of origami and Japanese towers - pagodas - in the woods where Rupert has his adventures. One character is a little Japanese girl whose father is a magician. I don't know if Miyazaki is aware of Rupert the Bear, but there are strong parallels. The frightening characters of Spirited Away are reminiscent of the kind of creatures Rupert would bump into in the woods, such as Raggady, the stick monster. Arthur Rackham's illustrations have a similar quality. Somehow, children's book illustrations from England and Japanese cartoons have influenced one another.

I find Miyazaki refreshing precisely because so much commercial animation is lacking in imagination. Mainstream animated movies are dumbed-down and sanitised: they make the world in their own image rather than exploring the limitless possibilities that are out there. A lot of films now have such a strong commercial agenda riding on top of them that you can almost hear the meetings that have taken place. And you know that the meaning comes before the idea. What is this character about? What have they learned? What is their motivation? The joy of animation comes last.

Success brings with it pressure to conform. I always thought that success would lead to freedom, but the opposite is true: more people get involved and committees make decisions, and it becomes a fight to stay free. My colleagues and I have to constantly remind each other that we must keep our own view on the world while making films. With Chicken Run, we learned how easy it is to be influenced by outside forces, but you mustn't lose the heart and soul of what you are doing. Spirited Away is the most successful Japanese film of all time, yet it is very idiosyncratic, and personal. Miyazaki has managed to make his success work.

Spirited Away is a meander through a bizarre world. The mainstream wants linear story structures, character arcs and epiphanies, but Miyazaki doesn't bother with any of that. He has a different starting place. In animation, ideas start with doodles and you arrive at visually interesting things that way: I can see that Miyazaki was doodling three heads bouncing around, and he then found a way of incorporating them into the story. Miyazaki reminds me that it is always good to plunder the depths of the childlike imagination and in doing so, he helps me get back to where all my work comes from in the first place. Spirited Away has a childlike view of the world, which I think is necessary for people working in animation, and it is very sophisticated. He asks the question: "What if?" That, for me, is where it all starts.

· Interview by Will Hodgkinson. Spirited Away is released on September 12.
WTF??? Will SPIRITED AWAY finally get a theatrical release in the UK? Why hasn't Disney announced that officially? Without scottish-movie-freak's remark about the UK trailer I wouldn't even have done any research on this. I still can't believe it... let's keep our fingers crossed.

[scottish-movie-freak]

http://www.digital.anime.org.uk/news/20030226.html

HELL YEAH! :D

[Paterfamilias]

OK, i watched my first Japanese Anime ever!!!!! Spirited Away. Wow. It was very good. 4/5. An absolutely beautiful movie. It got a tad weird for my daughter's taste (she's almost 4). She was kind enough to feign interest to match my enthusiasm, but when the credits rolled, she said she didn't like it that much and asked if we could watch Monsters, Inc. again :eek:

Anyway, my first experience was positive so I will now begin to check out more. Next will be My Neighbor Totoro and Grave of the Fireflies.

Thanks for all the suggestions in this thread!!

[Damned Martian]

Originally posted by Paterfamilias
Next will be Grave of the Fireflies. Do NOT see that with your daughter! And get some kleenex (at least i needed them... a lot :o )

[Slim]

Originally posted by Paterfamilias
Anyway, my first experience was positive so I will now begin to check out more. Next will be My Neighbor Totoro and Grave of the Fireflies.

Thanks for all the suggestions in this thread!!

That's great to hear! I just hope this thread can maybe spark some more interest in anime for other schmoes.

Anyway, I recently re-watched My Neighbor Totoro. It's still quite a good movie since the last time I watched it, which was several years ago. However, I didn't enjoy it as much as before. I agree with Tuukka's comment on the film. That it's perhaps too light and innocent a film for a cynical bastard like me to completely love.

[JCPhoenix]

God, i haven't responded to this thread for a while!
Anyway i didn't actually get to finish Porco Russo, dammit...a friend interrupted me in the middle of it and i ended up going out to see a movie, and then another friend wanted to borrow it so...

But when i get it back i'll finish it :)

Studio Ghibli films:

(Favorite to least favorite)
1. My Neighbor Totoro/Grave of the Fireflies
2. Castle in the Sky
3. Spirited Away
4. Kiki's Delivery Service
5. Princess Mononoke
6. Nausicaa: Valley of the Winds

Princess Mononoke and Nausicaa are similar so that might explain why I like them the least. Not that I don't like them far from it, i think they're great. Just the worst out of the 7 flicks i've seen. (soon to be 8 with Porco Russo, and 9 with Only Yesterday...which I got a copy from a place in Toronto :))

Grave of the Fireflies is one of the most fantastically sad epic anime movies ever made. It seriously is one to make you depressed for a while. In contrast, My Neighbor Totoro is one of the most happy, purely kids type movie ever made. It's so weird and wacky though, I just love it. I laugh every time i see the damn Totoro :)

Castle in the Sky was the first Ghibli film i ever saw, i've been watching it since i was 5 or 6, when someone taped it for my family (a Chinese version of it). I must've watched it close to teh amount of times i've seen Usual Suspects, my favorite movie. Such a fantastic movie, with my favorite Joe Hisaishi score. Absolutely amazing.

Spirited Away is a beautifully made film, which i've talked about several times on the boards so i won't get into it. It's a lot different from his other works, having more in common with Mononoke in that he's sort of changed styles a bit to more epic feeling films.

Kiki's Delivery Service is more like Totoro and Castle in the Sky, a fun little movie about a wanna be witch who delivers packages to people through flying. A fun, nice little movie.

Princess Mononoke is another epic style film along with Nausicaa. They're similar in several ways, but Mononoke is like a different take on Nausicaa in a way. Beautiful films both.

[scottish-movie-freak]

I'm finally seeing Spirited Away! My friend got FREE tickets to see it and she invited me along...I'M SO HAPPY! :)

[Paterfamilias]

Originally posted by damned martian
Do NOT see that with your daughter! And get some kleenex (at least i needed them... a lot :o )

Thanks for the heads up, Martian. I had heard that Grave was not suitable for children but Totoro was. Would any schmoes agree the Torturo is cool for young children?

[Damned Martian]

Originally posted by Paterfamilias
Thanks for the heads up, Martian. I had heard that Grave was not suitable for children but Totoro was. Would any schmoes agree the Torturo is cool for young children? From what i've heard (to JC, dh and Ren, i think), Totoro is definitely for children (and adults with still some child freshness in their hearts ;) ). I'm dying to see it too!!:D

[Ren Hoek]

Originally posted by Paterfamilias
Torturo
Sounds like some kind of Flash Gordon villain. He he, thanks for the giggle, Pater ;)

[scottish-movie-freak]

Well, I'm watching Grave Of The Fireflies...In Chinese...With no English subtitles...It's a little bit hard to understand but I'll get by.

[Hannibal21]

Originally posted by Paterfamilias
Thanks for the heads up, Martian. I had heard that Grave was not suitable for children but Totoro was. Would any schmoes agree the Torturo is cool for young children?

Totoro is one of the finest movies for children IMO, it's my favorite Anime and one of my favorite childhood movies, every young kid I know that has seen the film, has loved it. :)

[JCPhoenix]

Originally posted by scottish-movie-freak
Well, I'm watching Grave Of The Fireflies...In Chinese...With no English subtitles...It's a little bit hard to understand but I'll get by.

Damn...the movie is so much better if you can find a copy of it in Japanese. I've heard the Chinese dub before, and the voice for the main character is the same voice used in the Chinese dub of Laputa...it's loud, annoying, and a bit screechy, and definitely doesn't fit the mood and tone of Grave of the Fireflies. The original Japanese cut features a much more mature voice, deeper and softer which fits a lot more...

ah well, we do what we have to do to watch these :p

[scottish-movie-freak]

Originally posted by JCPhoenix
Damn...the movie is so much better if you can find a copy of it in Japanese. I've heard the Chinese dub before, and the voice for the main character is the same voice used in the Chinese dub of Laputa...it's loud, annoying, and a bit screechy, and definitely doesn't fit the mood and tone of Grave of the Fireflies. The original Japanese cut features a much more mature voice, deeper and softer which fits a lot more...

ah well, we do what we have to do to watch these :p

Screechy is the right word! :p

I have to say, I would of enjoyed it more if I could understand the dialogue but it still was brilliantly animated. And I cried...I cried a lot at the ending.

Now I've seen 3 Ghibli movies:


Princess Mononoke- 8/10
Spirited Away 8/10 (originally a 9 but after viewing, I have found faults)
Grave Of The Fireflies- 6.5/10 (For now... I'll have to get my hands on a subtitled or dubbed copy)

[Damned Martian]

I saw MY NEIGHBOUR TOTORO. What an amazing movie! My favorite scene:

http://www.cs.unc.edu/~chang/anime/totoro-bus.jpg

:D :D

I felt like a child again...:D

[JCPhoenix]

damned martian, i love that scene too! :) that's definitely my favorite scene in the movie, i just love how totoro does his big ass smile and jumps heh hilarious...

and grave i don't think has anything particularly traumatizing for children, but i agree it's not aimed at kids; most younger kids would be bored, and it's not a laugh a minute type of movie (quite the opposite lol) so...


it's interesting to note that Totoro and Grave of the Fireflies both came out at the same time and were shown in theatres as a "dual feature". They would show Grave of the Fireflies first, and then Totoro, which is a good idea - people are totally depressed after the first, and then the next movie is such a contrast with its EXTREMELY happy tone lol.

[flowrchild]

Does anyone here have the resources to make me a copy of My Neighbor Totoro? I have been dying to see it for a long time, and it's not on netflix or at blockbuster and nobody I know has it. If you can help me out, please PM me. Thank you.

[rilocay]

I cant beleive the Uk has just got the film now!
i havnt seen it yet and im not sure to get it on dvd or not as i want to get the cowboy bebop series volumes...im in australia so if any Aussies on these boards have em plz gimme a holar!

[Tuukka]

Just watched Princess Mononoke. Another masterpiece from Miayazaki. 9/10.

After having seen four movies from him I already consider him as one of the greatest filmmakers EVER. My only problem with Mononoke was that the climax with the forest spirit went on a bit and wasn't effective as it could have been. On the other hand the very ending was brilliant.

As usual with Miyazaki, the film had a poignant storyline, great characters, mesmerizing visuals, awesome music and just PURE MAGIC.

Damn I love this guy.

And Joe Hisaishi is a God among composers. Among the 5 best film composer EVER. His work with Miyzaki and Takeshi Kitano is utter brilliance.

[Tuukka]

Having just seen Nausica, here are my greades for Miyazakis films so far:

Totoro 9/10
Spirited Away 9/10
Mononoke 9/10
Nausicaa 8/10
Porco Rosso 7/10

[Paterfamilias]

Finally watched My Neighbor Totoro with my daughter. We both loved it! Next we are goin to try Princess Mononoke.

Ren, glad to serve up the giggle with Torturo You're right about that sounding like a Flash villain.

[Paterfamilias]

I watched Princess Mononoke. i liked it, I did not show it to my daughter cause she's a tad too young. We did watch Castle in the Sky together. Man, this was great and she loved it.