tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24969765.post4520225956857977813..comments2024-03-19T02:27:08.584-05:00Comments on Ghibli Blog: Studio Ghibli, Animation and the Movies: Gauche and the Galactic RailroadDaniel Thomas MacInneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01406180871529775448noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24969765.post-45739395915213335572009-08-30T02:14:35.728-05:002009-08-30T02:14:35.728-05:00@anon: Me fail English? That's unpossible!@anon: Me fail English? That's unpossible!Daniel Thomas MacInneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01406180871529775448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24969765.post-68253793460879110932009-08-30T01:24:50.196-05:002009-08-30T01:24:50.196-05:00You wrote Kenji Miyazawa's name as "Kenji...You wrote Kenji Miyazawa's name as "Kenji Miyazaki" there in the last paragraph, lol. Simple mistake!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24969765.post-62166660923654034942009-08-28T10:58:17.724-05:002009-08-28T10:58:17.724-05:00There's a clip of the opening of Ihatov Gensou...There's a clip of the opening of Ihatov Gensou Kenji no Haru (Spring and Chaos) on YouTube which gives you a good idea of what this film is like. Stunning and essential viewing for anyone with more than a passing interest in Miyazawa Kenji.<br /><br />When it comes to dream images you can't beat Jan Svankmajer's Neko z Alenky (Alice). More nightmare than dream though and very unsettling. I'm surprised you never mention Svankmajer as he's one of the most original and creative animators around.<br /><br />There are several more translations of Kenji's short stories online that are worth reading, especially as they were partly the inspiration for Tonari no Totoro. Sadly, as with all English translations of Kenji's works they lose much of the poetry of the Japanese originals. Donguri to Yamaneko (Wildcat and the Acorns) http://tonygonz.blogspot.com/2006/05/acorns-and-wildcat-miyazawa-kenji.html and Yuki Watari (Crossing Snow) http://wabei4.tripod.com/xlation/miyazawa/yukiwata.htm There are anime versions of these stories too (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=4426 and http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=9154 or http://www.animenfo.com/animetitle,3426,aqjstp,yuki_watari.html).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24969765.post-51048528203388174382009-08-28T01:47:38.732-05:002009-08-28T01:47:38.732-05:00That's a terrific way to share your finds, Chr...That's a terrific way to share your finds, Chris. Thanks a lot! It's always helpful.<br /><br />Yeah, I keep typing "Miyazaki" when it's supposed to be "Miyazawa." I'm really a clutz when it comes to typing nn a keybpoard. I really would never be able to function with a typewriter. Make a mistake on those things and you're screwed. Thank God those wretched machines went extinct.<br /><br />Interesting that you have Alexander Ksy's "The Incredible Tide." Hayao Miyazaki really was not impressed with that story. He agreed to adapt it on the grounds that he could make sweeping changes in his show. This is really the first example of his irreverence when adapting outside stories for his films. Kiki and Howl are the other big examples.Daniel Thomas MacInneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01406180871529775448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24969765.post-73719056449597235152009-08-27T23:40:16.545-05:002009-08-27T23:40:16.545-05:00I think I found a nice way to share documents . . ...I think I found a nice way to share documents . . . and they'll remain on line for a long time, so we don't have to worry about them vanishing too soon.<br /><br />This is a link to a document sharing website called Drop.io:<br /><br />http://drop.io/w2fn1cx<br /><br />There I've uploaded both Kenji Miyazawa's "Night on the Milky Way Train" and Alexander Hill Key's "The Incredible Tide" which was the inspiration for Future Boy Conan. (I just took that one from the wonderful Highharbor.net site.)<br /><br />After people have had time to read Night on the Milky Way Train, I'd love to have a few discussions comparing the original novel to its film adaptation.<br /><br />(I hope this is something useful for you Daniel. Sorry if it's not.)<br /><br />(P.P.S. or whatever . . . Daniel, I just noticed in the final paragraph of your post you wrote Kenji Miyazaki! Ha! That's a great Freudian slip. I like it!)Chrisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24969765.post-37564658907576823932009-08-27T21:14:57.589-05:002009-08-27T21:14:57.589-05:00By the way, re-reading my post, I realize my thoug...By the way, re-reading my post, I realize my thought process might be confusing: When I talk about reading the original novel, I'm not talking about Spring and Chaos; I'm talking about Night on the Galactic Railroad.<br /><br />Sorry for any confusion.<br /><br />Anyway, the novel is really nice. I think the translation I have is a fan translation. As such, there is no poetry at all to the translated prose. It gets the meaning across, but that's all. Still, the original narrative breaks through and there are some touching and magical moments.<br /><br />The only in print English translation is available here:<br /><br />http://www.amazon.com/Milky-Railroad-Stone-Bridge-Fiction/dp/1933330406/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1251425369&sr=8-2<br /><br />But if you'll read the reviews, it sounds like an awful translation. All the original Italian names have been changed to Japanese names, ex. Giovanni is now Kenji. Why, why, why? I don't recommend this book, but it's the only version you can buy new and hold in your hands.<br /><br />Perhaps I can upload my pdf to a file sharing site like Mr. Sobieniak did with his copy of Warriors of the Wind. I'll see what happens.Chrisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24969765.post-12757678296799394942009-08-27T20:53:57.654-05:002009-08-27T20:53:57.654-05:00@asuka: No, I've never heard of Spring and Cha...@asuka: No, I've never heard of Spring and Chaos. I should check it out one of these days.<br /><br />@chris: Ah, yes! Yuri Norstein, the greatest of all animators! Hedgehog in the Fog and Tale of Tales are two of my favorite movies. I have a DVD of his films in my library. It was released in Canada and is a joy to bring out and watch every once in a while.<br /><br />I'm afraid I don't know how to host a .pdf file. I'm sure it's very simple, but the technical stuff just confuses me. It's really a miracle this website looks as good as it does, frankly. I knew my way inside and out of an Apple IIe, and it's been downhill ever since.<br /><br />Thanks for the Raiden link. That site is a Godsend.Daniel Thomas MacInneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01406180871529775448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24969765.post-76047887299487408352009-08-27T18:51:05.209-05:002009-08-27T18:51:05.209-05:00Daniel said, Great examples range from Stravinsky&...Daniel said, <i>Great examples range from Stravinsky's The Right of Spring, to Picasso's Cubism, to the errie quality of silent movies like The Cabinet of Dr. Calibari, or Nosferatu, or Metropolis, or The Passion of Joan of Arc.</i><br /><br />I think it would be very apt to include Yuri Norstein's Tale of Tales in a list of examples. Talk about dream images!<br /><br />Asuka said, <i>are you familiar with kawamori's spring and chaos?</i><br /><br />The English DVD of this film has, unfortunately, been discontinued, but you can find a copy here:<br /><br />http://raiden-rs.blogspot.com/2009/03/ihatov-gensou-kenji-no-haru-spring-and.html<br /><br />Also, I really, really recommend reading the original novel. I have a pdf file of it with both the Japanese version and the English version together. (The novel is public domain, but you can buy some translated copies through Amazon, but many people complain about the translations available.) <br /><br />The word "novel" might be misleading because it is quite short and can be read very quickly, but it really fleshes out the inner lives of the characters which the film is unable to do. The scene with the bird catcher is very delicate and moving in the novel, but in the film there is much less a sense of loss when the bird catcher leaves.<br /><br />I wish there was some way I could post this pdf film here on this blog. Daniel, do you have any idea?Chrisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24969765.post-59620247887990127352009-08-27T15:34:48.728-05:002009-08-27T15:34:48.728-05:00are you familiar with kawamori's spring and ch...are you familiar with kawamori's <i>spring and chaos?</i><br />it's a more uncomfortable viewing experince than <i>night on the galactic railroad,</i> but just as memorable, i think.asukahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17591719367939228084noreply@blogger.com