GKIDS Ghibli Fest 2018 Schedule

US animation movie distributor GKIDS returns once again with Ghibli Fest 2018, a year-long retrospective of Studio Ghibli movies in theaters. Films will be shown in both English (dub) and Japanese (subtitled) soundtracks and will be screened at theaters nationwide, courtesy of Fathom Events.

To purchase tickets online, visit the Fathom Events website.

Here is the official schedule for Ghibli Fest 2018. Be sure to bookmark this post for future references:

Ponyo
March 25, 26 and 28

The Cat Returns
April 22, 23 and 25

Porco Rosso
May 20, 21 and 23

Pom Poko
June 17, 18 and 20

Princess Mononoke
July 22, 23 and 25

Grave of the Fireflies
August 12, 13 and 15

My Neighbor Totoro
September 30, October 1 and 3

Spirited Away
October 28, 29 and 30

Castle in the Sky
November 18, 19 and 20

Photos: Ponyo on a Cliff by the Sea

I haven't posted anything about Ponyo in a very long time, so we're long overdue to revisit this great movie. I absolutely loved this movie when it was released in American theaters, saw it three times and had a blast each and every time. It's a wonderfully lush and loving tribute to hand-drawn animation, a defiant middle finger to the age of computer-graphics animation. Every frame bursts with color and wonder, like a great children's book brought to life.

This is probably my favorite Hayao Miyazaki movie post-Spirited Away, and it's probably the most visually dazzling and inspiring. Ponyo is an artist's movie, an animator's movie. It celebrates the craft itself. You can practically smell the pencils and watercolor paints.

When you think about how much money mainstream dreck like The Emoji Movie or The Angry Birds Movie earns at the box office, and then reflect on the fact that Ponyo barely struggled to make $15 million, even with the full backing of the Disney empire...ugh. The mind reels.

Once again, to quote John Lennon: "War is over...if you want it." Stop wasting good money on cartoon poop emojis. Spend that money on Ponyo.

Trailers - Ponyo, Castle in the Sky

Wednesday and Thursday at the Minneapolis Studio Ghibli Film Festival is devoted to Hayao Miyazaki's 2008 movie, Ponyo on a Cliff by the Sea, and his 1986 adventure classic, Castle in the Sky.  We're headed into the Thanksgiving holiday, and I wouldn't be at all surprised if Thursday's shows are packed.

I've written extensively about Ponyo when it arrived here in the States back in 2009, and there's not much left for me to say now.  It's a terrific picture that stands as a stubbornly defiant defense of hand-drawn animation.  After three years, I am willing to concede that the ending is a bit weak (Spirited Away was the last Miyazaki film to really score the landing), but it's such a terrific ride that it's worth every minute.

The Lagoon Cinema will be playing the Disney-dubbed version of Ponyo, which was pretty good.  I still could do without that crummy auto-tuned pop song at the closing credits...yuck.  Letting Disney try to cynically turn Ponyo into a star vehicle for yet another Jonas Brother didn't quite pan out, did it?  Ah, well, the kids and parents will be happy.

For me, Castle in the Sky is the one to see.  It's still the only Ghibli Blu-Ray from Japan in my collection, thanks to the horrific import price ($80 w/shipping).  It's going to look fantastic in 35mm, projected on the big screen.  Studio Ghibli's debut film has everything: adventure, romance, amazing action, dazzling visuals.  Miyazaki swung for the fences just as he did with Nausicaa, leaving nothing behind.  For many years, anime fans hailed Castle as a Miyazaki masterpiece.  Come to the show and see if you agree.

Oh, and can somebody smuggle some extra pumpkin pie into the theater for me, please?  Thanks in advance.

Howl, Earthsea and Ponyo: Studio Ghibli's Next Blu-Ray Discs

Studio Ghibli has announced their next pair of Blu-Ray discs: Howl's Moving Castle, and Tales From Earthsea.  Both titles will be released on November 16, and include all the standard features we've come to expect.  And, yes, that means English subtitles and Disney's English-language soundtrack.

In addition, Ponyo will be reissued with a new packaging, in keeping with Ghibli's BD library.  This is, in fact, the same package design as the German BD release, so it's really no surprise at all.  This new release will finally include the US Disney soundtrack, something that was missing from the original Japanese release.

Below the fold are the official specs and features of Ghibli's upcoming Blu-Ray films.  Thanks to Anime Maki and muhootsaver for providing these specs:

The Ponyo Blu-Ray in Germany

This is fascinating.  We are looking at the Ponyo Blu-Ray that was released on March 18 in Germany.  Note how they're using the same art design as the rest of Ghibli's BDs in Japan.  I've wondered if Studio Ghibli would redesign their Ponyo cover in keeping with the other films.  This looks very nice; I wouldn't at all be surprised if Ghibli brought this cover design back home.

I'm sure there are a few die-hard collectors who just have to have the complete Ghibli Blu-Ray library from Japan, so if that describes you, I'm sure you'll be thrilled by this German release.  And it's a thrill to see the stylized Japanese covers appear in other countries.  Now if we could only have the equally impressive cardboard covers, instead of the crummy (and ocean-destroying) plastic cases, we'll really be making progress.  Do it for the Macho Man, I say!*

(* No, I really have no idea what any of this has to do with "Macho Man" Randy Savage.  But he was a hero and icon to my generation, and he will be very sorely missed.)

Get Yer Ghibli Wallpapers!

The Studio Ghibli Weblog (in Spain) has a pair of terrific Studio Ghibli wallpapers for you to download and use on your computers.  Nice!  As you can see, are Spanish cousins are basing their designs on the Japanese Ghibli Blu-Ray covers.  Currently, there are wallpapers for Nausicaa, Castle in the Sky, Ponyo and Arietty.  Just follow these links to get to the wallpapers; sizes range from 1024x768 to 1920x1080 resolution.

Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind Wallpaper
Castle in the Sky Wallpaper
Ponyo on a Cliff by the Sea Wallpaper
The Borrower Arrietty Wallpaper

Riffs: The Wan Wan Chushingura and Ponyo Connection

Toei Doga's 1963 animated feature, Wan Wan Chushingura, is a terrific cartoon adaptation of the fabled Japanese tale of the 47 Ronin, told with dogs and cartoon animals and one really mean tiger. Sadly enough, this film is only known in the West as the first movie that Hayao Miyazaki worked on, after being hired to the studio in 1963.

Miyazaki began as an in-betweener, and at this point in his career, he's basically working in the mail room. He only gives Wan Wan Chushingura a passing mention in his memoirs, Starting Point, lamenting how his superiors would correct his drawings so much, that they were completely unrecognizable from what he drew. So while this is another entertaining classic from the Toei stable, it's more of a footnote for the Miyazaki biology.

Or, that's what I thought. I sat down to watch the film this evening, a terribly worn-out VHS copy of the Spanish-dubbed version, Rock el Valiente. One key scene managed to leap out at me, and it completely took me by surprise. I've snapped some screenshots as best I could - you can see how lousy the picture quality is on this old tape - so you can judge for yourself.

In this scene, the dog hero, Rocky, has been knocked into a barrel and thrown into the open sea. Caught in a storm, he struggles to hold onto the barrel as he approaches shore. As the waters strike the cliffs, Rocky's barrel is broken into smaller pieces, Rocky hangs on for dear life.

A young girl stands at the top of the cliff. She sees something in the water and carefully climbs down the rocks. She reaches the shoreline, and seeing the helpless puppy in the water, she tries to rescue him. Resisting the crashing waves, the girl successfully grabs the puppy and drags him onto the shore, and to safety. The scene ends in a warm embrace.

This scene just leapt out at me. Ponyo! This is almost identical to the early scene in Ponyo where Sosuke rescues Ponyo from the ocean, trapped in the glass jar. Even the cliffs look quite similar. It's not an exact shot-by-shot remake, so I don't know if I'd place it into the "riffs" category. But this does appear to me that Ponyo used the similar scene from Wan Wan Chuushingura as an inspiration. And when we remember this was also Miyazaki's first animation film all those years ago, the realization strikes. It makes a lot of sense.

I'll leave it for you to decide if these two "on a cliff by the sea" scenes match, or if I'm just reading into things. It would help tremendously if we had a DVD fansub to watch; this Rock el Valiente VHS was damned near impossible to find. And the picture quality is just dreadful...Ah, just like the good old days of anime fandom.

Italy Gets a Kick-Ass Ponyo DVD

Well, well, it appears that Italy is getting a kick-ass Ponyo DVD, too.  This package includes the two-disc DVD, along with the Ponyo plushie that we all know and love.  Disney dipped their toes in the Ghibli merchandising waters last year with the American DVD release, but it's been impossible to find ever since.  This might prove to be a compelling alternative.

One thing that really impresses me with this release is the packaging.  There's a considerable effort to use as little plastic as possible, and the cardboard box and disc booklet is very attractive.  It reminds me a lot of the early days of disc-based media like CD-ROM.  Cardboard covers were dismissed as cheap, low-grade junk, and the sturdier plasic cases were far more popular.  Today, however, I think we're well enough aware of the greater costs of adding mountains of indestructible plastics to this planet.  Frankly, I'm happy to see CD cases go extinct...those things were sooo incredibly fragile.

No doubt reducing costs is a primary concern for DVD and Blu-Ray publishers, and doubly so for anime publishers.  If they can cut costs where it counts, while still offering a compelling product - say hello to more merchandise, kids - I'm more than willing to sign up.  It will be interesting to see how this competes against the rise of non-physical digital media and platforms like the iPad.  I want to be able to watch movies on my TV, desktop computer, laptop, iPod, iPad...the consumer market is diversifying rapidly, and this is going to become the major challenge for physical media.

Here are some more photos of the Italian Ponyo DVD box from all sides. Enjoy:

Riffs - Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind, Ponyo on a Cliff by the Sea

Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind is the rare Miyazaki anime that barely contains any riffs on his previous work (one shot of a crowd at the end echoes Horus, Prince of the Sun, Nausicaa's spiritual cousin), but it has inspired many quotes and tributes in later films.  This film was in many ways a touchstone to the second half of Hayao Miyazaki's career, obviously because its success led to the founding of Studio Ghibli, but because of its darker, more complex and ambiguous tone.  And that's what reminded me of this particular riff.

Take a look at the screenshots from the ending to Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind and Ponyo on a Cliff by the Sea.  It's a very tight, crowded composition, very skillfully laid out, communicates all that you need to know.  It also serves as a big emotional finish, and the audience comes away feeling happy and relieved.  It's a very loud and abrupt curtain bow, and I'm always reminded of the way John Lennon cuts the ending to "She's So Fine" on side one of Abbey Road.

It's very true that many of Miyazaki's directorial films end with a sudden stop, while the true climax is at least a scene or two before.  They don't end so much as they stop cold - party over, whoops, outta time.  But this quick run for the exits carries far more weight in Nausicaa because, frankly, the whole thing is a three-card monte.  This so-called finish is the slickest scam Miyazaki ever pulled.

I know this is a subject deserves its own post, so we'll keep it short for now.  The game is afoot, the cake is a lie, and nothing in the Nausicaa film is really resolved.  Watch yer backs.

Let's Have a Look at the New Ghibli Releases

Okay, everybody.  I pulled out the digital camera and snapped a few quick photos of the new Ghibli releases.  The packaging is just superb, much better than I expected.  It's very much like the design for Disney and Pixar DVDs, with glistening blue with gold trim.  The gold is especially nice, especially on the spines, and very reflective, too.

As you can see, this is an excellent design for the Ghibli DVDs and BD's.  They've never looked better.  I'll put this design against any Ghibli DVD around the world.  Including the movie posters is a brilliant move; I only hope Disney continues to do this for the rest of the Ghibli catalog.

And while we're at it, let's put Ghiblies Episode 2 with The Cat Returns, where it belongs.

Disney has done an exemplary job with the new Studio Ghibli DVDs.  They haven't always handled the Ghibli catalog wisely, and there are two or three films we'll likely never see in North America, sadly.  But Disney has also steadily improved with each wave of releases, and the influence of John Lasseter and Pixar can never be overstated.  Bravo, everybody.  Bravo.

Disney Coupon: $10 Off Ponyo Combo Pack

Disney is offering a $10 coupon towards the Ponyo Blu-Ray/DVD combo pack this week.  You need to download their "coupon printer" in order to print out these coupons, however.  This deal is valid until March 7, 2010.

Disney $10 Ponyo Coupon

Photos - Ponyo on a Cliff by the Sea (Blu-Ray)

Courtesy of the fine folks at DVD Beaver, here are screenshots from the newly-released Ponyo Blu-Ray.  This is going to look magnificent on a large screen.

Ponyo Arrives in UK Theatres

At long last, Ponyo is now playing in theatres across the UK.  I know you've all been waiting for months and months, and now you'll finally enjoy Hayao Miyazaki's latest.

The UK reviews are in and are very favorable.  I have a roundup of the latest reviews.  Feel free to use this as your all-purpose Ponyo thread.  Have you seen the movie yet?  When are you planning to go?  What were your impressions?  Did Miyazaki live up to the hype?

Financial Times (4 stars): Hayao Miyazaki's Ponyo is absurdly delightful, a prestidigitation of line and colour from the Japanese animator-director of Spirited Away. A fish with a little girl’s face spreads delight in a coastal village. We recognise, if we want, a fable about art’s power to enchant and the storyteller as epiphanic visitor.

London Evening Standard (4 stars): Hayao Miyazaki, the brilliant Japanese animator of Princess Mononoke and the Oscar-winning Spirited Away, is never afraid to mix naturalistic detail with out-and-out fantasy, which is why this children's film, hand-drawn throughout, appears so original and charming.

Times Online (4 stars): The underwater scenes are as rich and teeming as Miyazaki’s boundless imagination; little Ponyo in her human form, joyfully wobbling around on her newly sprouted legs, is a pure delight.

Guardian UK (4 stars): Miyazaki's is a gentle narrative art, but with ­moments of ambiguity and strangeness: I loved Ponyo's face looming up to that of a crying baby: a silent moment held just long enough to be disturbing. This film will be loved by those who admire the intricacy and power of his Howl's Moving Castle and the great Spirited Away. It is an arresting work from an unmistakable film-making personality.

The Independent (3 stars): No animator captures the movement of tides and the deep physics of the sea as lyrically as Miyazaki, and the story's themes of rejuvenation and ecological balance carry a highly topical edge. It is difficult nonetheless to get involved in its slightly bland characterisations – my inner child had got quite restless by the end.

The Oscar Nominations Are In - Up is In, Ponyo is Snubbed

82nd Academy Awards Nominees

I'm sure everybody has had a chance to look over this morning's Oscar nominations.  It's a pretty good list overall, but I'm reminded of the Simpson's episode where Homer is recruited as a NASA astronaut and launched into space.  "Get the rating" seems to be the mantra.

And if Hollywood wanted an Oscar drama to bring in the viewers, hoo boy, they got it.  James Cameron and Kathryn Bigelow, divorced couple, in the lead for most nominations, for Best Director and Best Picture?  It smacks of calculation, but it just may work.  The expansion to ten Best Picture nominees was another attempt to attract viewers, and we can see an effort to pick movies outside of the art-house circuit.

Roger Ebert observes that the five Best Director films are the "serious" Best Picture nominees, the real contenders, and I'll have to agree with him.  It's not that I expected Pixar's Up to be a credible contender; we're just happy to be nominated.

I do think the push for Avatar speaks more for Hollywood's desperation to sell expensive 3D movies than anything.  Is Avatar really worthy of nine nominations?  Is it really one of the year's best movies?  I find that very hard to swallow.  In all fairness, I have to see this movie, but it's not the kind of movie I'd want to see.  Special effects blockbusters with video game graphics are not my thing.  I need more than sugar in my diet.  But I'll go watch one of these days and give it a fair chance.  Maybe it won't feel like an Xbox version of Dances With Wolves (ugh).

Now let's get to the Animation categories.  First, congratulations to Pixar for Up's Best Picture nomination.  Hollywood has now officially apologized for snubbing Wall-E.  I hope this bodes well for animation, and that it inspires studios to move beyond the safe boundaries of summer roller coaster rides and family formulas.

Now to Best Animation Feature.  Ponyo wuz robbed.  Boo!!  That's an unacceptable omission, and either reflects the Motion Picture Academy's ignorance of animation, or bias against foreign movies.  Perhaps they feel that Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli received their praises for the Spirited Away Oscar, and that's enough.  More "statement" awards.  I'm really tired of that.  It's as though everybody gets a nomination or a statue just for hanging around long enough.  This year, it's your turn.  Next year it's theirs.

I'll pull out this argument when Sandra Bullock wins over Meryl Streep.  Sorry, but some film artists simply dominate, and that should be acknowledged.

Nominations for Best Animation Feature: Coraline, Fantastic Mr. Fox, The Princess and the Frog, The Secret of Kells, and Up.  Pixar is the easy favorite, as always.  There is a possibility, however, that the Academy will consider Up's Best Picture nod to be "their award" this year, and hand this Oscar to someone else.  I think Coraline could be a fan favorite, as it's a clever and charming movie that's skillfully hand-crafted.  Fantastic Mr. Fox is a critic's favorite, but its appeal is limited.  It's happy to be nominated.  Disney could win for Princess and the Frog.  That would be a plus for hand-drawn animation, but wouldn't that be a lazy win?  Will it be seen as a box-office disappointment, of an overlooked classic?

Secret of Kells is the real shocker.  I didn't expect this at all.  I'm not even sure if it played in the Twin Cities.  Another win for hand-drawn animation; in fact, this is a very solid collection of films.  It shows the diversity of the animation artform, its vitality and creativity.

Still, Secret of Kells snuck in like some lucky wild card team.  Ponyo deserved that spot.  Hell, Ponyo deserved a Best Picture nod alongside Up, but that's an old speech of mine, and it's all water under the bridge.  Life continues.

Up was also nominated for Music (Original Score), and I think they're the clear winner.  Michael Giacchino brought the film to life, especially the emotionally-charged opening act.  It's a beautiful score, reminiscent of Fellini's movies.  The only possibility of an upset is if Avatar sweeps everything - and remember, Hollywood is desperate to sell us on 3D movies and 3D televisions.  It's the battle between art and commerce.

Finally, Up received a nomination for Best Original Screenplay, and as a writer, I'm glad to see Pixar recognized for their work.  Far too many animated movies are nothing more than video game demos, roller coaster rides.  Pixar has wisely focused on the essentials of storytelling, focused on the craft of filmmaking, and that's why they're where they are today.  The competition is too fierce in this category, so I couldn't expect a Pixar win.  It's good to be nominated.

Don't know about you, but I'm looking forward to this year's Oscars.  This should be fun.  Just don't let Cameron walk away with everything.  Please let there be some surprises for once.

Poster - Ponyo on a Cliff by the Sea (For Your Consideration - Best Animated Feature)

Courtesy of AwardsDaily.com, here is the Ponyo poster in consideration for Best Animated Feature at the Oscars.  I still insist that Ponyo is worthy of a Best Picture Oscar nomination, but Disney is focusing all their energy on securing a nod for Pixar's Up.

I fully expect Up to be included among the Best Picture nominees this year, if only because of the sense that Wall-E was unjustly snubbed before the Oscars doubled the number of contenders.  If that doesn't happen, I will be shocked.  I would hope the Academy voters would wisely share the accolades in this event; if Pixar gets the more prestigous Best Picture nominee, then Ponyo surely deserves a space in the Best Animated Feature category.  In any event, Miyazaki deserves a second Oscar.  But, of course I'd say that, wouldn't I?

Ponyo on Blu-Ray; Castle, Totoro and Kiki on DVD

I just wanted to clear up any confusion regarding the upcoming Studio Ghibli releases on March 2.  All four movies - Castle in the Sky, My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki's Delivery Service, and Ponyo - will appear on DVD.  Only Ponyo will arrive on Blu-Ray.

There have been no official announcements from Ghibli in Japan regarding future BD releases, but it is widely expected that more movies will be headed to the high-definition format in 2010.

Ponyo, Castle in the Sky, Totoro, Kiki DVDs Released on March 2

We are only six weeks away from the Ponyo's arrival on DVD and Blu-Ray, and the reissues of Castle in the Sky, My Neighbor Totoro, and Kiki's Delivery Service. As everyone remembers, these movies were planned for a December release, but was ultimately delayed. I'm sure we were all disappointed, but in the long run, I think March 2 is a wiser choice. There will be fewer movies to compete against, giving Studio Ghibli added attention.

I have to congratulate Disney for the new cover designs. These look absolutely magnificent, and it's refreshing to see the designs improve with each release cycle. Studio Ghibli's films finally have the proper shine and polish. Featuring the Japanese movie posters is especially welcome, and a very pleasant surprise.

There has yet to be any advance media from Disney on the state of the discs themselves. I remain very hopeful that the superior Japanese DVDs are used. I've praised the excellent picture quality of the Region 2 Castle in the Sky over the old, crummy Disney releases, and I can't wait for you to see for yourselves.

I see that John Lasseter's introductions for Castle in the Sky and Kiki's Delivery Service are returning, which is always a nice addition. Being the dedicated Ghibli Freak and...what's the name we're using for Pixar fans?...I would love to see more of Lasseter go into depth on their love of Ghibli and Miyazaki. Commentary tracks, of course, would just be spectacular. I'll just have to take a video camera to the Pixar campus one of these years and shoot a documentary.

And Ponyo, one of my favorite movies of 2009, will make its Blu-Ray debut. For most of us, this will be the main event, especially for those who couldn't see the movie in theatres last summer. I'm hopeful that the home release will find a Long Tail success. I know I'll be buying all four movies on March 2, and I'm sure many of you will, too.

Oh, and don't forget the Ponyo plushie! Marcee is going to want one of those...and my sisters...and cousins...yadda yadda. You see how this goes. If I were to buy any one of these Ghibli DVDs, it would definitely be the deluxe Ponyo set. Save yer pennies, kids.

Australian Ponyo Blu-Ray Cancelled

The following message comes from Madman in Australia:

Please note that due to circumstances beyond our control the PONYO BLU-RAY scheduled for December 29th is canceled.  Furthermore, the PONYO DVD is now a single-disc DVD product and remains scheduled for release December 29th.  We thank you for your ongoing custom and apologise for any inconvenience these changes cause.

One common theory why the North American Ponyo BD was delayed was to give an exclusive window to Japan.  Region-free players and discs make the home markets more vulnerable to imports than ever, and when you consider the high retail prices for Blr-Rays, this makes sense.  If this is so, I would expect to see Ponyo in Australia about the same time as the Americans.

In any event, this is a very hard blow for fans.  Whatever the reasons, everyone had their heart set on Ponyo for Christmas.  That's a real shame.  Somebody in the corporate food chain seriously FUBAR'd.

The Hidden Dimension

I saw this final paragraph from Roger Ebert's review of Fantastic Mr. Fox, and I thought it perfectly aligned with my thoughts on Hayao Miyazaki's films like Ponyo.  This is a paragraph that should be framed and hung in the wall of writers and storytellers everywhere:

Like the hero of "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory," also based on one of his books, the creatures of Dahl's valley seem to know more than they're letting on; perhaps even secrets we don't much want to know. Children, especially, will find things they don't understand, and things that scare them. Excellent. A good story for children should suggest a hidden dimension, and that dimension of course is the lifetime still ahead of them. Six is a little early for a movie to suggest to kids that the case is closed. Oh, what if the kids start crying about words they don't know? -- Mommy, Mommy! What's creme brulee?" Show them, for goodness sake. They'll thank you for it. Take my word on this.

The Hidden Dimension.  I think that's a key factor in great storytelling.  It's kind of like Super Mario Brothers, with coin boxes buried in the walls and hidden pipes just off the screen.  Not everything needs to be shown or explained away.  The mystery itself is sufficient.  I think this was a point of contention for many Western viewers where Ponyo was concerned, but I think it's a great movie because of it.

For Your Consideration

If you visit Cartoon Brew this morning, you'll see Disney's banner ads at the top of the page.  These are "For Your Consideration" ads for the upcoming Oscar awards season.  Ponyo is pitched as a potential nominee for Best Animated Feature, while Pixar's Up is pitched for Best Animated Feature and Best Picture.  Very interesting.

I can't say that I'm surprised that Up is getting the Best Picture push.  It is the studio's big movie of the year.  And the expansion to 10 Best Picture slots will make it easier than ever for Pixar to be given a place at the table.  Up's first 20 minutes pushes a lot of buttons and won over all the major critics.  And I'm sure a few folks still feel that Wall-E was unjustly snubbed.

However, I'm going to continue to insist that Ponyo is the animation movie that deserves a Best Picture nod.  It's the far better film of the two, wiser, smarter, quieter.  Hayao Miyazaki is arguably the world's greatest living film director (I'd gladly hand the title to Paku-san, if only he'd get back to work!), and Ponyo is the work of a master artist at the peak of his powers.

Pixar's Up, beloved at it is, remains a deeply uneven movie to me.  The marriage sequence is brilliant, wonderful, and frankly, overshadows the rest of the picture.  Most of the movie is just rehashing loud Star Wars chase scenes...like practically every other summer blockbuster these days.  I could care less about the talking dogs and the endless action scenes and the impossibly old Kirk Douglas who's chasing some silly bird.  I cared about the marriage.  That first 20 minutes should have been the entire picture, and it could have been a masterpiece.

Of course, I wouldn't expect Disney to promote a foreign movie (Ghibli) over one of their own, so I can't blame them for giving the extra push to Pixar's latest.  I'd do the same in their shoes.  Instead, I believe it is the imperative of every one of us, Ghibli Freaks within and without the movie business, to promote Ponyo for a Best Picture nomination.

How much does a banner ad at Cartoon Brew cost?  Why not pool some money together and buy a front page ad for Ponyo?  For Your Consideration - Best Picture!

Let's see what we can do to make a difference.  We won't know unless we try...right?