Tales From Earthsea Coming to US Theatres - August 13

This is welcome news for Studio Ghibli fans.  Tales From Earthsea (Gedo Senki) will be released on theatres in the US on August 13.  Disney will distribute the film under the Touchstone label; make of that what you will.  Personally, I'm just happy to see another Japanese anime film, and a Ghibli film not directed by Hayao Miyazaki, at that, shown on American screens.

There has been speculation for a long time that Goro Miyazaki's 2006 directorial debut would be released on the big screen, even if only as a limited release.  It's good to see those plans properly followed through.  This does suggest that Disney is testing the waters; can the public be persuaded to buy tickets for the Ghibli name, and not the name of Hayao Miyazaki?  True, the son is the director, so they will still be able to sell on the family name, but it does suggest a willingness to nurture the relationship between the two companies.

Disney must prepare for a post-Miyazaki world, just as Ghibli must do in Japan.  Goro-san's Earthsea movie is that first crucial step.  Fortunately, as disappointing the movie proved to fans - Ghibli and Ursula LeGuin alike - I don't think the general public knows about that.  They almost certainly know nothing about the Miyazaki family drama, which flared up rather notoriously during the film's production, and whose fingerprints are all over the picture.  It also helps that most Americans have no idea how badly Goro shamelessly steals from his father.

It was Goro's open theft - his stealing is a virtual highlight reel of his father's career - as well as his airing the family's dirty laundry in public, that soured him to the Japanese public.  It certainly soured him on me, and that's mostly why I don't care for Gedo Senki.  Perhaps when I see it at the local indie theatre this August, my mood will be brighter.  I will try to be more forgiving and patient.

In any case, I will be attending, and so will all of you.  I want to see more Studio Ghibli at the multiplex.  I would love to see The Borrowers on our screens next summer, and I would kill to see Isao Takahata create one more movie.  I'm sure you'll agree.  I haven't changed my opinion that Earthsea is Ghibli's weakest film, but it's so easy to forget that it's a first film.  You still have to pay your dues to make it as an artist, even if your father is world famous.  Let's be hopeful and wish for the best.

Beethoven String Quartet, Op.130 - The Orford String Quartet LP

Happy Birthday! Cake and ice cream for everyone! I turn 37 years old today, and for the occasion I'd like to share one of my favorite classical records. This is Canada's Orford String Quartet performing Beethoven's String Quartet No.13, Op.130. The LP comes from the Canadian Broadcasting Company, and was recorded in December, 1976.

I recorded this album to my PC ("needle drop") using Audacity at 24-bit/96kHz, then uploaded to Youtube. Here is what my stereo system looks like:

Sony PX-X5 direct drive turntable
Ortofon 2M Blue phono cartridge
Harmon/Kardon 330c stereo receiver
Musical Fidelity V-LPS phono preamp w/ Radio Shack PSU

You have no idea how much of a pain it's been to put this together. The new Youtube redesign is missing many crucial features, like embedding playlists, and finding the page for this custom player was nothing short of a miracle. This is going to make videos so much easier...I hope. Enjoy.

Arrietty at the Tokyo International Anime Fair

The Tokyo International Anime Fair was held recently, and Studio Ghibli was there to promote their upcoming feature, Karigurashi no Arriety, or The Borrowers.  The most notable inclusion was this production book, which contains artwork and character designs for the film.  As always, it looks spectacular, and I'm wishing I could get my hands on a copy.  Perhaps this book will see a commercial release?

In any case, there will be an "Art of" book to accompany the movie, so we'll be looking forward to that.  I do hope Disney will consider bringing this movie to the States.  The Borrowers is a popular name, and there will be a built-in audience.  And if they want to cultivate a long-term relationship with Ghibli, they will need to look beyond Hayao Miyazaki.  Treating him as "Japan's Walt Disney" is a mistake.  There are many immensely talented artists at the studio, and that needs to be understood.

Anyway, enjoy these photos:

Vote For Ghibli Blog - Best Local Blog - Deadline Today!

Today is the final day to vote for The Ghibli Blog in the Best Local Blog category in City Pages' 2010 Best of the Twin Cities.  I'm asking every visitor today to click the button and cast their vote.  Will we win any fabulous prizes?  Hmm...probably not.  But the added exposure could open doors for this site and this community.

Thanks to everyone who participated and voted.

Theatre Chains Jacking Up the Prices on 3-D Movies

Brownie, yer doin' a heckuva job:

Beginning today, the Wall Street Journal reports that many major movie chains, including Regal Entertainment Group, Cinemark Holdings Inc. and AMC Entertainment Inc., are raising prices for 3-D movie tickets. It reflects the steepest price increase in a decade. 3-D ticket prices are rising by as much as 26% in some areas, though the average increase will be closer to 8%. The average increase for IMAX screens is 10%. Some theaters in metropolitan areas will be charging nearly $20 for IMAX admissions.

It's almost like Hollywood is daring us to download their movies for free. Remember when the music industry charged $20 for a Compact Disc?

At this moment in history, you couldn't pay me to be a Hollywood executive. Once enough kids figure out they can download Transformers 2 in a matter of minutes, instead of paying $15 at the multiplex....

Photos: Toy Story 2 on Blu-Ray

Some terrific screenshots (720p) of the newly-released Toy Story 2 on Blu-Ray.  I'm still undecided on whether Toy Story 2 is better than the original movie.  Both are excellent, well-crafted and skillful films, and there's a deeper emotional undertone present in the sequel.  So I can appreciate the praises of fans and critics.  But there's something to be said for the back-and-forth comedy between Buzz Lightyear and Woody in the original movie.  They were the perfect "odd couple," and I can't shake the feeling that some of their magic was lost once they became best friends.  Theirs is an Ernie-and-Bert friendship.

Thanks, once again, to BluRay.com for supplying their many screenshots of the movie.  You can visit their Toy Story 2 page and check everything out.  These photos really look fantastic, like Christmas every day.

Photos: Toy Story on Blu-Ray

Excellent news for all Pixar fans, as Toy Story 1 and 2 are now available on Blu-Ray.  I'm really looking forward to seeing these movies in their high-definition glory...that is, once I can save up for a Blu-Ray player and a fancy-schmancy LCD set.

As always, you can click on the photos to see them in their full size (720p).  This really looks fantastic.  The first Toy Story remains far and away my favorite Pixar movie, so expect this to quickly become one of my "go-to" movies.  Oh, and did you spot the books on the shelf behind Woody?  I always love Pixar's references and inside jokes.

These screenshots come courtesy of the fine folks at BluRay.com.

Studio Ghibli Blu-Ray - Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind

Studio Ghibli's Blu-Ray for Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind was officially announced today.  It is scheduled for a July 14 date in Japan, at 7,140 Yen.  No American release date was mentioned as of yet, but we're all very hopeful for a 2010 release.  Cross your fingers, kids.

Courtesy of GhibliWiki, a translation of Toshio Suzuki's notes are available.  He goes into detail about the decision to choose Nausicaa as the studio's next BD, and the extensive involvement of Hayao Miyazaki.  He was insistent that his most important film be preserved as honestly and accurately as possible, and as you can see, he is highly critical of modern digital processing techniques.

Suzuki-san's notes suggest that Ghibli is not rushing out their catalog to BD, instead bringing over one film at a time.  This was a bit of a surprise to me, since I did expect a rapid rollout.  They are guarding their legacy very carefully.

Here is Toshio Suzuki's translated remarks on the Nausicaa Blu-Ray:

I watched Nausicaa. Re-encountering the film for the first time in 26 years. There was Miya-san nearby. When a preview room became dark, I was tense. Then Nausicaa began. We never watch a film after it's completed. I don't watch it. Because we cannot go to the next film. However, there were special circumstances this time.

It was the end of last year that the reqest for the next BD title was given by Disney. I thought about nothing, but I answered immediately, "How about Nausicaa?" Ghibli and Disney staff's faces were frozen. They seemed to have planned for Laputa and they thought Nausicaa would be "The Last BD Title" without permission. Then another thought appeared on me with an answer. I want to do a restoration from a clean negative. It was longtime homework for me who was concerned with Nausicaa.

Led by Okui-san of the photography department, an argument began about how to make an original negative of "Nausicaa". However, Okui-san was not involved with the production of Nausicaa directly. What is the standard of the original negative? We can guess, but we do not understand this important part. Digital technology can do anything. It is very easy to change a used thing into a new thing. Then a conclusion came about become Miya-san decided it. Miya-san participated in a meeting. Miya-san's opinion was simple and clear.

Miya-san was watching the Disney Channel in a house well after work. It was broadcasting a show on digital processing, a "makeover" of old works. That is profanity. Miya-san always sent forth a negative opinion about digital processing. A past masterpiece becomes a work without dignity through digital processing. That is quite disrespectful for the person who made it. It is natural for it to seem that a film looks timeworn by aging. Who has the right that makes it a new thing in technology? This was an opinion of Miya-san.

This is Miya-san's opinion. Basically, respect a original thing. We do not clean it than the original, remove the wound of the process of the print, keep the color mistakes, etc.

Okui-san took two months in deference to the opinion of Miya-san and worked hard for data faithfully. It was enough work to lose consciousness.

In this way the preview of March 1 came about.

There is already little staff who remember those days at Ghibli. I persuaded Miya-san who hated watching. When I went to the preview room 10 minutes early Miya-san was already there. In fact, I know that the preview was in the mind of Miya-san for a few days. Miya-san who waited for a re-encounter with Nausicaa was clearly excited.

The screening was over. We waited for an impression from Miya-san in a meeting room. At first Miya-san spoke an impression "looked timeworn", and he said in this way. "Suzuki-san, technically, we have come very far and wide."

The order from Miya-san was one thing: I want a little green to increase where necessary.

Okui-san came my room next day. He said "Miyazaki-san cried, didn't he?" I answered in this way, "Nausicaa is not yet over." Both I and Miya-san remember all of the events and every cut.

Photos - Goro Miyazaki's Nisshin Cat Commercial

I captured a few screenshots of Goro Miyazaki's new Studio Ghibli short.  Thank God for the "print screen" button, and reflexes sharpened by a week of playing Street Fighter 2.  I hope you enjoy these, and feel free to steal and share.

I really love this hand-painted and hand-drawn style.  It's very Japanese and very old fashioned.  The red butterfly is an especially attractive touch.  Another blow for traditional 2D animation!

Goro Miyazaki's New Animation Short

Goro Miyazaki is back with a new animation short.  This television commercial is a celebration of Nisshin Seifun Group's 110th birthday.  Nisshin and Ghibli began working together in 2008, as co-sponsors of the Ghibli Museum Library, which has brought many beloved and influential animated films from around the world to Japan.

This 30-second commercial, presented in a hand-drawn calligraphy style, is available online.  The website has few links, but, naturally, everything is in Japanese.  I've included the above screenshot so you know what page to look for.  I think you'll be able to find your way.

There is also an interview page with Toshio Suzuki.  I'd really appreciate it if we could translate the text into English.  My Japanese is just barely at the level of a three-year-old.  If anyone in the community could help out, that would be wonderful.

Goro Miyazaki directed this short and drew the storyboards.  Katsuya Kondo handled the animation, and his five-year-old daughter sang the song.  It's a cute, charming little moment of bliss, nothing major.  It's just a lazy cat yawning and chasing a butterfly around - a joyful moment of zen.

Goro continues to be carefully cultivated at Ghibli.  He's being put through film school and he's paying his dues.  Father Miyazaki insisted last summer that his son must work his way up the chain like everybody else, but there's no denying that Goro-san remains the studio's heir apparent.  His second directorial feature will be the ultimate test, and a critical moment for Ghibli's future as well.  No pressure at all.

Mickey and Friends Get Loaded on Peppo

This is a 1951 mini-comic featuring Mickey Mouse, called "Mickey Mouse and the Medicine Man."  I laughed my head off when I saw these panels.  Hah hah!  In the next comic, Mickey and Donald meet Terence McKenna and the machine elves from hyperspace, hah!

You can see the entire comic here.  Feel free to pass along.  Do the Cartoon Brew guys know about this?

Video - Jarinko Chie, Opening and Closing

There's precious little of to be found of Isao Takahata's 1981 film, Jarinko Chie, on Youtube.  I was lucky enough to find clips of the opening and closing credit sequences.  These happen to be excellent scenes, so I thought I would share them with you.

Chie's opening credit sequence (it's about five minutes into the movie, actually) is based heavily on Hanafuda playing cards.  Takahata would use this same motif in the opening scenes of My Neighbors the Yamadas.  I've often felt both films were close cousins, being comedies about modern Japanese families, told in a loosely episodic style.

I think Chie is the better of the two.  It's bawdier, earthier, more strongly rooted in its Western Kansai environment.  It also presents a larger story arc, and hides its episodic seams more deftly.  Yamada-kun abandons all pretense of an overall plot, and its episodes are plain for all to see; it's more like a Calvin and Hobbes book.

These credit sequences always stay in my memory because the music is so wonderful.  Takahata has always been a great music connoisseur.  You can see that in every movie he's made; every soundtrack is superlative, memorable, infectious.  It's enough to make you want to hit the play button, and watch the movie all over again.

Photos - Jarinko Chie (Blu-Ray, 720p)

First of all, I'm happy that a subtitled version of Jarinko Chie is finally available to the world.  Secondly, I'm especially thrilled that we can watch the Blu-Ray version.  The picture quality is excellent, wonderful.  I really wish one of the anime publishers would bring this great movie to North America.  Where's Discotek?  Where's Manga?  Who's left standing in this business?

I hope you enjoy these screenshots.  Click on the photos to see them in full-size.

Jarinko Chie Blu-Ray - Fansub Download Now Available

Excellent news, everybody. The Blu-Ray release of Isao Takahata's 1981 movie Jarinko Chie is now available as a fansub. I've added the link to the Downloads section, replacing the previous DVD fansub.

I really love this movie; it's blend of slapstick and gross-out comedy is unique of Takahata, but the emotional human melodramas are still there in force. Yasuo Otsuka and Yoichi Kotabe served as the Animation Directors, and the trio are masters of their craft. Little would moviegoers know that both Otsuka and Kotabe were nearing the end of their animation careers. Otsuka would become a teacher at the Telecom studio, and Kotabe would work with Hayao Miyazaki on the Nausicaa film, before migrating to Nintendo. For the old Toei crew, this would be their last great heist.

The Blu-Ray was not released by Ghibli and Buena Vista in Japan; this does leave the possibility open for a Western publisher to grab the rights and bring it to North America. There ain't no way Disney would touch Chie with a ten-foot pole. If they were squeamish about all those tanukis not wearing pants, well...

I can't wait to see how Chie looks in hi-def. This is going to look terrific. I'll post some screenshots as soon as I'm able.

Photos - Gauche the Cellist

I finally managed to see the Ghibli ga Ippai DVD reissue of Isao Takahata's masterful movie from 1982, Gauche the Cellist.  This is one of my absolute favorite movies, and, because of its short length (barely one hour), remains one of my essential go-to animation films.  This is a movie you want to show off and share.

The picture quality is greatly improved over the older Pioneer DVD; sharper, cleaner, more detailed.  You can see for yourself how wonderful Gauche looks.  This is a painterly movie, full of vivid colors and impressionist brushstrokes.  I always admired the use of lighting in the background, the way it made the contents of Gauche's house melt together.  Sunsets are especially vivid, full of rich orange and reds and browns.

Takahata was at the peak of his powers when he created Gauche.  It was a long labor of love and it shows.  The naturalism, the humble neo-realism, the moments of human comedy and tragedy.  I've always admired the documentary shots in the opening scene, closeups of butterflies and ants.  Would a Western movie contain these everyday moments, or would the temptation to hurl everybody along the roller coaster prove too strong?  This is a meditative film, a reflective film.  It is a rural film at its core, and a deeply musical film.  A music lover made this movie.

Because Gauche is now under the Ghibli name, this makes it possible for Disney to bring it to North America.  They absolutely should do this, and do it immediately.  I wonder if John Lasseter or any of the top people at Disney/Pixar even know this movie exists.  If ever a foreign animated movie was perfect for a domestic release, it would be this one.  Please, Disney.  Bring this movie to the States.