Reviews by David Baldwin and Jonathan Godfrey for Mr. Will Wong
For the first time ever, beloved Japanese Animation House Studio Ghibli are releasing their back catalogue on Blu-ray, giving North American Fans with the distribution assistance of Los Angeles-based Shout! Factory and New York-based GKIDS, a chance to re-capture once again the magic of their Films with the new, improved sensibilities of today. Fans will revel in the sheer delight of bonus features, stunning art and never-heard-before statements from those behind these unforgettable Films.
Our Jonathan Godfrey had the pleasure of reviewing Ponyo, Princess Mononoke and Howl’s Moving Castle.
Until recently, most of Studio Ghibli’s releases in the West were dubbed and distributed exclusively in these parts by Disney. This now is handled by GKIDS and Shout! Factory, who started their deal by bringing English versions of new releases to North America, (Tale of the Princess Kaguya & When Marnie Was There), as well as an old one (Only Yesterday).
Earlier this year, GKIDS kicked-off their “Studio Ghibli Anime Series” with Cineplex. The program is showing six different Miyazaki classics in theatres across the country. Each is presented once in English, and once in Japanese (with subtitles). In addition to this theatrical program, GKIDS have released these titles and more on DVD/Blu-ray. What follows is a brief look into three of the Films that are available.
Princess Mononoke
Princess Mononoke preceded the grand era of Disney dubbing. And yet, Mononoke established the standards for what Disney would later do. This was accomplished by stern instructions from Ghibli, and great work by writer Neil Gaiman and the English-speaking voice cast. Billy Crudup voices Ashitaka, the last prince of the Emishi tribe. After being cursed by a demon he is cast out into a world of wonder.
In his travels, he is faced with a battle between ancient beings and modern industry. He sees the hubris in both sides, but is most affected by San. Raised by wolves, San (Claire Danes) hates her human ancestry. Especially as she sees it personified in Lady Eboshi (Minnie Driver), the ruler of Irontown. Eboshi consumes the forest. San protects it… and Ashitaka finds the Forest Spirit.
It’s a beautiful Film, and animated brilliantly. Joe Hisaishi, Miyazaki’s lifelong collaborator, composed Mononoke’s score. Its haunting melodies add to the fantastic visuals. This same marriage of sight and sound can been seen and heard in Howl’s Moving Castle.
Release date: October 17, 2017
Howl’s Moving Castle
Adapted from a Novel by Diana Wynne Jones, Howl’s Moving Castle is the story of a struggling sorcerer and a kind girl. Emily Mortimer and Jean Simmons voice Sophie, a studious young hat maker who is cursed with old age by the Witch of the Waste (Lauren Bacall). In response to the tragedy she flees her home and stumbles into Howl’s Moving Castle.
Inside the walking monstrosity, she meets Calcifer (Billy Crystal), the fire demon that makes the castle move. Mean to most, Calcifer takes an instant liking to Sophie. Howl (Christian Bale), upon returning home, is impressed by this, and hires Sophie on as a maid. While the aged Sophie cleans the castle, Howl travels the world despairing over its deadly wars.
In addition to these characters, the Movie features some really cool magic. Not only is the castle fueled by a wise-cracking flame, and home to a shape-shifting warlock, it also has a travelling door. With the turn of a colored wheel, the castle’s entrance opens to different destinations around the world. It’s an enchanting experience, one with an easily accessible story about loving someone for who they are, not what they look like.
Release date: October 17, 2017
Ponyo
Ponyo was Miyazaki’s first Feature Film following Howl’s, and is a masterful re-imagining of The Little Mermaid. This underwater princess is known to us as Ariel. Yet Miyazaki calls her “Ponyo,” and she’s no sea shell-wearing adolescent. Ponyo (Noah Cyrus) is a powerful little fish who is the favored daughter of Fujimoto. Fujimoto (Liam Neeson) becomes distraught after Ponyo asks live on land with Sōsuke (Frankie Jonas), the human boy who named her.
Gran Mamare (Cate Blanchett), is Ponyo’s mother. She sends Sōsuke on a quest to grant Ponyo’s wish, and save the seas that are troubled by the little fish’s absence. It’s a sweet story for kids of all ages. Free from the common quirks of boy-meets-girl narratives.
All of Miyazaki’s Movies focus on intimate relationships devoid of sexual tension. In this way he transcends the typical, and paints pictures unseen elsewhere. My Neighbour Totoro, KiKi’s Delivery Service, Castle in the Sky and Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind also express these sentiments, and are again available on DVD/Blu-ray.
Release date: October 17, 2017
Special Features
These GKIDS editions feature dual-sided covers, and a cardboard sleeve adorned with Ghibli’s assets. Included inside are the two discs, and a small booklet with notes from the creators. On the discs are hi-def versions of the content, accompanied by creative documentaries and stories about the English dubbings. They are well thought out, and well executed. So for those of you looking to get your hands on some Ghibli goodness, the GKIDS copies are worth the money. And for those of you hoping to watch some on the big screen, Spirited Away and Howl’s Moving Castle are coming soon to a theatre near you.
Our David Baldwin also had the pleasure of reviewing classics Kiki’s Delivery Service, My Neighbor Totoro and Academy Award-winning Spirited Away.
Kiki’s Delivery Service
Kiki is a witch and at age thirteen, must prove her independence by leaving home and finding her way in the world. She lands in a seaside town and begins assisting a local bakery with a courier service. But Kiki is having trouble fitting in and adjusting to her new life.
I distinctively remember seeing trailers for the American re-release of Kiki’s Delivery Service in the late ’90s on my Disney VHS tapes. The announcer’s voiceover played in my head as I watched the Film – and while I write the review of this charming Film. It looks beautiful and is inherently-fluffy, but I remained enamoured by Kiki, her wise-ass cat companion Jiji and the people around them throughout the Film. While the Film suffers from being episodic and at times stifled, it still remains a wonderful piece of Anime. And the fact that the animation has aged so brilliantly in the years since its release is a stunning testament to the work of Studio Ghibli.
Release Date: October 17, 2017
My Neighbor Totoro
Satsuki, Mei and their father move to a small village in order to be closer to their ailing mother. Their new home is a bit of a fixer upper, but is surrounding by dense trees and nature. The young girls are worried about their mother’s health and spend much of their time exploring the nearby forests. It is in one rather narrow passageway that they meet a huge furry animal – Totoro – who keeps turning up at times of need.
Not a lot happens in My Neighbor Totoro, but the Film has become legendary for a reason since its release in 1988. The staggering vision and creativity of Director Hayao Miyazaki is on full display here, tapping into the fears and wild imagination of young children. The animation is crude in some places, but in other places is bold and colourful. There is a lot of raw emotion coursing through the Film’s veins, and it does a very admirable job not letting any one feeling overpower the Film. My only slight against it is for going into a completely different direction with 20 minutes to go – yes it creates conflict, but it also feels needlessly drawn-out.
Release date: October 17, 2017
Spirited Away
On the way to their new home in the suburbs, Chihiro and her family stumble on what appears to be an abandoned town. There is a feast waiting for them, which Chihiro’s parents indulge in. Chihiro has a bad feeling and goes exploring – but quickly finds that her parents have been turned into giant pigs, and that the unoccupied town is suddenly full of spirits, gods and witches. And she must do whatever she can in order to survive, or else she will be turned into an animal as well.
Spirited Away simply is a stunning achievement. Blending the beautiful hand-drawn animation with computer effects was game-changing for Ghibli, and it allows for them to realize a world unlike anything Miyazaki had put out previously. The creativity flowing through this Film is unlike anything you may ever see, easily making an impact that never dissipates – the Film did win an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature after all. I also admire the Film’s maturity, diving into deeper and darker material that is not always kid-friendly. It makes for a stronger picture and an unforgettable experience.
Release date: October 17, 2017
Special Features
Each Film comes with a Blu-ray, a DVD and a booklet filled with pictures and small essays on their respective Films. Once loaded-up, you have the option of watching in English by default or in Japanese with English subtitles – the first time the proper Japanese to English subtitles have been made available in the West. There is also an option to watch the entire Film through Storyboards, which alternate between crude and highly-detailed. It is a fascinating option for fans of animation, showing what a painstaking process it is to sketch-out what the film will look like. Sadly, you cannot watch it in tandem with the final product to compare shots. All three Films also contain the “Behind the Microphone” Featurette with fluffy interviews featuring the American voice casts talking about the Films and Miyazaki. These Featurettes are significantly older than I expected, but offer some cast insights. Beyond Trailers and TV Spots, there are a few other interesting Featurettes discussing the creation and talent behind each Film – but nothing that goes too far into any depth.
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