Ghibli Blog

My Neighbor Chewtoro T-Shirt Design

noreply@blogger.com (Daniel Thomas MacInnes) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 22:34:00 PST

This is a really clever mash-up of Chewbacca and Totoro, and was created as a t-shirt design by Brooklyn-based outfit Castlepop. The shirts were available for sale at Riptapparel.com for 24 hours, but that has long since past. Too bad; I'm sure a lot of us would love to buy these.

Protip: Don't go for the "24-hour" promotions. Just sell the shirts year-round, and make it easy for folks to get them.

Let's let Castlepop introduce themselves, and hope they bring back their Chewtoro shirts. I'm looking forward to seeing more of their designs:

We are a husband & wife design team from Brooklyn. The husband uses his pop culture-addled brain to come up with a vague concept that hopefully gestates into a fully-developed idea. Then the wife does all the actual work: sketching the idea, inking the idea, and spending countless hours at the computer coloring the idea. Meanwhile, the husband wanders the apartment and makes an occasional suggestion.

We hope you like the results.

The Secret World of Arrietty - "Borrowers" Clip

noreply@blogger.com (Daniel Thomas MacInnes) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:55:00 PST

Disney today released a promo clip for Arrietty, in anticipation of next month's theatrical release. This is a short clip, but it should give you a good idea of what to expect from the Disney dub. Oh, and be sure to pay close attention - there's a big surprise at the end. Heh heh.

I expect that Disney will release a few more clips online; when that happens, we'll be sure to post them here on The Ghibli Blog. Feel free to share your impressions here.

Poster - From Up on Poppy Hill (Japan)

noreply@blogger.com (Daniel Thomas MacInnes) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:00:00 PST

Here is the second Japanese movie poster for Goro Miyazaki's From Up on Poppy Hill. Very nice, a little reserved in tone and color, but promising a nostalgia-tinged teenage romance that is sure to entertain everyone (the story is set during the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games). I'm sure the collectors already have a copy hanging on their walls.

Meanwhile, Poppy Hill is playing in theaters across France, and Amazon France is now listing the upcoming DVD and Blu-Ray release, which will appear later this year. No specific date has been mentioned as of yet, but expect it to arrive in Japan and Europe sometime this summer.

Dracula Eats a Burger - Pickles

noreply@blogger.com (Daniel Thomas MacInnes) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 23:55:00 PST

My Neighbors the Yamadas - DVD vs Blu-Ray

noreply@blogger.com (Daniel Thomas MacInnes) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 23:31:00 PST

I don't know about the rest of you, but I absolutely love My Neighbors the Yamadas. The watercolor-and-pencil art style, the zen design that emphasizes emtpy space, the endlessly funny comic timing. The extravagant musical numbers, where the movie soars in three dimensions, bookend the movie perfectly and add much-needed variety. This is a brilliant, subtle, smart animated movie, and if nothing else, you have to respect Isao Takahata for having the moxie to make it.

I wonder how many Westerners know Yamada-kun is adapted from a newspaper comic strip? That's another key reason why I enjoy it so much. I've always been a fan of comics, especially Peanuts, Bloom County, The Far Side, and Calvin & Hobbes. And I've long believed Takahata handled that adaptation perfectly; this movie feels very much like reading through one of the many Calvin books, weaving together several major themes and mini-story arcs, several stylistic shifts, and a warm-hearted, generous tone.

Yamada-kun looked very good on DVD, and the Blu-Ray version improves in every way. The differences are far more subtle than, say, Howl's Moving Castle, but that's mostly because of the film's zen design. Once you see the screenshots in their larger native resolution, the advantages of BD become evident.

I love the painterly look of this movie. In order to achieve a purely watercolor style, Studio Ghibli converted their entire production to computers, at great expense. Earlier films were notoriously cautious about CG, and dabbled only here or there (On Your Mark, Mimi wo Sumaseba, Pom Poko, Princess Mononoke), but My Neighbors the Yamadas fully immersed itself in the modern technology.

It wouldn't be until Ponyo in 2008 that Ghibli began to dial back the computers, eventually scuttling the computer graphics department entirely. So this marks an interesting era for the studio - their full embrace of Modern Computer Technology. Still, even then, all their best work in CG lie in the short films, like Ghiblies Episode 2 and Yoshiyuki Momose's Capsule trilogy.

Yamada-kun infamously tanked at the Japanese box office, overtime and over budget, where it was mugged mercilessly by The Phantom Menace and the first Pokemon movie. It also led to Takahata's retreat from directing movies, and possibly a souring of his working relationship with Miyazaki. On that front, I'm largely speculating; it remains a great and unsolved mystery that I still wish to piece together. Caveat emptor, as always.

Anyway, not to ramble on too long, but My Neighbors the Yamadas is criminally underrated, even among Ghibli Freaks. I think it's a smashing film, wildly funny at times, touching and humane at others, always full of surprises. The two wedding sequences at the beginning and end are among Ghibli's greatest triumphs. Oh, and the music is wonderful and unforgettable - a Takahata trademark.

The Yamada-kun Blu-Ray, of course, looks terrific. Maybe I should send Disney a photo of my money, with a post-it note attached: It's Yours if You Want It. More screenshot comparisons below the fold:

Studio Ghibli Zippo Lighters

noreply@blogger.com (Daniel Thomas MacInnes) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 20:49:00 PST

Okay, wait...what? Studio Ghibli Zippo lighters. Huh. I honestly did not see that one coming. It does get points for style, I'll give it that. But sometimes I don't think Studio Ghibli quite groks the whole concept of "merchandising."

Then again, Hayao Miyazaki is the same person responsible for this little gem of '70s pop culture. God bless you, sir!

GKids Studio Ghibli Film Festival - 2012 Schedule

noreply@blogger.com (Daniel Thomas MacInnes) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 12:16:00 PST

Having just finished its run in Dallas, GKids' Studio Ghibli Film Retrospective is opening today in Los Angeles, and will be appearing in cities across the US and Canada throughout 2012. According to their Twitter feed, this is the ongoing festival schedule for 2012:

December 2011 - New York

January 2012 - Dallas, Los Angeles

February - Boston

March - Austin, Toronto

April/May - Washington DC

June - Seattle

July - San Francisco

GKids is still working to secure deals with more cities. Chicago is "a certainty, most likely this Summer." Columbus is likely in the fall, but no firm dates are set. Minneapolis is in negotiations (let's hope it goes better than the Vikings stadium debacle), and Ghibli Blog has offered to help. Milwaukee is "a long shot."

I will keep this post updated as details emerge.

Howl's Moving Castle - DVD vs Blu-Ray

noreply@blogger.com (Daniel Thomas MacInnes) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:07:00 PST

Howl's Moving Castle was a sensational movie on the big screen. I watched it several times at the Uptown Theater in Minneapolis, which boasts one of the largest screens in the Twin Cities, and was overwhelmed each and every time. The DVD format, however, never really did this movie justice. Pencil lines were too thick and bushy, colors too washed out, objects too pixelated. Now Howl is available on Blu-Ray and it's a brilliant revelation once again.

I've done several of these comparison tests for the other Studio Ghibli Blu-Ray discs, each showing a dramatic improvement over DVD. But I've never seen a leap of quality quite like this. I'm stunned, and if my money wasn't so seriously tied up at the moment (a wife is far more important than a movie), I would already have my Japanese copy in tow.

Take a look at the above screenshots in close-up. The clarity of BD is astonishing. Color and contrast are far richer and more lifelike, yes; this is what we've come to expect from Ghibli. But notice the added detail of the brushstrokes. Notice the texture of the wood and metal. Observe how horribly blurry the older DVD photo appears; it's quite difficult to detect any real texture at all. Much of the grittiness of Howl's world is simply lost in a low-resolution haze.

I can only imagine this difference on a decent-sized screen, say, 42" or more. This is the visual equivalent to having cotton pulled from your ears. Now you can hear the full symphony! Miyazaki's sweeping romanticism is on full display in warm, rich tones and sharp detail. You can appreciate the Impressionish, painterly quality of this world as never before. This sprawling mess of a romantic epic requires paint and brushstrokes and sweat. It requires passion.

Feeling impatient for Disney to release Howl BD here in the States? I know just how you feel. That $80 import price is starting to look almost reasonable. Some more amazing screenshots lie just below the fold. Enjoy!

Studio Ghibli Film Festival Begins in Los Angeles

noreply@blogger.com (Daniel Thomas MacInnes) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 23:11:00 PST

GKids much-anticipated Studio Ghibli film retrospective comes to Los Angeles tonight, courtesy of the American Cinemateque. Titled, "Castles in the Sky: Miyazaki, Takahata and the Masters of Studio Ghibli," 15 feature films will be shown on the big screen, in stunning new 35mm prints, in both subtitled and dubbed versions.

The festival begins tonight with Porco Rosso, a favorite film of mine and one that I'm sure you'll love to see up close. Closing out on Feb 13 will be The Secret World of Arrietty, just ahead of its American theatrical release on the 17th.

Miyazaki's films are going to be amazing, wonderful, thrilling, and awe-inspiring. I was lucky enough to see My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki's Delivery Service, and Princess Mononoke at the late Oak St. Cinema some years ago, and I assure you that these movies are meant to be seen on the big screen. Howl's Moving Castle looks especially grand on a larger canvas (the DVD really never did it justice), and Nausicaa? Wow. If I had the money, I'd already be on an airplane to California and live in the movie theaters.

Even more exciting for Ghibli Freaks is the chance to see Isao Takahata's masterpieces in full display. You're about to meet the world's greatest living movie director. I've praised Omohide Poro Poro for years (it's just about the greatest animated film ever made), and now Americans will finally discover for themselves. They will finally discover Ghibli's naturalist side, seen in Poro Poro and Whisper of the Heart and Ocean Waves and My Neighbors the Yamadas.

If you live in the Los Angeles area, stop everything you're doing, throw your TVs out the window, SCTV-style, and go to the Studio Ghibli festival. GKids will not be bringing their festival tour to Minneapolis-St. Paul, tragically - the Home of The Ghibli Blog, left uninvited to the big party! That's quite a humbling thought, kids.

Enjoy the movies, everyone. You're going to have a terrific time.

Disney's New 60-Second Arrietty Trailer

noreply@blogger.com (Daniel Thomas MacInnes) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:48:00 PST

I understand Disney is beginning their ad campaign for The Secret World of Arrietty on the Disney Channel. This 60-second trailer is now making the rounds. It focuses on the voice actors and their roles in the film, a nice little setup of the story, and it all comes together nicely. Now let's hope that Disney puts this movie on enough screens to actually make a difference.

Oh, and release some more DVDs and Blu-Ray discs, too, please.

Panda Go Panda DVD Coming April 17

noreply@blogger.com (Daniel Thomas MacInnes) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:53:00 PST

Discotek has announced that April 17 will be the release date for Panda Go Panda on DVD in North America. This is a very welcome return for the pair of Isao Takahata-directed short films, which have been out of print and out of circulation here for a number of years. The new cover design is the same one that's been used overseas, and I've always enjoyed it. Studio Ghibli's DVD release, naturally, remains the best.

I really do hope we get the uncut credit sequences. I don't want to see that title hack-job that appeared on the Pioneer DVD release. We will be watching closely, and hoping for the best.

Update: On their Facebook page, Discotek confirms that the original, uncut title sequences will be on the DVD. Excellent news!

Lupin III Series One - DVD Box Set June 26

noreply@blogger.com (Daniel Thomas MacInnes) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:47:00 PST

Discotek has announced that June 26 will be the release date for the Lupin III Series One DVD box set. This is the original 1971-72 series, the original anime Lupin, and to many eyes, the best. Yasuo Otsuka was one of the creative masterminds of the series, and he was later helped by his good friends and Toei Doga alumni Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata. A 22-year-old Yoshifumi Kondo (Whisper of the Heart) got his big break on this series.

Why release Lupin III on DVD and not Blu-Ray? "There's no point in doing the Blu-Ray. The Japanese version looks worse than the DVD version, and we checked. We're only going to do something on Blu-Ray if it's a significant improvement over the DVD. It's a waste of money to just slap it on a disc. We would rather spend that money on more licenses."

I am sooo looking forward to this box set. Hey, Discotek, I'm still available for essays or commentary tracks!

In related news, Discotek has also promised that more Toei films are coming soon...but which ones? Obviously, you know I'm lobbying hard for Horus. But all of the classic Toei movies are terrific - consider this a good time to finally get Puss in Boots (1969) and Animal Treasure Island from the Discotek website.

Whisper of the Heart - DVD Versus Blu-Ray

noreply@blogger.com (Daniel Thomas MacInnes) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:19:00 PST

I enjoy showing how the new Studio Ghibli Blu-Ray discs compare to their older DVD releases. It's quite an eye-opener. Mimi wo Sumaseba (Whisper of the Heart should be no different.

No doubt I've already made this point once or twice, but I'm struck by the luminescence and richness of the color on these Ghibli Blu-Rays. The colors were somewhat washed-out on the older format, a necessary compromise to fit onto such a tiny space. Now we can see something that is far close to its original vision. I really love how vibrant these images appear.

I love the finer pencil lines to everything on the BD version. The increased resolution, the cleaner color tones...heck, it's such a thrill to finally be rid of that "dusty," pixelated look. The film grain effect is far more subtle and far better. I think the picture is a little brighter, too. Animation, as always, benefits tremendously from the Blu-Ray format.

Animation in the service of a coming-of-age story, a teen romance that finds magic in the everyday world instead of mere escapism - this is a revelation and a miracle. We in the West should aspire to create animation like this. We need more movies like Mimi. It's honest, and for an art form defined by lies, that means something.

More DVD/Blu-Ray comparison shots below the fold:

Dracula Eats a Burger - Steak and Cheese

noreply@blogger.com (Daniel Thomas MacInnes) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 22:04:00 PST

Dracula Eats a Burger - Half-Off

noreply@blogger.com (Daniel Thomas MacInnes) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 23:41:00 PST

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the premier of my newest comic strip, Dracula Eats a Burger, inspired by Toei Animation's laughably bad 1980 made-for-TV movie, "Dracula: Sovereign of the Damned." I hope you enjoy, there's plenty more to come!

Dracula Eats a Burger

noreply@blogger.com (Daniel Thomas MacInnes) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 23:35:00 PST

Why? Because he can, that's why. That's why he's Dracula and you're not.

Studio Ghibli Feature Film Blu-Rays

noreply@blogger.com (Daniel Thomas MacInnes) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 23:25:00 PST

As of January, 2012, these are Studio Ghibli's Blu-Ray releases in Japan. We're currently at eight feature films - Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind, Castle in the Sky, Mimi wo Sumaseba, My Neighbors the Yamadas, Howl's Moving Castle, Gedo Senki (Tales From Earthsea), Ponyo on a Cliff by the Sea, and Arrietty. The next round of BD releases have not yet been announced, but if tradition holds, then From Up on Poppy Hill should arrive in late summer.

It's fascinating to observe how closely Ghibli holds their strongest cards close to their chest. Their biggest films - My Neighbor Totoro, Princess Mononoke, and Spirited Away - are probably coming sooner rather than later, as the studio is locked in production of Hayao Miyazaki's next feature film (by all accounts very long and complicated, and NOT a Porco Rosso sequel). At least, that's my guess. I'll bet money that one of these three films arrives on Blu-Ray in 2012.

Personally, I'm hoping that Ghibli continues its current pace of releasing four BD films per year (at Summer and Christmas), and maybe accelerated a little. I know, I'm impatient and want all the Hannukah presents now now now. But I also feel that Blu-Ray isn't going to have as long a lifespan as DVD or VHS. As Terence McKenna would say, history repeats at faster and faster cycles. Already we are seeing the emergence of the first televisions for 4K resolution (meaning, 4,000 vertical lines of resolution, compared to BD's 1,080 lines). More importantly, online digital distribution is galloping ever forward and will begin to devour into the "physical media" market. Studio Ghibli cannot casually assume another decade for the Blu-Ray, 1080p format.

Anyway, that's my theory at the moment. Please don't consider it anything more than that.

Which brings us to Disney. Look at those movies above. Studio Ghibli has eight feature films on Blu-Ray in Japan. How many are available in the United States? Two - Nausicaa and Ponyo. Presumably, Arrietty arrives on BD later this year, so that makes three. By that time, Japan will have added Poppy Hill and be up to nine.

The UK, Europe and Australia all manage to release their Ghibli BD's only a few months after Japan. What is the problem here, Disney? Is it because you can't sell stuffed Totoros or dump No-Face into the Ice Capades or turn Nausicaa into one of your Stepford Wives Fairy Tale Princesses? Is it because these Blu-Rays and DVDs don't sell enough? Is you still mad about Mononoke? I know, I know, the Weinsteins were only suggesting they be allowed to make a few cuts into the picture...and then Miyazaki dumps a samurai sword in your mailbox. With an inscription that read, "No cuts."

I really don't get this. Disney and Ghibli have had a successful working relationship since 1997. The rest of the world is able to see these movies, so why not us? What's the hold up? What's the plan?

Photos - From Up on Poppy Hill

noreply@blogger.com (Daniel Thomas MacInnes) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 21:44:00 PST

As thrilled I am to be able to see Arrietty on the big screen next month, I'm even more excited to see Goro Miyazaki's sophomore feature film, From Up on Poppy Hill. My favorite Studio Ghibli movies are the naturalist ones, Omohide Poro Poro and Mimi wo Sumaseba. Those are the classics that resonated with me above the others because I never before imagined that animation of this sort was even possible. They opened my eyes to the truly limitless possibilities of the art form, and when I look to the West for comparable works, my heart aches.

Animation of this sort - everyday, true-to-life character dramas, sparkling with color and humor and wit - does not exist in the West. France is the sole exception, with the films like The Illusionist Triplets of Bellville and Persepolis. It's no coincidence that France is also a great champion of Isao Takahata and his masterful works. I'm very interested in seeing if they embrace Goro Miyazaki as well.

These photos from Poppy Hill are wondrous. Ghibli's artists are unique with their lush colors, their luminescence, their rich and warm tones. It's a unique balance between Impressionism and Realism, with just a touch of caricature in the character designs. It's funny how Ghibli is known in the West for the escapist fantasy adventures, when this is the real heart of the studio. Desipite all the international acclaim and domestic success, they remain as they always were, a small studio that crafts romantic, nostalgia-fueled indie films.

This is what a Studio Ghibli movie looks like. It's not trying to outdo Walt Disney, or George Lucas, or JRR Tolkein. They follow their own unique path. If Goro-san can successful continue this tradition, while finding his unique voice, this will be a very successful future, indeed.

New Additions to the Blog

noreply@blogger.com (Daniel Thomas MacInnes) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 15:55:00 PST

So, whaddya think of the new logo? Cool, huh?

I've managed to successful waste my entire weekend tinkering around with my blogs, shuffling things around, adding this, removing that. I did experiment with some new template designs, with no success, so I'm continuing to stay with the current designs for Ghibli Blog and Vol 4.

The big addition, of course, is a proper Ghibli Blog logo. My fairly limited Paint Shop Pro skills no doubt affected things, but I managed to teach myself how to create a transparent .gif, so that's good. I always wanted to avoid the usual cliches, like Totoro or Catbus or Miyazaki on the logo. It had to look stylish and cool, capture the style and content of the site, and fit the overall design.

I had added a new favicon to this site, and I used the same graphic for my Twitter page. The blue Nausicaa graphic made a perfect icon for the logo. Nausicaa also happens to be my favorite Miyazaki work (both the manga and film). I sweated blood to create this and I'm quite proud.

In addition, I've also updated a lot of the links in the Downloads and Videos section. Once again, a lot of YouTube videos have been taken down because media companies who own the copyrights, apparently, don't want you to learn about their movies. They'd much rather let their DVDs collect dust in empty warehouses than actually, ya know, advertise them. This fits in perfectly with the battle over SOPA/PIPA. The movie industry has to understand a critical fact - In the Internet Age, exposure is the coin of the realm. Closing down movie trailers on YouTube is absolutely suicidal. Those who fail to adapt will go extinct.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy the changes. Thanks for your support and your endless contributions in making Ghibli Blog the absolute best it can be.

Today is SOPA Blackout Day!

noreply@blogger.com (Daniel Thomas MacInnes) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 11:50:00 PST

As I'm sure you already know, today is the day for the mass online protest against the SOPA bill working its way through Congress. This legislation, the creation of the MPAA, would give government and private industry the power to censor, block, or shut down any website suspected of "piracy" or "copyright infringement." Since the internet is based on sharing and connectivity of media, this pretty much makes the World Wide Web itself a suspect.

This is a disastrous piece of legislation, propped up by dinosaur industries and the authoritarian-minded politicians in their pockets. This is a profound threat to our liberties and our way of life. It's very simple. If SOPA passes, sites like The Ghibli Blog can be shut down. Hell, Youtube, Facebook, Reddit and Twitter can be shut down. SOPA could also be used as a tool of political suppression. People who criticize the government, or the ruling political party, could be shut down. Websites that embarrass politicians could be shut down. Do no doubt that these scenarios could happen. Expect it.

Call your members of Congress and demand that they stop this reckless assault on our rights. SOPA does nothing to stop online "piracy," and you know it. It will only be used by the powerful to beat down their rivals and their critics.

Do you see that link at the top that says, "Downloads"? There lies an atomic fuckton of copyrighted material. Am I hosting any of it? No, I'm only providing links to other sites. But those links are sufficient to shut this website down. Hell, every video, photograph and screenshot on this site falls under copyright. If SOPA passes, The Ghibli Blog can be shut down. Period.

Call the Congressional Switchboard now -- (202) 224-3121. Then call again. Keep the pressure up!

Goro Miyazaki Comic - "What is Layout?"

noreply@blogger.com (Daniel Thomas MacInnes) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 00:03:00 PST

Goro Miyazaki illustrated this one-page comic as part of Studio Ghibli's Layout Exhibition in 2008. Halycon Dreams, one of my favorite animation/film sites, shares this comic from the exhibit's program guide.

In 2008, of course, Goro-san was engaged Tales From Earthsea. Should we be surprised that his avatar in this comic is...a faceless man? Very much like his movie, this comic lacks personality; the artist is still very much a student, green behind the ears. It will take time for the faceless artist to emerge as an individual with a unique voice. Perhaps we are now beginning to see this with Poppy Hill.

Oh, and did you spot the cameos of Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata at the very end? For some reason, this reminds me of Ghibli's DVD documentary about the Ghibli Museum, which largely featured Takahata alongside Goro Miyazaki. Interesting, isn't it, that Poppy Hill could just as easily be one of Paku-san's movies.

Ah, well, I'm just speculating out loud. I'm putting way too much thought into what is a very nice comic by Goro Miyazaki. But he's still very much an enigma to our eyes; we're still trying to figure this guy out. Who is he? Why is he here? What does he have to say? And would any of this matter if his father didn't own the store? Goro himself is still in the process of solving these riddles. That's part of the fun in watching him.

Thanks again to Halcyon Dreams for getting all these terrific Ghibli books.

Goro Miyazaki Talks About Poppy Hill

noreply@blogger.com (Daniel Thomas MacInnes) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 23:06:00 PST

Goro Miyazaki spoke at the Toronto Film Festival back in September, 2011, to speak about his movie, From Up on Poppy Hill. For some reason, this video completely passed me by. I think now is the perfect time to watch, as Kokuriko makes its way Westward.

This is a crucial time for Goro-san and Studio Ghibli; if they are to have a future, it has to be now. They will both rise or fall together. Part of me is excited to see the younger Miyazaki take control of the Ghibli studio, because I don't believe he has any intention of following in his father's footsteps. Anyone expecting the next generation of Nausicaa or Totoro will be in for a rude awakening. Indeed, Poppy Hill suggests a much stronger inspiration from Isao Takahata's character-driven melodramas. Yes, Father Miyazaki had helmed and guided this movie with Goro, but their notorious tension is still present.

As always, everything hinges on Hayao Miyazaki, the emperor of his kingdom. I strongly suspect his next feature film will be his last. He will pass the reins to Goro and the new wave of Ghibli directors, and move to the background as a guiding force. In other words, he'd still be very much in charge. Mind you, that's what Lear thought, too, but there's no point in getting ahead of ourselves just yet. First things first.

From Up on Poppy Hill - Movie Clips

noreply@blogger.com (Daniel Thomas MacInnes) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 22:56:00 PST

From Up on Poppy Hill is now playing in theaters across France. To help promote the release, several clips from the movie are now available on Youtube. Terrific! I am greatly interested in Goro Miyazaki's sophmore feature film; while not a blockbuster success in Japan, it earned over $50 million during its run and was the top-earning domestic movie of 2011. The earthquake and Fukushima disaster, obviously, was a major factor.

Disney will be releasing Poppy Hill in the United States. When? Well, that's always the catch, isn't it? I wonder if they're still sore about that "samurai sword in the mailbox" incident?

Enjoy these clips, kids! If you're a fan of Isao Takahata's masterful films, or Mimi wo Sumaseba/Whisper of the Heart, this is right up your alley. Arrietty who?

Marcee's Engagement Ring

noreply@blogger.com (Daniel Thomas MacInnes) — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 11:55:00 PST

Last night, Marcee and I spent a terrific evening at a small French restaurant in Bogota. And Marcee now has her engagement ring. It's now official! If the USCIS is cooperative, she'll be on a plane to the United States in May, 2012, with the wedding in June or July.

Just for the record, I was sweating bullets when I proposed. Short of breath, arms shaking, the whole works. Thank goodness for the steaks and wine. It really was a terrific restaurant.

To celebrate our engagement, there's free pie for everyone! Enjoy!*

*You actually have to score your own pie.

Update (12/14): Reader Phil White from Cambridge, UK, very kindly brightened up the first photo. What a wonderful gesture! We are both humbled and moved by everyone's kindness. And, look! We can actually see what the French restaurant looks like now! This was a wonderful place, perfect atmosphere, and was discovered entirely by chance (my first choice for a restaurant had closed down). Our entire relationship has been defined by such moments of improvisation.

Thanks again to everyone for your kind support.

Future Boy Conan - Blu-Ray Screenshots

noreply@blogger.com (Daniel Thomas MacInnes) — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 11:33:00 PST

Alright, let's take a look at how the new Future Boy Conan Blu-Ray Memorial Box compares to the standard DVD release. The new high-definition transfer is taken from the original 35mm camera negative, and Bandai have spared no expense in restoring Conan to its original glory. Hayao Miyazaki's 1978 masterpiece has never looked so good.

As always, colors are richer and more luminous in Blu-Ray. Details are sharp and clear, and you can appreciate the artists' brushstrokes (now there's something I sorely miss in animation). What's most striking is how much brighter everything now appears. I hadn't realized how needlessly dark Conan appeared on DVD. I don't think most anime fans realize just how good these classic series truly look. It's going to be a revelation for everyone, and if you're in charge of your local anime club, I highly recommending pooling your money together for the Conan set.

More screenshots will appear after the jump. Update: All six photos are now available. Connection speeds are a little better today, nice! Enjoy the Conan shots!