| 1. | (3 posts) | More Grave DVD Info |
| 2. | (3 posts) | Laputa in LA |
| 3. | (2 posts) | Americans and Fear of Dragons |
| 4. | (13 posts) | Studio Ghibli Calendars and Release Schedule |
| 5. | (9 posts) | The Perfect Nausicaa |
We looked at 68 posts by 46 different contributors.
Sorry about the delay! Won't happen again! (fingers crossed). Bought the Totoro Soundbook, a very cool sounding CD.
David Griffiths passed along the "Grave of the Fireflies" DVD info he received from CD Japan:
Artist: Animation
Title: Hotaru no Haka
Price: 3,129yen(US$29.18)
Release Date: December 16
Catalog Number: DL-93142
Coments: DVD edition of one of the classic movies from Studio Ghibli.?97min
Bonus track: Interviews with Director Isao Takahata, Designer Akiyuki Nosaka, and their comments on the making of the film
Original release year: 1988 / One side - Dual Layers / Anamorphic Vista
Sub titles: Japanese, English
Region: 2 / Color?Track 1: Japanese?
Larry Greenfield wondered, "No postings yet on the Laputa screening at the El Capitan? I couldn't go, and am curious to hear an account." D.R. Greenlaw responded, "Subtitled, good print, full house...everybody had a good time."
Paul Mayer gave a detailed account:
The screening was sponsored by Tokyo Pop and the subtitled print came directly from Tokuma (not Disney) according to the AFI program book. Unlike the PM screening last year, there was no live music on the theater's Wurlitzer organ this time, another indication (to me anyway) that Disney didn't have much to do with this screening, other than that they own and maintain the theater. . .
One of my colleagues, a rather sarcastic person who's not "into" animation or film study at all, had an observation that I'd like to share. He had done some background reading in preparation for this screening, and based on that he said he fully expected to enjoy the film. He also said what he wasn't prepared for was to be so thoroughly impressed by the film. Here it is two days later and the guy's still talking about it every time he sees me. . .
A great time was had by all within our group, and I have several new Ghibli converts to talk with here at work!
Yes, everybody sounded like they had a good time at this screening-- a nice *long* applause was given at the end credits. But the theater was not full. Orchestra yes, but I'd say the balcony (where 21 out of my group of 24 was :-) was somewhat less than half full. So there were probably around 500 folks there. . .
Michael Wojcik commented on a section of Andrew Osmond's post last week, "has anyone cited Ursula K. LeGuin's essay on this subject, called something like "Why Americans are Afraid of Dragons"? (It's included in both editions of _The Language of the Night_, a collection of her short non-fiction.) LeGuin has some rather trenchant comments about the "ghettoization" of fantasy, particularly in US popular culture."
Marc Hairston replied, "I urge everyone who is a Miyazaki fan to search out their local library and find a copy of this essay. It's the best piece I've ever read about fantasy literature, and a great rebuttal to every idiot who has asked you "why are you wasting your time watching these kiddie cartoon?"
I have this section from her essay on my website about "The Last Unicorn"
Derek Webster posted a message that spun into different directions, so let's tackle the first part, "I just saw the new Ghibli 2001 calendars today in a store and was pleasantly surprised to see that the image for July on the Studio Ghibli one is from 'Chihiro'. . . does the choice of July for the image pin the release date down to more than just 'Summer 2001'?" A observant point according to Joe Monson:
Possible. If you look back at the release dates for Ghibli films, the release month distribution looks like this:
1984: Sunday, 11 March (2nd Sunday) (not really a Ghibli film, so it doesn't count)
My _guess_ would be July sometime, in keeping with their previous history. I would also venture to guess that it will be either July 14 or 21. I lean toward the 21st. However, this is just pure speculation on my part. ^_^
1986: Saturday, 2 August (1st Saturday)
1988: Saturday, 16 April (2 films) (3rd Saturday)
1989: Saturday, 29 July (5th Saturday)
1991: Saturday, 20 July (3rd Saturday)
1992: Saturday, 18 July (3rd Saturday)
1994: Saturday, 16 July (3rd Saturday)
1995: Saturday, 15 July (3rd Saturday)
1997: Saturday, 12 July (2nd Saturday)
1999: Saturday, 17 July (3rd Saturday)
Alexander Göransson then posted, "Does anyone know how I can get my hands on one of these calendars (cheap)." and the thread lurched into another direction. Derek replied, "To tell the truth, I wasn't that impressed with the big calendars this year. I had the 2000 Totoro calendar and I loved it because it used Miyazaki's sketches and watercolours. . . But the calendars this year just seem to use stills from the films... It looks OK, but I prefer the watercolours as something I want to stick up on my wall and enjoy. The film stills don't look as good to me, divorced from the rest of the movie."
Enrico Casarosa wrote, "Actually all the illustration (in the last 3 or 4 years at least), while made with cells and hand painted backgrounds (in the movies' style), are all new and made FOR the calendars. They are not reproductions of movie stills. . . New illustrations of our favourite characters every year! I love it!"
Stores that were tossed around included:
The calendars are all very good, I highly recommend buying one.
Ravenmoro commented on the thought of Nausicaa as "too-perfect", "I think "too-perfect" is a rather interesting appellation to give Nausicaa giving the manga's themes on the non-existance of a perfect world. Exactly how does one define "perfection" anyway?. . . Nausicaa does not fit into most people's category of "perfection". Besides the fact that she has killed people, she is, as has been noted before, not a good mother. By she destroying Ohma, she killed her own "son". . . perfection is in one's mind, and to say that she is imperfect or perfect is as relative a statement as saying that Nausicaa is beautiful. It all depends on how you look at it."
David Mankins replied:
- a superb swordswoman, at sixteen she's able to defeat one of the champion swordsmen of one of the finest divisions of the Torumekian empire
- is an excellent scientist (her researches into the causes of the fukai, where she's discovered something that has eluded all those centuries of observers, including Yupa).
- has an uncanny and unmatched ability to read and ride the wind
- has powerful, unparalleled in her world, empathic or telepathic abilities with human and animal alike...
- despite being quite young, she's an incredibly charismatic leader.
She may not be perfect, but she's very close to being superhuman. It's not hard to see how a reader might be put off by this...
I had a friend pan the Nausicaa manga because Nausicaa is:
Carmine M. Red replied (to Ravenmoro), "I personally have no problems with "perfect" characters. I don't have problems with complex or flawed ones either. But in today's age of flawed heroes and role reversals, characters like Nausicaa and Ashitaka. . . are actually the exception and not the rule."
and then to David's points, (excellent scientist) - "the key ingredient of that discovery was Nausicaa's not writing off the plants themselves as poisonous. I'm sure that past researchers made that fundamental error in assuming the forest as evil. Also, how many people in those days would research the forest? They have famine, war, to worry about."
(empathic or telepathic abilities) - "asides from being the prophesized one, she is highly sympathetic, which I think is more of a personal attribute than anything that must be attributed to superhuman powers. This must surely enhance her telepathic abilities beyond normal human prowess."
(may not be perfect, but) - "Casual readers may be put off, but if you're "openminded" enough to take in a variety of characters, I believe that you'll appreciate the risks the storytellers take, the story's possibilties as a result in their interactions and the differences between these characters and flawed ones."
David replied, "Don't get me wrong --- I happen to like both Nausicaa the film and Nausicaa the book. . . However, I seem to honor Nausicaa from afar, and I find myself going back to other works more frequently. . . I suppose it comes from different expectations for "art". On the one hand there's a desire to read or watch portrayals that are "realistic" in some sense (the characters are believable, even if their circumstances are fantastic). . . One might ask oneself "What would Nausicaa do?" (or Ashitaka), and take it as a guide. In contrast, one is unlikely to seek moral guidance by asking "What would Shizuku do?".
However, one can still be inspired by what Shizuku *did*.
Noel Vera added, "I'd go with your original instincts and say heroic deeds by heroes is one way of telling a story, heroic deeds by ordinary folks another. . . I'd say Miyazaki did the right choice--making Nausicaa a princess solves some problems (it makes it more believable that she's used to leadership, that she would inherit the charisma and forceful will of her father) where someone who was less royalty or heroic would have to struggle with issues of self-confidence, right to rule, etc."
Albert Sureda posted about the "La princesa Mononoke" (A good dub in his opinion). Scott Ryan spotted "The Real Lupin" page (hilarious!) He also posted info on the "Sherlock Hound" series. Ben "Yakko Hudson Saotome" posted about a radio show on anime - as did Larry Greenfield.
Hopefully, next week's issue won't be late ^_^.