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San Francisco, 6:07 AM
Tue Dec 1
26 posts in the last 24 hours
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09/10/09
09/08/09
I also recommend the book of Howl's Moving Castle and its sequel: Castle in the Air. I did hear of a second sequel coming out but I have yet to read it or even see it.
09/08/09
09/07/09
09/07/09
The one thing I absolutely adore about Oshii is how modernist and self-reflexive many of his structures are with regard to various levels of reality. My favorite of his films is one of his earliest, URUSEI YATSURA 2, where the characters come to the conclusion that their lives are nothing more than repeated fiction as someone's idealized dream (later remade as one of his live action films as well). He takes this to another level with the GItS films (and their live action counterpart, AVALON).
Every so often you hear of some bad blood between Miyazaki and Oshii. And this is just hearsay, but apparently Miyazaki shits on Oshii films for too dry and cerebral, and Oshii shits on Miyazaki for how poorly Miyazaki treats his animators.
09/08/09
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09/07/09
post-post-apocalyptic.
This isnt humans after a disaster, its humans LONG after a disaster, which to me is different enough to be a separate genre.
09/07/09
09/07/09
Mononoke is probably superior in terms of depth of storytelling, but Howl's wins in terms of overall experience.
09/08/09
I also agree "Mononoke" is a deeper, better-built story.
09/06/09
09/07/09
I read them all myself recently;
[www.rateoholic.co.uk]
09/07/09
[www.mangafox.com]
09/08/09
09/06/09
Personally I experienced these 'genre-mashups' through JRPGs first. Stuff like Final Fantasy, Secret of Mana and Wild Arms. Before that I'd always pictured fantasy as being medieval and that's it. Logically fantasy would work in pretty much ANY setting.
09/06/09
Some thoughts on the films (omitting those I don't feel strongly about)...
Nausicaa: One of the two films that shows Miyazaki's vision in its purest form, meditating on the beauty of nature, the horrors of war and the wonders of flight. Also one of his best.
Castle in the Sky: Probably his best and my second favorite. The other film to exemplify his purest vision. Only in a Miyazaki film could the mythic World Tree emerge from a Steampunk pot and fly into orbit.
My Neighbour Totoro: My favorite Miyazaki film for its simple depth. There is no villain but there is drama wrapped in a charming and timely environmental ethos. I have a Totoro plushie. My angry, stompy, Rivethead friends were creeped out by the Catbus.
Porco Rosso: Miyazaki's ode to flight, pulling copiously from his own childhood under the roof of an airplane builder. Lovely in its own way.
Princess Mononoke: See my comments below. Liked the completely different but identically-titled illustrated children's book he made more.
Spirited Away: Sumptuous Japanese atmosphere but otherwise didn't leave a big impression on me. Except that I did like the statement in the stink-monster.
Ponyo: Very cute, somewhere between Totoro and Mononoke. Devonian ocean life a plus for this fossil nerd. HAM!
I think people are doing themselves an injustice if they don't explore the rest of the Ghibli canon as well...
Grave of the Fireflies: One of the best WWII movies ever made and a heartrendingly potent story of the civilian experience in wartime.
Pom Poko: A silly and cartoony movie with a sensitive portrayal of environmental issues. The movie was made not long after that actual suburban development was finished. Also a fascinating clinic in Japanese culture and mythology.
Whisper of the Heart: Another charming, coming-of-age story. Interestingly takes place in the finished development featured in Pom Poko.
My Neighbours the Yamadas: A too-funny slice of Japanese family life with a very interesting visual style.
Iblard Jikan: A stunning, STUNNING short film showcasing a beautful world where nature, technology and aesthetics integrate so perfectly. Want to live there.
09/06/09
09/07/09
09/06/09
- The manga version of Nausicaa (what a disappointing hurried ending for such an epic story). And couldn't stand the unwatchable anime version of Nausicaa.
- Future boy Conan the TV series.
- Totoro, Howl's moving castle, and Spirited away (think his best works)
- Princess Mononoke (a bit long winded)
- Porco Rosso
Didn't enjoy much on other anime works from the studio.
I also felt a lot of his anime works need a good editor and trimmed most of his works by 15~45 minutes.
I am looking forward to see Ponyo, but decided to wait for the DVD (don't know what good is BD version of anime...).
09/07/09
Did you watch the horrible us warriors-of-the-wind cut then?
09/06/09
Forget "See also: Finding Nemo, The Little Mermaid" Ponyo more childlike wonder, and a more magical, strange oceanscape than either of those crummy old movies.
But seriously, go see it. The way the water is animated is nuts. It's almost gelatinous, like it's saturated with fecund magicousity. And the kids are so cute. And the sea has CRAZY DEVONIAN SEA ANIMALS IN IT!
09/06/09
09/06/09
09/07/09
Ah well, still a beautiful film. And a great score.
09/07/09
09/06/09
Can anybody recommend other miyazaki films that haven't been listed here?
09/06/09
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09/07/09
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09/07/09
Plus, it's damn entertaining. One of the first anime I saw, back when it was still called "Japanimation".
09/07/09
09/08/09