Hayao Miyazaki

Sugar · #1 05-18-2006, 10:41 AM

Well, now that I'm laid up at home for a while after having minor surgery on my foot (I had half a needle embedded in it, WEAR YOUR SLIPPERS, FOLKS!)
I finally decided to start this thread...

This is my family's latest addiction. For those of you who don't know who Miyazaki is, he's a Japanese animator, considered by some to be the Japanese Disney, although that's not a completly accurate comparison. And I really wouldn't consider this stuff to be Anime either. He's truly in a class all his own.

Disney bought the rights to most or all of his films and has been re-releasing them with new American dubs with well-known American actors, under the strict condition that the films not be altered.

The animation is beautiful. Amazing! Most of the themes are environmental, with nature not being so willing to let man walk all over it! Also lots of magic, since Shinto gods and spirits play heavily in a lot of these. His latest, Howl's Moving Castle, is more of a romance/adventure sort of thing.

I watch all the films with my five-year old daughter, and she has taken to "playing Princess Mononoke" or "playing Spirited Away" in the yard with my husband, which is really funny. I keep wondering if she's going to have a hard time in Kindergarten when she want to do the same and she tells the boy that he's going to play "A****aka"!

Anyway, for those of you who know nothing about these films, TRY THEM! Especially if you have kids. These are our favorites:

Spirited Away (#1 grossing film of all time in Japan)

Princess Mononoke (More violent and with disturbing imagry than the others, but what a FABULOUS movie! Watch it first before the kids do just so you know what you're getting into. If you don't have kids, JUST WATCH IT!)

My Neighbor Totoro (Very kid friendly. Family moves to the country, only to find out that there are fuzzy spirits living in the nearby forest. LOVE the cat bus!)

Howl's Moving Castle (I had to watch it a couple times to get my head around the story, but it's very sweet. And the castle animation is AMAZING!

Anyone else love this guy?

jannieC · #2 05-18-2006, 11:20 AM

I've never heard of him, but had to stop and say, OW- I hope you feel better and heal quickly.

hayley · #3 05-18-2006, 11:42 AM

I've never seen them, but I knit a Totoro hat for a friend. So cute!

Sugar · #4 05-18-2006, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hayley

I've never seen them, but I knit a Totoro hat for a friend. So cute!

Totoro is actually the first one we saw. I think it was TCM who had a Miyazaki month a few months back. My husband and I like animation anyway, so we actually wanted to watch it, with my daughter in the background going, "This is bo-ring!" But within 15 minutes she was totally sucked into Totoro!

Did you have a Totoro patch or did you actually knit him into the pattern? I'm amazed at how much Totoro gear there is out there! Go to Ebay and search "Totoro, -DVD"...holy crap!

amber · #5 05-18-2006, 12:10 PM

yeah, I've been pretty into him for a bit.

I saw spirited away first, though.

hayley · #6 05-18-2006, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sugar

Did you have a Totoro patch or did you actually knit him into the pattern? I'm amazed at how much Totoro gear there is out there! Go to Ebay and search "Totoro, -DVD"...holy crap!

I modified this pattern. My digital camera crapped out right before I gifted it so I never took a picture of mine. So cute.

Sugar · #7 05-18-2006, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jannieC

I've never heard of him, but had to stop and say, OW- I hope you feel better and heal quickly.

Thanks! I'm actually feeling pretty good. Just amazing that my "splinter" became such a big fat hairy deal!

And now that you HAVE heard of him, try one of the movies! They are so different and original, not the same freaking retreads that Disney keeps trotting out over and over.

Another cool thing is that almost all his movies feature strong young girl lead characters. Wonderful for my little girl to watch!

Serrart · #8 05-18-2006, 04:22 PM

I'm a huge Miyazaki fan, both for his series and movies, they're contant souce of deep feelings for me. One of the best things in Venice was to get his autograph. I'm really happy he' s starting a new film.

Romy

Sugar · #9 05-18-2006, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Serrart

I'm a huge Miyazaki fan, both for his series and movies, they're contant souce of deep feelings for me. One of the best things in Venice was to get his autograph. I'm really happy he' s starting a new film.

Romy

Wow, how was he in person?

New film? I've not heard this. Do you know any details?

Serrart · #10 05-18-2006, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sugar

Wow, how was he in person?

New film? I've not heard this. Do you know any details?

He's very witty, humble self ironic, and kind. About the new movie, nobody knows much yet. He just said in an interview with a Japanese TV a couple of weeks ago that he's starting to work on a new movie but he didn't want to say more.

About Akira it's from the other genius of Japanese animation, Katsuhiro Otomo. I wouldn't say it's family friendly, but after the first violent impact it shows how deep and nuanced it is. Otomo's latest movie Steamboy (2004) is very beautiful too. It's a mesmerizing ode against every war set at the start of 1900. Here's a very nice video from Youtube made by frankieh27229 with the movie images:

Romy

Sugar · #11 05-18-2006, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Serrart

He's very witty, humble self ironic, and kind. About the new movie, nobody knows much yet. He just said in an interview with a Japanese TV a couple of weeks ago that he's starting to work on a new movie but he didn't want to say more.

Romy

That's great that he was so affable in person. And yeah I was just looking on Google that he wouldn't say much about his new work. BUT THERE IS NEW WORK!!! That makes my day!

Sugar · #12 05-18-2006, 12:30 PM

Oh man, that is cute!

And for the rest of you here is Totoro from my favorite scene in the movie (he's the big furry one).

Sugar · #13 05-18-2006, 12:35 PM

And here's the cat bus:

Nixxxed · #14 05-18-2006, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sugar

Oh man, that is cute!

And for the rest of you here is Totoro from my favorite scene in the movie (he's the big furry one).

That's my favorite scene too, plus the scene where they're dancing around the seed patch trying to make the acorns grow.

I stumbled into these as well. I watch every one I can get my hands on. Turner Classic Movies (TCM) has been showing them on Fridays at 1:00 AM central time. They showed Princess Mononoke last week, and Castle in the Sky the week before (have you seen that one?). I haven't checked this week's schedule yet, but I can't wait.

EDIT: http://www.turnerclassicmovies.com/t...ticleId=133235 This week it's Whisper of the Heart. And looks like this is the last one!

Another good one, not sure if it's Miyazaki or not, is Akira. It's more PG-13 like Mononoke, but still pretty family-friendly. And a great creepy story and visuals.

amber · #15 05-18-2006, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nixxxed

That's my favorite scene too, plus the scene where they're dancing around the seed patch trying to make the acorns grow.

I stumbled into these as well. I watch every one I can get my hands on. American Movie Classics (AMC) has been showing them on Fridays at midnight central time. They showed Princess Mononoke last week, and Castle in the Sky the week before (have you seen that one?). I haven't checked this week's schedule yet, but I can't wait.

Another good one, not sure if it's Miyazaki or not, is Akira. It's more PG-13 like Mononoke, but still pretty family-friendly. And a great creepy story and visuals.

Wait - Akira isn't family friendly! It's pretty violent. Don't you think? I remember feeling a bit squeamy at some parts.

Have you seen Spirited Away yet? Oh, man. The dragon/water visuals at the end...*the whole thing, really* Mesmerizing. It's all perfectly creepy, and beautiful.