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, 11:51 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!

Sugar · #5 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 · #6 05-18-2006, 12:10 PM

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

I saw spirited away first, though.

hayley · #7 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 · #8 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 · #9 05-18-2006, 12:35 PM

And here's the cat bus:

Nixxxed · #10 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 · #11 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.

Sugar · #12 05-18-2006, 01:14 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.

That acorn scene is cute! I just love the scene in the rain because it's so beautifully done! So lush and green!

I saw Castle in the Sky when Cartoon Netwook was showing them for a month (I guess all the cable channels are taking their turn!) Actually I fell asleep during part of it, buit I still didn't think it was as good as some of the others. I felt the same way about Nausicaa...it's hard for me to warm up to big bugs!

I've heard of Akira...really one of the classic Animes I think, though I've never seen it. But I dig creepy, so now I'll have to check it out.

I really think Mononoke is my favorite! Again the beautiful forest scenes, the way the nightwalker is animated...and I love Gillian Anderson as Moro the Wolf God. Apparently the character was a man in the first Japanese version, but I think Moro as a woman, taking in the abandoned San, works better.

Sugar · #13 05-18-2006, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nixxxed

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

Thanks for this edit! I've been meaning to see this one. I don't think it's Miyazaki but it is Studio Ghibli (the company that puts these out in Japan). And its sequel, The Cat Returns, IS Miyazaki.

Can you tell I've been doing my research...

Sugar · #14 05-18-2006, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amber

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

I'll still check it out, but like with Mononoke, I'll watch it first to determine if my daughter woul A) be interested in it and B) can handle it. Thanksfor the warning, though!

Quote:

Originally Posted by amber

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.

Truly. It's usually the one I start people out on if they're hanging out at the house. When I first put it on I get polite eye rolls, but usually by the time the Stink Spirit appears people are hooked.

You know Yubaba is Suzanne Pleshette, right? Nice.

Nixxxed · #15 05-18-2006, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amber

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.

You're right - I just re-read Sugar's post, and I wouldn't recommend Akira for a 5 year-old.

But it's more psychologically violent than Mononoke, which has dismemberments in the first 10 minutes and all those awful bloody battle towards the end, so...

But Akira has a good overall message, some redeeming characters, etc. - so it's not like it's violence or terror just for the sake of it. Like you said, Sugar, watch it first before showing it to the kiddies.