January 28, 2008 "Tales from Earthsea" UK DVD Released
The UK DVD of Tales from Earthsea comes in several flavors for the dedicated collector. HMV is offering an additional sleeve while Play.com's version ships with a poster.
Thanks to John Mulholland and museu for the news.
January 26, 2008 Ghibli Asemamire Episode 15, DVD Releases
GhibliWorld brings us an English summary of episode XV of the radio program.
AniMangaWeb is reporting that Aurum will release "Tales from Earthsea" (Cuentos de Terramar) in Spain on March 12. There will be 2 versions: a single disc version (film + sync'd storyboards)
and a two disc versions in a metallic case.
Michel Ocelot's "Azur et Asmar" (released in Japan by Studio Ghibli) will be released in the United Kingdom and Ireland on February 8. More details at the official site.
Thanks to Peter van der Lugt, Damian Vila, and Jordan Scott for the news.
January 23, 2008 "Ponyo" Release Details
According to VARIETY Japan, the release date for "Ponyo" is scheduled for the middle of July. The 19th (Sat) is very likely if production
advances smoothly because the 21st (Mon) is a holiday in Japan.
In an interview with Jyunichi Nishioka (part of the public relations department at Studio Ghibli) on the Ghibli Channel, a lot of information about "Ponyo" will be released after the Tokyo International Anime Fair (Mar 27 to 30). He also mentioned, "I read the completed storyboards until the end and noticed that a terrible secret is hidden in the theme song."
Thanks to T. Ishikawa for the news.
January 18, 2008 Ghibli Screening in LA, "Totoro" Bus Stop
The American Cinematheque at the Aero Theatre presents a Hayao Miyazaki Tribute February 1-2. Nausicaa shows February 1 at 7:00pm, Totoro February 2 at 3:00pm, and Spirited Away the same day at 7:30pm.
Anime News Network reports that a man in Nagasaki installed a "Totoro" statue next to a bus stop. True to the movie scene the statue is holding an umbrella.
Thanks to Daniel Zelter and robo for the news.
January 16, 2008 "Ponyo" Storyboards Complete
According to the January 7 "Ponyo" production diary Miyazaki has completed the storyboards. There are 1,138 cuts.
For comparison:
*Howl's Moving Castle: 1,384 cuts, 119min 11sec, 148,786 animation cells.
*Spirited Away: 1,415 cuts, 124min 35sec, 112,367 animation cells.
*Princess Mononoke: 1,676 cuts, 133min 24sec, 144,034 animation cells.
*Porco Rosso: 1,060 cuts, 93min 18sec, 58,443 animation cells.
*Kiki's Delivery Service: 1,179 cuts, 102min 46sec, 67,317 animaton cells.
*My Neighbor Totoro: 953 cuts, 86min 20sec, 48,743 animation cells.
The December 17 production diary shows a picture of the poster for the Studio Ghibli year-end party. The background looks like a screenshot from "Ponyo".
Thanks to T. Ishikawa for the news.
January 16, 2008 "Spirited Away" on BBC4
The film is scheduled for 26 January at 8pm. It's unknown what language will be used but an earlier showing on BBC2 used the English dub.
Thanks to Tom Maughan for the news.
January 14, 2008 Ghibli Asemamire Episode 15
GhibliWorld presents an English summary of episode XV, this one focused on Porco Rosso.
Thanks to Peter van der Lugt for the news.
January 12, 2008 "Ponyo" Image Album Tracklist, Miyazaki's Nursery
The "Ponyo On A Cliff" Image Album will be released on March 5.
1. Gake no ue no Ponyo (Ponyo on a cliff)
singer : Fujioka Fujimaki and Nozomi Ohashi
2. Sango Tou (A coral tower)
3. Umi no Okasan (Mother of the sea)
4. Imouto-tachi (Younger sisters)
5. Ponyo Kuru (Ponyo comes)
6. Fujimoto no theme (Fujimoto's theme)
singer : Fujioka Fujimaki
7. Hakkou Singou (A flash signal)
8. Ponyo no Komori-uta (A lullaby of Ponyo)
singer : Nozomi Ohashi
9. Hontou no Kimochi (A true feeling)
singer : Fujioka Fujimaki
10. Himawari no Ie no Rinbu-kyoku
(The rondo of the house of the sunflower)
singer : Mai
The Studio Ghibli Museum released Panda Go Panda as part of its Cinema Library.
Reports out of Japan mention a building under construction next to Miyazaki's workshop "Butaya". This is most likely the nursery that Neil Gaiman mentioned in his blog. According to the white signboard for the building permit, the design office's name is "XXXX Institute". Probably, it's "Yamada Architecture Institute".
Yamada Architecture Institute designed Miyazaki's Butaya and Kusaya of the business company MAMMA AIUTO company for the Ghibli museum. Kusaya is a 5 minute walk from museum.
http://members.jcom.home.ne.jp/yamadaar/AI9.htm
http://members.jcom.home.ne.jp/yamadaar/AI2.htm
http://members.jcom.home.ne.jp/yamadaar/AI3.htm
Thanks to T. Ishikawa for the news
January 12, 2008 Miyazaki Interviewed on "Ponyo"
A January 10 interview in the Yomiuri Shimbun is available in English-translated format on GhibliWorld. It covers a bit of the plot and Miyazaki's current work schedule.
Thanks to Ryoko Toyama and Peter van der Lugt for the news.
January 8, 2008 Pixar Storyboard Artist Enrico Casarosa Interviewed
GhibliWorld opens 2008 with an interview with Pixar storyboard artist, Studio Ghibli fan, and occasional MML poster Enrico Casarosa.
Thanks to Peter van der Lugt for the news.