May 28, 2005 Miyazaki to Attend North American Premiere of "Howl's Moving Castle"
A press release from Disney confirms that director Hayao Miyazaki and producer Toshio Suzuki will attend the June 6 screening in New York. Other expected to attend include Lauren Bacall, Blythe Danner, Jean Simmons, Emily Mortimer, and Gloria Steinem.
May 28, 2005 Additional "Howl" Screening at Berkeley
A 3 PM matinee showing of Howl's Moving Castle on June 9 as been added to the schedule.
Thanks to Laura Deutch for the news.
May 25, 2005 El Capitan Showing Press Release
American Cinematheque and the Walt Disney Co. Present..
MEDIA ALERT
HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE
Thursday, June 9 - 7:00 PM
at the El Capitan Theatre
Los Angeles Premiere! New from Hayao Miyazaki!!
Academy Award(r)-winning director Hayao Miyazaki (SPIRITED AWAY) takes moviegoers on an amazing new animated adventure that celebrates the power of love to transform and the resiliency of the human spirit in the face of adversity. Brimming with a blend of imagination, humor, action, and romance, HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE recently played to great acclaim at the 2004 Venice Film Festival, and has become one of the biggest blockbusters of all time in Japan. The film has already earned more than $200 million at the international box office.
A distinguished cast of actors, under the direction of Pixar's Pete Docter (MONSTERS INC.) and Disney's Rick Dempsey, lend their vocal talents to this English-language version of the film. Sophie (voiced by Emily Mortimer), an average teenage girl working in a hat shop, finds her life thrown into turmoil teenage girl working in a hat shop, finds her life thrown into turmoil when she is literally swept off her feet by a handsome-but-mysterious wizard named Howl (voiced by Christian Bale), and is subsequently turned into a 90-year old woman (voiced by screen legend and two-time Oscar(r) nominee Jean Simmons) by the vain and conniving Wicked Witch of the Waste (voiced by screen legend and Oscar(r) nominee Lauren Bacall). Embarking on an incredible odyssey to lift the curse, she finds refuge in Howl's magical moving castle where she becomes acquainted with Markl, Howl's apprentice, and a hot-headed fire demon named Calcifer (voiced by Billy Crystal). Sophie's love and support comes to have a major impact on Howl, who flies in the face of orders from the palace to become a pawn of war and instead risks his life to help bring peace to the kingdom. Extraordinary characters, inventive imagery, and stunning artistry make this latest masterpiece from the visionary Miyazaki an unforgettable film going experience. (2005, Walt Disney, 119 min.)
The El Capitan Theatre, 6838 Hollywood Blvd.
Special Ticket Price for Cinematheque Members of $19 VIP, $10.50 adults and $7.50 students/seniors for this screening only. Tickets are
available at the El Capitan Box Office by calling 1-800/DISNEY6, or on-line at: www.elcapitantickets.com.
It is anticipated that this event will sell out so buy your tickets early.
May 23, 2005 Win Four "Howl" Tickets in San Francisco
San Francisco ABC affiliate KGO and Disney are running a contest for an advance screening of . The date isn't specified but early June is a good guess.
Thanks to Mia for the news.
May 20, 2005 UK News and "Howl" US Press Screening
The Cat Returns is showing at the British Film Institute on June 25 and 26.
UK-based magazine Firecracker has a review of the film and indicates a release date of May 27.
Anime UK News reports, "Earlier in the week, we posted news about Channel 4 chat-show "Richard and Judy" interviewing a contestant of "Juinor Mastermind" who's chosen quiz subject were the films of Hayao Miyazaki. This specific Junior Mastermind instalment will be broadcast by BBC1 on Friday night at 7pm."
A press screening of the English dub of Howl's Moving Castle took place at the Disney Park Avenue Screening Room in New York on May 19.
Thanks to Richard Coughlan, AJ Jacklin, and Mike Lyon for the news.
May 19, 2005 Updated: Studio Ghibli Films at MoMA + "Howl" Premiere
The Museum of Modern Art in New York is holding a series of screening of many Studio Ghibli films, including the North American Premiere of Howl's Moving Castle on June 6th. The series also include "Hols" and "Heidi."
Monsters and Critics reports that Miyazaki is attending the screening, but the official press release from MoMA says nothing about his appearance. Miyazaki made no media appearance during "Howl's" release in Japan.
May 14, 2005 "Howl" in Sydney
Howl's Moving Castle is the closing film (with an introduction from Toshio Suzuki) for the 52nd Sydney Film Festival, which runs from June 10-25.
Details and ticket information.
Thanks to Widya Santoso for the news.
May 10, 2005 Miyazaki's Next Project
Mr. Suzuki talked on a NHK program the other day. In it, he said that he wants next Miyazaki film to be for grandchildren. He wants the film to be enjoyed by Totoro's audience, small children, and he said that Miyazaki-San agrees with him. It didn't sound as if it was set in a stone, so it is possible that we would see totally different kind of film in the end.
Other interesting tidbits: A part of Ghibli's new short film (rather, music clip for a group called Capsule), "space station No.9" was shown. The artwork is similar to "Portable Airport", which was the music clip for the same group.
Mr. Suzuki showed a file, which contains a collection of letters to investors to make "excuses for exceeding the budget and asking for more money." He showed one of such letters, which was for Mononoke Hime.
He also showed a rough design of Howl's poster (the one with old Sophie walking toward the castle), which was drawn by himself.
When "Only Yesterday" was being made, Mr. Suzuki said to Takahata-San, "You gotta have a guy when you go on a journey." That's how Toshio came into the picture.
May 8, 2005 "Pom Poko" and "Yamadas" R1 DVDs on August 16
Ultimate Disney is reporting that the two Takahata-directed films are scheduled for an August 16 release.
My Neighbors the Yamadas Cast:
Jim Belushi ("Snow Dogs," TV's "According To Jim")
Molly Shannon ("The Santa Clause 2")
Tress MacNeille ("The Lion King 1 1/2")
Daryl Sabara ("The Polar Express," "Spy Kids")
Liliana Mumy (TV's "Higglytown Heroes")
David Ogden Stiers ("Spirited Away," "Lilo and Stitch").
Pom Poko Cast:
Jonathan Taylor Thomas (TV's "Home Improvement")
Clancy Brown ("The Spongebob SquarePants Movie")
J.K. Simmons ("Spider-Man," TV's "Law and Order")
Tress MacNeille ("The Lion King 1 ½")
Olivia D'Abo ("Tarzan & Jane")
Maurice LaMarche ("Kim Possible: So The Drama")
All previous release came in waves of 3 DVDs so it remain to be seen if this trend is ending or if Disney has another DVD annoucement waiting.
Thanks to MajorB and Peter van der Lugt for the news.
May 5, 2005 "Howl" in New York and Seattle
The Village Voice is running a drawing for two free tickets to a June 10 screening of the English version of "Howl's Moving Castle".
On the other coast on the same date Seattle International Film Festival is screening the Japanese version (with English subtitles).
Thanks to Doug Morihara and Daniel Lam for the news.
May 3, 2005 Studio Ghibli Film Festival at Berkeley
The University of California at Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive are screening almost every Studio Ghibli film (including Howl's Moving Castle).
Details here: http://www.bampfa.berkeley.edu/pfa_programs/ghibli/index.html
Thanks to Bob Brackenbury and Jonathan Moy for the news.
May 2, 2005 "Howl" News Bits
Jagged*Team is reporting that a special screening of the film is taking place on June 9 at the El Capitan Theater and will feature a panel discussion but Miyazaki will not be attending.
The British Board of Film Classification has certified the film with a "U" rating (Universal) and lists a release date of September 1, 2005.
Thanks to Paul Spann, Marisa Vitale, and Daniel Zelter for the news.