May 30, 2006 Second "Tales from Earthsea" Poster Released
Ghibli World has a scan of the second poster that was recently released in Japanese theaters. Of note is the addition of two florescent colors to the poster. While we haven't seen it in person it probably makes for an interesting view under a black light. We're also interested in adding a higher resolution image to the Posters Around the World page, please contact us if you can contribute to the cause.
Thanks to Peter van der Lugt for the news.
May 26, 2006 Takahata, "Tales of Earthsea" Soundtrack Updates
Anime News Service reports that Chosun Illbo has pictures of Takahata's Korea trip.
In the latest blog entry of director Goro Miyazaki he mentions that Spanish piper Carlos Nunez is featured on the Tales from Earthsea soundtrack. Nunez is currently in Japan for a concert.
Thanks to T. Ishikawa and Daniel Zelter for the news.
May 24, 2006 Second Interview Translation, Aardman at the Ghibli Museum
Ghibli World has an English translation of the second interview from the Lawson site.
The latest exhibition at the Studio Ghibli Museum features the works of claymation experts Aardman Animations. Hayao Miyazaki, Peter Lord, and David Sproxton attended a press conference held at the museum.
Thanks to Peter van der Lugt and T. Ishikawa for the news.
May 23, 2006 Animation Complete on "Tales from Earthsea"
The May 23 Production Diary announced the completion of animation on the film.
History of production:
Sep 06, 2005: animation production began
Jan 20, 2006: 149 cuts (12%)
Jan 27: 180 cuts (15%)
Feb 03: 230 cuts (19%)
Feb 17: 326 cuts (26%)
Mar 03: 422 cuts (34%)
Mar 10: 481 cuts (39%)
Mar 17: 517 cuts (42%)
Mar 30: 687 cuts (55%)
Apr 7 : 776 cuts (63%)
Apr 17: 844 cuts (68%)
Apr 25: 935 cuts (76%)
May 1 : 997 cuts (81%)
May 8 : 1,056 cuts (85%)
May 15: 1,176 cuts (95%)
May 23: 1,236 cuts (100%)
Animation production length:
Tales from Earthsea: 8 months and 17 days
Howl's Moving Castle: 17 months and 6 days (2/1/2003-7/7/2004)
Spirited Away: 16 months and 26 days (2/1/2000-6/27/2001)
Thanks to T. Ishikawa for the news.
May 19, 2006 "Grave of the Fireflies" Screening in London
Studio Ghibli's Grave of the Fireflies film will be screening in The UCL Bloomsbury Theatre in London, UK. The event is organised by the joint-collaboration of anime societies from the following university unions: UCL Union, Imperial College Union, The Royal Holloway Students' Union and SOAS Union.
Date: 10 June 2006
Time: 3:00 PM
Tickets: 7.50, concessions 5.50
Location: The UCL Bloomsbury Theatre
Poster image: http://www.animesoc.uclu.org/gofposter.jpg [645 kb]
More details at: http://www.animesoc.uclu.org/grave
Thanks to Kamila Hussien for the news.
May 15, 2006 "Tales from Earthsea" Production Close to Finishing
The May 15 production diary reports the latest progress:
Key animation: completed
Key animation check: completed
Animation: 1,233 (99.8%) cuts
Animation check: 1,223 (98.9%) cuts
Background painting: completed
Effects: 1,191 (96.4%) cuts
Sound production continues until next month. A final release date has yet to be announced.
The second trailer is now available at the official site.
Thanks to T. Ishikawa for the news.
May 12, 2006 Takahata to Visit South Korea
Anime News Service is reporting that Takahata is expected to visit in part to support the "Takahata Isao Kantoku Ten" exhibit at the 2006 Seoul International Cartoon Animation Festival. His three day trip starts May 24 and will be crammed with many activities.
Thanks to Daniel Zelter for the news.
May 12, 2006 Updated: "Tales from Earthsea" Soundtracks and Runtime
The 10 track Image Album is scheduled for release on July 12 alongside the soundtrack CD. The soundtrack (TKGA-503) contains 30 songs and is a SACD hybrid which can be played in normal CD players.
A new special feature column "How Gedo Senki is born." has began in the production diary:
http://www.ghibli.jp/ged_01/30special/
May 8: - A prologue -
This column describes "preproduction", "production", and "postproduction" via a production flow chart:
http://www.ghibli.jp/ged_01/30special/000513.html#more
May 11: - Ekonte (storyboard), Character, Artboard (vol.1) -
This column explains what is Ekonte and how it is used for production. The storyboards feature found on many Ghibli DVDs is the ekonte attached to the normal audio track.
It's also mentioned that the running time of Gedo Senki is about 110 minutes.
The average of 1 cut of the Ghibli film is about 5 seconds. 110 minutes is 6,600 seconds. Gedo Senki has 1,236 cuts. The average of 1 cut of Gedo Senki is a little over 5 seconds.
http://www.ghibli.jp/ged_01/30special/000521.html#more
Ghibli World has translations and additional information of the above.
Thanks to T.Ishikawa and Peter van der Lugt for the news.
May 7, 2006 Asahi Soft Drinks and "Tales from Earthsea" Promotions
Studio Ghibli and Asahi Soft Drinks announced today that Aoi Teshima appears and sings "Therru's song" in TV spots for "Gedo Senki" (Tales from Earthsea) starting from today.
According to Studio Ghibli, she was to premiere in July, but so many inquiries formed after the trailers aired they rushed through production. This TV spot premiered on NTV's "Zoom In Super" on May 8. According to Sports Hochi (a newspaper), she loves Porco Rosso, Louis Armstrong, Fred Astaire and Billie Holiday.
Asahi Soft Drinks TV spots:
http://www.asahiinryo.co.jp/gedo/cm.html
Aoi Teshima's official website:
http://www.teshimaaoi.com/
Video clips and translations available at Ghibli World.
Thanks to T. Ishikawa and Peter van der Lugt for the news.
May 5, 2006 Miyazaki's Next Film Not Really Revealed
T. Ishikawa notes, "Though he told about next film a bit, it was very abstract. He told about his mental attitude for next film. Sumi Shimamoto (voice actress for Nausicaa) did the narrator of this program."
From the Interesting Date department:
Spirited Away was announced on December 13, 1999.
The Cat Returns was announced on December 13, 2001.
Howl's Moving Castle was announced on December 13, 2002.
Tales from Earthsea was announced on December 13, 2005.
Toho (distributer of the films) holds their annual film announcement conference in December.
May 2, 2006 Hayao Miyazaki's Next Film To Be Revealed on May 5
According to TBS's program schedule for May 5, the title of a 15 minute interview with Miyazaki on the NEWS23 program (23:30-24:35) is, "Hayao Miyazaki talks about 'Japanese children' on Children's Day... and his next film."
In Japan, May 5 is a holiday known as Children's Day.
Studio Ghibli says, "NEWS23 of May 5 is unmissable. Please see it. We'll wait for your impression."
Thanks to T. Ishikawa for the news.
May 2, 2006 "Totoro" Popularity Deep-Rooted, "Heidi" Stamps To Be Released
Oricon charts announced the result of their "Top DVDs I want a child to see" survey:
Overall Rankings
1st: Totoro
7th: Grave of the Fireflies
9th: Nausicaa
Mother's
1st: Totoro
10th: Nausicaa
Father's
2nd: Totoro
6th: Grave of the Fireflies
8th: Nausicaa
10th: Kiki's Delivery Service
The "Totoro" DVD has been ranked in the Oricon charts for the last 200 weeks.
Anime News Service reports that series of stamps based on "Heidi: Girl of the Alps" has been commissioned by the Japan Post. A sheet of 10 stamps costs 3150 yen.
Thanks to T. Ishikawa and Daniel Zelter for the news.
May 1, 2006 "Tales from Eathsea" Production Nearly Complete
According to the May 1 production diary, 997 of 1,236 (80.7%) cuts of "Gedo Senki" were completed.
Details of production situation:
Key animation: 1,233 (99.8%) cuts completed.
Animation: 1,121 (90.7%) cuts
Background paintings: 1,221 (98.8%) cuts
Key animation and background painting production are completed this week. "Gedo Senki" production staff who finished their work take the vacation before starting the next project.
Gedo Senki production situation is shown to the staff with a line graph:
http://www.ghibli.jp/ged_01/images/20060414_schedule.jpg
LAWSON Gedo Senki special site opens:
http://www.lawson.co.jp/loppi/pick_up/ged/index.html
Goro Miyazaki interview:
http://www.lawson.co.jp/loppi/pick_up/ged/interview.html
Ghibli World has a partial English translation of a newspaper interview with Hayao Miyazaki and a "Ghibli in Concert" video clip that features three theme songs sung by the original vocalists.
Thanks to T. Ishikawa and Peter van der Lugt for the news.
