July 29, 2004 "Howl's Moving Castle" at the Venice Film Festival, Official Release Date Announced
The film is listed on the official festival website (in English). The festival begins September 1.
According to the Yomiuri Newspaper (in Japanese), the release date of the film is November 20.
Thanks to Stefania and Ivan Pintori for the news.
July 21, 2004 "Howl's Moving Castle" Exhibition Report
NTV aired a report of the Howl exhibition at Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi department store, which shows the models of the castle and the characters.
It shows the designs of new characters, such as Lettie, Michael (for some reason, he is now called MARUKURU, instead of MAIKERU), Calcifer, Madam Salliman (sp?), and Rubbermen.
It also shows the almost life-size figure of the moving legs of the castle.
Although they are figure models, not the actual design for the film, one can get a general idea about how they look like.
July 20, 2004 DVD Box set (in Hong Kong)
IVL is releasing a DVD box set (limited to 2000 sets) on July 20. It contains all 11 films released by IVL (interestly, My Neighbors the Yamadas was never released in Hong Kong).
Details and photos from DVDTimes or YesAsia (pre-order now for only 280 USD).
Thanks to Igor Skochinsky and Joost Backaert for the news.
July 15, 2004 "Howl's Moving Castle" Official Website Active
The official web site for Howl's Moving Castle has just opened. Content is still rather sparse. The Japanese lines in the first page of the site is, "The heroine is a 90 years old girl. Her lover is a wimpy wizard. Howl's Moving Castle, where the two lived."
Also, a new trailer for the film will start showing in Toho theaters in Japan on July 31. This new trailer will feature Sophie, the heroine, and the Witch of the Waste. The new trailer is likely to be shown with the new Otomo film, "Steam Boy."
Advance ticket sales start July 17th. Although Toho hasn't officially announced the release date yet, some of the magazine articles have Nov. 20th as the release date. Since House Food is offering special preview screenings for their customers until Nov. 14th, the date seems very plausible.
Source: Yomiuri online Studio Ghibli News Page.
July 12, 2004 "Porco Rosso" in Montreal
The English dub of Porco Rosso is playing at the 2004 Fantasia Film Festival in Montreal July 31 and August 1. Details for this and other festivals this year can be found on our 2004 Film Festivals page.
Thanks to Sebastien Denault and Maxime Cloutier for the reminders.
July 5, 2004 News Roundup
A collection of items we've received over the past few months, apologies to the senders for the delay.
Feureau sent word of new Nausicaa model kits from Bandai unveiled at the 2004 Shizuoka Hobby Show in Japan:
July 5, 2004 Miyazaki Expos Around the World
Miyazaki-Moebius Expo takes place in France from 15 November 2004 to 9 March 2005. Website (in French).
Translation by Karl Loeffler (thanks!)
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Two major artists unveil their collection of personal drawings to the world for the first time.
Moebius and Miyazaki well soon come together to exhibit more than 300 works.
Traditionally, artists have trained themselves by travelling; the free exchange of ideas has always been an important creative resource. Moebius is French, Hayao Miyazaki is Japanese. These two world-builders each have their own field of expression, and their highly individual visions have influenced animation and comic book artists the world over. The path they have beaten for future generations is clear.
Two cultures, two styles, one soul.
Although separated by thousands of kilometers and radically different cultures, the artists mutually discovered each other’s works before even meeting. Their two bodies of work, although quite different in reality, have each evolved from a common spirit. Both Moebius and Miyazaki push the boundaries of story, character, art, and the technical aspects of animation.
An exhibit that can be read at many levels and that will enchant young and old alike.
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Incidently, Moebius' daughter is named Nausicaa.
A children's pavilion at Expo 2005 Aichi (25 March 2005 to 25 November 2005) modeled after Satsuki and Mei's house from My Neighbor Totoro will be designed by Miyazaki. This is noted of all places in a tender FAQ webpage at the Australian Government's Department of Foreign Affairs website. The tender is for Australian companies to compete for contracts at the Expo.
"Howl's Moving Castle Exhibition"
At 7th floor of Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Department Store
July 21 - August 1
Adult 500yen, High school and junior high students, 300yen, kids free.
Exhibiting the model of the castle and others.
"The Entire Picture of Japanese Cartoon Films: From Its Beginning to Spirited Away, And...."
At Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo
July 15-August 31 (Closed on Monday, expect July 19. Closed also on July 20)
Adult 1000 yen, High and junior-high students 800yen, elementary school students 500yen, preschool kids free.
Exhibition supervised by Yasuo OTSUKA.
Overviewing the history of Japanese animation, from short films in the beginning to Toei films such as Hols, to TMS films such as Cagliostro, to Ghibli films such as Spirited Away. Studio Ghibli films and Toei classics will be screened at the theater in the museum every weekend. Also features a Fiat 500, the car driven by Lupin in Cagliostro.
Thanks to Nicolas Gauthier, Widya Santoso, and Ryoko Toyama for the news.
July 1, 2004 Miyazaki Film Festivals in Australia
A number of Miyazaki-directed films are traveling the country this summer and the fun starts this weekend in Sydney at the Valhalla and Chauvel cinemas. Complete details are availiable at the Madman site or the 2004 Film Festivals page.
A preview of the Sydney screenings by the Sydney Morning Herald Online.
Several Takahata films are making the rounds later this summer in Australia, keep an eye on the Madman site for more information.
Thanks to Tim Hill, Rafael Villadiego, Chris Kuan, and Widya Santoso for the news.
