August 2005

August 31, 2005 [New!] Pre-Ghibil Films Coming to DVD
AnimeonDVD.com is reporting:

---
According to some information received by the folks at Discotek Media, they're plans are getting firmed up for bringing over a number of live action Japanese movies as well as several anime films... "We're going to be putting out the classic anime films Animal Treasure Island (key animation by Miyazaki), Puss 'n Boots (key animation by Miyazaki), and Taro the Dragon Boy. They all will have the original Japanese language, anamorphic widescreen and the English dub."
---

Thanks to Daniel Zelter and Adam Zalonis for the news.

August 26, 2005 Studio Ghibli Shorts on DVD
A R2 DVD which contains various shorts film by Studio Ghibli will be released this fall in Japan. The exact date has not been decided.

"Ghibli ga Ippai Special Short Short" will include:

On Your Mark
Sorairo no Tane
Portable Airport
Space Station No.5
Various commercials

The short films for Studio Ghibli Museum are not included.

August 18, 2005 Mid-August News Roundup
According to the hollywoodreporter.com (full story requires registration) Howl's Moving Castle will receive the "Hollywood Animation of the Year Award" at the Hollywood Fest.

In other Howl news the film is scheduled for release in Russia on August 27 (poster) and Italy on September 9. More release date can be found in the FAQ. The UK premiere takes place on September 2 (sold old) as part of the New Japanese Cinema series at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts.

Nausicaa and The Cat Returns receive a DVD release in the UK on September 26 courtesy of Optimum Home Entertainment. Optimum is also releasing Hols, Prince of the Sun (first DVD with English subs) and Castle of Cagliostro on October 17.

On the recent "Discovery" shuttle mission the My Neighbor Totoro theme song "Sampo" (Stroll) was used during a wake-up call. It was sung by astronaut Soichi Noguchi's two daughters and classmates at the Houston Japanese Language School. An MP3 of the song is available.

Thanks to Valery Korneev, Simone Fabretti, Dominic Holloway, Jeremy Barraud, Darren Tombling, Peter van der Lugt, Egan Loo, and Daniel Zelter for the news.

August 16, 2005 "My Neighbors the Yamadas" and "Pom Poko" R1 DVDs Released Today
Today marks the release of two Isao Takahata films to R1 DVD, My Neighbors the Yamadas and Pom Poko.

Disney has also put together a new Flash page highlighting their entire Studio Ghibli DVD collection. A trailer at the site mentions that Howl's Moving Castle is scheduled for a spring 2006 release along with My Neighbors Totoro.

Thanks to Canon Pence, William Raymer, and Daniel Zelter for the news.