2009-12-News

Arrietty Theme Song Preview

Toshio Suzuki's radio program podcast features the Arrietty theme song, it begins at the 19:10 mark.

Thanks to T. Ishikawa for the news.

--LLin 17:59, 26 December 2009 (UTC)

"Spirited Away" on Australian TV Christmas Day

SBS is broadcasting Spirited Away (English dub) on Christmas day at 9:45pm.

Thanks to Widya Santoso for the news.

--LLin 02:46, 23 December 2009 (UTC)

Miyazaki Meets Kurosawa

The 1993 talk/interview between Hayao Miyazaki and Akira Kurosawa is available in 10 sections on YouTube. Originally broadcast on NTV an edited version appeared on a Sherlock Hound DVD and viewers lacking Japanese language skills can follow along with an English transcript. The program begins at the 2:05 mark with the actual talk starting at 6:58.

When Kurosawa's daughter Kazuko Kurosawa appeared on Toshio Suzuki's radio program, she said that My Neighbor Totoro was Akira Kurosawa's favorite Miyazaki film and that he cried during Kiki's Delivery Service. Suzuki said, "I remember that Miya-san talked while being tense like a student" and "Kurosawa-san was a very excellent person. How to talk. Content of talk. Behavior. I think please Miya-san become excellent person." (laughs)

Thanks to T. Ishikawa for the news.

--LLin 19:33, 21 December 2009 (UTC)

Arrietty Music, Other Details

• Cécile Corbel's official site now mentions her involvement with the film.

• According to Toshio Suzuki, Miyazaki wrote the project paper and the script for Arrietty then asked Suzuki "Who directs it?" Suzuki answered, "Maro" (Hiromasa Yonebayashi's nickname) immediately. Miyazaki was surprised and asked "Why?" It was a snap decision at the time as Suzuki recalls, "I had not spoken with Maro about being the director. I said his name as the question was asked Miya-san." They called Yonebayashi to the Miyazaki's sub-studio (Nibariki) and Miyazaki said, "You do the direction!" Yonebayashi was stunned, but he accepted after a few minutes. Yonebayashi decided to do the storyboards work without Miyazaki's assistance and when informed Miyazaki replied, "You are right, You are a man!" However, Miyazaki is very much interested in the film, and Suzuki worries about when Miyazaki will break into the project.

• The original setting of the book is the UK in the 1950s, for the film it's been changed to the present-day Koganei neighborhood (where Studio Ghibli is based).

Thanks to T. Ishikawa for the news.

--LLin 04:00, 18 December 2009 (UTC)

First details "Karigurashi no Arrietty" press conference

The first details of yesterday's press conference have been posted over here. More to follow later this day.

Toshio Suzuki announced that Miyazaki has already completed the script. Miyazaki always begins production before the script is completed because Miyazaki believes, "There's no thrill in making a film while knowing the ending of the story. However, with a young director the script must be prepared before production begins."

Thanks to Kajino p and T. Ishikawa for the news.

--LLin 14:56, 17 December 2009 (UTC)

Ghibli's Next Film "Karigurashi no Arrietty" Announced

[[Image:Arrietty_poster_JapanA.jpg(->)]]

Today Studio Ghibli made the official announcement of their new full length feature film titled Karigurashi no Arrietty. The film will be an adaptation of Mary Norton's The Borrowers novel and, as hinted earlier on GhibliWorld, will be directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi. More details at GhibliWorld.com

• Title: Karigurashi no Arrieety
• Original: "The Borrowers" by Mary Norton
• Project: Hayao Miyazaki
• Theme Song: Cecile Corbel, "Arrieety's Song" - To be released on December 19
• Production Committee: Studio Ghibli, Nippon Television (NTV), Dentsu, Hakuhodo, Disney, Mitsubishi Corporation,Toho, Wild Bunch
• Distributor: Toho
• Estimated runtime: 80 minutes

Hiromasa Yonebayashi is 36 years old and an animator at Studio Ghibli. He was chief animator of Miyazaki's short film "Imaginary Flying Machines" and an animation director on Mei and the Kittenbus in 2002. Miyazaki does not usually have an animation director in his feature films. Yonebayashi appeared in NHK's documentary program about Spirited Away.

Toshio Suzuki's radio program Ghibli Asemamire will release the press conference in podcast format tomorrow.

Thanks to Kajino p and T. Ishikawa for the news.

--LLin 14:59, 16 December 2009 (UTC)

Ghibli's Next Film To Be Announced December 16

On his radio show Toshio Suzuki mentioned that Ghibli's next film will be announced December 16 and that Miyazaki is creating a TV commercial film now. Studio Ghibli's distributer Toho will also announce it's 2010 film lineup the 16th.

Suzuki's most recent radio interviewee was Eiichiro Oda, author of "One Piece". He said, "I've watched How Princess Mononoke Was Born the most out of the Ghibli films, even though it's not a film. I always get a very much renewed spirit from it, such great people doing their best so often. It was a shock for me. The most interesting scene is the fax exchanges between Suzuki-san and Itoi-san. Because I'm the Executive Producer in the latest film, I've rejected faxes in the style of that scene. (laughs)"

Thanks to T. Ishikawa for the news.

--LLin 17:29, 9 December 2009 (UTC)

Ponyo DVD/BD Specs, DVD Re-releases

• The site Formerly Known as AnimeOnDVD links to a press release from DVD Times that lists a March 2 release date for Ponyo and some of the bonus features. Amazon.com is taking pre-orders for the DVD and BD.

• New DVD editions of Castle in the Sky, Kiki's Delivery Service, and My Neighbor Totoro will also be released on March 2.

Thanks to Daniel Zelter for the news.

--LLin 01:57, 8 December 2009 (UTC)

Spirited Away (Subbed) Midnight Screening

The Fairfax Cinema in Los Angeles is screening the Japanese dub/English sub version of Spirited Away midnight this Friday, December 4.

Thanks to Daniel Zelter for the news.

--LLin 04:11, 4 December 2009 (UTC)

Ponyo and the Annies

Ponyo was not nominated for the Best Animated Feature Annie Award but Hayao Miyazaki and Joe Hisaishi are nominated in the "Directing in a Feature Production" and "Music in a Feature Production" categories. The other four directors competing are:

• Wes Anderson, "Fantastic Mr. Fox"
• Pete Docter, "Up"
• Christopher Miller, Phil Lord, "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs"
• Henry Selick, "Coraline"

Hisaishi goes against three other composers:

• Bruno Coulais, "Coraline"
• Michael Giacchino, "Up"
• John Powell, "Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs"

Complete nomination list

Thanks to William Raymer and Daniel Zelter for the news.

--LLin 11:22, 1 December 2009 (UTC)