2011-07-News
Princess Mononoke US Rights, Arrietty English VA Interview
- AnimeNews.biz reports that the rights to Princess Mononoke are no longer held by Disney, Miramax, or Miramax's former distributor Echo Bridge. The bit about Neil Gaiman's adaptation isn't quite correct but the film's unknown US status is the main thrust of the article
- Don't Panic has an interview with Saoirse Ronan who voices Arrietty in the English dub. The film opens in the UK on August 5.
- In related UK news the Tyneside Cinema is running a slate of Studio Ghibli films every weekend through August 20.
Thanks to Daniel Zelter, James Read, and John Blackburne for the news.
--LLin 05:30, 27 July 2011 (UTC)
Kokuriko-zaka Impressions
91% rated the film Good. It was released on 457 screens while the last Harry Potter is on 922 screens.
- Cried : 50%
- Moving : 22%
- Nervous : 12%
- Amazing : 16%
Review (in English) from the Daily Yomiuri Online.
- Making of clip
- 1:10 This is not the inside of Studio Ghibli, it's a different office somewhere.
- 1:20 Aftershock hit Ghibli
- 1:31 Rolling blackouts in Tokyo
- 1:50 Emergency meeting
- 2:13 24-hour production had begun because rolling blackouts were carried out in the daytime.
- 2:25 CG and digital painting staff begin the work at 8:00 p.m.
- 2:50 Final film check by main staff members at the beginning of June. Staff members say to Goro "Otsukaresamadeshita" (Cheers for good work).
- 3:30 Staff member visited Ofunato Higashi High School, Iwate prefecture and held a Kokuriko-zaka preview for the victims.
- 3:34 The principal thanks to Goro.
A walking tour of locations in Kokuriko-zaka and details on croquettes which is an important food in the film.
Thanks to T. Ishikawa for the news.
--LLin 03:40, 20 July 2011 (UTC)
Another Kokuriko-zaka CM, Lupin on DVD, New Museum Short
- Kokuriko-zaka CM (Yuriko Ishida voice version)
Translation:
Miki Hokuto (Yuriko Ishida): That's a ship passing frequently. It seems to return an answer when Meru raises a flag.
Narration (Sachiko Kagami): Ue wo muite arukou (I look up when I walk), Kokuriko-zaka Kara
Meru is Umi's nickname. Umi means Sea in Japanese and Sea is Mer in French.
- Discotek is releasing the first Lupin TV series during the spring of 2012. Miyazaki and Takahata co-directed episodes 7 to 23.
- Treasure Hunting is the latest short film screening at the Studio Ghibli Museum. Used as training for young animators it clocks in at 8:40 and features music by Michiru.
- The current exhibition at the museum is The View from the Cat Bus which features the background paintings of several Ghibli films.
Thanks to T. Ishikawa and Daniel Zelter for the news.
--LLin 02:56, 15 July 2011 (UTC)
Kokuriko-zaka CM and Exhibition, Arrietty
- Kokuriko-zaka Kara TV CM (non-KDDI campaign version) featuring Keiko Takeshita, a Yuriko Ishida version is also in the rotation.
Translation:
Hana Matsuzaki (Keiko Takeshita): I wish you'll find a wonderful person and you don't have to rise a flag.
Narration (Sachiko Kagami): Ue wo muite arukou (I look up when I walk), Kokuriko-zaka Kara
- Studio Ghibli is holding a Kokuriko-zaka Kara Original Drawing Exhibition from July 23 to 28 at Seibu Ikebukuto Tokyo (next to Ikebukuro Station).
- The exhibition handbill utilizes the same design as poster and can be seen at this blog.
- More than 100 original drawings, Hayao Miyazaki's image boards, Goro Miyazaki and Katsuya Kondo's design sketches, background paintings, art boards, and more are featured. The weekly newspaper Quartier latin which Umi reads in the film will be distributed to all visitors.
- Frédéric Back visited Japan for his exhibition and met Isao Takahata. The MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART TOKYO displayed 1,000 of his drawings.
Toshio Suzuki answered a question for a magazine:
Q: Next is Hayao Miyazaki-san's film?
S: I don't know what it will be, but probably so.
In Arrietty news Disney producer Frank Marshall tweeted, "For those confused, the new ARRIETTY trailer is for the British version. The North American trailer will debut soon..."
Thanks to T. Ishikawa for the news.
--LLin 03:12, 7 July 2011 (UTC)
Even More Kokuriko-zaka News
Production Notes were updated on the official website:
- Goro Miyazaki is the voice of the world history teacher in the film.
- Hayao Miyazaki designed Kokuriko apartment and the high school clubhouse called "Quartier latin".
- Dialogue of the high school students discussion were changed by Goro.
- Umi, who wears an apron with a stripe in the poster designed by Hayao Miyazaki, was changed to a more realistic girl design by Goro.
- The first lyrics of chorus music "Kon-iro no Uneri ga(The Dark Blue Wave)" was written by Hayao Miyazai. The second lyrics was written by Goro. It is based on Kenji Miyaza's poem "Seito Syokun ni Yoseru" (To The Students).
- Goro translated the chorus music "Akai Kawa no Tanima" (The Red River Valley). Hayao Miyazaki sang this song when he was a student. It's listed as "Akai Kawa no Nagare" (Flow of the Red River) on the soundtrack.
The previously unknown voice actor for Riku Matsuzaki (Umi's younger brother) is Tsubasa Kobayashi.
According to Peace Winds Japan, Studio Ghibli and Toho held a Kokuriko-zaka Kara special preview at Kesennuma, Miyagi prefecture on July 2 and Rikuzen Takada, Iwate prefecture on July 3. Miyazaki, Anno Hideaki and Suzuki appeared as special guests in the earthquake-stricken areas.
Suzuki spoke about the trip at the Kokuriko press conference. Many Totoro drawings were brought along and at first Miyazaki signed alone but because they were so numerous Suzuki asked Anno for his autograph. Anno declined it at first saying, "Totoro is not my work". Then Suzuki said to him, "I paid the price for your Shinkansen. Therefore do it".
Thanks to T. Ishikawa for the news.
--LLin 03:30, 6 July 2011 (UTC)
More Kokuriko-zaka News
The production completion announcement press conference was held on July 4.
Toshio Suzuki reveled that himself, Hayao Miyazaki, and Hideaki Anno visited Rikuzen Takada, Miyazagi prefecture. Pictures from Twitter users benisaku and kawango38. Images of Suzuki's sketches from kawango38 (1, 2, 3).
The hoisting of the Kokuriko banners has begun in Yokohama City.
From @UWMER2011:
Sakuragicho Station, Yokohama
http://lockerz.com/s/116750015
http://lockerz.com/s/116753023
http://lockerz.com/s/116865371
via @kick_kaida
http://yfrog.com/2qvx6ez
Film data from the official website:
Vista Size, Dolby Digital/DTS 5.0ch
Run-time: 91 minutes
Thanks to T. Ishikawa for the news.
--LLin 13:38, 5 July 2011 (UTC)
Updated: Kokuriko-zaka Voice Cast Update and Trailer
Umi Matsuzaki: Masami Nagasawa (Ni no Kuni)
Shun Kazama (Head of the newspaper club): Junichi Okada (Tales from Earthsea)
Sora Matsuzaki (Umi's younger sister): Haruka Shiraishi
Riku Matsuzaki (Umi's younger brother): Unknown
Hana Matsuzaki (Umi's maternal grandmother): Keiko Takeshita (Arrietty)
Ryoko Matsuzaki (mother who is a researcher at a US university): Jun Fubuki (Tales from Earthsea)
- Umi's family name changed to Matsuzaki from Komatsuzaki of original manga.
Miki Hokuto (doctor-in-training staying at Kokuriko's apartment): Yuriko Ishida (Princess Mononoke)
Sachiko Hirokouji (art college student staying at Kokuriko's apartment): Rumi Hiiragi (Spirited Away)
Yuko (Umi's friend): Aoi Teshima
Shiro Mizunuma (Shun's friend and student council president): Shunsuke Kazama
Yoshio Onodera (old friend of Umi and Shun's parents): Takashi Naito (Spirited Away)
Kazama (Shun's father): Nao Omori (Tekkon Kinkurito)
Chairman Tokumaru (Chairman of the high school and the president of his company): Teruyuki Kagawa (Tales from Earthsea)
According to Suzuki, the model of Tokumaru is Yasuyoshi Tokuma.
Insert song: Asa-gohan no Uta (Breakfast Song) Song by Aoi Teshima, Lyrics by Goro Miyazaki
Insert song: Ue wo Muite Arukou (I Look Up When I Walk) Song by Kyu Sakamoto
Insert song: Shiroi Hana no Saku Koro (When a white flower blooms)
Insert song: Hatsukoi no Koro (In the days of first love) Song by Aoi Teshima, Lyrics by Goro Miyazaki
Insert song: Akai Kawa no Nagare (Flow of a red river)
Insert song: Kon-iro no Uneri ga (The dark blue waves) Lyrics by Hayao Miyazaki and Goro Miyazaki, original by Kenji Miyazawa
Theme song: Sayonara no Natsu -Kokuriko-zaka Kara- Song by Aoi Teshima
Run-time: 91 minutes or 95 minutes
Annotated Kokuriko-zaka Google Map
- A: Kanagawa Modern Literature Museum. There is a straight slope connected to a national highway in the movie that does not reflect real world conditions.
- B: Yamashita Wharf (completed in 1963)
- C: Yamashita Park (completed in 1863 as "France Waterfront")
- D: Marine Tower (completed in 1961)
- E: Hotel New Grand
- F: Sakuragicho Station
- G: Shinbashi (location of Tokumaru's company and NTV)
These places appear in the film.
KDDI has released the Teaser and CM spots.
Thanks to T. Ishikawa and tsk06 for the news.
--LLin 16:56, 2 July 2011 (UTC)