Latest News

From GhibliWiki

Jump to: navigation, search
Previous (Lasseter-San, Arigato (videos))
Next (Lawson - Ghibli Museum Tickets)

Latest news from GhibliWiki. Have news? Let us know!

Contents

News from Japan

Yokohama city held a panel discussion and Junichi Nishioka talked about Ghibli's upcoming films.

Nishioka (at the 44:00 mark):
Unfortunately Ghibli does not release a new film this year, but Miyazaki and Takahata are making new feature films now. The two of them are making it hard though, I do not know whether they will be completed or not, because it is the first time to make big budget films at the same time since Totoro and Grave of the Fireflies.
In this state, Ghibli's staff members concentrate on production. There is still more then one year until the release date though. I think that we can show you these films next year in some way. If cannot complete it next year, Ghibli must be dissolved. (laughs) Ghibli must do it by all means next year, because we do not release a film this year. Hayao Miyazaki mentioned in Cut magazine, "I'm sorry but I bet all of Ghibli on this film."

Last Friday NTV announced that "something happens" at the end of the Friday Road Show broadcast of Nausicaa on May 11.

Japanese fans are expecting the official announcement of the Hideaki Anno's Tokusatsu Exhibition or Ghibli's new film(s).

The same "something happens" announcement occurred during the broadcast of Evangelion 2.0 followed by the unveiling of the Evangelion Q short preview.

Isao Takahata talks about his new film in a conversation with Tomoko Yamaguchi.

Yamaguchi: Why Kaguya-hime?

Isao Takahata: The moon is important, and I intend to draw it beautifully. But, I do not think that the story of Kaguya-hime is related to the moon directly. Apart from the moon, I'm interested in where the human being comes from. I think Kaguya-hime is the same as Hagoromo densetsu.

In the legend, Tennyo comes from the sky, but perhaps she came from totally another place, and had relationships between humans, or failed to have them, then returned. I think so. It is the same as us after all. Perhaps we also came from somewhere far away. We spend time in this world and may return somewhere again.

Toshio Suzuki talked with Ryuichi Sakamoto about film music at Daikanyama Tsutaya, Tokyo on March 13.

According to Yomiuli they were kindred spirits and Suzuki asked Sakamoto to cooperate with Takahata's new film but it is unknown whether Sakamoto accepted the offer.

Thanks to T. Ishikawa for the news.

--LLin 16:13, 1 May 2012 (UTC)

My Neighbor Totoro/Grave of the Fireflies BD Release

Anime News Network posted this morning that English-subtitled editions of My Neighbor Totoro and Grave of the Fireflies will be released on Blu-ray in Japan on 18 July 2012. Each title will get a single-disc release, and both titles will be released together in a limited special-edition combo set.

--LLin 22:59, 20 April 2012 (UTC)

Upcoming Video Releases, Screening Permissions

  • Trying to show a Studio Ghibli film at a school, club, or other public event? Visit the Screening Permission page for an up-to-date listing of films and rights holders. There's still some gaps in our knowledge so please let us know of additional details.

Thanks to Scott Hall, Daniel Zelter, Luke Hatton, and Daniel Kuhn for the news

--LLin 23:16, 9 April 2012 (UTC)

News Bytes

  • Arrietty passed Ponyo as the highest-grossing Studio Ghibli film in the US. The film should remain in theaters through at least next weekend.
  • The Rhode Island School of Design (via ANN) is granting Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata, and Toshio Suzuki honorary degrees on June 2. Suzuki will attend the graduation ceremony on behalf of the others.
  • According to SWITCH magazine's twitter feed, Takahata, Suzuki and Tomoko Yamaguchi (Lisa from Ponyo) visited Kasuga-taisha (a shrine in Nara) last December to watch the Kasuga Wakamiya On-Matsuri. SWITCH's special issue released on March 10 features this trip a Takahata column titled "Animation and Darkness."
  • Sean Lennon talks about his experiences with Grave of the Fireflies
  • Want to compare the British and American dubs of Arrietty? A "North American" edition BD will be released in Japan with both dubs.
  • The Washington DC Cherry Blossom Festival is hosting a four film (Ponyo, Porco Rosso, Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away) marathon on April 15. The price is right at free.
  • Goro Miyazaki held a talk show at the Mitaka Anime Festival and revealed that Toshio Suzuki said to him, "study 3D." Goro also mentioned that he doesn't want to release his next film right after two maestros so he said to Yonebayashi, "make a film earlier than me" but Yonebayashi just laughed. It's not known if Suzuki said "study 3D" for the next film or for the far-off future. According to the History of Studio Ghibli page the CG department was reduced and absorbed in visual department after Tales from Earthsea.
  • Another question to Goro concerned the studio's release scheduled (exchange tweeted by @purplepig01):
    • Q: Takahata and Miyazaki's new film seems to be completed in summer of 2013. Is the double release like Totoro and Grave of the Fireflies possible?
    • Goro: It depends on Isao Takahata's new film. His first film "Prince of the Sun" was largely behind schedule. "Grave of the Fireflies" was released with being entirely completed. Takahata-san may not be in time for summer of 2013.
  • Toshio Suzuki, Kenji Kamiyama, Goro Miyazaki argue about 3D animation on Suzuki's radio show.

Thanks to T. Ishikawa and Daniel Zelter for the news.

--LLin 00:24, 10 March 2012 (UTC)

NHK World Radio Japan Interview with Toshio Suzuki

An English language interview with Toshio Suzuki is available from NHK. The program mentions, "Hayao Miyazaki also started work new film project at the beginning on this month" but it is wrong.

Thanks to T. Ishikawa for the news.

--LLin 01:35, 2 March 2012 (UTC)

Toshio Suzuki's "Incredible" Plan

It was revealed on the latest Toshio Suzuki radio show that he has an incredible plan for next summer.

One of the guests asked Suzuki a question near the end of the radio show.

Guest: When is Takahata-san's film released?

Suzuki: Well, Miyazaki... (narration is inserted on top of Suzuki's voice)

Narration: Sorry, we cannot yet broadcast this talk, but, actually Suzuki-san seems to have an incredible plan which is not swept irresistibly by the current of the times.

Guests: Wooooow! (Guests are astonished by Suzuki's plan)

Suzuki: I'm so sorry, but we make all of next summer into Studio Ghibli.

(Laughter and the applause by guests)

Narration: Probably, Calcifer's flame begins to blaze like a brick from now on.

It is still unknown what Suzuki's words mean, but Studio Ghibli has announced that animation production on Takahata's new film began in January and it is going to be completed in the summer of 2013. Hayao Miyazaki's new epic film animation production has been active since June 30 of 2011 and Miyazaki already mentioned in CUT magazine that he is making a film about a Japanese engineer who developed a weapon of the war. And he mentioned in the Neppu January issue that animation on his film will be completed in the summer of 2013.

Thanks to T. Ishikawa for the news.

--LLin 05:36, 22 February 2012 (UTC)

Arrietty Box Office Results, Grave of the Fireflies in LA

Thanks to Daniel Zelter for the news.

--LLin 05:36, 22 February 2012 (UTC)

Arrietty News Bits

Thanks to T. Ishikawa, Daniel Zelter, and Christopher See for the news.

--LLin 18:24, 18 February 2012 (UTC)

News from Japan

  • Toshio Suzuki revealed during a conversation with Shunji Iwai on a TV show that Goro Miyazaki's next film is a Chanbara film (samurai sword fight movie) set in Tohoku (East Japan) of the Middle Ages and is currently in the planning stage. According to Suzuki, it mixes historical fact with fiction.
  • Hayao Miyazaki mentioned in Neppu's February issue that his new film is going to be completed during the summer of next year, but he does not know how it will turn out by the change of social conditions.
  • NHK's Kokuriko-zaka production documentary "Futari (two persons) / Kokuriko-zaka: 300 Days War of Father and Son" will be released on May 16. 73 minutes, no English subtitles.
  • A new film will be unveiled at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo supervised by Director A (Hideaki Anno) and Director H (possibly Higuchi Shinji). This film will be a special feature of the exhibition.
  • A farewell party was held on December 13 for Steve Alpert who is returning to US.
  • The Eagle's Japanese website quotes Hayao Miyazaki's comment from "50 Iwanami Boys Books Chosen by Hayao Miyazaki." "The original book is a masterpiece of the historical novel. I'd tried several times to create a magnificent animation, move this story to the ancient Tohoku, Japan. I was excited while imagining the ancient Edo bay where people are not, but it is not yet realized. This is one of my very favorite novels."

Nishioka, formerly the director of Studio Ghibli's public relations department (it was dissolved) and the writer of the Studio Ghibli production diary, has moved to the Studio Ghibli Museum and started a new video diary. Highlights from various videos:

    1. 232 (1:16) - Q: The reason why you chose Yonebayashi (Maro) as a director. M: Because there was not another talented person. And inspiration.
    2. 233 (0:44) - Miyazaki talks about Yonebayashi's characteristics

(5:03) Advice to Yonebayashi

    1. 234 (1:00) The reason why Miyazaki was attracted by the original book

(2:32) The reason why changed the setting to Japan. M: Young animators do not have the curiosity or yearning to understand the culture of a foreign country. Their concern has turned to only the contents of things showed on TV, or a mail order catalog. Because it is impossible to say to them "Go to Britain and make a movie based there", I thought that a old Japanese house was possible. But I think that they remain ignorance as ever. This does not slander the staff. I think that curiosity is fundamentally lacking in the a current Japanese state. Not the curiosity for the private life of a celebrity, but about life, eating, ancestors, and the history of us. I think that their deplorable curiosity narrows the stage of a movie. They can create a ship from science fiction because they watched a lot of such movies. They can look at Tokyo like Blade Runner-style. Because they watched such a movie. Though they must become a top batter, I think that their effort is insufficient.

    1. 235 - Miyazaki talks about the past, the present, and the future of Japanese animation
    2. 226-#231 - Yonebayashi talks about Arrietty and Miyazaki.
    3. 252-#253 - The place that became the stage of Arrietty
    4. 264 - Arrietty Genga (key frame drawings)
    5. 265 - Art boards
    6. 266-#268 - The process of character design by Yonebayashi

Thanks to T. Ishikawa for the news.

--LLin 04:59, 11 February 2012 (UTC)

Arrietty News You Can Use

Thanks to Daniel Zelter and Daniel Thomas MacInnes for the news.

--LLin 00:03, 9 February 2012 (UTC)

Arrietty Clips

Thanks to Daniel Zelter and Daniel Thomas MacInnes for the news.

--LLin 16:15, 3 February 2012 (UTC)

News Roundup

Thanks to Heinz Freyhofer, Jordan Scott, and Daniel Zelter for the news.

--LLin 19:11, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

More US Ghibli Festivals Details

  • Crunchyroll has details on the Dallas leg of the GKids US Ghibli tour. Films are showing on January 21st and 22nd and tickets are just $5.
  • Details (subs/dubs, showtimes) on the LA portion are at CityOnFire.
  • A clip from the UK version of [Arrietty] is at Bleeding Cool. The film opens in US theaters on February 17.
  • Miyazaki drew a dragon for Studio Ghibli's New Year's greeting card

Thanks to Daniel Zelter for the news.

--LLin 04:30, 11 January 2012 (UTC)

Kokuriko French Release Date

Kokuriko Zaka Kara will get a French release as "La Colline aux Coquelicots" (Eng. "The Hill of Poppies")

Note: "Kokuriko" is the Japanese transcription of the French word "Coquelicots" (Poppies).

The French launch is scheduled for January 11th - no word yet on whether it will be dubbed in French or screened in the original version with subtitles.

YouTube has the French version of the trailer

Original source: http://www.animationsfilme.ch/2011/10/04/frankreich-zeigt-im-januar-2012-ghiblis-kokuriko-zaka-kara/

Thanks to Ettore Trento for the news.

-- Mrgazpacho 22:31, 2 January 2012 (UTC)

GKids US Tour Dates

The GKids twitter feed outlined the upcoming stops for their traveling Studio Ghibli Retrospective:

  • LA, Dallas (January)
  • Boston (February)
  • Toronto (March)
  • Austin (March)
  • DC (April-May)
  • Seattle (June)
  • San Francisco (July)

The LA series is playing at the Egyptian and Aero Theaters from January 26 to February 12.

Thanks to Daniel Zelter for the news.

--LLin 05:55, 31 December 2011 (UTC)

NYC Ghibli Festival, (Almost) New Fireflies DVD, Record-setting Twitter Usage

Thanks to Chris Fielder, Chris Meadows, Joel Alexander, and Daniel Zelter for the news.

--LLin 02:29, 17 December 2011 (UTC)

Arrietty Around the World, Spotlight on Studio Ghibli

  • Australia: Madman shows a theatrical release date of January 12 with the majority of cinemas locations in Victoria.
  • Denmark: The film opens in theaters on Christmas
  • UK: The Studio Canal site mentions Blu-ray, DVD, and Download options but no date. Their "Coming Soon" section lists a (potential) January 9 release date.

Two English dubs are in the works. Compare and contrast trailers from the UK version verses the US version.

Thanks to David Bate, Daniel Zelter, Joel Alexander, and Jasmine Teran for the news.

--LLin 17:09, 19 November 2011 (UTC)

Goro Miyazaki Talks Up Next Ghibli Film, Ni no Kuni English Release, The Cinema of Hayao Miyazaki

  • Goro Miyazaki held special lecture for Studio Ghibli Layout Exhibition at Matsumoto Museum and talked about Ghibli's next film. "I think that it will probably be released in the year after next. In fact, my father has begun to make a movie. It is awesome. I think, 'how can he create such a movie?'".
  • NAMCO BANDAI announced a 2012 release for Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch. Originally released on the Nintendo DS the North American release is for the PlayStation 3 "which has had a multitude of new elements added to make it a brand new title in its own right".
  • The Cinema of Hayao Miyazaki by Jeremy Mark Robinson is blurbed by the publisher as "This new study of Hayao Miyazaki considers all of his films and TV shows (and his manga work). It also includes chapters on Studio Ghibli • on fellow director Isao Takahata • Miyazaki's influences • his contemporaries and colleagues • his characters • his movies' relation to Western animation (including Disney) • his unmade films • and his themes and motifs." 496 pages.

Thanks to T. Ishikawa and Kevin Thomas for the news.

--LLin 03:51, 9 November 2011 (UTC)

Arrietty Rated "G" by MPAA

Box Office Mojo lists The Secret World of Arrietty as receiving a "G" rating. The flim opens in North American theaters on February 17, 2012.

Thanks to Daniel Zelter for the news.

--LLin 18:31, 29 October 2011 (UTC)

US Arrietty Trailer

Original via iTunes or a Flash version on ComingSoon.net.

Thanks to hfreyhofer for the news.

--LLin 18:09, 25 October 2011 (UTC)

More Details on Miyazaki's Next Film

CUT magazine's September issue released on August 19 featured a very long interview (30,000 characters) with Miyazaki. Yoichi Shibuya, the best interviewer of Miyazaki, drew out the true intentions of various things about Studio Ghibli from Hayao Miyazaki and Toshio Suzuki. An abstract of interview follows:

1. When I finished drawing the rough storyboards of the Great Kanto Earthquake (1923) of part A, the Great East Japan Earthquake occurred on March 11 (storyboards are usually divided into four or five parts). I thought about how I should do this plan. After having calmed down a little, I thought that I did not have to change it at all and should continue.

2. I think it (the new film) is not a fantasy. There are some elements of fantasy, but it's not fantasy. So, I don't know how to draw it. I try to bite my tail and am turning round and round like a dog. I draw the storyboards, throw them away, gather them back, rearrange, then throw them away again (laughs). I'm cornered now.

3. I want to make a not shameful thing. I want to avoid the label, "because Miyazaki was not able to draw the storyboards, production was stopped." (laughs) Even if I fall down on the way, I want to make a thing that people want to know its sequel, like Soseki Natsume's last work "Meian" (Light and Darkness). (laughs)

4. In the next film there are lots of huge crowds scenes. Animators are already feeling dizzy at a recent meeting. So I say to them, coolly, "all you have to do is draw!" They did not become animators to draw a picture of a girl turned around. The reason why we employed 30 new faces is that we drive them hard. They had better feel toilsome first. I do not hesitate it.

5. I said to the staff members, "it will be revealed what we should make while we make two films in three years." But I understood that nothing became clear. (laughs) The world deepens in confusion more and more.

6. Though I think this probably must be said off the record, I make a movie of a man who developed a weapon of the war. This man had talent most in Japan in those days. But he failed very hard. Because he was not able to accomplish craftsmanship in defeat, his heart was torn to shreds. But when I heard that he murmured "I wanted to make a beautiful thing", I thought "this is it!"

7. I had thought why he made such a thing. Cannot make such a thing without a motive to want to make a beautiful thing. This man is not making a weapon. As a result, its motive made a beautiful thing, but it was a high-performance weapon. In a sense he is a tragic character. He failed though he did it as hard as possible. So, he finishes his life as a very unsociable old man. (laughs)

8. I think it's ugly to die with unfinished storyboards.

9. The thing which I'm going to do is that which I had thought that I must not do it most. It's a very anarchic film.

10. I'm sorry but I bet all of Ghibli on this (new film).

11. Suzuki-san said at a meeting where I wasn't present, "this takes three years". Somene reported this to me and I think it's no problem even if it takes three years. I just think, "I'm 73 years old".

12. When I made Ponyo, I said to the staff members, "you do not need draw a shadow!" But I think "we draw a shadow this time! We draw a shadow thoroughly! All you cry in a shadow!". Must not live in idleness. But they seem to live in idleness. So I say, "do it until you have a bloody nose!"

13. I yell at staff members these days in the studio. I really do not want to yell. But I yell to make me strict with myself.

14. Because I prepared to bet all on this (new film), I want to do all of what I've endured so far.

15. I don't know whether new film becomes an answer to Japan after the earthquake disaster. But I feel that we cannot solve a problem only by saying "we followed a conventional way."

16. I have an idea of fantasy which I want to make. But I cannot make it if I don't understand the world a little more. If I make it now, it would be a lie. A gloomy fantasy, a shining fantasy, both become a lie. I think that we are in such a place. Since before a nuclear plant accident, after the Lehman shock, I had thought that the times not to be able to make fantasy would come.

17. Though I think that I must finish drawing part B within this year. (laughs) After the earthquake disaster, I'm just thinking in circles. Anno is also just thinking about the last story of Evangelion in circles. I understand his feeling well. But there is no help for it even if we experience a wound with each other. Anno asked me, "Miya-san, don't you have experience difficulty?" then I said, "No. I don't experience difficulty." (laughs) But I actually have difficulty very much.

18. When I feel bad, I want to smoke CHERRY furiously. I still have 6 cartons. I'm saving them carefully.
(JAPAN TOBACCO INC abolished CHERRY because a factory suffered damage in the earthquake disaster)

19. Soseki Natsume died at 49. Anton Chekhov died at 44. What am I doing? 70 minus 44 is 26 years! (laughs)

20. Q: Can we watch it in the year after next?
M: If it goes smoothly. But I don't know because nobody can draw it. The thing which I really want to draw is beautiful so as to feel dizzy. Probably only the Japanese can understand its beauty. But the Japanese cannot draw it, too. It's interesting.

Toshio Suzuki:
I do not have a design.(laughs) This is a movie that Miya-san makes freely. It takes two years at least. Though I think it's safe to talk this, in a word, it's a story of the war. I thought that Miya-san must make this. He has various thought about the war and reads a lot of documents. So, I said "Miya-san, you should make this". It's the first time that I said such a thing to him.

  • NHK's Kokuriko-zaka documentary that aired on August 9 showed pre-production work on Miyazaki's new film including storybords and character designs by Miyazaki.
  • Miyazaki on Sketchtravel - Hayao Miyazaki's drawing is on the last page of Sketchtravel. Miyazaki drew and painted it in 3 days during January 2011. The drawing spreads over two pages and represents a young boy in front of a plane. (NHK's Kokuriko-zaka documentary showed Miyazaki writing the plan paper and drawing the storyboards.)
  • Miyazaki visits the flight of RC 9-shi designed by Jiro Horikoshi.

Thanks to T. Ishikawa for the news.

--LLin 05:51, 1 October 2011 (UTC)

Hayao Miyazaki's New Film Details, Arrietty Books Scheduled for North America

Toshio Suzuki's radio show features the talk between Suzuki and Tomoko Yamaguchi (Risa from Ponyo) at The Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo on August 3.

Suzuki begins to talk about Miyazaki's new film at the 20:45 mark in part 2.

Suzuki: In fact, we have begun to make Hayao Miyazaki's new film.
Yamaguchi: What kind of film?
Suzuki: It's a Jiden (autobiography). A true jiden. From birth...
Suzuki: When he finished quarter of the storyboards, its story has begun to wander from its main course, as usual (laughs). So, a staff member came to me and said, "If you do not stop it, the movie won't be completed" (i.e within a two hour timespan). So I said, "I see, I'll read the storyboards seriously", and I read it yesterday. But it's very interesting (laughs). I'm in doubt about what to do. In fact, I'm heading back to the studio after this and must talk with Miya-san (laughs). I don't know how this movie will turn out, because if we do it the movie becomes a rambling story. Though I'm thinking "oh, well".
Suzuki: I calculated the new film needs about 250,000 animation cels (laughs). We must draw it. If the story deviates to a side road, we cannot arrive at there.

For comparison:

  • Ponyo: 170,653 cels. Run-time is 100min 54sec
  • Howl's Moving Castle: 148,786 cels. 119min 11sec
  • Spirited Away: 112,367 cels. 124min 35sec
  • Princess Mononoke: 144,043 cels. 133min 24sec

The new Previews (North American) has listings for some more books to be released from Viz Media:

PAGE 331
OCT11 1260      SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY PICTURE BOOK HC (C: 1-0-0)     01/04/12        SRP: $19.99 
OCT11 1261      ART OF SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY HC (C: 1-0-0)           01/04/12        SRP: $34.99     
OCT11 1262      SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY FILM COMIC VOL 01 (C: 1-0-0)   01/04/12        SRP: $16.99  
OCT11 1263      SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY FILM COMIC VOL 02 (C: 1-0-0)   01/04/12        SRP: $16.99

Thanks to T. Ishikawa and Kevin Thomas for the news.

--LLin 05:46, 24 September 2011 (UTC)

GKids Acquires (most) US Rights

Animenews.biz via Variety reports that GKids (best known for running the New York International Children's Film Festival) has signed a distribution deal for 13 Studio Ghibli films though Disney still holds home video rights. A retrospective tour kicks off this fall with screenings of Castle in the Sky and Spirited Away at the New York Film Fest followed by a traveling tour around the US and Canada. Only Yesterday and the rarely seen in theaters Ocean Waves are both included in the tour.

Thanks to Daniel Zelter for the news.

--LLin 04:32, 9 September 2011 (UTC)

BD Releases of Howl, Earthsea, and Ponyo

Asian Blu-ray Guide reports that the three films are scheduled for a November 16 release in Japan. The covers use the same silhouette motif as earlier BD releases. All three include English audio and English subtitles.

Thanks to Luke Hatton for the news.

--LLin 13:45, 15 August 2011 (UTC)

Miyazaki on CNN

Hayao Miyazaki: The world's greatest animator is a ~2 minute video interview on CNN.

Thanks to Daniel Zelter and Heinz Freyhofer for the news.

--LLin 06:45, 13 August 2011 (UTC)

Studio Ghibli Begins Work on Next Feature Film

Production diary of June 30 shows a photo in which staff members listen to the explanation of the director and producer in the fifth studio. Diary says "The studio finally sets sail on a long trip".
http://www.ghibli.jp/15diary/007174.html#more

Toshio Suzuki has already mentioned on the CUT magazine September issue 2010 that Ghibli will spend the last two years of a five year plan making a big budget film. (The last year is 2013) Toshio Suzuki revealed on his December 28 radio show that Studio Ghibli will make a Showa Trilogy.
http://podcasts.tfm.co.jp/podcasts/tokyo/rg/suzuki_vol168.mp3

Suzuki: Ghibli returns to the old ways. Ghibli's Showa Sanbusaku (Showa Trilogy). We will do it next year [Ed: Kokuriko is set in Showa 38 (1963/1964)], and then the next film is set in a little older Japan [than Kokuriko]. I don't know whether it goes well, but we are talk about it. How was the youth of the generation of the parents of lead character Umi-chan(Kokuriko)?. I feel it's interesting. Then we can see something. If we watch the movies, can understand how Japan came. Besides, put Totoro in it. And up to Ponyo. (Totoro seems one of Showa Trilogy. Kokuriko-zaka official website shows Miyazaki's plan paper. He mentions that Totoro was set in 1953 on it.
http://kokurikozaka.jp/message.html)

Hayao Miyazaki talked about the next film at the press conference of the Kokuriko-zaka theme song on March 28.
http://www2.toho-movie.jp/movie-topic/1103/07kokuriko_ib.html

Miyazaki: In fact, I'm preparing the next film. It is not yet at the announcement stage, but I think that I can stick out my chest and I do not have to change the contents of it. (In other words, he thinks, the contents of the next film are not affected by the earthquake disaster. The contents of it are good for this time.) We must draw a human. But it's very disadvantageous battlefield to draw a life-sized human with an animation. But I think I must prepare. In the movie which I prepare for now, a life-sized human appears. (In short, next film is Not fantasy.)

Ghibli diary of July 8 shows a photo of a staff member wearing a Hakama for animation drawing.
http://www.ghibli.jp/15diary/007210.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hakama

Goro Miyazaki mentioned at the Kokuriko press conference "Ghibli will be separated from fantasy for a while".
http://www2.toho-movie.jp/movie-topic/1107/02kokuriko_kh.html

Ghibli made the short film Takara Sagashi by Nishi Ghibli young animators. They had came back to Ghibli and had participated in Arrietty and Kokuriko-zaka production.

Takara Sagashi
http://www.7netshopping.jp/spc/static/ghibli/ghibli_takarasagashi.html
http://www.ghibli-museum.jp/en/
This was made for the training of young animators.

Planing and Composition : Hayao Miyazaki
Director: unknown
Music : Michiru http://michiru.jp/
Run-time: 8min 40 sec

Ghibli Museum special exhibition.
http://www.lawson.co.jp/ghibli/museum/research/detail_20110706_40351.html
http://www.ghibli-museum.jp/en/exibition/007157.html

New Ghibli museum TVCM
http://www.lawson.co.jp/ghibli/

After Great Hanshin Earthquake, Ghibli invested a large sum of money and trained young animators on the big budget film Mononoke. Hayao Miyazaki had the idea of the sequel of Poroco Rosso. It's true. But he thinks he should Not make it. Because it is the escape out of the pains to think about the next film. For Miyazaki, Porco Rosso is the easy way, because it's the old man's hobby. He said that at all times, "We must not make a movie as a hobby".

Relating this to Miyazaki's interview on the CUT magazine Sep issue 2010:

"So I want to escape to "Porco Rosso: The Last Sortie". "If next two films succeed and Suzuki-san lets me make it (Porco) while saying, 'It cannot be helped because it's a hobby of the old man', I'm happy. It's my hobby." (This is Miyazaki's desire - not to be realized, or just a joke.) "I had thought about the possibility of "Porco Rosso: The Last Sortie" in the morning. But before Shibuya-san (the interviewer) arrived, I thought 'It's not good after all, It's just my hobby.'"

In short, Miyazaki does Not make the sequel of Porco Rosso film.

Thanks to T. Ishikawa for the news.

-- Mrgazpacho 00:47, 1 August 2011 (UTC)

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

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.
  • 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)

Updated: Kokuriko-zaka and Nico Nico Douga

Nico Nico Douga and Studio Ghibli announced a Kokuriko-zaka promotion project (non-registration mirror). Nobuo Kawakami, chairman of the Japan-based video service's parent company Dowango, was joined by Toshio Suzuki for the announcement. A sample of the Aoi Teshima theme song Sayonara no Natsu can be heard in the video clip. An Aoi Teshima concert will be held in Nicofarre. Studio Khara (run by Hideaki Anno) is producing the images used in the concert.

Nico Nico Doga will broadcast the Kokuriko-zaka production completion announcement press conference on July 4. A preview of the film from Kanagawa Kenmin Hall in Yokohama city follows the press conference but will not be broadcast.

Suzuki asked Kawakami for Kokuriko-zaka advertising cooperation on his radio show. Kawakami suggested that he work under Suzuki as a probationer. The Nico video clip shows his business card which is written as Studio Ghibli Probationer Producer.

Kawakami has begun the serialization of a "Ghibli probation diary" on Yomiuri Online. The first entry is about the trained and calm actions of Ghibli staff members during the earthquake. The serialization is updated on every Tuesday.

Thanks to T. Ishikawa for the news.

--LLin 03:26, 24 May 2011 (UTC)

Film Music Festival Photos

The Krakow (Poland) based festival has posted a series of photos from before and during the concert. Joe Hisaishi is featured in several of the pictures.

Thanks to T. Ishikawa for the news.

--LLin 06:38, 21 May 2011 (UTC)

Updated: Memories of Seiichiro Ujiie

The latest episode of Toshio Suzuki's radio show mourns the passing of Seiichiro Ujiie, NTV CEO who died on March 28 at the age of 84.

Sachiko Kagami read the memorial text "About Ujiie-san" written by Suzuki, excerpts follow:

I had prepared for Ghibli Museum with production of Princess Mononoke, but funding was short by circumstances of the diversity. Because the bank suggested the idea of raising funds from other people, I remembered Ujiie-san. I don't know why I remembered a negative person for the culture business, but I acted on intuition. I decided to show the scale model of the museum first and Ujiie-san responded with "good". "But we do not have enough funds" I said. Ujiie-san had begun to be troubled. Then much time passed, but he decided to help with the funding after all. Ujiie-san attended the establishment press conference of the Ghibli Museum with the president of Tokuma and Miya-san said in this way, "This costs 5 billion yen to build. NTV finances 2 billion. I give this money to Ghibli."

The establishment of the museum was decided in this way, but the president of Tokuma died before the opening of the museum. Because Ujiie-san read words of condolence, I visited Ujiie-san later to thank him. He said, "Toku-san* was a great producer. He accomplished much splendid work. Mononoke Hime too. Because I'm a timid person, I cannot spend large sums of money and make a movie in that way." He sighed and continued, "I have done nothing in my life," and I was surprised. Then, "Can you understood the loneliness of the man who have lived more than 70 years and has done nothing? I want to do something before I die" (4:50)

  • Yasuyoshi Tokuma was the president of Tokuma, the Executive Producer of Princess Mononoke, and provided some of the initial funds for the establishment of Ghibli and was a great supporter of Miyazaki and Takahata. In one famous episode when Suzuki informed Tokuma "Mononoke costs 1.5 billion yen", Tokuma replied "use 2 billion".

Ujiie-san was interested in Cuba. When he was a reporter with the Yomiuri newspaper he did a long interview with Castro. In fact, Ujiie-san, I, Takahata-san, Miya-san and a family doctor traveled abroad every summer the last few years. Ujiie-san wanted to visit to Cuba this summer. Ujiie-san planned the trip every year. The reservation of a hotel, the arrangement of an airline ticket, and the meals. He did everything. The first year we visited France. Because NTV supported the Louvre, he was invited by the director of the museum for a private tour. Ujiie-san tempted Takahata-san and Miya-san. His clincher was "you can enjoy the paintings as if you chartered the Louvre." It was a luxurious invitation." (11:10)

The second year was Italy. After visiting the Sistine Chapel we saw Botticelli's "The Birth of Venus" at the Uffizi. Ujiie-san heard the explanations of the guide properly. He said, "I do not know a lot about art", but that is a lie. He asked Takahata-san questions many times at artistic places. I and Miya-san smoked as ever in a smoking area." (14:40)

On December 20 of last year, when one-third of the storyboards of Kaguya Hime were completed, he read it. His first impression was "Kaguya-Hime is a selfish girl. I like this girl." Takahata-san was pleased. I wanted to show animated Kaguya-Hime to Ujiie-san.

Studio Ghibli has not put the post of the Chief Production Officer. But when Kaguya-Hime is completed, I want to write on the film "Chief Production Officer is Seiichiro Ujiie". (21:25)

The April 12 production diary shows the entrance of Studio Ghibli with photos of Seiichiro Ujiie and Yasuyoshi Tokuma.

This month issue of Ghibli's free magazine "Neppu" features Ujiie and memorial texts by Miyazaki and Takahata. According to someone who's read the magazine Tahakata also writes about "Kaguya Hime no Monogatari" (Princess Kaguya's Story), a test film being used to try out new animation techniques. With storyboards still in progress the exact release date remains unknown.

"Taketori Monogatari" (The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter) has two name in Japan. It is generally called "Kaguya Hime" (Princess Kaguya)" because she is the main character.

Thanks to T. Ishikawa for the news.

--LLin 00:33, 20 May 2011 (UTC)

Kokuriko-Zaka Kara Voice Cast

The official website now lists the main voice cast:

  • Umi Komatsuzaki: Masami Nagasawa (Ni no Nuni)
  • Syun Kazama: Junichi Okada (Tales from Earthsea)
  • Hana Komatsuzaki (Umi's maternal grandmother: Keiko Takeshita (Arrietty)
  • Hokuto (docter-in-training staying at Kokuriko's apartment): Yuriko Ishida (Princess Mononoke)
  • Sora Komatsuzaki (younger sister: Not Announced
  • Riku Komatsuzaki (younger brother): Not Announced
  • Nijie Komatsuzaki (mother): Not Announced
  • Shimataro Komatsuzaki (maternal grandfather): Not Announced
  • Hokuto: Yuriko Ishida (Princess Mononoke)
  • Ryoko Komatsuzaki (mother): Jyun Fubuki (Tales from Earthsea)
    • In the original manga, Nijie Komatsuzaki is the name of Umi's mother
  • Onodera (old friend of Umi and Syun's parents): Takashi Naito (Spirited Away)
  • Mizunuma (Syun's friend): Syunsuke Kazama
  • Kazama (Syun's father): Nao Omori
  • President Tokumaru : Teruyuki Kagawa (Tales from Earthsea)

A 45 second teaser trailer has been shown in theaters since April 16. The book "Script Kokuriko-zaka Kara" will be released on June 23 while a location guide of Yokohama "Kokuriko-zaka Kara guide book Yokohama Love Story" will see a release on July 13.

The mayor of Yokohama city Fumiko Hayashi held a press conference and announced that Studio Ghibli and Yokohama city are jointly coordinating Kokuriko-zaka promotions. This is first time that Ghibli has joined with a local government. Fumiko Hayashi also reveled that Yokohama city plans tours around the place that became the setting of Kokuriko and invites citizens to the production completion announcement preview and will hold a Aoi Teshima concert.

Thanks to T. Ishikawa for the news.

--LLin 16:32, 14 May 2011 (UTC)

Updated: Joe Hisaishi Charity Concerts

Joe Hisaishi's office announced that charity concerts in support of earthquake relief efforts will take place in Tokyo, Osaka, Paris, and Beijing:

  • Tokyo: June 9
  • Osaka: June 18
  • Paris: June 23
  • Beijing: July 9

The concerts feature Hisaishi's work in Hayao Miyazaki and Takeshi Kitano films. After Hisaishi visited the stricken area at the end of April he decided to hold fundrasing concerts in addition to the already scheduled Poland concert (Hisaishi's message to the Kraków Music Festival.).

All proceeds are earmarked for replacement of children's musical instruments lost during the earthquake.

Thanks to T. Ishikawa for the news.

--LLin 13:42, 13 May 2011 (UTC)

Retrieved from "http://nausicaa.net/wiki/Latest_News"
Personal tools