Zoneboy
03-05-2009, 11:19 PM
Link (http://www.examiner.com/x-4676-Chicago-Japanese-Animation-Examiner~y2009m3d3-Studio-Ghiblis-Ponyo-to-feature-Jonas-Brother-Betty-White)
So far in North America Anime has remained part of only a certain Otaku fanbase. However many other people have been brought into the anime fanbase because of a legendary animation studio. It has been called the Disney of the East and set the highest grossing box office records in Japanese animation history. Studio Ghibli was founded in 1985 shortly after the release of Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind. After Ghibli became a household name in Japan it's parent comapany sought to bring the films oversea's to Disney. After a run in with a badly redone Nausicaa, retitled Warriors of the Wind, a Studio Ghibli producer sent an authentic katana with a simple message to editing Studios: "No cuts" Since then all works brough over to the US preserve the authentic storyline and have interesting tidbits of Japanese culture.
In 2002 Miyazaki's own masterpeice Spirited Away won the Oscar for best animated feature film. Audiences reaction to Spirited Away was unprescedented. Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times heralded Spirited Away as: "..enchanting and delightful in its own way, and has a good heart. It is the best animated film of recent years... the Japanese master who is a god to the Disney animators." Now Ghibli is set to release it's next animation Masterpeice to American audiences in a theatrical release.
Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea (Gake no Ue no Ponyo) follows the story of a young boy named Sosuke. Sosuke comes across a strange goldfish stuch in a jar he brings it home as a pet. Soon Sosuke discovers that it is no goldfish when the magical being begins to talk. What he doesn't know is that he has brought back a princess who is falling in love with him. The story is heart warming and filled with stunning visuals of the ocean and wonderful depictions of sea life. As always Miyazaki's characters are brought to life by their realistic gestures and emotional expressions.
Ponyo, like Spirited Away get's it's inspiration directly from the animation master himself. This is good news for fans who know that Ghibli's best and most imaginative works stem directly from Miyazaki. A news conference quoted Miyazaki commenting "The sea is something that is so very complicated. I just thought it would be great to draw it by crayon.“ He also commented on the overuse of digital techniques in in animation. The story may seem a bit like Disney's The Little Mermaid, However, fans of Studio Ghibli will instantly see the similarities between other Ghibli movies like My Neighbor Totoro and Howl's Moving Castle. Ponyo has been said to be the 67-year-old Miyazaki's last film, however studio Ghibli has already shown multiple new projects for future release. Miyazaki is accoustomed to being head director and animator in his films however he says in his old age he may have to pass on his studio to the younger generation.
Disney has put together an impressive voice cast for Ponyo including: Tina Fey (Mean Girls), Matt Damon (Good Will Hunting ), Liam Neeson (Taken), Cate Blanchett (Benjamin Button), Frankie Jonas of the Jonas Bros. and Oark Park, IL born actress Betty White (Golden Girls).
Ponyo is set to release in US theaters this Summer and shortly after to Disney DVD in time for the holidays.
So far in North America Anime has remained part of only a certain Otaku fanbase. However many other people have been brought into the anime fanbase because of a legendary animation studio. It has been called the Disney of the East and set the highest grossing box office records in Japanese animation history. Studio Ghibli was founded in 1985 shortly after the release of Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind. After Ghibli became a household name in Japan it's parent comapany sought to bring the films oversea's to Disney. After a run in with a badly redone Nausicaa, retitled Warriors of the Wind, a Studio Ghibli producer sent an authentic katana with a simple message to editing Studios: "No cuts" Since then all works brough over to the US preserve the authentic storyline and have interesting tidbits of Japanese culture.
In 2002 Miyazaki's own masterpeice Spirited Away won the Oscar for best animated feature film. Audiences reaction to Spirited Away was unprescedented. Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times heralded Spirited Away as: "..enchanting and delightful in its own way, and has a good heart. It is the best animated film of recent years... the Japanese master who is a god to the Disney animators." Now Ghibli is set to release it's next animation Masterpeice to American audiences in a theatrical release.
Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea (Gake no Ue no Ponyo) follows the story of a young boy named Sosuke. Sosuke comes across a strange goldfish stuch in a jar he brings it home as a pet. Soon Sosuke discovers that it is no goldfish when the magical being begins to talk. What he doesn't know is that he has brought back a princess who is falling in love with him. The story is heart warming and filled with stunning visuals of the ocean and wonderful depictions of sea life. As always Miyazaki's characters are brought to life by their realistic gestures and emotional expressions.
Ponyo, like Spirited Away get's it's inspiration directly from the animation master himself. This is good news for fans who know that Ghibli's best and most imaginative works stem directly from Miyazaki. A news conference quoted Miyazaki commenting "The sea is something that is so very complicated. I just thought it would be great to draw it by crayon.“ He also commented on the overuse of digital techniques in in animation. The story may seem a bit like Disney's The Little Mermaid, However, fans of Studio Ghibli will instantly see the similarities between other Ghibli movies like My Neighbor Totoro and Howl's Moving Castle. Ponyo has been said to be the 67-year-old Miyazaki's last film, however studio Ghibli has already shown multiple new projects for future release. Miyazaki is accoustomed to being head director and animator in his films however he says in his old age he may have to pass on his studio to the younger generation.
Disney has put together an impressive voice cast for Ponyo including: Tina Fey (Mean Girls), Matt Damon (Good Will Hunting ), Liam Neeson (Taken), Cate Blanchett (Benjamin Button), Frankie Jonas of the Jonas Bros. and Oark Park, IL born actress Betty White (Golden Girls).
Ponyo is set to release in US theaters this Summer and shortly after to Disney DVD in time for the holidays.