I need Miyazaki advice

[DaTimster]

I own one of his films; "Princess Mononoke". I'm thinking about using the '2 for $34' deal at Best Buy next week and picking up "Howl's Moving Castle" along with either "Whisper of the Heart" or "My Neighbor Totoro".

Which is the better film? My kids are very into Disney feature animation, and I want to introduce them to something different. I have an 8yr old daughter and a 5yr old son. I don't want to end up with something at the level of say "Barney" as I fear Totoro may be (and forgive my ignorance if I'm way off).

Opinions appreciated, thanks

[davejt1]

If you're just getting into his stuff, I would go with either Totoro or Spirited Away.

[RichC2]

Totoro is similar to old school Disney, when it still had imagination. I'd personally pick it over just about any other Miyazaki flick.

[milo bloom]

I can't bring to mind anything from Miyazaki that's even close to "Barney" levels. Everything I've seen from him is truly magical.

[Raffurar]

There's no part in a Ghibli film that panders to kids as if they were idiots. Every one of his films has a charm and sense of wonder that can engulf anyone. I really couldn't recommend any one movie over another, though, as they're all so different (yet unmistakably Ghibli). It just depends on what type of flick you're in the mood for or think your kids would enjoy. If you want some adventure, Castle in the Sky, Porco Rosso, Nausicaa, and Spirited Away will all give you something with the same type of energy as Mononoke. However if you want something that's just fun with wit and personality, Kiki's Delivery Service, Totoro, or Whisper of the Heart might be the better choice. The Isao Takahata (Yamadas, Pom Poko) films might be a little experimental, though, i'd say to stick with Miyazaki for now. But, honestly any one will be a worthy addition to your collection, and if your kids don't love it, you probably will just the same!

[Kudama]

If you liked Mononoke...get every title available. If there ever was a definition of "must own" his films are in it.

[TomOpus]

I'll be picking up Howl's Moving Castle along with My Neighbor Tororo. I've yet to see the former but I've seen the latter and it's a wonderful film. I guarantee you'll like it.

Hell, if you don't like it I'll buy your copy. Seriously.

[littlefuzzy]

Panda! Go Panda! is a collection of 2 titles that Miyazaki made back in the 70s... They are a very charming set of tales about a little girl who adopts a panda and his son... I love this show, my nieces (8 & 13) love this show, and my 72 year-old mom loves this show...

[Forum Troll]

You might also enjoy Porco Rosso and Nausicaa.

[joeydaninja]

I'd recommend Kiki's Delivery Service for your kid. She'll love it!

[vinhj]

No more votes for Spirited Away? I thought it was the best recent Ghibli film.

[gryffinmaster]

No more votes for Spirited Away? I thought it was the best recent Ghibli film.
Everyone's probably dodging votes for it because it's the obvious, most mainstream choice. I haven't seen a lot of his work either, but ...

:thumbsup: Spirited Away
:thumbsup: Princess Mononoke, but not for the kids

[talemyn]

No more votes for Spirited Away? I thought it was the best recent Ghibli film.Spirited Away is probably my favorite Miyazaki (which is a really hard choice), but, if the goal is to get Miyazaki for kids, I would place it third behind My Neighbor Totoro (1st) and Kiki's Delivery Service (2nd), mainly because they are both great and slightly more child oriented than other Miyazaki films (not as many "scary" things).

MNT is truly a wonderful film . . . it is imaginative, adventurous, and has a very attractive feeling of "innocence" to it (it's very hard to put into words, but I'd imagine that those who have seen it, know what I'm talking about).

K'sDS is possibly the best of Miyazaki's films for pre-teen girls. Like MNT, it is adventurous and imaginative, but it is also a really excellent film for inspiring young girls to be confident in themselves and what they can do.

[Giles]

I personally thought Whisper of the Heart was an excellent film - superior to Howl's Moving Castle

[Kudama]

My Neighbor Totoro, while being oriented to kids, is surprisingly sad. I didn't see that coming when I first saw it.

[brainee]

"Totoro" is just perfect for an 8 and 5 year old! Others that would work great for that age are "Kiki's DS" and "Castle in the Sky". The "message" and melodrama Miyazaki might be better appreciated when they're a little older. And if you want to cause some serious trauma, show them Ghibli's "Grave of the Fireflies". I read that one person showed it to their youngster, just knowing it was a highly acclaimed Ghibli movie and their child cried for hours afterward.

[Janus3]

i have yet to see whisper of the heart. on that note totoro is my favorite miyazaki film. it's told through the eyes of a child and it very beautiful and poetic which adults will love. the kids will love it for teh fact that they have big cat like creatures making noise and a cat bus.

[Janus3]

but yeah, i'm a huge miyazaki fan. i own all his regions 1 and am adding all 3 tomorrow. alot of his stuff is adult themed stuff made into cartoons. my fave ghibli's in order

totoro
grave of the fireflies
nausicaa and the valley of the wind
howl's moving castle
castle in the sky
princess mononoke
pom poko
porco rosso
spirted away
the cat returns
kiki's delivery service
my neighbors the yamadas

still need to see whisper of the heart. but yeah, all the movies are great and must own's imo. great for all ages.

[lemieux66c]

Other than Princess Mononoke, which is by far my favorite of his films, I enjoyed Castle in the Sky and Spirited Away - although Spirited Away took me several viewings to actually like the film. A few of the other ones mentioned I haven't seen yet, and is something I hope to remedy soon.

[Giles]

but yeah, i'm a huge miyazaki fan. i own all his regions 1 and am adding all 3 tomorrow. alot of his stuff is adult themed stuff made into cartoons. my fave ghibli's in order

totoro
grave of the fireflies
nausicaa and the valley of the wind
howl's moving castle
castle in the sky
princess mononoke
pom poko
porco rosso
spirted away
the cat returns
kiki's delivery service
my neighbors the yamadas

still need to see whisper of the heart. but yeah, all the movies are great and must own's imo. great for all ages.


here's my preference order:

nausicaa and the valley of the wind
spirted away
My Neighbor totoro
whisper of the heart
kiki's delivery service
grave of the firefly
porco rosso (French language dub)
castle in the sky
princess mononoke
Only Yesterday
my neighbors the yamadas
pom poko
howl's moving castle
the cat returns

[PaperStreetSoapCo]

I guess this place is as good a place as any to post this gripe I have.

First off, My Neighbor Totoro is, in my opinion, one of the best children movies ever made, and I didn't see it until I was around 17 years old. The wonder in this film can embrace any child's imagination, and what I love most about the film is there aren't any villains. While it has its sad moments, I don't see anything in the film that would terrify your kids.

Now on to my gripe. My nieces saw My Neighbor Totoro when they were about 4 and 2 years old. They absolutely loved the movie and looked forward to coming to my mom's house so they could see it again. However, when my sister-in-law watched the movie, she was disturbed by a certain scene. In the movie, the father of the two main girls bathes with them, as it is Japanese custom to bathe with your children. The mother usually bathes with the girls and the father with the boys, but given the circumstances in the film, the father had to take the mother's position.

However, when my sister-in-law saw this, she thought it to be incestuous and has forbidden her girls from watching the movie. Given, they had asked her why the father was in the bath with his two daughters, but I guess she didn't know herself and wasn't able to explain. Instead, the girls now have it in their minds that what the father did was wrong and digusting. And this pisses me off beyond belief. If they had not seen the movie and she kept them from watching it from the get-go, I wouldn't agree at all with it, but I would have some understanding. But to take something that little kids actually enjoy away from them and then to convince them that what they saw was immoral is inexcusable in my opinion.

[talemyn]

"Totoro" is just perfect for an 8 and 5 year old! Others that would work great for that age are "Kiki's DS" and "Castle in the Sky". The "message" and melodrama Miyazaki might be better appreciated when they're a little older. And if you want to cause some serious trauma, show them Ghibli's "Grave of the Fireflies". I read that one person showed it to their youngster, just knowing it was a highly acclaimed Ghibli movie and their child cried for hours afterward.I was going to say . . . absolutely no way I would ever show a kid Grave Of The Fireflies. :lol:

That being said, it's one of my all-time favorites,

[The Bus]

From the ones I've seen:


Nausicaä
Spirited Away
Panda! Go Panda!
The Castle of Cagliostro
Princess Mononoke

It's not that Princess is bad, it's just that it's the same story as Nausicaa (almost). As far as for kids?

Panda! Go Panda!
Spirited Away

are the only two I'd recommend for the very young (7 or under). The other ones have some slow parts.

[Giles]

Now on to my gripe. My nieces saw My Neighbor Totoro when they were about 4 and 2 years old. They absolutely loved the movie and looked forward to coming to my mom's house so they could see it again. However, when my sister-in-law watched the movie, she was disturbed by a certain scene. In the movie, the father of the two main girls bathes with them, as it is Japanese custom to bathe with your children. The mother usually bathes with the girls and the father with the boys, but given the circumstances in the film, the father had to take the mother's position.

However, when my sister-in-law saw this, she thought it to be incestuous and has forbidden her girls from watching the movie. Given, they had asked her why the father was in the bath with his two daughters, but I guess she didn't know herself and wasn't able to explain. Instead, the girls now have it in their minds that what the father did was wrong and digusting. And this pisses me off beyond belief. If they had not seen the movie and she kept them from watching it from the get-go, I wouldn't agree at all with it, but I would have some understanding. But to take something that little kids actually enjoy away from them and then to convince them that what they saw was immoral is inexcusable in my opinion.


Interesting you should mention this scene, in this book

http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/1880656418.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

the first American studio, not Disney, balked about the scene and almost had it removed from the video release because of fears a similiar reactions. Thankfully, at the instance of Miyazaki and his remark that not all parents should concieve the father in the movie to harbour incestious feelings towards his daughter, the scene was left in. In most cases, it's the parents that have the most problem with this scene, not children.

I could post the excerpt from the book, but that will have to wait until I get home and word for word transcribe it here to this thread.

[resinrats]

Avoid Spirited Away unless you know a good crack dealer that can hook you up. Plot makes no real sense and they just seem to go through random stuff. Your kids will be confused over it. Go with Kiki and Castle of Caglisostro (Miyazaki directed it) for the best of his stuff.

[RichC2]

Avoid Spirited Away unless you know a good crack dealer that can hook you up. Plot makes no real sense and they just seem to go through random stuff. Your kids will be confused over it. Go with Kiki and Castle of Caglisostro (Miyazaki directed it) for the best of his stuff.

My friend had the same reaction to Spirited Away, though I thought the movie made a great deal of sense both character and plotwise. It's my personal favorite Miyazaki flick up there with Totoro.

Kiki's is a good family flick, Cagliostro just didn't age as well as I had hoped.

[EddieN]

Now on to my gripe. My nieces saw My Neighbor Totoro when they were about 4 and 2 years old. They absolutely loved the movie and looked forward to coming to my mom's house so they could see it again. However, when my sister-in-law watched the movie, she was disturbed by a certain scene. In the movie, the father of the two main girls bathes with them...

I hope you put on Pom Poko instead. :lol:

My Neighbor Totoro is one of the sweetest kids movies ever made. I loved it and I'm sour as a pickle.

[DVD King]

I'm not a huge miyazaki fan but I caught a lot of these on TCM the other month and I would say Totoro is his best film--and would also say its one of the best movies you could show your kids.

having said that, I think miyazaki really missed out on a chance to make a poignant ending if you know what I mean.

[brainee]

Now on to my gripe. My nieces saw My Neighbor Totoro when they were about 4 and 2 years old. They absolutely loved the movie and looked forward to coming to my mom's house so they could see it again. However, when my sister-in-law watched the movie, she was disturbed by a certain scene. In the movie, the father of the two main girls bathes with them, as it is Japanese custom to bathe with your children. The mother usually bathes with the girls and the father with the boys, but given the circumstances in the film, the father had to take the mother's position.

However, when my sister-in-law saw this, she thought it to be incestuous and has forbidden her girls from watching the movie. Given, they had asked her why the father was in the bath with his two daughters, but I guess she didn't know herself and wasn't able to explain. Instead, the girls now have it in their minds that what the father did was wrong and digusting. And this pisses me off beyond belief. If they had not seen the movie and she kept them from watching it from the get-go, I wouldn't agree at all with it, but I would have some understanding. But to take something that little kids actually enjoy away from them and then to convince them that what they saw was immoral is inexcusable in my opinion.

Jeez, these sound like the kind of people that think parents should be charged with pedophilia for taking pictures of their toddlers in the bathtub. I share you frustration (which must be much worse, since you're in the same family). If you see child porn and incest in these scenes, I think the problem lies with the viewer, not the movie. If you really want to throw them for a loop, recommend "The Tin Drum", saying its a highly acclaimed Oscar-winning classic :)

Kudos to Miyazaki for holding his ground (and to Disney for not editing it). I hear the same kind of crap is holding up the release of the great "Only Yesterday". I don't think there are any plans to release this movie, even though Disney owns the rights. If people are bothered by "Totoro", they'll want to call the cops on this one -- little girls naked in public bathing houses, a girl having a crush on another girl, discussion of periods, boys teasing girls by pulling up their skirts. The horror!

[brainee]

having said that, I think miyazaki really missed out on a chance to make a poignant ending if you know what I mean.

I do know what you mean, but I'm glad Miyazaki went the way he did. I only recently saw Totoro for the first time, and honestly didn't know if the mother would live or die -- as daring as Miyazaki is, I was ready for anything. I like that things went out on a happy note, with a bit of sadness in the middle when issues of mortality are brought up.

[DVD King]

I do know what you mean, but I'm glad Miyazaki went the way he did. I only recently saw Totoro for the first time, and honestly didn't know if the mother would live or die -- as daring as Miyazaki is, I was ready for anything. I like that things went out on a happy note, with a bit of sadness in the middle when issues of mortality are brought up.

I can't quite iterate why, it's been a little while, but I thought how appropriate it would be that while their mother is sick, possibly dieing, the children keep going deeper into this world of fantasy, as a not totally conscious need to reject the real world. But this idea gets slammed shut in the end, with the magic of the totoro guys becoming apparently real. I agree though that it was the right ending to choose, since it is a film for children primarily. I guess I was disappointed because Miyazaki always takes that road, he never allows his films to be elevated to a level of which you can give a mature interpretation, in my opinion.

[Raffurar]

In anticipation of yesterday's releases, i didn't watch any of the films broadcast on TCM that I didn't yet own, aside from Only Yesterday. It was a really amazing film, different from the rest of these, but great in it's own way. I absolutely loved it and can't wait for its inevitable release on DVD. While it probably should have been released with the other Takahata films in August, I have a feeling they are holding out in order to pair it with another release batch (as it certainly wouldn't have fit in with the Howl batch).

I've heard rumors of Disney tossing around a set compiling some of the Ghibli shorts that have been released over the years, and I also believe there are two or three films that have no distributor as yet. I bet that they're trying to get a hold of those films and keep Only Yesterday as a back up to guarentee they have at least two films to release together. There is also the Earthsea film directed by Miyazaki's son due out in Japan this summer, I'm sure Disney will distribute this and its eventual dvd release. So, at any rate, with the new influence Pixar will have at the company and their well popularized admiration for Ghibli films, I'm not worried about an if, just waiting for the when.

Anyway, on a side note, I popped in Totoro last night, and watched it in full for the first time in Japanese (I have seen parts in subs, and the full film with the Fox dub previously, but many years ago), and I have just been in such a splendid mood all day today. It's such a magical, wonderful thing, that movie. I've always loved it, and I just love it even more, now that I own it. I'm very glad that I saved it till now, it was worth it to just have me and my dvd, and this great movie. I'll probably have my girlfriend watch it with me later this weekend, I'm sure she'll love it too! Really, if anyone is still on the fence about these movies, get off and run to the store. I can't believe anyone would regret owning these, and if they do, I doubt they made the decision to buy it.

[dtcarson]

Wow. I might pick it up.
We rented the older version from BBO, and I think my boy liked it, but he finished watching it at his grandmother's house, so I didn't get very far into it [only when the little girl met the big fuzzy creature thing in the woods].

The only issue I might have had with it was the thing about 'spirits'. I know in Japan there are spirits for everything, and they view them differently. We just kinda blew over it and said they were similar to fairies [which he knows about from Dragon Tales], because I didn't want to Americanize it like: "spirits -> ghosts -> dead people -> death" because we haven't had that discussion yet.
The bath thing, not a big deal. My boy has taken baths with me before, and I didn't see anything wrong with that scene, especially given the large bathtub and the family-oriented nature of many Japanese people. Plus, it was a cute, funny scene.
That's sad that someone barred their children from seeing this film due to that scene. But she probably lets them watch Spongebob with namecalling and cursing, or other cartoons with adult allusions or gross bodily function references.

For a child a little older, I recommend Kiki's Delivery Service. Very good, positive, feel-good, accessible film, as long as you don't have a problem with those evil depictions of witchcraft that drag children to the burning pits of hell. This is actually my favorite Miyazaki film.

I don't know about Spirited Away. They might like the weird spirits, but a lot of the allusions/references, they'll probably miss. Hell, I missed most of them.

Grave of the Fireflies? Maybe for a middle school/junior high schooler who has studied WWII. Not for younger kids, imho.

And I agree, though there may be kid-oriented parts in Miyazaki films, or the whole film maybe be kid-oriented, they're not dumb or talking-down or lowest-common-denominator. They treat kids maturely and respectfully, both in tone of the movie for the viewer, and with how a child in the film acts. They're childlike in the best way - positive, maybe a little innocent naivete, observant, always curious in the world around them. Actually, though this is most obvious in M's films, a lot of non-Americanized 'children's' anime has this feel as well. It's too bad most kids are exposed to insulting, commercial dreck like Pokemon or Yugioh or even the ruined Americanized version of Cardcaptor Sakura.

[toddly6666]

The Best Miyazaki Films from super-best to okay-best, since all of them are really good:

1. Princess Mononoke (for older kids)
2. Naussica of the Wind (for older kids)
3. Kiki's Delivery Service (for all ages)
4. My Neighbor Totoro (for all ages)
5. Pom Poko (for all ages, unless one is squeemish about animal testicles)
6. Howl's Moving Castle (for older kids)
7. Castle In the Sky (for all ages)
8. Castle of Cagliostro (for all ages)
9. Spirited Away (for older kids)
10. Porco Rosso (for all kids)

[madara]

Spirited Away for the win. My sister has made fun of anime and show a complete lack of interest in the genre until she saw SA. She's been asking for more every since. I remember my brother texting me too once after he borrowed it and getting a wow reply. Which is alot from guy too busy working out to watch movies.

[Giles]

boys teasing girls by pulling up their skirts. The horror!

I think you meant to say 'looking'.

[brainee]

I can't quite iterate why, it's been a little while, but I thought how appropriate it would be that while their mother is sick, possibly dieing, the children keep going deeper into this world of fantasy, as a not totally conscious need to reject the real world. But this idea gets slammed shut in the end, with the magic of the totoro guys becoming apparently real. I agree though that it was the right ending to choose, since it is a film for children primarily. I guess I was disappointed because Miyazaki always takes that road, he never allows his films to be elevated to a level of which you can give a mature interpretation, in my opinion.

I'll stop with the spoiler discussion, I promise :)

I see where you're coming from. But that approach isn't something I'd really expect from Miyazaki. In his movies, fantasy and magic are real. That's the world he likes to portray. I wouldn't see him taking the opposite approach in what was probably his movie with the youngest age appeal. It could've been an interesting idea if handled correctly, though.

[Giles]

I'll stop with the spoiler discussion, I promise :)

I see where you're coming from. But that approach isn't something I'd really expect from Miyazaki. In his movies, fantasy and magic are real. That's the world he likes to portray. I wouldn't see him taking the opposite approach in what was probably his movie with the youngest age appeal. It could've been an interesting idea if handled correctly, though.

I agree, and I interpret a number of films in that he approaches his story and perspective from the children's point of view - where the backstory is slightly invisible and is not supposed to be prominent and over power the story.

[talemyn]

Avoid Spirited Away unless you know a good crack dealer that can hook you up. Plot makes no real sense and they just seem to go through random stuff. Your kids will be confused over it. Go with Kiki and Castle of Caglisostro (Miyazaki directed it) for the best of his stuff.Okay, this post made me laugh. :lol:

Spirited Away definitely has a plot, but it's not one that follows the standard Western formula. I've noticed that many Japanese films have two things built into them: 1) an assumption of a knowledge of Japanese culture/history/mythology, and 2) a lack of a need to wrap up loose ends . . . side stories and supporting characters are often left unfully fleshed out. Neither of these things is bad, they are just different from what a US audience is used too. Watch enough Japanese film, and you get used to it . . . it's nothing more than a stylistic difference and I hardly notice it any more.

[talemyn]

I can't quite iterate why, it's been a little while, but I thought how appropriate it would be that while their mother is sick, possibly dieing, the children keep going deeper into this world of fantasy, as a not totally conscious need to reject the real world. But this idea gets slammed shut in the end, with the magic of the totoro guys becoming apparently real. I agree though that it was the right ending to choose, since it is a film for children primarily. I guess I was disappointed because Miyazaki always takes that road, he never allows his films to be elevated to a level of which you can give a mature interpretation, in my opinion.Eh . . . I think there that two things really address why your "issues" were handled the way they were.

1) Miyazaki has done most of his films for a child audience . . . to the point of even talking about which specific child in his life was the inspiration and/or target audience for a given film. In films that are not as child oriented (Nausicaa, Mononoke, etc.) he tends to be a little more adult oriented in his messages/themes.

2) Particularly in anime, the spirit/fantasy world is generally assumed to be real. In fact, I'm not sure if I've ever seen one (not that my viewing experience isn't limited) that has portrayed spirits, etc. as being completely imaginary.

[Janus3]

Totoro is without a doubt the best. end of story. :) i still need to see castle of caligistro and whisper of the heart (coming in the mail). anyone know when i can get Go Pando Go and Only Yesterday are coming out. and is that the last of the ghibli movies aside from shorts?

[toddly6666]

Does anybody know if the cool repeating MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO theme song has played in any other movie? I feel like I've heard it in some other movie before I actually heard it in TOTORO itself. I'm not sure If ive heard it in some other Japanese or Western movie, but I feel like someone used that song before....Does anyone know?

[Giles]

Does anybody know if the cool repeating MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO theme song has played in any other movie? I feel like I've heard it in some other movie before I actually heard it in TOTORO itself. I'm not sure If ive heard it in some other Japanese or Western movie, but I feel like someone used that song before....Does anyone know?

as far as I know the song was composed specifically for Totoro - the main theme music is so memorable that it's one of the most popular tunes from a Japanese animated film that both young and old know immediately (in Japan proper).

[DVD King]

Eh . . . I think there that two things really address why your "issues" were handled the way they were.

1) Miyazaki has done most of his films for a child audience . . . to the point of even talking about which specific child in his life was the inspiration and/or target audience for a given film. In films that are not as child oriented (Nausicaa, Mononoke, etc.) he tends to be a little more adult oriented in his messages/themes.

Yes i'm aware, and agreed that his was the right ending to choose because of that. But who hasn't wished that an ending could be different.

[ShagMan]

I have absolutely nothing to add to this thread, except to say it's great! I caught Naussica when I was a kid (lived overseas, and was friends with a japanese kid), and have recently found it, and other Miyazaki films to enjoy as an adult. I hope more and more people find and enjoy these films over time.

[talemyn]

Yes i'm aware, and agreed that his was the right ending to choose because of that. But who hasn't wished that an ending could be different.I just don't think that there is anyway that he could have. If you are suggesting the ending that I think you are, it would have turned it from a kids film to an childlike adults film. I don't think it could have survived as both. For me, at least, it would no longer be a movie that I would want to show to a kid.

Plus, I think it would have lost a lot of it's charm. The innocence and sweetness that permeate through the film would have taken a pretty big hit.

All that bring said, I appreciate what you're saying, I just don't think it would have worked in this film. Some of his others maybe, but not Totoro.

[Raffurar]

anyone know when i can get Go Pando Go and Only Yesterday are coming out. and is that the last of the ghibli movies aside from shorts?

Panda Go Panda! can be purchased at Amazon here (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00012QLUU/dvdtalk/dvdtalk/dvdtalk/qid=1141939236/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_1/102-2827362-2965725?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance&n=130) . Only Yesterday is under the Disney distribution deal and should have been released last August with My Neighbors the Yamadas and Pom Poko, but they pulled it for some reason. As far as I know, a dub has not been produced, but it was aired on TCM this January with a subtitle track. See my earlier post in this thread for how I feel its release will be handled.

There are a couple of commercials and music videos that Ghibli has produced that I doubt are worth fighting to have released here. The only other movie is Ocean Waves, a movie made for TV. I don't know much about this movie, other than that it's about a girl and her school life. I've heard rumblings that Disney might try to release this, but it is not part of the deal they have with Studio Ghibli, so I don't know how much they'd work to get it over here.

You can also investigate pre Ghibli stuff that Miyazaki and Takahata were involved with other than Panda Go Panda, such as Animal Treasure Island, Sherlock Hound, Lupin, Anne of Green Gables, and some other shows and films probably not available in the US. One film I'm very interested to see from this era is Hols, Prince of the Sun, which I believe is available in the UK. Hopefully this becomes available soon.

[DVD King]

I just don't think that there is anyway that he could have. If you are suggesting the ending that I think you are, it would have turned it from a kids film to an childlike adults film. I don't think it could have survived as both. For me, at least, it would no longer be a movie that I would want to show to a kid.

Plus, I think it would have lost a lot of it's charm. The innocence and sweetness that permeate through the film would have taken a pretty big hit.


Not to drag this out too much longer, but I think it could have worked fine. I should clarify though that I wouldn't exactly be in favor of killing the mother off, but rather putting her in a netural position. What I dislike about the film's ending is that it builds up this drama, and it turns out to be nothing--how does it go, she has a cold? And it goes beyond the call of duty by showing her in full health in the credits playing with the kids. To me it feels like miyazaki is saying, hey, don't be sad, it will all turn out alright in the end! or all grief is just a passing storm. It's why I have a hard time taking some of his films seriously, as being anything more than indulging in child-like niaveness. But as I keep saying, because of the very young target audience, the ending is completely appropriate.

[littlefuzzy]

Sherlock Hound is available in the US. I think they may be OOP, but are probably still available at reasonable prices.

[Janus3]

Panda Go Panda! can be purchased at Amazon here (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00012QLUU/dvdtalk/dvdtalk/dvdtalk/dvdtalk/qid=1141939236/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_1/102-2827362-2965725?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance&n=130) . Only Yesterday is under the Disney distribution deal and should have been released last August with My Neighbors the Yamadas and Pom Poko, but they pulled it for some reason. As far as I know, a dub has not been produced, but it was aired on TCM this January with a subtitle track. See my earlier post in this thread for how I feel its release will be handled.

There are a couple of commercials and music videos that Ghibli has produced that I doubt are worth fighting to have released here. The only other movie is Ocean Waves, a movie made for TV. I don't know much about this movie, other than that it's about a girl and her school life. I've heard rumblings that Disney might try to release this, but it is not part of the deal they have with Studio Ghibli, so I don't know how much they'd work to get it over here.

You can also investigate pre Ghibli stuff that Miyazaki and Takahata were involved with other than Panda Go Panda, such as Animal Treasure Island, Sherlock Hound, Lupin, Anne of Green Gables, and some other shows and films probably not available in the US. One film I'm very interested to see from this era is Hols, Prince of the Sun, which I believe is available in the UK. Hopefully this becomes available soon.

thanks a bunch

[rabbit77]

I have a 6 week old son and I can't wait until he's old enough to watch his movies. I wished I was younger when I first saw his movies. I was 19 or so when I go into his stuff.

[talemyn]

I own one of his films; "Princess Mononoke". I'm thinking about using the '2 for $34' deal at Best Buy next week and picking up "Howl's Moving Castle" along with either "Whisper of the Heart" or "My Neighbor Totoro".

Which is the better film? My kids are very into Disney feature animation, and I want to introduce them to something different. I have an 8yr old daughter and a 5yr old son. I don't want to end up with something at the level of say "Barney" as I fear Totoro may be (and forgive my ignorance if I'm way off).

Opinions appreciated, thanks1) Thanks for cluing me into the deal . . . I had missed it until this thread (I picked up H'sMC and MNT today).

2) So . . . uh . . . what'd you end up getting? :D