Cool News
A report on the English language premiere of Miyazaki's CASTLE IN THE SKY
Well geeks the old B(labber)-mouse has been nibbling away at the Big Apple and has scored the following Anime feature story for Father Geek, Robo, and all you other Fans of the genre out there in cyberland. Without further adieu here's the news straight from the mouse's lips...
Thought I'd take a break from all the 'Emperor's New Groove' brou-ha-hah to
share some really exciting animation news. Here in New York City the 3rd
Annual International Children's Film Festival (print ads & posters all over
town featuring Astroboy zooming at'cha) just got under way with the English
language premiere of Hayao Miyazaki's "Laputa," or as it's now known,
"Castle In The Sky." (I mean, who wants to see an animated feature about a
Spanish prostitute... don't answer that.)
Those of us who brought the Buena Vista (aka Disney) home video release of
"Kiki's Delivery Service" remember the promo before the movie promising a
1999 hv release of CITS that never took place. The good news is 1) the
English-language dubbing is tops in taps, better even than 'Kiki's (I think
one of the main things keeping anime from really taking off in this country
is the generic-voiced, quick 'n dirty dubbing they generally receive) and
2), the buzz at the screening is that the film is now going to get a
BIG-TIME theatrical release! I only heard this 2nd piece of news 3rd-hand,
since I saw the film at a Saturday screening & not at the gala Friday
opening night premiere plus reception, so I can't provide any back-up to
what people were saying.
As to the movie itself, all I can say is this may be the one that finally
puts Miyazaki over the top in the US, especially if Disney REALLY gets
behind it with some serious PR & marketing (you know, like they're doing
with 'The Tigger Movie') - not just a throwaway campaign. Back in September
when "Princess Mononoke" had its premiere, the Museum of Modern Art in NYC
had a Miyazaki retrospective & I saw a subtitled version Laputa on the big
screen in a pristine print. (By the way, another Miyazaki festival is part
of this current Children's Film Festival, beginning the end of the month at
the American Museum of the Moving Image in Queens (one of NYC's outer
boroughs), while the main festival is full of anime, including lotsa Tezuka:
A-boy, Kimba & Princess Saphire). Since I'm a big-time intellectual, I
prefer subtitles myself; the ones on Laputa told the story precisely &
succinctly & after a while your brain (or my brain, anyway) starts hearing
the Japanese voices speaking the!
English titles with all the original emotional inflections intact.
However, the general audience - not connoisseurs (i.e., fanboy-geeks) like
ourselves demands English-speaking performers, and I'm very pleased to
report the film's dubbing makes it feel like the characters really are
speaking the English you're hearing. For 1 thing, they've somehow avoided
the weird pacing English dubbing often has when they match it up to the
characters' lip movements - the dialog has a natural flow & feel to it. At
first listen James Van Der Beek's voice (for Pazu) sounds a little too
'teenager trying to sound like a kid,' but after a couple of lines he
clicked for me & I had no trouble believing him. Anna Paquin's Sheeta is
fine too - in terms of emotion & distinctive character, they both rise way
above the anonymous voices that seem to do every other anime.
But Cloris Leachman as pirate leader Dola absolutely makes the film. She's
recreated the original Japanese voice talent's abrasive-tongued,
sharp-witted (& secretly warm-hearted) delivery to a T & beyond. The
writer(s) responsible for the English language script deserve tons of credit
too - they added lots of lines that helped to flesh out the characters,
clarify the plot & throw in extra laughs to boot, all without feeling
forced. FYI, Mark Hamill does a fine job as the villain, in his evil, icily
charming mode. (I seem to recall that trailer on 'Kiki' advertising Keifer
Sutherland in the part, but I don't have the tape here in front of me right
now.)
The guy who introduced the film said the original composer (he couldn't
remember Joe Hisaishi's name) had rescored parts of the movie, and the music
did sound 'bigger' in lots of places, including the very beginning, where
(unfortunately in my opinion) they added music to a terrific moment that
originally featured only the natural sound of the pirates' ship whirring
along. Interestingly, the closing credits still had a Japanese-language pop
song going on in the background.
Oh, and for anyone who's NOT familiar with this movie, it's set in what's
called a 'Steam Victorian' universe, an imaginary, Jules Verne-style late
19th / early 20th century world of flying airships & mechanical technology.
A young girl named Sheeta is pursued by mysterious government agents and
comical 'air pirates' for the mysterious 'levitation stone' she possesses.
She escapes and falls (literally) into the arms of Pazu, a young orphan boy
obsessed with reaching 'Laputa,' a legendary flying island his father once
glimpsed - and their adventures begin. This film has twice as much action -
and ten times the heart - of any Indiana Jones film, and it's become not
just one of my favorite anime films, but one of my favorite films, period.
(Miyazaki is on record as saying the film is his favorite among his works as
well.) YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED: DO - NOT - MISS - IT.
I know this is a long message FATHER GEEK, but I'm really pumped on this one.
B(labber)-mouse
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The only good Japanimation was "Grave Of The Fireflies" which is ignored because it lacks big blowsy babes with wide-open eyes.
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People who claim first or invoke Iron Giant in AICN chats suck.
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That sounds incredible...as someone who doesnt know SQUAT about anime, I for one am glad that us non "fanboy geeks" are getting the chance to see these films as they should be seen...on the big screen!
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You know, I can't decide if Disney is trying to bury Miyazaki, or if his films are simply incapable of finding a wider audience in the states. After seeing PM last fall, and despite Miramax's awful ad campaign, I'm leaning toward the latter. This is not to say the man isn't a genius, but only that his work is a tad too thoughtful for general American audiences. Fine by me. I'd hate to see Team Rodent strike a tie-in deal with McDonalds and pimp his work like they do everything else.
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For some reason I was told (and came to believe) that Castle in the Sky had become retitled as Princess Mononoke. I had heard great buzz about Castle and was shocked when Mononoke got only so-so reviews. There's a lesson to be learned here. Don't trust people who are dumber than you are.
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The film in question, was dubbed into english WAY BACK IN 92!
It's was shown in the UK on the ITV television network in winter 93!
Talk about folk being rippeed off!!
SSHHEEEEESSSSSSSSHHH!
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I've never really found the appeal of Japanese Anime. Call me wierd, but it doesn't affect me. Most of the Anime I've seen is just stock cliche characters running around a future city attacking the 'evil monster'. C'mon, if I had more time, I'll list all of these Japanese Anime cliches, and why they're anti-American (that last part is a joke, BTW). That's a teaser, folks.--Saulot--
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I actually saw this film on the big screen about ten years ago. It was still called "Laputa" back then, from the Jonathon Swift story that the plot was derived from.
This dub was from Streamline, and was part of their proud tradition of *terrible* anime dubs. (Probably what they showed in England.) Badly written, and poorly acted dialogue aside, the movie itself was (and is) fantastic, and I've watched my (untranslated) video-tape copy many times over the intervening years.
This is simply my favorite Miyazaki picture. It has all the of the action, story, and romance, that I felt was missing in Mononoke.
It's also got the first on-screen appearance of the Iron Giant! (Those who've seen the film know what I'm talking about...)
Like all good anime' it starts small and builds to a truly epic conclusion. After seeing what a great job Disney has done with Kiki's, I'm looking forward to seeing this new version. -
I'm looking forward to seeing Laputa dubbed. I had heard someone (Streamline?) did a dub in the early 90's and wouldn't mind seeing that one as well. I'm glad the Disney version is well done but I have doubts about heir desire to promote this film. When they released Princess Mononoke, they did little to market it. Just a couple of newspaper ads and one theatre to show it without benefit of television or radio vignettes (at least in my area.) No matter how good the voice work, word of mouth alone cannot propel a film into mainstream markets. Disney knew this about Toy Story 2 and Fantasia. I believe they knew this about PM and decided to bury it at with no advertising budget. Laputa may get better treatment, but I won't believe that until I see the commercials myself.
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Feb 07, 2000 4:17:44 PM CST
Laputa is a Wonderful, Magical Film Will Probably Fail to Find a
by bink.uk
Laputa is one of my all time favourite films, and I am *not* an anime fan. A lot of people who are not into anime will love this movie - especially sci-fi fans. It's fantastically creative and makes imaginitive leaps from the very first minute. It dares to be at times whimsical, then suspenseful, then terrifying, then poetic. It might remind some people of older, vintage Disney but it's a world away from today's Disney product. And the animation has that slightly crude, anime look to it. That's why I fear the re-release may not get the business it deserves. Having said that, Pokemon did okay, didn't it? We'll see. Anyway, I recommend the movie wholeheartedly.
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Never did get a chance to see Princess Mononoke... definitely something to rent. However, "Kiki" was great and the Nausicaa graphic comic series, which a friend is currently loaning me, is *amazing*. It's the first comic book ever to send chills down my spine. "Castle" needs to be pretty good, though, in order to beat... say... Evangelion, the show which I completely worship.
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Laputa's original soundtrack contains quite a bit of dated sounding electronic music that the composer decided to rescore using a full orchestra. Unfortunately, silence in animated film is something that American seemed to not appreciate, and he had to fill out those intentionally quiet moment with "mickey mousing" music bits.
Well, aleast the original guy is doing it, unlike Kiki's dub which got "mickey moused" by somebody else. Furthermore, I'm glad that they leave the original ending song "Carry Away" alone. It's a beautiful song. -
Woo-hoo! Miyazaki the all-time master of visual poetry, finally getting another door opened here in the USA. It's unfortunate that Miramax's marketing was SO BAD for Princess Mononoke. Example: I went several times, dragging different friends to see it each go 'round, and they all were asking, "What is this movie you're taking me to?" Of course they were all blown away, impressed to the ninth power, even the friend who hated animation! Now how much better could the film have done if they bothered to create a CONSUMER AWARENESS for it?? Oh, mighty powers of Buena Vista HEAR ME! I BESEECH YOU!! Give the brilliant Castle in the Sky a chance! Position it in the marketplace as you would one of your typical shlock-formula Tarzans and watch the public embrace Miyazaki! Show us that you've got balls and are willing to put true art in the cinemaplex instead of dreck! ....[pant, pant] ....Oh, man, I need a valium.
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I thought I should clarify that
the (badly-edited) video trailer for Castle in the Sky packaged
with the Kiki tape does not advertise anyone as playing the villain, but his voice, heard briefly, sounds like Hamill's. The writer of this article probably confused him with Sutherland because sutherland has done voice work for Anime
translations before (In Armitage III, with Elizabeth Berkely.) -
You've got one of the most beautifully animated films ever made; yet, you give it a poster that's, at best, a cheap knock-off of the original CALIGULA one-sheet. Miramax set out not to sell this movie, but to bury it. Fuckers.
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Have you seen what he looks like recently? Jeeze, its the Pilsbury Doughboy meets The Incredible Melting Man! Creepy!
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They showed Laputa on the telly in the UK a few years ago at about 3 in the morning.
It was ace, and dubbed, so I presume this is a re-dubbing, rather than the version I saw.
Still, a film well worth checking out. -
There is no "Miyazaki is best" or "Disney is better." Miyazaki's work should be appreciated independently of Disney.
I'm looking forward to when Miyazaki's films get their duly-deserved audience. The dubbing for Hime Mononoke surpassed any smaller studio dubbings (ie, Manga Entertainment, AnimEgo, Streamline, et. al). As long as they're not casting ridiculous voices (ie, Nadia and Robotech) with bad timing, I'll be there.
I still don't get the callow competitive attitude some people have with pedestalizing Japanese or American animation. Both are enjoyable (to some degree: The Little Mermaid is just as annoying as Macross 7); both can suck big pecans.
Just my opinion.
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It sounds better than "anime"and it makes weird stuff like "Castle in the Sky"and "My Neighbor Totoro"sound not-so-sophistimacated.
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I have to disagree with the reviewer on this one point. While I found the film visually fantastic, I thought that voice acting absolutely dreadful. The two leads sounded half asleep the whole film, the sounded as challenged as someone who works at Burger King. I mean c'mon, let's face it, James Van Der whatever isn't known for being a freaking thespian, he's the hunk of the month. It becomes apparent during any of the scenes with Cloris Leachman, who was fantastic, her experience and enthusiasm really shined. I was a even a little disappointed with Luke Skywalkers performance, the voice was too much like "the Joker" voice I thought, he was fine, but I felt the similarity was distracting.
I really wished Disney had taken the same care with the casting and performances in this film as they do with the rest of their films. You'll notice more unknown names in the leads of their films (ie Little Mermaid, Hercules, Pocohantas), they instead tend to hire more experienced, better voice actors, while this film suffers because of the casts sleepy performance. But maybe that's what the voice director was going for, a sleepy, bored recital of lines.
My opinion,
Fromage -
This is what you've, hopefully, been waiting this afternoon for. The Anime Stock Character Sheet, completed by Saulot. On with it! 1) The silent, but useful demon/dragon hunter 2)The (blonde) heroine who thinks she's tough, that is, until her skills are called upon. 3) The hot-shot fat pilot ace. 4) The magical animal/young kid used for comic relief. 5)The completely naive young girl. 6) The 'kewl' pretty-boy hero. 7) The bitch. Need I go on?--Saulot--
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The "Castle" trailer that ran before "Kiki" featured voices that just sounded WRONG. Dawson's Creek dude's voice was WAY too deep for Pazu, who is like, what? 11-years-old? And why were they calling him Patsu? Anna Paquin sounded surprisingly out of place as Sheeta. I hope to God it was just pre-production roughness that they fixed - maybe with pitch shifting or something. Has anyone else seen the new dub?
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Your funny cliche list was pretty adroit, but misplaced. NONE of those flimsy cliches are to be found anywhere in Miyazaki's films. You've been watching too much Ronin Warriors and Vampire Hunter D; which is crap of the lowest level (along with Pokemon).
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it really pains me when people dismiss miyazaki with a wave and a comment like 'oh, anime, i don't like anime.' please stop generalizing japanese animation and realize that there are amazing filmmakers all over the world, and some of them are in japan and are making animated films. miyazaki is a genius and by not even giving his films a chance you're hurting yourself and everyone else who hasn't been exposed to them. the more people open their eyes and realize that america doesn't have a monopoly on brilliant filmmakers and that live action does not have a monopoly on brilliant films, the more these amazing pieces of work will be given the credit they deserve. it is unfathomable to me how someone can claim to be something of a fan of movies and yet are not even willing to give a movie like this a chance. i urge anyone with any doubts about the quality of these films to just give them a chance. i think you'll be surprised at what you've been missing.
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I bought a fansub (for those of you not in the know, that's short for "Fan Subtitled) of LAPUTA: CASTLE IN THE SKY, and it instantly became one of my favorite animated films ever. But I am disappointed to hear about Disney trifling with it yet again by dubbing half-stoned whiny American actors onto yet another Miyazaki trimuph. Fuck the masses! If they're trying for a theatrical release do a GOOD job with the dubbing, and they better damn well make the video releases have subtitles and original dialog tracks available. The only upside to this is the rescoring by Joe Hisashi, whom I think is a brilliant composer. I'm waiting for the DVDs of this and MONONOKE. Those of you who want to see this might like the theatrical experience, but I can guess that the voice dubbing will detract from the film for everyone but the illiterate and young children.
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Well said indeed! Don't let your experience with something really awful like DragonBall Z stop you from enjoying true vision and artistry like Miyazaki.
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When the hell are they releasing Totoro? Actually I do have the fox dub on Laser, which I thought was pretty good. I just want everyone else to see it. By the way, I thought Miyazaki was quoted as saying Totoro was his favourite, not Laputa. Also, does anyone know how Disney are able to cut the bath scene? I thought the contract explicitly stated that they couldn't touch a frame (though that doesn't stop them doing 'creative' dubbing).____________Finally.....Moop - "pedestalizing "?????______________User ID; that joke was very, er, sophistimacated!
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Fine you don't like anime. So what? I can't stand losers who come on to the discussion boards just for the sole purpose of bashing what they don't like. Your opinions of japanimation have nothing to do with the topic yet you have nothing better to do than come on here and waste post space bashing anime. Grow up and get a life.
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Anime is far from Cliche...anyone who says that has been watching too much DBZ, pokemon and such.
Miyazaki is free of most of these. But there is the plot ideas that are commen. But they are not just commen in anime, but in story telling as a whole. The Sir Dumb goes out into the greater world and meets assorted heros and villians and saves the world.
ANime is the Japanese word for it. Japanimation, look at it...JAP-animation. Jap is pretty rude, and up there with the N word. thats the main argument aganst japanation.
I just wish some of the truely brilliant animes (eva, Lain, Utena) would get more exposure than they currently get. They are a thousand times more creative than anything that has appeard here. ah well...i hope CITS gets alot more press than Mononoke did, I wonder if Clinton saw that too... -
I am user id INDEED(exclamation point optional).I wish people wouldn't get my name all screwed up.Thanks for the compliment,though.
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Far be it from me to turn this into another flame war, but as you can tell, I'm a VHD fan. However, I love Miyazaki's work. Laputa, Mononoke, Totoro (especially) and want all of it on DVD....
I prefer the subtitled versions, but the dubbed version of PM was excellent. I'm looking forward to the release of Laputa on the big screen. I'm bummed i missed Totoro (I was in a boondock town at the time) and might still have the tape kicking around.
However, I'm glad that anime like this is getting around again. It's too good to lie in vaults, watched only by fandom... -
You probably just need to be more discriminating. Leave the hard core hentai alone, and try THE WINGS OF HONNEAMISE. Or, just don't try at all, and leave anime to the rest of us.
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I thought all those fanboy types liked that genre.Personally,I think it's weird to make animated porn.Having seen the tickle-torture scene from that Kekko Kamen movie(don't ask-even I don't know how I got involved in that smut)lemmee just say I'm glad WE don't make that stuff.In my ever-so-humble opinion,Japanimation(yes,that's the name that should stick)should be limited to cyber-thrillers in the future and cute cuddly stuff like Sailor Moon.Hmm..on second thought,that last one makes a bad argument.
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First of all, to madamidam, you only enjoy Grave of the Firflies, huh? Because it has no babes? I'm gonna hold off on the gay jokes and get straight to the point. Grave is made by the same stuido who made Castle in the Sky, and just to let you know, NONE of Studio Ghibli's anime have big blowsy babes with eyes wide open. and to you, PORTISHEAD, get your facts straight. The film in question WAS dubbed back in 92, yes, but this is a BRAND NEW DUB, which is done with much more talent and quality. Sorry to break it to you NAGUAL and VHD, but when Buena Vista signed a deal with studio Ghibli, they left out the rights to produce DVD versions of the movies. This was only because when they signed the deal the DVD marketplace was just begginning and Disney wasn't sure if it would take off or not, so they didn't bother. This means no DVD of Princess Mononoke or Castle in the Sky for at least quite a while. But I'll give Disney this, they did the best the could without the rights and made a dub AND a sub available for KIKI, so they will probably do the same for this. I can't believe Disney actually would do that but they did. HALF VADER, where did you hear Disney would cut the bath scene? I never heard anything about it, I figured they would leave it in like fox did. Hopefully they don't even re-dub Fox's Totoro dub, I think it is good just the way it is. God Bless Studio Ghibli and Miyazaki, they are the best. Later! -TrainSpotter
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Quickly, to the one that pronounces it JAP-animation, have you ever considered that some (most) people say JAPAN-imation? Tends to sound much less racist that way. Ok, to the goods... not Miyazaki-related (don't worry, though, I'm a huge *new* fan... saw Mononoke 4 times on the big screen, and acquired several wide-screen fansubs of his other flicks)... ANYWAY... has anyone seen "Perfect Blue"? It's playing in Vancouver, B.C. right now and is pretty fucking good. The editing/direction is crazy and all over the place, and the story is a little hard to keep up with for this reason. But I loved it. It was dubbed, unfortunately, and I think a little was lost in the translation, but the ending to this original "who-dunnit?"-style flick is very satisfying, which is rare.
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Someone should bring Macross Plus to the big screen. Its a stand alone story with Amazing animation that would do well with American audiences. Its more 'adult' then your typical big mecha anime. Possibly a re-edit of the movie version (thought the OAV was better then the movie) with american actors voices.
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Right. As we can see from the headline of this excellent article, Japanese animation is a genre. As we know, a genre is a group of things that share a particular form and style. I can see an awful lot of similar substance in the timeless art created by Miyazaki and the fade-and-flash pop trash of "Pokemon".
Really, I can. They are both animated medium. They are both products of Japan. Therefore, aren't they really intrinsically the same?
It's really by using words like "genre" to write about Japanese animation that fans unintentionally hurt what they are trying to endorse. By telling everyone that it's a genre, you suggest that it's all the same. That's why people say "anime sux." Because "Slayers" does suck, logically, Miyazaki's films therefore should suck too, as it's all the same pile of crap.
Maybe we should try to appreciate Japanese animation as a diverse medium if we really want people to take it seriously. And if we really are, we should use the words that reflect that.
yours,
Sweet Potato Man (for hire) -
I am anxiously awaiting the release of Castle in the sky. I am very pleased at the way that article about the release of Laputa was written. yeah too bad it's not about a spanish prostitute. Do you know if and when disny will help release Nausicaa of the valley of wind, or Pom Poko? I've only seen three of Miyazaki's works (My neihbor Totoro, Kiki's Delivery Service, and Princess Mononke.) But I also did see another one of Studio Ghibli's works by Tanaka i think, called Grave of the Fireflies. All of these films are excellent and I just wish they would release more in america. Somehow in a way I don't like how Miyazaki has teamed up with Disney, although if he didn't I probably would have never seen any of his movies. More people need to know about his works. I have three heros now, Bruce Lee, Muhamud Ali, and Hayao Miyazaki.
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Well, I am glad to see Laputa coming to a wider audience (saw the Streamline dub in Berkley on the big screen years ago). And having seen Mononoke, I think they can do a good job of it. It really should get a bigger income though, being far more accessable of a story than Mononoke, so we will see.....now how about "Porco Rosso"!
And to the earlier comment about preffering "Japanimation" over "Anime"...I guess I can see your point, but to be honest, I allways thought it sounded like a slur...like (pardon this please) "Niggernomics"...just my two cents... -
What, do you have to be japanese to animate in the japanimation style of animation? I think about 95% of anime sucks ass, while 5% of it is cooler than fuck. Other than Miyazaki my three favorite anime movies are Akira, Roujin Z, and (never ever bash) Vanpire Hunter D. I'll have to admit I don't like the big eyes and irritating voices, but Project Ako was pretty funny. There are some cool ones i know i haven't found yet. Who gives a fuck if you call it anime or japanimation. frankly japanimation sounds funny and takes longer to write so I dont' bother with it. American animation studios don't all suck. Come on, the animation in The Iron Giant was brilliant. I can't think of any other movies off the top of my head, but Pokemon can like my nuts. SIMPSONS, the Critic, Southpark, FUTURAMA. Matt Groening (sp) is a god. I need to get me a hold of this Nausicaa Manga comic that's out there somewhere. Not to mention that movies going to be sweet once they Disney releases it. Disney, damn them. You know some dude just released all these old warner Bros. cartoons here at a small theater in Portland OR, that were really old and had racist or biggetry in them. He got them from Ted Turner somehow. I am definatly no racist at all but these cartoons were fucking funny. I can't believe they used to animate stuff like that. That bugs, sure was a wascaly wassist wabbit at won point. -Peace out-
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Damn, i forgot about Porco Rosso. I can't wait to see that thing. I can't believe they wanted to only show it onboard airlines. Well any of you should go here http://www.nausicaa.net/miyazaki/films/
I don't know of any better place that gives you links and shit to all of miyazaki and studio ghibli's movies. if you do, then tell me why don't ya.
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YOU HAD BETTER NOT BE @#$%*@ LYING TO ME! Disney and Miramax suck. I can't say it too many times.
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I had a chance to see this film over the weekend..Personally I thought it was Disney's best dub of a Miyazaki film. I completely agree with the reviewers comments.
While I will always recall the original version with high regard I must say that I will be watching this one many more times in the future whether it be on DVD, VHS or in a theatre(I hope!)..
I think that this could be the film to breakthrough the common misperceptions of Japanese animation in the american filmgoing populous. -
Forget a live action Astroboy film, get Myazaki to do an anime feature of Astroboy. It would be 100 times better than any live action version we could come up with. On a lighter note, I'm getting a Betta fish and naming it Bob.
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Dubbing is for the Illiterate. (TM)
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There's no mention in your review of the voice/casting director of "Castle in the Sky". His name is Jack Fletcher. He's also responsible for the voice/casting direction of Miazaki's "Princess Mononoke. He is currently regarded as the best in the business and has plenty of other new projects in the pipeline. You'll hear more from him I guarantee it.
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all you have seen is busty babes with guns attacking be-tentacled beasties in an evil city, I have the following to say: There is much better stuff out there, that is simply one genre amoung many! For instance take :
Maison Ikkoku, Hime-chan no Ribbon, Akazukin ChaCha, Crayon ShinShin(sp?), Fushigi no Umi no Nadia, Marmalade Boy, Kodomo no Omacha, Whispers of the Heart, Laputa, All the Lupin movies, Fairy Princess Ren, Omohide Poro Poro, Grave of the Fireflies, Video Girl Ai, Visions of Escaflowne, Legends of Galactic Heroes, Magical Knights Rayearth (No really, unless you've seen the ending of season one, shut up), ad infinitum. The problem seems to be that nobody except fanboys are interested in watching the more touching types of stories. The only thing the "general public" seems to be interested in dishing money out for is T&A. Personally I blame all you closed-minded smucks out there who continually rag on Anime as not being anything more than T&A and violence. -
Excellent list of titles. But lots of them are shoujo(young girl) titles, which are always a hard sell in the US. Of which, the only one that has actually find US distribution are: Maison Ikkoku (not a shoujo, but at 96 episodes and 8 episodes an year, I am looking at alternative source for it), Nadia (whenever ADV actually release it), Whisper of the Heart(Disney acquired this one), Laputa(the name of this thread), Only Yesterday (another Disney acquired), Grave of the Fireflies (CPM released, available now, and watch it now), Video Girl Ai (whenever Viz actually finish it), Vision of Escaflowne (Available now from animevillage.com), Magic Knights Rayearth (Mediablaster should be finishing this one soon). Some of which are kind of impossible to do, Kodomo no Omocha is 102 episodes of hyperspeed show that's actually quite adult in its treatment of storylines. And while I'd love to have someone with balls enough to try releasing Legend of Galatic Heroes, I realize that it is just not possible for the Japanese equivalence of B5 to be release in the US (110 episodes of sequential high space opera), I too will be looking at alternative source for that.
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I am soooo tired of negativity on this site.Can't we all just...GET ALONG?Japanimation is different,because it's more artistic and involving than most American anmimation.That don't make it BAD,people!My neck hurts.
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I changed my mind about the negativity.Negativity can be a good thing.For example,I can't stand Digimon.It's the only thing worse than Pokemon.It's FAKE ANIME,people!!!!The idiots at Fox think the fact that Pokemon is anime is what made it a hit,so they made an IDENTICAL copy of pokemon with characters that purposely have big eyes and mouths that don't match their words!!!It's an American-made anime CONSPIRACY!!!!Callous bastards!!
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My neck hurts
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Are as good as a snowballs chance in h-e-double toothpicks! After the outright conspiracy on Mononoke, it's time to face facts, and anime released by disney, or a subsidiary, is doomed to failure on the open market. They want to kill the genere as quickly as possible to eliminate all the anime competition. The truth is out there folks, and it's in your face, and you don't see the forest for the trees. Get a clue everyone, you're being duped into seeing only kiddie fluff anime. They won't release anything good (Akira, Ghost in the shell) in theatres you don't have to drive 20 miles to, or going to an "Independent" Theatre, which only shows it for a week. I've had just about enough of this crap, and something's gotta give. If this does get released, get it released! FULL BLOWN!
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Feb 08, 2000 7:23:08 PM CST
<Well, the crappy Anime is the only stuff my friends let me watc
by saulot
From what my so-called chums watch, almost all of it is really lousy blonde, big breasted, squeaky voice Anime. I'm just calling it how I see it. I'm sure there is some good Anime out there, but I have yet to find it.--Saulot--
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I don't know if that's such a great excuse for making such obviously ignorant statements. You cannot go around insulting an entire diverse collection of films. That is just silly, come on...It's like making an inference about the quality of Citizen Kane after watching Godzilla. Please, spare us your sparkling insights next and for all time.
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Sorry to just throw this out, but you only had to drive 20 minutes to go see Mononoke Hime? Lucky. I had to drive four hours to Chicago. So don't complain.
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Umm...sorry to ruin your fun, but Digimon _is_ anime. It originated in Japan, it's being produced by Japanese companies, and it's definitely drawn by Japanese artists. It's currently being shown on Japanese TV in its original version, about 10 episodes ahead of the U.S dubbed version. || Moving on, yes, I can't wait for CASTLE. It's truly a great film, not just a great animated film.
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Feb 08, 2000 10:12:45 PM CST
Uh, isn't it obvious why anime will never "take off" in this cou
by niiiice
Anime is most definitely a niche market. It's the same reason why Being John Malkovich makes 30 million and Armageddon gets 200 million. How much anime lets you turn off your brain and go "Duhr, look at the pretty explosions!" Well, actually there are some like that. But for the most part, the ones that have received the most exposure in the States, they involve complex storylines, lots of characters and thought-provoking issues. Not you average moviegoer's cup of tea. Also many anime are serial in nature, you jump into the middle of Neon Genesis Evangelion, you won't know what the hell is going on and will get turned off (actually, even watching the whole thing could be confusing). As an example, I offer Disney's Tarzan versus the legendary Akira. Tarzan has everything a watered-down consumer could want: predictable plot, pretty pictures, clearly defined heroes and villains and no thinking required. Now let's get to Akira. Violent. Social commentary on political ambition gone mad, and the dangers of scientific progression (something which is even more effective in today's age). And over half the people who see it for the first time think either "Boring" or "What the hell!" Make sense now?
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The mouths,while not matching like all anime,seem to fit the words really well,and the animation doesn't have the "look".It looks more like the cut-and-paste jobs of tripe like that show with the ugly little girl who can talk to animals or some garbage like.And it's pretty ironic that it should come out at exactly the same time as Pokemon's burst in popularity...very INTERESTING,Mr.Kotter...
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This DOES sound cool! This could start a liking to the "Steam Punk" genere. I've always wanted to see how you'd use steam as a powersource for some mean contrivance... As for Digimon, it's been getting serious lately, taking a "The lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe"-esque quality, with a uniquely anime twist. Just as long as it don't turn into a DBZ slugfest, and just built the drama, there might be a new contender for the anime champ of 2000! As for pokemon, I don't WANT to SEE another mentioning of pokemon here, it pollutes the aura of this site, and is a spawn of EVIL! *grrr* I just wish some people would watch some REAL QUALITY anime BEFORE baking a total judgement, yes, there are some real bombs, but there are some really good anime titles out there. Just putting a little more in...
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Iaidoka, you say dubbing is for the illiterate? Well take this into mind, the animators go through all of that work so you can WATCH THE ANIMATION, not read subtitles. I agree that yes, subtitles are the better medium, but it anime was always intended to be watched and understood, not to have been read, than look up at the pictures for a few seconds, than read some more. Sometimes when hack dub jobs are done, than yes subbing is better, but in the case of something like Mononoke, Dubbings simply takes the cake....DarthEvil, I know that in a lot of ways, Disney does suck. But I wouldn't call them evil, I mean, they did stick out their necks and grab the rights to all the Studio Ghibli movies to bring them to the states, and in my opinon, they did a pretty damn good dub job for Mononoke. Also, they weren't even allowed any marketing rights, so they aren't total trash.....Just think what Disney is capable of. Have you seen Tarzan, that animation is simply AMAZING...If they put their efforts to something deeper than crappy Disney movies, people would think less of anime, its just that subject matter and the environments of anime are so much cooler than kid friendly Disney.
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. . .don't worry too much about the people who think "Anime sux" (I assume you're referring to madamimadam). They probably caught SPEED RACER or something truly godawful like UROTSUKIDOJI and now think that all anime is like that. After all, what would a Japanese think of our flicks if the only thing they ever saw was SHOWGIRLS or PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE? *Yuck.* And Niiiice, you hit the nail right on the head about why anime may never take off big time here. As proof, look at the exception which proves the rule: POKEMON. As fluffy, cute and brainless as almost anything else you'll see on Saturday morning TV. Oh, well--let the masses have their soma! I'll take MONONOKE HIME, GUNBUSTER, RANMA and the incomperable AKIRA any day of the week.
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. . .DRAGONBALL Z whups ass.
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Feb 09, 2000 2:26:24 AM CST
Mononoke and Miramax and their lack of effort to promote and a l
by stymie
I had the opportunity to go to the Mononoke premiere in Westwood a few months back. It was the most lackluster premiere I had ever seen. The only person from the voice cast who even bothered to show up was Gillian Anderson (and I felt she had slept while reading her lines anyway). But I had the opportunity to ask one Miramax rep. there why they were doing such an underwhelming marketing campaign despite critical accalim? He answered me in a very hushed voice "when the mouse roars Miramax listens."
To me it was an indirect attempt to tell me that Disney buried the film so it wouldn't compete with Toy Story 2. So all I can say is F-Disney. So I wouldn't be surprised if they did the same thing to Laputa.
With regards to all of you who are bashing Streamline and their dub of Laputa (or any of their dubs). I would like to tell a short story (so I hope you will tollerate it). 10 years ago when I was a student at USC I ran an anime club. Back then the only way to see anime was to join the Cartoon Fantasy Organization (CFO), tape trade with other anime fans and watch 6th to 12th generations of anime, or if you were lucky and lived in New York or Los Angeles, you could go the local Japanese video store and rent it. Well I had heard about Streamline's upcoming distribution of the Akira dub and I approached Streamline about having a screening at my club. The guys at Streamline nice enought to bring 35mm reels of Akira, Laputa, Twilight of the Cockoroaches and 8th Man. So what's the point of this story? As I watched the films, I thought that the dubs were not so great, but I also thought, these guys are making a tremendous effort to bring anime into the mainstream. And unlike Disney , they really tried to promote the movies, it was more of a lack of funds that kept them from doing it better. So those who want to bash Streamline, yes their dubs suck, but if it wasn't for them, there wouldn't be companies like AD Vision, Central Park Media, Animeigo, Manga and others making their own sucky dubs (or bringing over subtitled versions for all of you purists). We'd still be tape trading 20th generation copies of anime.
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Feb 09, 2000 7:41:40 PM CST
Iron Giant is Last!!! Can't hold a candle to anything Miyazaki h
by jarjar25
Give me a fucking break! Iron was ok, but totally steal from Laputa and other great anime films. If you guys out there want to see some great anime, dealing with robots and such, then watch films like Macross, Gundam, Mazinger Z, Combatra 5. Any of these robots would kick Iron Giants ass to hell and back!!!!!!
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I'm really putin in the work yall! DBZ kicks arse? You DAMN right! As long as you're catching the straight virgin japanese shows. Dub over Sub? If you are complaining over that, you're too anal retentive to even take a shyt. I like it all, even the no dub/sub stuff. We're fan boy geeks? HELL NO! We're OTAKU! GET IT RIGHT! 'nuff said. See my bage to get into MY head. http://www.geocities.com/sailor_minneapolis
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Ok... Who here thinks that real art is done by hand? I think so. The basic problem with a lot of animation movies these days (US animation films, that is), is the fact that a lot of them are computer animated. To me, I really don't like computer animation that much anymore, because it's not flesh & blood art. The computer friggin does the art for you! You just use the keys and the mouse! With drawing by hand, you are able to have more freedom moving your hand around in many possible ways, when sketching. Also, doing animation by computer is just cheap. Assuming that doing work on the computer reduces the cost, I still don't like it, because there's really not as much reward as if you were animating by hand. Look at what Miyazaki did for Princess Mononoke! Almost everything in the film was hand-drawn and animated! There's no adventure doing art on a computer, because you're just sitting there moving the goddamn mouse and starring in the screen, living in an environment that might not be related to the art that you're focusing on.
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Feb 10, 2000 10:22:22 AM CST
I have read Gulliver's Travles! And Iron Giant still sucks!
by jarjar25
It's obvious you guys don't know anything how anime. Gulliver's Travels was only used as an idea for Laputa. The real story that Laputa took a lot from was Future Boy Conan, which you have probably never heard. Iron Giant can't compare with something as wonderous as Angel's Egg or Horus Prince of the Sun. It also, stills from Laputa. Iron Giant looks like a reject from one of the robots in Laputa, which is a far superior film. Other shows out there are Nadia, Evangelion and Wings of Honnesmise, Windaria and Spriggan. I know my anime, do you?
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Japanese Animation is wonderful and better than anything that is over here! I wondered if these same morons are the ones that have
bashed Phantom Menace. Mesa want to know. Other great shows for some of you who are looking for something different are Blue Submarine 6, Lain(Simply Brilliant) Cowboy BeepBop and Vision of Escaflowne!!! I am Jar Jar 25 and damn proud of it!!! -
All those anime-haters... if you don't know what you're talking about, don't say anything!!!!!!! dude... Anime is definitely not all the same, generic, cliched stuff. it's totally creative, different from the crap we have here, and a real art form!!! Miyazaki rules!!! Aren't his stories great??? Are you too shallow to try thinking about what you're watching?!?!?! If it's too deep for you, don't try to tell everyone it sux, just cuz you can't handle it!!!! Great anime: EVANGELION (!!!!), anything Miyazaki, Akira, Fushigi Yuugi, Rurouni Kenshin, Ranma. Personally, i love the way anime characters are drawn.. those big eyes are tite. and all that anime i listed.. all of them are totally different, so don't be stereotyping anime by what you've heard about here in the US.. it's not just robot-mecha stuff.. course, Evangelion's got that, but that's a great series...
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Hey i don't seceretly hate people like Montag606, i openly do. Sorry, I don't even know who you are but you seem like an idiot and a jerk. Anime kicks ass and you disgrace it. I did like the phantom Menace, but Jar Jar was the stupidest thing ever. I liked it but I quote the comic book guy from the simpsons when i say "WORST EPISODE EVER". it really wasn't as good as the first three but i did think it kicked ass. Now a movie that really kicks ass is Six String Samurai. Check it out if you can find it.
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Voila. Each time there is a talk back about japanese animation, we get the usual paranoid messages from "anime" fans, who are basically only able to tell us "that the rest of the world sucks compared to Gundam". Sheesh. Interestingly enough, you guys usually start to talk about your passion in an articulate way, until of course someone dares to criticize your favorite form of art. Then you all turn into immature geeks, insulting people or thinking you are proving your point by posting us the endless list of your favorite films and TV series. Do you really think it is a good way to have japanese animation accepted by non-fans ? As much as I admire Miyazaki's work, I really feel sorry for him that his foreign fans sink to such a low level. I believe he deserves better than this. Voila.And by the way, IRON GIANT is a magnificent film.
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i'd just like to say that ninjaboon's comments are completely stupid and unfounded...he has no idea what he's talking about and it seems he just took all his facts right out of a book...anyhow, can't wait to see this! here's to james van der beek!-Alex
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1. Laputa as not based on Gullivers Travels at all. It merely takes it's inspiration from one small aspect of the story. The Island in the movie really doesn't resemble the one in Gulliver and nor does the rest of the movie.
2. The dub you are talking about in '92 was done by different company, that really didn't take any care with it etc. Actually most of Miyazai's films were dubbed by either Streamline previously to show in other countries and air-flights etc.
3. Anime cliches of evil monsters etc? I could say the same thing about american animation. Anyways, my point is that while many anime have a plot like that, there are just as many that are different. The American distributers are catering to a market that they think wants that kind of plot. Some of the best stuff just doesn't get released. so I suggest you look a bit harder and read the back of the boxes. I sugest watching The Vision of Escaflowne.
4. The score: well, at least the original composer got to do it over and add the music if needed. The reason they added music is because American audiences have no attention span and don't like silence. Well, don't be surprised if reviewers say it's too long.
5. The villian's voice was always Mark Hammil's.
6.Japanimation vs Anime. FYI, "anime" is the japanese word for animation, all animation (taken from french though"
7. Dubs. I don't see why you people have to comploin about EVERY dub. Sure dubs are generally inferior and I've heard some autrocius dub voices (Fushigi Yuugi anyone? The Lunar game?) But you can't say that they're all terrible. The dubs of Mononoke and Kiki are the best I've ever watched. The characters sound like real people instead of like they're trying to make up fake voices, and what's more they CAN ACT. THe only reason dubbing sucks is because they usually hire bad actors.
8. We don't "buy" fasubs, those are "donations";)
9. Macross Plus...*droool* Yoko Kanno is my goddess.
10. no american studios don't all suck, they're in the midst a rennessance (can't spell...) right now and are getting incredibly better with every film. seriously, don't complain. Iron Giant kicked ass.
11.the ending of Rayearth totally changed my mind and made me think it was a really cool series.
12. Digimon? It's not american made, I saw toys from it in Japan. It's a Japanese made Pokemon rip off.
113. FULL RELEASE> this was the plan from almost the begining:) -
Yes, I recommend Vision of Escaflowne for anyone new to anime. It has elements of shojo and shonen (girl and boy's) styles of plot lines, and is stunningly beautiful and exciting too ;) The music is just awesome (even Mystic Eyes, the obligatory J-pop ending theme). It's a mix of classical/choral pieces, light non-hyper j-pop, and the occasional piece that defies classification (Machine Soldier!). The art is incredible - the first time I saw the intro sequence I just about cried. Yes, the noses are annoying, but you'll get over it =) And the plot is great! Even my friend who is violently opposed to anime (since I babble about it so much) liked Escaflowne enough to demand all my tapes and keep them for three weeks ;) And as a final plus: it's relatively short! Won't have to spend $200 buying the whole series...
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Have to agree with you wholeheartedly Clouseau. Sometimes I'm embarrassed to be an anime fan. I don't understand why people are often so polarized and closed minded when it comes to different styles of animation. All styles of film making are influenced by each other. Doesn't mean they are ripping off each others ideas. No film maker lives in a vacuum ( I hope ). Iron Giant was great.
I saw the original dub of Laputa in the late 80's. It was pretty bad. It was the only time I have gone to a movie and been the only one in the theatre exept for my guest. The ticket seller tried to convince me not to buy tickets. I think they didn't want to have to pay the projectionist to screen the film for only 2 people. Hopefully Disney will do a better job promoting the film than streamline did.
I'm surprised no one has mentioned Porco Rosso. This is a great movie. A friend of mine loaned me a copy of this film and I really enjoyed it. Check it out if you can find it. Looking forward to seeing Perfect Blue
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