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John Lasseter is the Samurai protecting Miyazaki's SPIRITED AWAY!!!

'Samurai Guarding' sounds cool by Chilli Kramer	Apr 22nd, 2002 09:05:35 AM
Though this is actually a business deal. Lasseter seems an OK guy though, and a creative one at that. Always nice when artists defend each other. Cool enough in fact to deserve the term: 'samurai guarding'
Kung Fu by Damer1	Apr 22nd, 2002 09:18:57 AM
Everybody was Kung Fu fighting...
hmmm amazing by thx777b	Apr 22nd, 2002 09:19:16 AM
Thank god we have people like Lessester to work insight of the studio system and protect the values and projects of other filmakers and with improtand works! thx777b@hotmail.com
are American audiences REALLY ready for this? by pooh-san	Apr 22nd, 2002 09:35:27 AM
I've saw this movie 3 times in the theater here in Japan, and there is no doubt at all that this is a fantastic movie. One of Miyazaki's best (my favourite, actually, but I can see where others will like "Mononoke" or "Nausicaa" more because of the action). The problem with this movie, though, is that it draws heavily from traditional Japanese myth & folk tales. The world Chihiro finds herself spirited away to is visually stunning, but I'm not sure the average American will understand what they're seeing. It "feels" foriegn (unless you are Japanese), and foreign films don't have a high success record in the States. One other factor - if this movie gets the attention & marketing it deserves, people are going to see a world of wonderfull animation that puts current Disney to utter shame. Here's hoping for the best. Regardless of how well it does, please do yourself a favour & get out there and see this movie in the theater. You'll be glad you did.
Somewhat in agreement with Pooh-san by Capt FUBAR	Apr 22nd, 2002 09:58:23 AM
Having grown up around a lot of Japanese culture and mythology, watching Sen to Chihiro when I was in Osaka last year was a real treat. But it IS very Japanese-centric. Nonetheless, a great, great film, and one of my absolute favorites by Miyazaki. Looking forward to seeing this one here in the States.
As a Miyazaki fan, I cannot wait. by Xocxoc	Apr 22nd, 2002 10:01:01 AM
I have loved every Miyazaki film I have seen, unfortunately I have seen only four so far, though I know there are over 20 out there. My Disney copy of Kiki's Delivery Service says "Castle in the Sky" was supposed to be out in 1999, two years later it sits on the shelf occasionally trotted out for film festivals. RELEASE IT!! I am glad that "Spirited Away" at least has a tentative release date, I just hope it is more certain than "Castle"'s.
Prepare yourself by Mirrorball Man	Apr 22nd, 2002 10:21:46 AM
'Spirited Away' is the best movie since Fight Club.
Foreign Stuff by twindaggerturkey	Apr 22nd, 2002 10:25:17 AM
This is going to sound sort of cynical, but I think audiences (by which I mean Mr. Joe Blockhead Public, an abstraction in himself) can be made to embrace foreign movies if they are told repeatedly that they are going to like them. Look at Crouching Tiger. Of course it's good in itself, but I think the hype helped a lot. If Disney would just give Chihiro widespread confident marketing, and tell people that it's the greatest thing since sliced bread, people will go to see it. (Oh, and I've noticed that little kids are usually pretty good in dealing with wierd cultural stuff in movies. My younger brother accepts the conventions of say, the Chinese gambling comedy, without any trouble at all.^^)
Japan or Bust! by NoCureForFools	Apr 22nd, 2002 10:48:55 AM
the beautiful artwork or such masters as Miyazaki and Kurosawa are exactly the reason why i am moving to Japan. the fact that beautiful films like Mononoke Hime become the huge blockbusters in Japan, while here merely cause confusion and mental anguish proves that the Japanese culture is more highly evolved, intelligent and sensitive than Americas. then, on the other hand, the Japanese will have a films like Battle Royale or Suicide Club which are, at turns, both beautiful, horrible and brilliant... again, films that confuse and frighten most Americans -- the same people who eagerly await the Fast and the Furious part 2. i'm outta here. Japan or Bust! Sayonara!
"Miyazaki san" by pedant	Apr 22nd, 2002 11:12:54 AM
God, I hate pretentious anime geeks. Just call him Miyazaki, okay? Lots of Japanese hate it when Americans use the -san honorific in English speech or text, because it is too often done mockingly.
Mononoke Hime by Gristle	Apr 22nd, 2002 11:17:25 AM
Interestingly enough, Neil Gaiman said that when he was translating "Mononoke", he did some research on the story and found that all the mythology was invented by Miyazaki. It's a fantasy set in a Japan that never existed.
Pretentious Anime Geeks!!!! AHHHHHHH!!!!! by webweasel	Apr 22nd, 2002 11:59:42 AM
To pedant: I was in the audience at the Castro Theatre that day too. John L. was using -san as an honorific, not in a mocking way. Oh BTW pretentious anime geeks: Otaku!!
SIGH -- yet another anime film that you disturbed anime apologis by Rick McCallum	Apr 22nd, 2002 12:23:08 PM
We've already been through this shit when Gaiman was enlisted to "protect" Monoke and you guys still bitched when Americans flatly rejected it at the box office. GET IT THROUGH YOUR STUBBORN THICK SKULLS: NO ANIME IS GONNA MAKE A SHIT-LOAD OF MONEY AT THE AMERICAN BOX OFFICE BECAUSE AVERAGE AMERICANS DON'T LIKE JAPANESE ANIMATION AND THE FUCKED-UP PLOTS AND WEIRD THEMES THAT THEY ESPOUSE. Get over it, guys, and let's move on to the next gripe topic....
Push Disney for 200-400 screens... by Kiyone	Apr 22nd, 2002 01:23:40 PM
The people pushing for a wide release (2000-4000 screens) are really just hurting our cause; Disney is just not going to plunk down the sort of loot required to give SPIRITED AWAY a true "wide" release, as anime is still an untested genre with the general public (and mature, serious animated films have not done well in wide release over the past two decades). CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON is a foreign film that did well with the mainstream audience, but it's not an animated film; not nearly enough adults take animation seriously enough to warrant a wide release for SPIRITED AWAY. (Also, CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON opened in only a handful of theatres with very little publicity, but expanded due to strong word of mouth.) 200 to 400 screens is a nice, realistic target (at this level of release, while it wouldn't be playing at every shopping mall multiplex, it would only be, at most, a public transit ride away for the vast, vast majority of North Americans), at least to open. Yes, in an ideal world, SPIRITED AWAY would do gangbuster business at the box office on 4000 screens, but given the prejudice against animation amongst the mainstream, on-otaku, moviegoing public in North America, I'd much rather see SPIRITED AWAY exceed Disney's expectations in limited release than flop in wide release. If SPIRITED AWAY made $20 to 30 million, as I expect it would if given a level of publicity appropriate for a limited release film (the same level of publicity as AMELIE, which also made $30 million), it would be the most successful domestic theatrical run of a Japanese animated film by a factor of about 10. ______________________________ ____ Also, as for the delays to the other films in the original Ghibli deal, it looks like those of us anime fans who willing to give Disney the benefit of the doubt that the primary reasons for the delay were factors beyond their control (despite our better otaku instincts, I might add) were right all along; according to this article at Anime News Network, http://www.animenewsnetwork.co m/article.php?id=1979 , at a panel at the North American premiere of SPIRITED AWAY, Disney representatives confirmed officially, for the first time, that the primary reason for the delay was so that the Region 2 DVDs of the Ghibli films would be out in Japan for some time before the Region 1 disks could come out in North America. I don't find it at all unusual that Ghibli films would be released in Japan first, before anywhere else. Of course, we did get MONONOKE on trilingual DVD in North America a full year before the Japanese got MONONOKE on DVD, but very few people ever seem to give Disney credit for that.
Forgot my usual disclaimer... by Kiyone	Apr 22nd, 2002 01:43:11 PM
"If SPIRITED AWAY made $20 to 30 million, as I expect it would if given a level of publicity appropriate for a limited release film (the same level of publicity as AMELIE, which also made $30 million), it would be the most successful domestic theatrical run of a Japanese animated film by a factor of about 10." I usually add, but forgot this time, "excluding POKEMON and DIGIMON".
re: webweasel by pedant	Apr 22nd, 2002 02:33:17 PM
Sorry, I didn't realize that Lasseter was now the barometer for cultural sensitivity. If he squinted his eyes, bucked out his teeth, bowed, and said "Ah, so," would that make it okay? ***** I don't go around calling every black man I see "brotha," or greeting every Semitic person with "Shalom." There is an appropriate context for these things, outside of which, even if it isn't intended as mockery, can be perceived that way. And in any case, it is blatantly self-serving -- it's more about showing off your knowledge of the person's culture than it is about showing them any genuine respect.
PIXAR should just use their billions to produce the transfer the by chuckrussel	Apr 22nd, 2002 10:26:25 PM
YEAH!
Not to defend morons, but I'm not so sure this IS a good ide by St Buggering	Apr 22nd, 2002 11:11:45 PM
I love Miyazaki; I honestly think that he is the greatest director of animation of all time. But don't think he'll ever make it big with the American public. His work is deeply rooted in his culture, and it's a rare event when Americans embrace that.
To McCallum and the rest by patient37	Apr 22nd, 2002 11:50:32 PM
If you don't like hearing about it, then don't fucking read it. I'm not exactly Miyazaki's biggest fan, but animation and anime are as valid as pretentious German expressionist film and mindless action movies, if not moreso. To say "Americans don't give a shit about Japanimation" is to say that the millions of people who happily pay out the nose for the merchandise don't exist. It's whiny little ass-rimming, cock-jobbing bitches like you that make it so difficult for non-3D animators to make a fucking buck. You make me sick, you bunch of misanthropic fucks.
And to the asshole who wrote this in the first place by patient37	Apr 22nd, 2002 11:53:30 PM
Princess Mononoke didn't fail because of it's "Japanese-centric" story. It failed because it was a pretentious piece of preachy garbage with a shit-bag defeatist ending, and all those people lauding it were too busy sucking Miyazaki's child-porn-loving cock to notice.
... by The Killer-Goat	Apr 22nd, 2002 11:58:52 PM
I agree that japanimation films don't fly theatrically in the US, but unfortunately the level of not understanding the "confusing" and "f**ked up" plots is the general majority. That ain't a compliment to the American species either... A great general percentage of our nation is filled with some of the most self-celebratory and xenophobic bunch of mama's boys... proud of having a media perspective no wider than the latest Disney promotional Happy Meal.
Interesting: "patient" you intrigue me... by The Killer-Goat	Apr 23rd, 2002 12:16:30 AM
I'd almost take you for a potential anime fan, except for your Miyazaki comment(child-porn). Respect your opine/don't agree, but curious as to whether a) you've seen other Miyazaki films or b) you saw dubbed or subbed? I found there WAS a difference to Mononoke between the 2. Too preachy, maybe, but very refreshing character execution for the themes. Glad you have an opinion, but DAMN that was harsh.
Boy, I'm Feeling a WHOLE LOTTA LOVE HERE! by webweasel	Apr 23rd, 2002 01:27:51 AM
Ya know, I read somewhere once that drinking too much coffee made people irritable and downright cranky. I thought that was a load of bullshit. Then I read afew of these talkbacks, WHEW!! I here that tea is a much better drink, gives you a refrehed alertness with none of the jitters or irritability. Maybe some of you need to switch.
Ummm... patient37 your argument lacks. by Jucas	Apr 23rd, 2002 01:39:32 AM
I will not deny that I am a Miyazaki Fan Boy. I have loved everyone of his films and I hold them in regard as the best anime ever made, period. But, that is not why I am responding. You say, "It (Mononoke) failed because it was a pretentious piece of preachy garbage with a shit-bag defeatist ending..." Mononoke Hime was a major success in japan. It swept the nation, and I believe (don't quote me on this) become one of the largest grossing pictures in Japan's cinematic history. So, on that note I can only assume we are talking about the American release? I am not going to waste your and my time on the subject of why this movie "was/wasn't one of the best anime ever," obviously you did not like this movie, lol. But what I will say is this. You say it failed in America(and I quote again) "...because it was a pretentious piece of preachy garbage with a shit-bag defeatist ending..." Have you ever been to a theater in America? Do you even pretend to know anything about cinema and numbers? You cannot tell me you haven't witnessed the dozens of "retentious" American "shit-bag" movies that are released every year. Most of which contain, guess what!?, Yep. Defeatist endings. Many of these movies have become the largely grossing movies of all time! Guess where!? In AMERICAN CINEMA history. -jay out
Intelligent Cinima is wasted on the American audience at large. by Zefram Mann	Apr 23rd, 2002 02:55:41 AM
The cinimatic body of work by a guy like Adam Sandler is obviously more our speed. If that's too much, then there's always Rugrats.
it is a great film by joeykiddy	Apr 23rd, 2002 05:02:34 AM
I have seen it because it has already been released in france. It's wonderful. In my opinion it will be one of the best films this year. And what's great is that it appeals to children and adults as well. All of my friends have seen it and they all loved it. And I can tell you that some are almost allergic to traditionnal anime...
Great, but where the HELL is Laputa: Castle in the Sky?!! by Drath	Apr 23rd, 2002 08:01:39 AM
They can't be holding it back because it's bad, and a bad dub wouldn't stop them either. Where the hell IS it? How can they be holding this movie back from a video or DVD release? Now I realize a lot of numbnuts insist that Mononoke was given a decent release, and I'm sure it seems that way to them, but at least it was given SOMETHING and then finally put on DVD. Fuck what the average Joe thinks of anime and Miyazaki, at least the film is available for peole with taste. Laputa is in fricking Limbo! It's getting nothing! My god, they even spent money adding onto the score! If ever there was an anime movie you could market to kids and family, this is it! How can Disney sit on this, to say nothing of Nausicaa, Totoro, Whispers of the Heart etc.? I thought the deal with Ghibli would have had a time table or something to keep the films from being shelved in the same vault where they're keeping Song of the South.

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John Lasseter is the Samurai protecting Miyazaki's SPIRITED AWAY!!!

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