Filmmaker Takahashi Yamazaki’s Godzilla Minus One may have won an Oscar for its VFX, but it’s the storytelling that Hollywood needs to learn from, Ryan writes.
You can tell that Godzilla Minus One is the work of a brilliant storyteller right from its opening scene. It’s World War II, and a lone Mitsubishi fighter plane flies over choppy waters towards an airfield on a lush, remote Japanese island. We then get a tighter shot of the aircraft as it touches down on a rutted landing strip: wheels kicking up dust, the bomb stowed beneath the plane hangs perilously close to the ground.
The viewer may not even consciously notice it, but this shot speaks volumes about kamikaze pilot Kōichi (Ryunosuke Kamiki), who we see for the first time in the next shot. First, that he’s landed without dumping his payload on the enemy; and second, even...
You can tell that Godzilla Minus One is the work of a brilliant storyteller right from its opening scene. It’s World War II, and a lone Mitsubishi fighter plane flies over choppy waters towards an airfield on a lush, remote Japanese island. We then get a tighter shot of the aircraft as it touches down on a rutted landing strip: wheels kicking up dust, the bomb stowed beneath the plane hangs perilously close to the ground.
The viewer may not even consciously notice it, but this shot speaks volumes about kamikaze pilot Kōichi (Ryunosuke Kamiki), who we see for the first time in the next shot. First, that he’s landed without dumping his payload on the enemy; and second, even...
- 6/6/2024
- by Ryan Lambie
- Film Stories
Hayao Miyazaki has been regarded as one of the greatest animation filmmakers of all time. The animator has worked on several Studio Ghibli films, which he co-founded in the 1980s. His films such as Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, and Princess Mononoke have all been regarded as some of the best anime films of all time.
Miyazaki came out of his retirement to create his final epic The Boy and the Heron. The film was released last year and won many accolades, including the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. While the film has many Easter Eggs that reference other films by Miyazaki, one of the most important characters is reportedly inspired by the animator’s mentor.
The Boy And The Heron Has A Reference to Hayao Miyazaki’s Mentor Isao Takahata A still from Hayao Miyazaki’s The Boy and the Heron
Hayao Miyazaki had announced his retirement after...
Miyazaki came out of his retirement to create his final epic The Boy and the Heron. The film was released last year and won many accolades, including the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. While the film has many Easter Eggs that reference other films by Miyazaki, one of the most important characters is reportedly inspired by the animator’s mentor.
The Boy And The Heron Has A Reference to Hayao Miyazaki’s Mentor Isao Takahata A still from Hayao Miyazaki’s The Boy and the Heron
Hayao Miyazaki had announced his retirement after...
- 5/13/2024
- by Nishanth A
- FandomWire
Oscar-nominated “Robot Dreams” is getting a theatrical release almost one year after its Cannes debut.
Directed by Pablo Berger, “Robot Dreams” is based on a graphic novel by Sara Varon and follows the unexpected friendship between a dog and a robot. Dog lives in Manhattan and is tired of being alone, so he does what any good boy would do: build himself a robot companion. Their friendship blossoms until they become inseparable — until Dog is forced to abandon Robot at the beach. And it’s all set to ’80s music.
The Oscar-nominated feature premiered at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival and later won the Special Jury Prize at the Animation Is Film Festival. “Robot Dreams” marks the “Blancanieves” filmmaker Berger’s animated feature debut.
“With ‘Robot Dreams’ I wanted to explore the infinite narrative possibilities of animation. A medium
where everything is possible and there are no formal limits,” Berger said in a press statement.
Directed by Pablo Berger, “Robot Dreams” is based on a graphic novel by Sara Varon and follows the unexpected friendship between a dog and a robot. Dog lives in Manhattan and is tired of being alone, so he does what any good boy would do: build himself a robot companion. Their friendship blossoms until they become inseparable — until Dog is forced to abandon Robot at the beach. And it’s all set to ’80s music.
The Oscar-nominated feature premiered at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival and later won the Special Jury Prize at the Animation Is Film Festival. “Robot Dreams” marks the “Blancanieves” filmmaker Berger’s animated feature debut.
“With ‘Robot Dreams’ I wanted to explore the infinite narrative possibilities of animation. A medium
where everything is possible and there are no formal limits,” Berger said in a press statement.
- 4/23/2024
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
The Boy And The Heron Box Office (Worldwide): Hayao Miyazaki’s Oscar-Winning Film Achieves An Interesting Feat. (Photo Credit – IMDb)
Hayao Miyazaki is a well-known creator of Japanese animated feature films and has two Oscars for his name. His movie The Boy and the Heron received the latest Academy Award this year and has also achieved the fantastic feat of being one of the top anime films to cross the $300 million milestone. Keep scrolling to know more.
Miyazaki co-founded Studio Ghibli, known for acclaimed films like Grave of the Fireflies, Howl’s Moving Castle, Ponyo, and more. The veteran filmmaker won another Oscar for Spirited Away in the Best Animated Feature category. The Miyazaki movie was released in 2023 and in some parts in 2024.
Trade analyst Luiz Fernando reveals in his latest report that The Boy and the Heron has become the fifth anime movie in history to cross the $300 million...
Hayao Miyazaki is a well-known creator of Japanese animated feature films and has two Oscars for his name. His movie The Boy and the Heron received the latest Academy Award this year and has also achieved the fantastic feat of being one of the top anime films to cross the $300 million milestone. Keep scrolling to know more.
Miyazaki co-founded Studio Ghibli, known for acclaimed films like Grave of the Fireflies, Howl’s Moving Castle, Ponyo, and more. The veteran filmmaker won another Oscar for Spirited Away in the Best Animated Feature category. The Miyazaki movie was released in 2023 and in some parts in 2024.
Trade analyst Luiz Fernando reveals in his latest report that The Boy and the Heron has become the fifth anime movie in history to cross the $300 million...
- 4/22/2024
- by Esita Mallik
- KoiMoi
The Cannes Film Festival will award legendary Japanese anime house Studio Ghibli with its honorary Palme d’Or this year, the first time Cannes has given its highest award to a company instead of an individual.
“For the first time in our history, it’s not a person but an institution that we have chosen to celebrate,” said Cannes Festival president Iris Knobloch and general delegate Thierry Frémaux, announcing the honor on Wednesday. They praised Ghibli’s animated features as filled with characters who “populate our imaginations with prolific, colorful universes and sensitive, engaging narrations. With Ghibli, Japanese animation stands as one of the great adventures of cinephilia, between tradition and modernity.”
Founded in 1985 by Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata, Toshio Suzuki, and Yasuyoshi Tokuma, Studio Ghibli has in the past 40 years, “achieved what seemed to be an impossible feat: Independently producing pure masterpieces and conquering the mass market,” the festival said.
“For the first time in our history, it’s not a person but an institution that we have chosen to celebrate,” said Cannes Festival president Iris Knobloch and general delegate Thierry Frémaux, announcing the honor on Wednesday. They praised Ghibli’s animated features as filled with characters who “populate our imaginations with prolific, colorful universes and sensitive, engaging narrations. With Ghibli, Japanese animation stands as one of the great adventures of cinephilia, between tradition and modernity.”
Founded in 1985 by Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata, Toshio Suzuki, and Yasuyoshi Tokuma, Studio Ghibli has in the past 40 years, “achieved what seemed to be an impossible feat: Independently producing pure masterpieces and conquering the mass market,” the festival said.
- 4/17/2024
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Studio Ghibli, the acclaimed Japanese animation house known for Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro and Oscar-winner The Boy And The Heron, is to receive an honorary Palme d’Or at Cannes – the first time the festival has bestowed the award on a group.
The honour is usually awarded to individuals, which has included Tom Cruise, Michael Douglas and Harrison Ford in recent years and will also be given to Star Wars creator George Lucas at the 77th edition of the festival, which runs May 14-25.
Studio Ghibli is synonymous with veteran directors Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata, who are among...
The honour is usually awarded to individuals, which has included Tom Cruise, Michael Douglas and Harrison Ford in recent years and will also be given to Star Wars creator George Lucas at the 77th edition of the festival, which runs May 14-25.
Studio Ghibli is synonymous with veteran directors Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata, who are among...
- 4/17/2024
- ScreenDaily
Civil War is an extremely powerful, effective movie that thrusts you into the middle of an American civil war seen through the eyes of a war photographer. It’s brutal. It’s extraordinarily violent. The sound design is bordering on abusive. And if you watch it in IMAX you can reasonably expect to leave the theater with more than a little motion sickness. It is, however, excellent, with great performances from Kirsten Dunst as the older, jaded photographer and Cailee Spaeny as the reckless youngster new to the game. So see it. But we’d be very surprised if you decide to rush back for a second viewing.
Here’s our celebration of the wonderful, must-see movies where once is quite enough, thank you very much.
Hereditary
To no one’s surprise, Ari Aster’s harrowing debut immediately makes the top of this list. You might think the early, shocking...
Here’s our celebration of the wonderful, must-see movies where once is quite enough, thank you very much.
Hereditary
To no one’s surprise, Ari Aster’s harrowing debut immediately makes the top of this list. You might think the early, shocking...
- 4/15/2024
- by Rosie Fletcher
- Den of Geek
From Pixar making us cry our hearts out to Studio Ghibli leaving us depressed with Grave of the Fireflies, the medium of animation is no stranger to tugging at one’s heartstrings. And similar is the case with Bruce Timm’s magnum opus, responsible for the definitive version of Batman. While full of action, which is expected from the superhero genre, Batman: The Animated Series doesn’t shy away from pulling one’s heartstrings during the show’s more emotional bits.
Reflecting on such scenes, the animator recalled the time he was sobbing like a baby during one of the most gut-wrenching scenes in the show.
Robin’s Reckoning Left Bruce Timm Sobbing During Production
Batman: The Animated Series | Fox Kids
Amidst displaying the brooding vigilante at its top, Btas also succeeds in leaving fans on the verge of tears, most apparent with Heart of Ice, which changed how fans perceived Mr. Freeze.
Reflecting on such scenes, the animator recalled the time he was sobbing like a baby during one of the most gut-wrenching scenes in the show.
Robin’s Reckoning Left Bruce Timm Sobbing During Production
Batman: The Animated Series | Fox Kids
Amidst displaying the brooding vigilante at its top, Btas also succeeds in leaving fans on the verge of tears, most apparent with Heart of Ice, which changed how fans perceived Mr. Freeze.
- 4/2/2024
- by Santanu Roy
- FandomWire
When Adam Changes, a Canadian animated film about an awkward teenager in suburban Quebec, won the Grand Prix at the Niigata International Animation Film Festival (Niaff).
The festival, now in its second year, ran from March 15-20 in Niigata, a port city two hours north of Tokyo.
Written and directed by Joël Vaudreuil, When Adam Changes premiered at last year’s Annecy International Animation Film Festival. “Coming here and meeting so many people, and being able to meet and talk with the other competition directors was a gift in itself,” said Vaudreuil, acceping the award at Niaff’s closing ceremony.
The festival, now in its second year, ran from March 15-20 in Niigata, a port city two hours north of Tokyo.
Written and directed by Joël Vaudreuil, When Adam Changes premiered at last year’s Annecy International Animation Film Festival. “Coming here and meeting so many people, and being able to meet and talk with the other competition directors was a gift in itself,” said Vaudreuil, acceping the award at Niaff’s closing ceremony.
- 3/21/2024
- ScreenDaily
Pablo Berger’s “Robot Dreams,” which gets a theatrical release from Neon at an as-yet-unannounced time this year, was one of the animated delights of 2023. The Spanish/French hand-drawn dramedy (adapted from Sarah Varon’s wordless graphic novel) concerns the bittersweet friendship between lonely Dog and Robot, which he buys for company, in a version of ’80s Manhattan populated with animals. It’s garnered awards buzz in a longshot quest for an Oscar nomination this season.
After premiering at Cannes, “Robot Dreams” earned the Annecy Contrecham Award along with The Animation Is Film Festival’s Grand Jury Prize. It was also selected as the runner-up for Best Animated Film by both the Los Angeles and Boston Film Critics groups.
Although the Spanish director was enamored with the graphic novel when he read it in 2010, he didn’t consider turning it into an animated feature until after making two live-action films,...
After premiering at Cannes, “Robot Dreams” earned the Annecy Contrecham Award along with The Animation Is Film Festival’s Grand Jury Prize. It was also selected as the runner-up for Best Animated Film by both the Los Angeles and Boston Film Critics groups.
Although the Spanish director was enamored with the graphic novel when he read it in 2010, he didn’t consider turning it into an animated feature until after making two live-action films,...
- 1/6/2024
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
The Animated World is a regular feature spotlighting animation from around the globe.The Boy and the Heron.“And what about you? What will you create? You take many things from the world, but I wonder what you will give back in return?”—Genzaburo Yoshino, How Do You Live? Part of the genius of Hayao Miyazaki is his ability to captivate his audience so deeply with his films that they don’t realize he is asking an essential question: how do you live? Yet, his films do. Each of them demands that we think, reflect, and change. Visually, they burst like a star in our mind’s eye while the stories slowly lead us toward realization. They warm our hearts while showing us how complex and contradictory people are—by turns selfish and selfless. From Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984) to The Wind Rises (2013), Miyazaki’s stunning, hand-drawn aesthetic and stirring,...
- 1/5/2024
- MUBI
When Hayao Miyazaki pitched “The Boy and the Heron” to Studio Ghibli co-founder/producer Toshio Suzuki in 2016, he asked permission to make the story about himself. This took Suzuki — his friend of nearly 40 years at the time — by surprise; the legendary anime director isn’t known for getting so personal. And yet this aligned perfectly with the notion that Ghibli films are devoted to reliving memories.
“I agree that it is Miyazaki’s most personal film because he actually told me,” Suzuki told IndieWire over Zoom through an interpreter. Not only is “The Boy and the Heron” inspired by Miyazaki’s childhood (he endured the firebombing of Japan during World War II and his father was director of the family’s aircraft manufacturing factory), but also his career at Ghibli with his two closest friends: the late studio co-founder/director Isao Takahata (“Grave of the Fireflies”) and Suzuki.
“Miyazaki is...
“I agree that it is Miyazaki’s most personal film because he actually told me,” Suzuki told IndieWire over Zoom through an interpreter. Not only is “The Boy and the Heron” inspired by Miyazaki’s childhood (he endured the firebombing of Japan during World War II and his father was director of the family’s aircraft manufacturing factory), but also his career at Ghibli with his two closest friends: the late studio co-founder/director Isao Takahata (“Grave of the Fireflies”) and Suzuki.
“Miyazaki is...
- 11/22/2023
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
On the first ever episode of Den of Otaku, Den of Geek contributor, Daniel Kurland, brings to light anime’s own “Barbenheimer” phenomenon from the late ’90s–Studio Ghibli’s A Bomb epic, Grave of the Fireflies and Japan’s Barbie analogue, Super Doll Licca-Chan. Den of Otaku also examines Adult Swim’s ever-evolving relationship with anime and their push into original productions. Plus, the first installments of Den of Otaku’s “Release The Hounds” and “The Big 3!”
This episode of Den of Otaku is sponsored by G Fuel! Use code “Otaku” for 25% off your first order!
Use the code here!
Calling all space fans! Check out the Kickstarter for The Eagle Has Landed, an exciting and passionate new space documentary.
“The Eagle Has Landed explores a passionate and ongoing nostalgia for a future that never happened. This intriguing feature-length documentary follows Jeffrey Morris—a Minnesota-based filmmaker and lifelong science-fiction...
This episode of Den of Otaku is sponsored by G Fuel! Use code “Otaku” for 25% off your first order!
Use the code here!
Calling all space fans! Check out the Kickstarter for The Eagle Has Landed, an exciting and passionate new space documentary.
“The Eagle Has Landed explores a passionate and ongoing nostalgia for a future that never happened. This intriguing feature-length documentary follows Jeffrey Morris—a Minnesota-based filmmaker and lifelong science-fiction...
- 9/27/2023
- by Lee Parham
- Den of Geek
From the opening air raid sirens and fiery infernos of World War II Tokyo bombings to the bucolic countryside house and its magical surroundings, Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli has come full circle in its 40 year history animated mastery. Lovers of the studio and its particular blend of high fantasy and domestic adjustment will find The Boy And The Heron delivers in some ways exactly what fans want: a retrospective tour of images and ideas many know and love. The film does not break much in the way of new ground, but gently reminds you of the early duo of My Neighbour Totoro and Grave of the Fireflies, and unlikely pair of masterworks which burst Ghibli into global adoration in the 1980s. To...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 9/11/2023
- Screen Anarchy
More often than not, Hayao Miyazaki’s heroes have been young women — from Ponyo to Princess Mononoke, mischief-seeking Kiki to the two sisters spirited away by furry forest guardians in “My Neighbor Totoro.” That’s the most obvious departure the anime maestro’s fans will notice in “The Boy and the Heron”: It’s about a boy, Mahito Maki (voiced by Soma Santoki), grieving the loss of his mother during wartime. He’s surrounded by women, but this quest falls on the shoulders of a character who’s reportedly closer to Miyazaki than any of his previous protagonists.
In 2013, the world-renowned toon auteur announced his retirement from feature filmmaking. He disbanded Studio Ghibli, the company he’d co-founded, and let its artists scatter to find work where they could. But Miyazaki couldn’t stop drawing. And this time, the adventure he imagined centered on a 12-year-old boy and the...
In 2013, the world-renowned toon auteur announced his retirement from feature filmmaking. He disbanded Studio Ghibli, the company he’d co-founded, and let its artists scatter to find work where they could. But Miyazaki couldn’t stop drawing. And this time, the adventure he imagined centered on a 12-year-old boy and the...
- 9/8/2023
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
When Guillermo de Toro reminded the world that animation isn’t merely “a genre for kids but a medium for art” in his Oscars and BAFTA acceptance speeches as he won awards for his “Pinocchio” last year, he probably wasn’t thinking only of his own animated movie, or that of a specific filmmaker. But it’s a spot-on assertion for any Hayao Miyazaki picture — most recently, his beautiful, mournful and ultimately hope-filled “The Boy and The Heron.”
This is the Japanese master’s first feature film in 10 years — his last was 2013’s elegiac “The Wind Rises,” a title that was supposed to be Miyazaki’s official retirement from filmmaking. But you can’t stop an artist’s natural craving for making art any more than you can halt your instinctual need for air.
Thus, we’re graced with the existence of “The Boy and The Heron,” a kaleidoscopic and reflective rumination on life,...
This is the Japanese master’s first feature film in 10 years — his last was 2013’s elegiac “The Wind Rises,” a title that was supposed to be Miyazaki’s official retirement from filmmaking. But you can’t stop an artist’s natural craving for making art any more than you can halt your instinctual need for air.
Thus, we’re graced with the existence of “The Boy and The Heron,” a kaleidoscopic and reflective rumination on life,...
- 9/8/2023
- by Tomris Laffly
- The Wrap
Hey there, fellow movie enthusiasts and fellow feelers of all things emotional. Get ready to ride a rollercoaster of heartache and tearful moments as we dive into the realm of the top 10 saddest movies ever made.
We all know that sometimes a good cry is just as therapeutic as a hearty laugh, and that’s exactly what we’re in for.
As someone who firmly believes in the power of a poignant story, I’m excited to guide you through these tear-jerking tales that have touched hearts and left a lasting impact on cinema.
From tragic dramas to heartrending romances, let’s dive into a world where emotions run high and the tears flow freely.
1 “Schindler’s List” (1993) – A Heartbreaking Tale of Humanity
“Schindler’s List” doesn’t just deliver a gut-wrenching historical narrative – it rips open wounds that can never truly heal.
Spielberg’s masterful direction and exceptional performances convey the...
We all know that sometimes a good cry is just as therapeutic as a hearty laugh, and that’s exactly what we’re in for.
As someone who firmly believes in the power of a poignant story, I’m excited to guide you through these tear-jerking tales that have touched hearts and left a lasting impact on cinema.
From tragic dramas to heartrending romances, let’s dive into a world where emotions run high and the tears flow freely.
1 “Schindler’s List” (1993) – A Heartbreaking Tale of Humanity
“Schindler’s List” doesn’t just deliver a gut-wrenching historical narrative – it rips open wounds that can never truly heal.
Spielberg’s masterful direction and exceptional performances convey the...
- 8/11/2023
- by Pia Vermaak
- buddytv.com
With his latest film “Oppenheimer,” Christopher Nolan has returned to war; World War II, specifically. Although the J. Robert Oppenheimer biopic doesn’t feature any scenes of soldiers heading into battle, it’s a war movie at its heart, with the conflict in Europe and Asia motivating the morally reprehensible actions of the Manhattan Project in the States. “Oppenheimer” makes, in some ways, a good companion piece to Nolan’s 2016 hit “Dunkirk”: a more conventional (relatively speaking) depiction of the war, from the perspectives of the ordinary soldiers during the Dunkirk evacuation.
From the moment it ended, World War II has proven fertile ground for hundreds of directors, as Hollywood stars have geared up to fight some Nazis. But, perhaps due to the relative recency and large scope of the conflict, the war has also invited an unexpected level of nuance and diversity of perspectives. One of the earliest...
From the moment it ended, World War II has proven fertile ground for hundreds of directors, as Hollywood stars have geared up to fight some Nazis. But, perhaps due to the relative recency and large scope of the conflict, the war has also invited an unexpected level of nuance and diversity of perspectives. One of the earliest...
- 8/3/2023
- by Kate Erbland and Wilson Chapman
- Indiewire
"Barbenheimer" is the cinematic event of the summer. Greta Gerwig's "Barbie" and Christopher Nolan's "Oppenheimer" are highly anticipated films by two acclaimed directors that could not be more different. One is a deep, subversive exploration of an iconic figure in American history, whose complicated legacy is filled with controversy. The other is a movie about J. Robert Oppenheimer.
What makes this particular case of counterprogramming so unique and fun is that, beyond the tone of both movies, their subject matters themselves are polar opposites. "Oppenheimer" deals with one of the darkest chapters in human history and recreates a nuclear explosion, and "Barbie," well, is a pink-colored party with Ryan Gosling continuing to prove he belongs in comedies. That's what separates this from other competing summer blockbusters like "The Dark Knight" and "Mamma Mia," but it is not the first time a gripping drama about WWII is released on...
What makes this particular case of counterprogramming so unique and fun is that, beyond the tone of both movies, their subject matters themselves are polar opposites. "Oppenheimer" deals with one of the darkest chapters in human history and recreates a nuclear explosion, and "Barbie," well, is a pink-colored party with Ryan Gosling continuing to prove he belongs in comedies. That's what separates this from other competing summer blockbusters like "The Dark Knight" and "Mamma Mia," but it is not the first time a gripping drama about WWII is released on...
- 7/23/2023
- by Rafael Motamayor
- Slash Film
This post contains spoilers for Makoto Shinkai's "Suzume."
Makoto Shinkai's strengths as an animator lie in his ability to mesh vividly beautiful visuals with thoughtful fantastical narratives, where the mundane and magical come together to tell emotionally-resonant stories. Shinkai's highly acclaimed "Your Name" underlines this thread of wonder that is ever-present in his work, as it delves into a mystical, inexplicable connection between two teenagers, whose love for one another is rooted in the spiritual. Shinkai's latest, dazzling entry in his impressive oeuvre, "Suzume," follows a similar format, where the love shared between Suzume (Nanoka Hara) and Sōta (Hokuto Matsumura) is eclipsed by a need to return to the self and honor the past to make way for the future.
Shinkai's art style and narrative prowess have often been compared to legendary animator Hayao Miyazaki and the artistic identity of Studio Ghibli as a whole — and for good reason.
Makoto Shinkai's strengths as an animator lie in his ability to mesh vividly beautiful visuals with thoughtful fantastical narratives, where the mundane and magical come together to tell emotionally-resonant stories. Shinkai's highly acclaimed "Your Name" underlines this thread of wonder that is ever-present in his work, as it delves into a mystical, inexplicable connection between two teenagers, whose love for one another is rooted in the spiritual. Shinkai's latest, dazzling entry in his impressive oeuvre, "Suzume," follows a similar format, where the love shared between Suzume (Nanoka Hara) and Sōta (Hokuto Matsumura) is eclipsed by a need to return to the self and honor the past to make way for the future.
Shinkai's art style and narrative prowess have often been compared to legendary animator Hayao Miyazaki and the artistic identity of Studio Ghibli as a whole — and for good reason.
- 4/25/2023
- by Debopriyaa Dutta
- Slash Film
When one thinks of Studio Ghibli, it's hard not to get wrapped up in its magical, cottagecore fuzziness. Less is usually said of Ghibli's more meditative arm, which produced more straight-laced human dramas like the war film “Grave of the Fireflies” and “Only Yesterday”. These evocative works were the contributions of Isao Takahata. The animation director's career, like his colleague Hayao Miyazaki, reveals a penchant for sentimental fantasy. But unlike the latter, Takahata's directorial touch often delved into conflict and human suffering, with gentle but unflinching intricacy. This week, we explore the first feature Takahata ever directed, that put him in collaboration with Hayao Miyazaki, eventually leading to their founding of Studio Ghibli 17 years later.
“The Great Adventure of Horus, Prince of the Sun”, made under Toei in 1968, holds the curious combination of profound melodrama and magical fantasy that is unique to Ghibli's films today. Deriving from an ancient Ainu saga,...
“The Great Adventure of Horus, Prince of the Sun”, made under Toei in 1968, holds the curious combination of profound melodrama and magical fantasy that is unique to Ghibli's films today. Deriving from an ancient Ainu saga,...
- 3/26/2023
- by Renee Ng
- AsianMoviePulse
After last month kicked off with Sight and Sound unveiling of their once-in-a-decade greatest films of all-time poll, detailing the 100 films that made the cut that were led by Chantal Akerman’s Jeanne Dielman, 23, quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles, they’ve now unveiled the full critics’ top 250. While the discourse up until now has featured many wondering why certain directors were totally absent and why other films that previously made the top 100 were left out, more clarity has arrived with this update.
Check out some highlights we clocked below, the full list here, and return on March 2 when all ballots and comments will be unveiled.
The films closest to making the top 100 were Rio Bravo, The House Is Black, and Vagabond, which tied for #103. Four directors absent in the top 100––Terrence Malick, Paul Thomas Anderson, Hou Hsiao-hsien, and Jacques Demy––have two films each in the top 250: The Tree of Life...
Check out some highlights we clocked below, the full list here, and return on March 2 when all ballots and comments will be unveiled.
The films closest to making the top 100 were Rio Bravo, The House Is Black, and Vagabond, which tied for #103. Four directors absent in the top 100––Terrence Malick, Paul Thomas Anderson, Hou Hsiao-hsien, and Jacques Demy––have two films each in the top 250: The Tree of Life...
- 1/31/2023
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
I saw "Spirited Away" for the first time as a child via a rental DVD in a New Hampshire farmhouse buried in snow. I was so taken aback that I had to see it again immediately. This time I demanded that my parents join me. Early in the film, when the heroine Chihiro is threatened by a mysterious frog man, her friend Haku traps him in a magic bubble. "It's a Pokemon!" my mother cried. "He's in a Pokeball!" The visuals of "Spirited Away" had so discombobulated my family that they could only grasp at reference points. Critics were similarly taken aback when the film came to the United States in 2002. Nigel Andrews wrote in the Financial Times that "Spirited Away" is a film that "sums up all existence and gives us a mythology good for every society, amoebal, animal or human, that ever lived."
In the years since it's...
In the years since it's...
- 11/22/2022
- by Adam Wescott
- Slash Film
Studio Ghibli, the renowned Japanese animation studio that has brought countless classics to the big screen, among them “Spirited Away” and “Grave of the Fireflies,” is yet again teasing an upcoming collaboration with “Star Wars” masterminds Lucasfilm – this time with a cameo from co-founder Hayao Miyazaki.
Ghibli first got the internet all worked up Thursday when it posted a 15-second video of the Lucasfilm logo, followed by the Studio Ghibli logo. (It has amassed 9.7 million views on Twitter.) Now, they are further stoking the speculation by posting a photo of a small pewter Yoda. Behind Yoda is an out-of-focus but still instantly recognizable Miyazaki. The 81-year-old animator boasts a resume of modern classics, from “My Neighbor Totoro” to “Kiki’s Delivery Service” to “The Wind Rises.”
But what does it mean?
pic.twitter.com/31jDkRIXTL
— スタジオジブリ Studio Ghibli (@JP_GHIBLI) November 11, 2022
We actually have a pretty good guess.
First, you should...
Ghibli first got the internet all worked up Thursday when it posted a 15-second video of the Lucasfilm logo, followed by the Studio Ghibli logo. (It has amassed 9.7 million views on Twitter.) Now, they are further stoking the speculation by posting a photo of a small pewter Yoda. Behind Yoda is an out-of-focus but still instantly recognizable Miyazaki. The 81-year-old animator boasts a resume of modern classics, from “My Neighbor Totoro” to “Kiki’s Delivery Service” to “The Wind Rises.”
But what does it mean?
pic.twitter.com/31jDkRIXTL
— スタジオジブリ Studio Ghibli (@JP_GHIBLI) November 11, 2022
We actually have a pretty good guess.
First, you should...
- 11/11/2022
- by Drew Taylor
- The Wrap
There was a beautiful time when film buffs, critics, and dudes with strong opinions could gather in the IMDb forums and debate everything from the oeuvre of Sir David Lean to the latest episode of "Charmed." Today, internet critics make their way to the easier-to-navigate Letterboxd. Boosted by the 2021 Covid pandemic lock-in, it's now the joint for people looking to curate their watch list with the cream of the cinephile crop.
On Letterboxd, you can log your film-viewing history, rate films on a 5-star scale, and share your thoughts. The reviews can be as pithy or insightful as a user desires, and collated scores help fans figure out what's the best of the best in a given section. With this much input from peers, the app's consensus should offer a fair reflection of a film's quality. This Ghibli fan is going to look over Letterboxd's top twelve animated Studio Ghibli features with you,...
On Letterboxd, you can log your film-viewing history, rate films on a 5-star scale, and share your thoughts. The reviews can be as pithy or insightful as a user desires, and collated scores help fans figure out what's the best of the best in a given section. With this much input from peers, the app's consensus should offer a fair reflection of a film's quality. This Ghibli fan is going to look over Letterboxd's top twelve animated Studio Ghibli features with you,...
- 9/27/2022
- by Margaret David
- Slash Film
Studio Ghibli is the most important animation production company in movie history, and I say this with absolutely no hyperbole. The home of living animation legend Hayao Miyazaki and the studio responsible for some of the most brilliant works of animated cinema ever put to screen, Studio Ghibli has consistently broken new ground and completely redefined what stories are possible to tell in animation since its inception in the 1980s. Founded by Miyazaki and Isao Takahata, Studio Ghibli films have become internationally beloved classics, and have even inspired an upcoming theme park set to open in Japan later this year.
Back in 2020, HBO Max snagged the streaming rights to Studio Ghibli's entire filmography, but Gkids recently announced that the entire Studio Ghibli catalog is now available for digital download-to-rent in the United States and Canada. The films will be available to rent in both English and Japanese languages and this...
Back in 2020, HBO Max snagged the streaming rights to Studio Ghibli's entire filmography, but Gkids recently announced that the entire Studio Ghibli catalog is now available for digital download-to-rent in the United States and Canada. The films will be available to rent in both English and Japanese languages and this...
- 8/31/2022
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
Some of the most acclaimed films in animation history are finally available to rent online.
Gkids, the animation specialist distributer, has released the catalog of acclaimed Japanese animation house Studio Ghibli starting Tuesday. 22 films from the studio — including Oscar winner “Spirited Away” and nominees such as “Howl’s Moving Castle” and “When Marnie Was There” — will be made available to rent on all major digital platforms, including Apple TV, Amazon VOD, Vudu, Google Play and Microsoft. The films will be be priced at 4.99 per title, and all will be available in HD, with most being offered in the original Japanese language as well as English dubs.
The news marks the first time that Ghibli’s films have been made available via digital rental. The catalogue has been one of the pillars of Gkids’ business since the distributer acquired the North American film distribution rights to the studio’s films in 2011, followed...
Gkids, the animation specialist distributer, has released the catalog of acclaimed Japanese animation house Studio Ghibli starting Tuesday. 22 films from the studio — including Oscar winner “Spirited Away” and nominees such as “Howl’s Moving Castle” and “When Marnie Was There” — will be made available to rent on all major digital platforms, including Apple TV, Amazon VOD, Vudu, Google Play and Microsoft. The films will be be priced at 4.99 per title, and all will be available in HD, with most being offered in the original Japanese language as well as English dubs.
The news marks the first time that Ghibli’s films have been made available via digital rental. The catalogue has been one of the pillars of Gkids’ business since the distributer acquired the North American film distribution rights to the studio’s films in 2011, followed...
- 8/30/2022
- by Wilson Chapman
- Variety Film + TV
While the works of his colleague Hayao Miyazaki remain the most popular entities within Studio Ghibli’s output in the 1980s, it is perhaps the features by Isao Takahata that will leave the greatest impact on their viewer. One of the director’s most famous features during that time period is “Grave of the Fireflies”, a movie based on the short story by writer Akiyuki Nosaka, which deals with the trauma of Second World War, as experienced by a young man and his sister, who try to survive in these difficult times. Whereas a large portion of the audience perceived animation to be largely directed at a younger audience, Takahata managed to make a very adult film, about the bond between two siblings as well as the loss and protection of childhood and innocence.
In 1945, Seita, a teenage boy, lives with his younger sister Setsuko and their family in Kobe.
In 1945, Seita, a teenage boy, lives with his younger sister Setsuko and their family in Kobe.
- 9/13/2021
- by Rouven Linnarz
- AsianMoviePulse
• Coming Soon Mrs Harris Goes to Paris, starring Lesley Manville will be opening March 2022
• NME the first images of Lily James & Sebastian Stan as Pam & Tommy in a new limited series about the romance of rocker Tommy Lee and actress/model Pamela Anderson
• Vulture an oral history of Madonna's groundbreaking Truth or Dare, thirty years later
More after the jump including The Mitchells vs Machine popularity, new projects for Lewis Tan, Jamie Bell, Hilary Swank, and a book about uber depressing animated classic Grave of the Fireflies...
• NME the first images of Lily James & Sebastian Stan as Pam & Tommy in a new limited series about the romance of rocker Tommy Lee and actress/model Pamela Anderson
• Vulture an oral history of Madonna's groundbreaking Truth or Dare, thirty years later
More after the jump including The Mitchells vs Machine popularity, new projects for Lewis Tan, Jamie Bell, Hilary Swank, and a book about uber depressing animated classic Grave of the Fireflies...
- 5/12/2021
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
Get in touch to send in cinephile news and discoveries. For daily updates follow us @NotebookMUBI.NEWSThe winners of this year's socially distanced Academy Awards ceremony include Daniel Kaluuya, Youn Yuh Jung, and Chloé Zhao. Find our full list of winners and nominees here.The legendary layout artist Roy Naisbitt has died at 90. Best known for his intricate and interweaving visions, Naisbitt worked on films like Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Space Jam, Balto and 2001: A Space Odyssey. Recommended VIEWINGAn extension of This Long Century, Ecstatic Static is a database of films and information from a broad community of artists. The site is currently screening films like Simon Liu's Signal 8, and also has an extensive library featuring new notes on filmmaking by Jodie Mack, Helena Wittmann, and more. Anthology Film Archives has announced a new online festival, presented in partnership with production company Vanda. Entitled Vanda Duarte: Dissident Films by Latin American Women Directors,...
- 4/28/2021
- MUBI
“Whisper of the Heart”, the favorite, coming-of-age Studio Ghibli film, was released in the distant 1995. Based on the homotitled manga by Aoi Hiiragi, it stands as the first movie of the Japanese Dream Factory that is not directed by Hayao Miyazaki or Isao Takahata. Behind its success lies Yoshifumi Kondo, the director who worked on plenty of masterpieces, such as “Princess Mononoke“, “Grave of the Fireflies”, and “Kiki’s Delivery Service“. By examining the difficult path that leads one to discover who he truly wants to be, by narrating the stressful and clumsy process of entering adulthood and personal maturation, it unfolds a world full of realism, imagination, and strong emotions. But, let’s take a closer look!
The story revolves around Shizuku Tsukishima, a teenage girl who is in the last grade of high school, and, instead of studying for her exams, prefers to read literary books and …follow stray cats.
The story revolves around Shizuku Tsukishima, a teenage girl who is in the last grade of high school, and, instead of studying for her exams, prefers to read literary books and …follow stray cats.
- 10/18/2020
- by Sofia Evangelidou
- AsianMoviePulse
Anime industry veteran Yoshiji Kigami, who worked on films including Akira and Studio Ghibli's Grave of the Fireflies before moving to Kyoto Animation (KyoAni), is believed to be among the 34 dead in the July 18 arson attack on the studio.
Names of the dead are not being released yet, as requested by the studio, but Kigami has been uncontactable since the fire. Police have announced that the oldest victim of the fire was 61, Kigami's age.
Kigami's mother, who is in her 80s, told local media on Wednesday, "I still have hope. I want to believe that my ...
Names of the dead are not being released yet, as requested by the studio, but Kigami has been uncontactable since the fire. Police have announced that the oldest victim of the fire was 61, Kigami's age.
Kigami's mother, who is in her 80s, told local media on Wednesday, "I still have hope. I want to believe that my ...
- 7/25/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Anime industry veteran Yoshiji Kigami, who worked on films including Akira and Studio Ghibli's Grave of the Fireflies before moving to Kyoto Animation (KyoAni), is believed to be among the 34 dead in the July 18 arson attack on the studio.
Names of the dead have not been released yet, as requested by the studio, but Kigami has been unreachable since the fire. Police have announced that the oldest victim of the fire was 61, Kigami's age.
Kigami's mother, who is in her 80s, told local media on Wednesday, "I still have hope. I want to believe that my ...
Names of the dead have not been released yet, as requested by the studio, but Kigami has been unreachable since the fire. Police have announced that the oldest victim of the fire was 61, Kigami's age.
Kigami's mother, who is in her 80s, told local media on Wednesday, "I still have hope. I want to believe that my ...
- 7/25/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Every week, IndieWire asks a select handful of film critics two questions and publishes the results on Monday.
Pixar and Studio Ghibli are undeniably the two most preeminent animation studios since the golden age of Disney. One has turned 3D animation into the medium’s dominant aesthetic, and — with this week’s release of “Toy Story 4” — will soon have their fourth $1 billion-grossing film. The other is a more traditional (and director-driven) powerhouse that has enchanted audiences in Japan and around the world for more than 30 years, though its future remains unclear after the death of co-founder Isao Takahata and the semi-retirement of godhead Hayao Miyazaki (who’s currently hard at work on a new Ghibli feature that will be released in time with the 2020 Tokyo Olympics).
The world is wide enough for both Pixar and Ghibli, but this week’s critics’ survey is not: We asked our panel to pick one,...
Pixar and Studio Ghibli are undeniably the two most preeminent animation studios since the golden age of Disney. One has turned 3D animation into the medium’s dominant aesthetic, and — with this week’s release of “Toy Story 4” — will soon have their fourth $1 billion-grossing film. The other is a more traditional (and director-driven) powerhouse that has enchanted audiences in Japan and around the world for more than 30 years, though its future remains unclear after the death of co-founder Isao Takahata and the semi-retirement of godhead Hayao Miyazaki (who’s currently hard at work on a new Ghibli feature that will be released in time with the 2020 Tokyo Olympics).
The world is wide enough for both Pixar and Ghibli, but this week’s critics’ survey is not: We asked our panel to pick one,...
- 6/17/2019
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
It is not a secret that Vesoul International Film Festival of Asian Cinemas is a result of love for Asian countries, Asian culture, Asian films, and of romantic love. “This festival that was created by a couple – my wife and I celebrates its silver wedding anniversary, its 25 years of marriage. So the theme of couples is imperative.” explained Jean-Marc Thérouanne, founder and managing director of the festival to the Afp (Agence France Press).
Since its first edition in 1995, Viff of Asian Cinemas has welcomed more than half a million audience members, with 32.000 coming to the festival screenings in 2018 and “Women Speak” as its thematic setting.
“We have started in a phone booth, with 12 films and 1500 visitors. Now, we have become a festival with international recognition. In October 2018, we have had the honour to receive the Korean Cinema Awards, an accolade previously presented to the figures of the cinema industry such...
Since its first edition in 1995, Viff of Asian Cinemas has welcomed more than half a million audience members, with 32.000 coming to the festival screenings in 2018 and “Women Speak” as its thematic setting.
“We have started in a phone booth, with 12 films and 1500 visitors. Now, we have become a festival with international recognition. In October 2018, we have had the honour to receive the Korean Cinema Awards, an accolade previously presented to the figures of the cinema industry such...
- 2/7/2019
- by Anomalilly
- AsianMoviePulse
Since any New York City cinephile has a nearly suffocating wealth of theatrical options, we figured it’d be best to compile some of the more worthwhile repertory showings into one handy list. Displayed below are a few of the city’s most reliable theaters and links to screenings of their weekend offerings — films you’re not likely to see in a theater again anytime soon, and many of which are, also, on 35mm. If you have a chance to attend any of these, we’re of the mind that it’s time extremely well-spent.
MoMA
The 16th annual edition of “To Save and Project” continues, including Ernst Lubitsch’s newly restored Forbidden Paradise.
Metrograph
An all-35mm Pier Paolo Pasolini retrospective continues, as does a series on Miyazaki and Kay Francis.
Kaili Blues, The African Queen, and Film Socialisme have screenings.
Quad Cinema
A Henry James series is underway,...
MoMA
The 16th annual edition of “To Save and Project” continues, including Ernst Lubitsch’s newly restored Forbidden Paradise.
Metrograph
An all-35mm Pier Paolo Pasolini retrospective continues, as does a series on Miyazaki and Kay Francis.
Kaili Blues, The African Queen, and Film Socialisme have screenings.
Quad Cinema
A Henry James series is underway,...
- 1/11/2019
- by Nick Newman
- The Film Stage
Since any New York City cinephile has a nearly suffocating wealth of theatrical options, we figured it’d be best to compile some of the more worthwhile repertory showings into one handy list. Displayed below are a few of the city’s most reliable theaters and links to screenings of their weekend offerings — films you’re not likely to see in a theater again anytime soon, and many of which are, also, on 35mm. If you have a chance to attend any of these, we’re of the mind that it’s time extremely well-spent.
Film Society of Lincoln Center
The films of Alfonso Cuarón are playing through Tuesday, including Children of Men, Sólo con tu pareja, and more in 35mm, Y tu mamá también, and Roma in 70mm.
MoMA
The 16th annual edition of To Save and Project is now underway, featuring newly restored films from Barbet Schroeder, Yvonne Rainer,...
Film Society of Lincoln Center
The films of Alfonso Cuarón are playing through Tuesday, including Children of Men, Sólo con tu pareja, and more in 35mm, Y tu mamá también, and Roma in 70mm.
MoMA
The 16th annual edition of To Save and Project is now underway, featuring newly restored films from Barbet Schroeder, Yvonne Rainer,...
- 1/4/2019
- by Nick Newman
- The Film Stage
Thirty years ago, then-fledgling animation factory Studio Ghibli released two new feature films, each starring two children: the gentle fantasy tale My Neighbor Totoro and the harsh war drama Grave of the Fireflies. Both films initially opened to great critical reviews but tepid box offices, yet in time both grew in popularity, to become legendary entries in their fields. Few films, animated or not, can match the accolades these two titles have gathered over the past three decades. One is without a doubt one of the most re-watchable, uplifting films ever created, and just thinking about it makes you feel better already. The other has been called "suicide-inducing" and "the perfect way to destroy your evening", not because it's bad, but because it delivers such...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 10/2/2018
- Screen Anarchy
Get Your War On: ‘Come And See, ‘Grave Of The Fireflies’ & ‘Johnny Got His Gun’ [Over/Under Podcast]
After a long hiatus, many behind-the-scenes discussions, and simultaneously agreeing to a looser structure on the formula, Over/Under Movies podcast is back!
Read More: 55 Must-See Films: The 2018 Fall Movie Preview
This is the point where we’d usually say, “The podcast in which we choose one overrated film and one underrated film, similar in tone, genre, style, or however we may see fit, and discuss them.” But, in these dark times – and how volatile the discourse can be and how we don’t want to seem like we’re shouting into an echo chamber – we’ve decided to shift our focus to the positives.
Continue reading Get Your War On: ‘Come And See, ‘Grave Of The Fireflies’ & ‘Johnny Got His Gun’ [Over/Under Podcast] at The Playlist.
Read More: 55 Must-See Films: The 2018 Fall Movie Preview
This is the point where we’d usually say, “The podcast in which we choose one overrated film and one underrated film, similar in tone, genre, style, or however we may see fit, and discuss them.” But, in these dark times – and how volatile the discourse can be and how we don’t want to seem like we’re shouting into an echo chamber – we’ve decided to shift our focus to the positives.
Continue reading Get Your War On: ‘Come And See, ‘Grave Of The Fireflies’ & ‘Johnny Got His Gun’ [Over/Under Podcast] at The Playlist.
- 9/15/2018
- by Ryan Oliver
- The Playlist
The sight of a soldier carrying his own severed arm is one of the many horrific images of “Saving Private Ryan,” which 20 years ago earned instant acclaim for its unflinching depiction of the brutality of D-Day. But it’s far from the only film to show the horrors of war. Here are some of the most brutal war movies ever made.
Fury (2014): This David Ayer WWII film starts with bits of brain being cleaned from the inside of a M4 Sherman tank, and continues to get uglier from there as a tank unit led by Staff Sgt. Don “Wardaddy” Collier (Brad Pitt) begins its final charge into Nazi Germany in 1945.
Full Metal Jacket (1987): While Stanley Kubrick’s Vietnam film is more known for its first half at boot camp, the second half shows a grisly battle as Private Joker (Matthew Modine) watches as his crew is slain by a hidden sniper.
Fury (2014): This David Ayer WWII film starts with bits of brain being cleaned from the inside of a M4 Sherman tank, and continues to get uglier from there as a tank unit led by Staff Sgt. Don “Wardaddy” Collier (Brad Pitt) begins its final charge into Nazi Germany in 1945.
Full Metal Jacket (1987): While Stanley Kubrick’s Vietnam film is more known for its first half at boot camp, the second half shows a grisly battle as Private Joker (Matthew Modine) watches as his crew is slain by a hidden sniper.
- 7/24/2018
- by Jeremy Fuster
- The Wrap
As anyone who has seen the film will tell you, Grave Of The Fireflies is sad as hell. Adapted for the screen and directed by the recently deceased Isao Takahata, the story follows two siblings in Japan during World War II who struggle to survive on their own after their home city of Kobe is destroyed by incendiary…
Read more...
Read more...
- 4/16/2018
- by Dan Neilan on News, shared by Dan Neilan to The A.V. Club
- avclub.com
One of the key figures in Japanese animation who co-founded the internationally renowned Studio Ghibli
For more than 50 years, Isao Takahata, who has died aged 82, played an instrumental role in forging the international reputation of Japanese animation. He was one of the two key figures behind Japan’s leading animation house, Studio Ghibli, which he co-founded in 1985 alongside Hayao Miyazaki, and the director of such poignant works as the antiwar film Grave of the Fireflies (1988) and the Academy award-nominated The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (2013), based on a 10th-century folktale and realised in a style influenced by traditional Japanese ink-wash painting.
Yet in contrast to the freewheeling and design-based approach of his more prolific colleague, Takahata never put so much as a pen to paper during the animation process. Nonetheless his sophisticated, character-driven animations explored a diverse range of themes and aesthetic styles, often confounding expectations as to what was possible within the medium.
For more than 50 years, Isao Takahata, who has died aged 82, played an instrumental role in forging the international reputation of Japanese animation. He was one of the two key figures behind Japan’s leading animation house, Studio Ghibli, which he co-founded in 1985 alongside Hayao Miyazaki, and the director of such poignant works as the antiwar film Grave of the Fireflies (1988) and the Academy award-nominated The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (2013), based on a 10th-century folktale and realised in a style influenced by traditional Japanese ink-wash painting.
Yet in contrast to the freewheeling and design-based approach of his more prolific colleague, Takahata never put so much as a pen to paper during the animation process. Nonetheless his sophisticated, character-driven animations explored a diverse range of themes and aesthetic styles, often confounding expectations as to what was possible within the medium.
- 4/8/2018
- by Jasper Sharp
- The Guardian - Film News
“Why must fireflies die so young?” On April 5, the world lost an animation titan. Isao Takahata, the co-founder of Studio Ghibli, a frequent collaborator with Hayao Miyazaki, and the director of stunning anime films like Grave of the Fireflies and The Tale of Princess Kaguya, died at 82. But not many people outside of hardcore Studio Ghibli fans […]
The post The Legacy of Isao Takahata, the Underappreciated Half of Studio Ghibli appeared first on /Film.
The post The Legacy of Isao Takahata, the Underappreciated Half of Studio Ghibli appeared first on /Film.
- 4/6/2018
- by Hoai-Tran Bui
- Slash Film
The anime film community has lost one of its most prominent members with the passing of Isao Takahata, the Oscar-nominated anime pioneer who co-founded Studio Ghibli with Hayao Miyazaki in June of 1985. As a writer, director, and producer of several timeless animated films, Takahata is known mostly for his work on such films as Grave Of The Fireflies, Pom Poko, Only Yesterday, and The Tale Of... Read More...
- 4/6/2018
- by Steve Seigh
- JoBlo.com
It is with sadness that we've heard that Japanese writer, director and producer Takahata Isao died yesterday. His passing has been confirmed by several Japanese news sources. He had been struggling with his health since last summer. Takahata Isao's achievements in film are many (check this overview we posted in 2014). He produced several of Miyazaki Hayao's most famous films, including Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, the success of which allowed them to found the legendary Studio Ghibli in the eighties. As a director he created several classics himself, including Pom Poko, Only Yesterday, and what many still consider to be one of the best anti-war films of all time (animated or otherwise), Grave of the Fireflies. In 2009 he received a honorary...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 4/6/2018
- Screen Anarchy
Takahata’s credits included Grave Of The Fireflies.
Japanese filmmaker Isao Takahata, who co-founded Studio Ghibli with Hayao Miyazaki in 1985, has died aged 82.
Takahata directed animated classics such as Grave Of The Fireflies, Only Yesterday and Pom Poko. His most recent film as director was The Tale Of Princess Kaguya, which was nominated for best animated feature at the Academy Awards in 2015.
Born in 1935 in Mie Prefecture, Takahata started his career in 1959 and worked on both animated features and TV series as a screenwriter, director and producer.
While Miyazaki is best known for pure fantasies, Takahata focused on realistic dramas,...
Japanese filmmaker Isao Takahata, who co-founded Studio Ghibli with Hayao Miyazaki in 1985, has died aged 82.
Takahata directed animated classics such as Grave Of The Fireflies, Only Yesterday and Pom Poko. His most recent film as director was The Tale Of Princess Kaguya, which was nominated for best animated feature at the Academy Awards in 2015.
Born in 1935 in Mie Prefecture, Takahata started his career in 1959 and worked on both animated features and TV series as a screenwriter, director and producer.
While Miyazaki is best known for pure fantasies, Takahata focused on realistic dramas,...
- 4/6/2018
- by Liz Shackleton
- ScreenDaily
Isao Takahata, a highly influential Japanese animator and filmmaker, and a co-founder of Studio Ghibli alongside longtime collaborator Hayao Miyazaki, died Thursday after a brief hospitalization. He was 82.
Takahata died following a battle with lung cancer, according to a statement Studio Ghibli provided to TheWrap.
Takahata directed the animated wartime drama “Grave of the Fireflies,” “Pom Poko,” “My Neighbors the Yamadas” and was nominated for an Oscar for his film “The Tale of the Princess Kaguya.”...
Takahata died following a battle with lung cancer, according to a statement Studio Ghibli provided to TheWrap.
Takahata directed the animated wartime drama “Grave of the Fireflies,” “Pom Poko,” “My Neighbors the Yamadas” and was nominated for an Oscar for his film “The Tale of the Princess Kaguya.”...
- 4/6/2018
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
Isao Takahata, renowned Japanese director, screenwriter, animator, producer and co-founder of Studio Ghibli, died on Thursday, due to lung cancer, according to Yahoo! Japan. He was 82.
After directing and doing the storyboards for a number of episodes in TV anime series like “Future Boy Conan” and “Anne of Green Gables”, he accepted Hayao Miyazaki’s invitation to join Studio Ghibli. The first movie directed by Takahata for Ghibli was “Grave of the Fireflies” in 1988, while in 1989, Takahata went on to do the music direction for to “Kiki’s Delivery Service”. His next projects for Ghibli include “Only yesterday” (1991), “Pom Poko” (1994), “My Neighbors the Yamadas” (1999), and “Winter Days” (2003). His last directorial work was “The Tale of Princess Kaguya in 2013, while he also served as artistic producer in Michael Dudok de Wit’s “The Red Turtle“.
On November 4, 2007, Takahata was awarded the Special Award at the Kobe Animation Awards, while he received...
After directing and doing the storyboards for a number of episodes in TV anime series like “Future Boy Conan” and “Anne of Green Gables”, he accepted Hayao Miyazaki’s invitation to join Studio Ghibli. The first movie directed by Takahata for Ghibli was “Grave of the Fireflies” in 1988, while in 1989, Takahata went on to do the music direction for to “Kiki’s Delivery Service”. His next projects for Ghibli include “Only yesterday” (1991), “Pom Poko” (1994), “My Neighbors the Yamadas” (1999), and “Winter Days” (2003). His last directorial work was “The Tale of Princess Kaguya in 2013, while he also served as artistic producer in Michael Dudok de Wit’s “The Red Turtle“.
On November 4, 2007, Takahata was awarded the Special Award at the Kobe Animation Awards, while he received...
- 4/6/2018
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Takahata started his career in animation at the Toei studio in 1959, where he met long-term collaborator and rival Hayao Miyazaki.
The Oscar-nominated Japanese anime director Isao Takahata, who co-founded Studio Ghibli and was best known for his masterpiece Grave of the Fireflies, has died aged 82.
“[His death] is true, but we can’t comment further as we are trying to confirm some facts around it,” a Studio Ghibli spokeswoman said.
The Oscar-nominated Japanese anime director Isao Takahata, who co-founded Studio Ghibli and was best known for his masterpiece Grave of the Fireflies, has died aged 82.
“[His death] is true, but we can’t comment further as we are trying to confirm some facts around it,” a Studio Ghibli spokeswoman said.
- 4/6/2018
- by Agence France-Presse
- The Guardian - Film News
Isao Takahata, the Oscar-nominated anime visionary who co-founded Studio Ghibli with Hayao Miyazaki and wrote, directed and/or produced many acclaimed films, died today in Japan. He was 82. Local media reports cite sources saying he died in a Tokyo hospital after a long illness.
Takahata began his animation career in 1959 at the Toei Animation Company, where he met eventual Oscar-winner Miyazaki. Described by many as both friends and rivals, they founded production company Studio Ghibli in 1985. Among its early classics was Grave of the Fireflies (1988, right), which Takahata also wrote and directed. He would go on to produce such acclaimed anime films as Only Yesterday (1991) and Pom Poko (1994), and his final film as writer-director — 2013’s The Tale of Princess Kaguya — earned him an Oscar nom for Best Animated Feature. It also screened in the Directors’ Fortnight sidebar at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival.
Takahata also produced the popular anime TV series Heidi,...
Takahata began his animation career in 1959 at the Toei Animation Company, where he met eventual Oscar-winner Miyazaki. Described by many as both friends and rivals, they founded production company Studio Ghibli in 1985. Among its early classics was Grave of the Fireflies (1988, right), which Takahata also wrote and directed. He would go on to produce such acclaimed anime films as Only Yesterday (1991) and Pom Poko (1994), and his final film as writer-director — 2013’s The Tale of Princess Kaguya — earned him an Oscar nom for Best Animated Feature. It also screened in the Directors’ Fortnight sidebar at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival.
Takahata also produced the popular anime TV series Heidi,...
- 4/6/2018
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
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