my favorite book

[mallochai]

I was at the movie theatre last night, walking by a row of posters, when suddenly I stop, scream, and jump up and down a few times. I - am - SO - excited!

The guy who did Spirited Away is making my favorite childhood book into a movie. It's called Howl's Moving Castle. When I was but a wee thing, I read this book over, and over, and over, and over. I LOVE this book.

Anyway, the anime looks beautious, even if it will be a disney production.

Yay.

[mallochai]

Tee-hee. I posted this while really excited and didn't really bother to think that any of you might want to know a damn thing about the movie/book.

I'm delirious sometimes.

Anyway... the book is about a girl who works in a hat shop, named Sophie. One day, she pisses off a witch, who curses her. Sophie has to leave her family behind to find another job because of the curse, and meets a witch named Howl who owns this castle which is run by demon power... a little fire demon who used to be a fallen star named Calcifer. It's all very strange and complicated... and I'm slightly worried that the movie won't do the book justice *as usually happens. There's all this odd tension in the book that made it seem very adult to me as a kid. Plus, it was so vivid, all these details about Sophie making hats and the wax cherries she had to put on one... these things stick with me still.

It's due out in select theatres June 10th. I want to read the book again before that. Hope the library has it.

My inner child is still rejoicing.

[Jarodaka]

ooh, this looks interesting. Trailer.

[Shade Everdark]

Okay. I need to make this clear for everyone. Miyazaki Hayao does not work for Disney. He has his own animation stuio, Studio Ghibli, from which he produces his awesome films. The only way he could get exposure in the States was to sell the distribution rights to Disney...heartless bastards.

[mallochai]

I didn't know that, but I wasn't assuming that he did either, not really. I just have this bad disney stigma to overcome. I haven't even seen his other work, so I've no actual basis to go on.

[mallochai]

And yes, heartless bastards indeed! Here here!

[pomba gira]

Only Miyazaki film I've seen so far is Princess Mononoke. Based on that, he's definitely a genius! Someone just loaned me a Ghibli DVD box set w/ 5 or 6 films; planning to watch once school's out & I can actually concentrate. Howl's Moving Castle looks wonderful... been toying w/the idea ov buying the DVD since it came out last year, but most of what I've seen on eBay are Malaysian & HK bootlegs; I'm holding out for a decent dub version.

BTW Mallochai, if you haven't found a copy of the book, there's one on eBay right now... it's in the UK tho so you might get hit on the shipping.

[mallochai]

BTW Mallochai, if you haven't found a copy of the book, there's one on eBay right now... it's in the UK tho so you might get hit on the shipping.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks for the tip, but they've got them all over amazon for cheap too. I'm just waiting till after my trip home, since any money I spend right now detracts from my detroit fund. And I don't intend to screw myself out of this, no sirree bub.

[Troy Spiral (13)]

From what i read Disney has been courting Miyazaki for years and years, and only recently (well since Spirited Away came out i guess) due to a fairly sweetheart deal that they offered him did they finally come to an understanding. From, at least the creative people side, a lot of disney animators hold Miyazaki in sort of god-like status and have nothing but respect for him.

[mallochai]

*tents her fingers together*

eeeehhxcellent!

[SomeDanGuy]

Just saw a preview for this, and I definitely plan on seeing it

[Shade Everdark]

You're right on that, Troy, but the reason behind Miyazaki's acquiescence to the deal still stands: he couldn't get any exposure into the huge American anime market until he signed on with one of the big distribution labels. As you say, Disney had been trying to get him into bed with them for a long time, so he went with them. Personally, I think he should have held out for Sony Pictures America; at least they're willing to take a few chances now and again. In any event, I'd not heard of Miyazaki until I went over to Japan, even though I'd seen one of his early films (Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind).

[The Lady]

I haven't even seen his other work, so I've no actual basis to go on.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It's all wonderful! I'm a big Studio Ghibli fan. So far I've seen Princess Mononoke, Kiki's Delivery Service, Spirited Away, and My Neighbour Totoro. All of them are beautifully done and absolutely delightful. I will soon be watching Nausicaa and Castle in the Sky. I can't wait to see Howl's Moving Castle!