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His latest work, Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea, has been released already in Japan, and will open in summer here in the U.S. (thanks to Film Femme for bringing it up in a comment here!). The English version will feature the voices of (ready?) Matt Damon, Tina Fey, Cate Blanchett, Liam Neeson, Lily Tomlin, Betty White and Cloris Leachman. The story centers on a 5-year-old boy and his relationship with a “goldfish princess” who longs to become human. (Trailer at end of post.)
Here are some quick takes on other films by Miyazaki (in order of their release). Note that some are really not appropriate for younger kids.
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My Neighbor Totoro (1988) (G): This is a sweet, fantasy filled film that we all adored and had on video for years. There are gentle spirits and pixies and dancing by moonlight and a flying cat bus, and of course the cuddly, lovable Totoro... the film has an idyllic, happy vibe. (Um, except for the underlying story that the two young sisters’ mom is seriously and in the hospital, and I held my breath for the longest time thinking she was going to die: Jeezus, I wondered, do we really need to go there now?) (Spoiler: she doesn’t die.) This is fine for the younger kids, who may or may not worry about the mother like I did.
Kiki's Delivery Service (1989) (G) K saw this one years ago, but I didn’t, and after looking it up on IMDB, I’ll give it a thumbs up here for the younger ones. He liked it at the time, I remember, and it sounds like it’s a sweet as Totoro. Kiki is a young witch who sets up a flying delivery service. No big meanies here.
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Spirited Away (2001) (PG): I have to say I like this one the least of all, for various reasons, and many Miyazaki fans consider this is best (it won an Oscar!). I found it sort of dark and scary, and it didn’t have that flight of fancy that I find so charming in other titles. One scene I remember in particular is early on, when a young girl’s parents are suddenly turned into pigs (most of the story is her working to turn them back). This was rather disturbing for K, who was maybe nine when we watched it. There is also a bit of violence and some menacing creatures, a bit of blood (splattering) and some cruel characters; the kind you want to protect your kids from even knowing about at a tender age.
Howl’s Moving Castle (2004) (PG): This is the story of a young woman turned into an old h
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Maybe I’m just a wuss.
There are more in the mighty Miyazaki’s oeuvre, and if you haven’t checked him out yet, I think you’ll be glad you did. They’re truly artful pieces of cinema. (You can get some of these in paperback graphic novel/comic form, if you’re trying to find more ways to get your non-reader interested in books. And since they’re Japanese, they read from right to left, which is sort of fun for kids, too. They’re not hard to find, just ask your local bookseller. Also, Howl’s Moving Castle is a novel by Diana Wynne-Jones, as is another Miyazaki film, Castle in the Air.)
Here are trailers for the upcoming Ponyo and for my favorite, Howl's:
Films from Studio Ghibli (Miyazaki's studio) are always top notch. I love how you've opened people up to his films! They are DEFINITELY great for kids, but adults as well (for example, Spirited Away was the highest-grossing Japanese film at the Japan box-office of all time when it played... possibly still the case?). Totoro is just so sweet, every time I watch it (and Spirited Away as well), I could just about cry! Hopefully more people will find out how amazing these films are from your inclusion in your list.
ReplyDeleteCastle in the air isn't actually based on the Diane Wynne Jones book with the same title. It's just a coincedental name.
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