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
Studio Ghibli, like Western counterparts Disney, Pixar and the UK’s Aardman, is one of the most important animation studios in movie history. Since its first feature film, “Castle in the Sky” in 1986, Studio Ghibli has delivered two dozen thought-provoking tales beautifully rendered in a unique brand of animation. To date, its output has racked up have a lucky seven Oscar bids for Best Animated Feature.
“Spirited Away” was the first Studio Ghibli movie to break into the Academy Awards conversation and did so with aplomb in 2003. It won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature (Miyazaki the recipient) over “Ice Age,” “Lilo & Stitch,” “Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron,” and “Treasure Planet.”
In 2006, Miyazaki was again nominated — this time for “Howl’s Moving Castle” alongside “Corpse Bride” and “Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit,” with the latter movie, an Aardman creation, reigning victorious.
Miyazaki and Suzuki were the nominees...
“Spirited Away” was the first Studio Ghibli movie to break into the Academy Awards conversation and did so with aplomb in 2003. It won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature (Miyazaki the recipient) over “Ice Age,” “Lilo & Stitch,” “Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron,” and “Treasure Planet.”
In 2006, Miyazaki was again nominated — this time for “Howl’s Moving Castle” alongside “Corpse Bride” and “Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit,” with the latter movie, an Aardman creation, reigning victorious.
Miyazaki and Suzuki were the nominees...
- 2/16/2024
- by Jacob Sarkisian
- Gold Derby
An anime film was bound to make it into the Oscar nominations this year, and the contender this time around is Hayao Miyazaki's The Boy and the Heron . Ghibli's latest film was nominated in the Animated Feature Film Category, where it will compete with Elemental , Nimona , Robot Dreams and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse . Other nominations include Godzilla Minus One , which is up for the Visual Effects category , and Japanese/German co-production Perfect Days —directed by Wim Wenders and written by Wim Wenders and Takuma Takasaki—which is up for Best International Feature Film . We'll find out who wins when the 96th annual Academy Awards ceremony airs live on Sunday, March 10, 2024 at 4:00pm Pacific Time. Related: The Boy and the Heron Awarded Golden Globe for Best Animated Film Miyazaki previously won an Academy Award in 2002 for Spirited Away , making anime history. His Howl's Moving Castle film was nominated in...
- 1/23/2024
- by Joseph Luster
- Crunchyroll
One of the less public-facing key talents at the most publicly scrutinized animation studio in the world, cinematographer Atsushi Okui joined Studio Ghibli in 1993 and has worked on nearly every film from legendary director Hayao Miyazaki since, among them Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, and his first feature in a decade, The Boy and the Heron.
With that film now in wide North American release from Gkids, we caught up with Okui to gain insight into the particulars of his job title, the process of working with iconic directors, and whether Miyazaki’s reputation for technophobia might be (a little) overblown.
With thanks to interpreter Nao Amisaki.
The Film Stage: You’ve been a director of photography at Studio Ghibli for over 30 years, during which time your title has evolved into “digital imaging director.” For those less-familiar with the animation process, could you explain what a Dp does in animation, and...
With that film now in wide North American release from Gkids, we caught up with Okui to gain insight into the particulars of his job title, the process of working with iconic directors, and whether Miyazaki’s reputation for technophobia might be (a little) overblown.
With thanks to interpreter Nao Amisaki.
The Film Stage: You’ve been a director of photography at Studio Ghibli for over 30 years, during which time your title has evolved into “digital imaging director.” For those less-familiar with the animation process, could you explain what a Dp does in animation, and...
- 12/12/2023
- by Eli Friedberg
- The Film Stage
The Studio Ghibli animation is the first from the iconic director in a decade.
The Boy And The Heron, the first film in 10 years from iconic animation director Hayao Miyazaki, has broken box office records on its opening weekend in Japan despite receiving no marketing push.
The Studio Ghibli film, which is locally titled Kimitachi wa Dō Ikiru ka? (How Do You Live?), opened Friday (July 14) and earned $15.46m (Y2.14bn) over four days, which included Monday’s Marine Day national holiday. It was distributed by Toho, which supplied the figures.
It marks the biggest-ever opening weekend for Miyazaki as...
The Boy And The Heron, the first film in 10 years from iconic animation director Hayao Miyazaki, has broken box office records on its opening weekend in Japan despite receiving no marketing push.
The Studio Ghibli film, which is locally titled Kimitachi wa Dō Ikiru ka? (How Do You Live?), opened Friday (July 14) and earned $15.46m (Y2.14bn) over four days, which included Monday’s Marine Day national holiday. It was distributed by Toho, which supplied the figures.
It marks the biggest-ever opening weekend for Miyazaki as...
- 7/18/2023
- by Matt Schley
- ScreenDaily
There was once a man named Mamoru Hosada who decided to become an anime director. After a phenomenal career at Toei, where he worked on classic episodes of "Digimon" and "Revolutionary Girl Utena," he was recruited by Studio Ghibli to direct their upcoming film "Howl's Moving Castle." Unfortunately, Hosada's project was cursed from the beginning. Much of Ghibli was already busy crafting "Spirited Away." Hosada worked hard to secure a team of animators, but he could only do so much by himself. The harder he worked to keep "Howl's Moving Castle" alive, the faster it became a time and money sink. Sooner or later, the film collapsed, and Hosada was removed from the project. In an interview with Animestyle, Hosada expressed his feelings of guilt for the animators he was forced to abandon. "I had lied to them," he said. "I had betrayed them. Now nobody would trust me again.
- 11/17/2022
- by Adam Wescott
- Slash Film
Studio Ghibli’s first film after the supposed retirement of Hayao Miyazaki was a mediocre success in Japan, although it won an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature Film.
The script is based on the homonymous novel by Joan G. Robinson and goes like this: Anna is a lonely and restless-year-old who lives in Sapporo with her adopted parents, Yoriko and her husband. After an asthma attack, the girl suffers in school, her parents decide to send her to spend the summer in the country with some relatives of Yoriko’s, named Setsu and Kiyomasa, that live in the small seaside town of Kushiro, where she will not have to endure the city’s tainted atmosphere. Both of her relatives are very kind with her, treating her as if she was their own daughter. Anna however, does not get along with the local children and ends up alone once more,...
The script is based on the homonymous novel by Joan G. Robinson and goes like this: Anna is a lonely and restless-year-old who lives in Sapporo with her adopted parents, Yoriko and her husband. After an asthma attack, the girl suffers in school, her parents decide to send her to spend the summer in the country with some relatives of Yoriko’s, named Setsu and Kiyomasa, that live in the small seaside town of Kushiro, where she will not have to endure the city’s tainted atmosphere. Both of her relatives are very kind with her, treating her as if she was their own daughter. Anna however, does not get along with the local children and ends up alone once more,...
- 7/30/2021
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Studio Ghibli is helping to ease the pain of 2020 by making 400 high resolution images from eight of its movies available to download for free. The films include “When Marnie Was There,” “The Tale of the Princess Kaguya,” “The Wind Rises,” “From Up on Poppy Hill,” “The Secret World of Arrietty,” “Ponyo,” “Tales from Earthsea,” and Best Animated Feature Oscar winner “Spirited Away.” A handwritten note from Studio Ghibli co-founder Toshio Suzuki notes the one catch: “Please use them freely within the scope of common sense.”
The 400 free images mean each film mentioned above has 50 new high-resolution stills to explore. The note to use the images with “common sense” means fans have the green light from Suzuki to share the stills on social media and make artwork out of them, but don’t think about selling them for profit. Suzuki teased that more free images from additional Studio Ghibli movies will become available in the future.
The 400 free images mean each film mentioned above has 50 new high-resolution stills to explore. The note to use the images with “common sense” means fans have the green light from Suzuki to share the stills on social media and make artwork out of them, but don’t think about selling them for profit. Suzuki teased that more free images from additional Studio Ghibli movies will become available in the future.
- 9/22/2020
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
Deal covers 21 films including Hayao Miyazaki’s Oscar-winning Spirited Away.
Wild Bunch has acquired all French rights to the entire catalogue of celebrated Japanese animation house Studio Ghibli, including its new animated feature Earwig and the Witch.
Disney has traditionally released Studio Ghibli titles in France, but the licensing deal has recently come to the end of its term. The Wild Bunch deal came into effect on September 2.
The accord includes Gorô Miyazaki’s Earwig And The Witch. The film is the studio’s first feature animation in six years and made it into Cannes’s special 2020 Official Selection in June.
Wild Bunch has acquired all French rights to the entire catalogue of celebrated Japanese animation house Studio Ghibli, including its new animated feature Earwig and the Witch.
Disney has traditionally released Studio Ghibli titles in France, but the licensing deal has recently come to the end of its term. The Wild Bunch deal came into effect on September 2.
The accord includes Gorô Miyazaki’s Earwig And The Witch. The film is the studio’s first feature animation in six years and made it into Cannes’s special 2020 Official Selection in June.
- 9/11/2020
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
Studio Ponoc, the hand-drawn animation specialty outlet led by former Studio Ghibli producer Yoshiaki Nishimura, will team with the International Olympic Committee to create an animated short to be released ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Games.
News of this international collaboration has been timed to mark the opening day of the Annecy Intl. Animation Film Festival, which has made Japan its guest country this year and which will host Ponoc chief Nishimura on its feature film jury.
“From the moment we learned about Studio Ponoc, we were intrigued to work with its creative talent to see how they would reinterpret the Olympic values from a distinct aesthetic and narrative perspective, showcasing the finest hand-drawn and hand-painted animation,” said Francis Gabet, Director of the Olympic Foundation for Culture and Heritage, in a press statement.
“With a focus on universal topics relevant to humanity, this film will contribute not only to the excitement...
News of this international collaboration has been timed to mark the opening day of the Annecy Intl. Animation Film Festival, which has made Japan its guest country this year and which will host Ponoc chief Nishimura on its feature film jury.
“From the moment we learned about Studio Ponoc, we were intrigued to work with its creative talent to see how they would reinterpret the Olympic values from a distinct aesthetic and narrative perspective, showcasing the finest hand-drawn and hand-painted animation,” said Francis Gabet, Director of the Olympic Foundation for Culture and Heritage, in a press statement.
“With a focus on universal topics relevant to humanity, this film will contribute not only to the excitement...
- 6/10/2019
- by Ben Croll
- Variety Film + TV
The list of screenings for the second annual Windy City Horrorama has been revealed and kicking things off is Perry Blackshear's The Rusalka. Also in today's Horror Highlights: the second wave of filmsfor Chattanooga Film Festival 2019 and Terror 5 DVD and VOD release details.
Windy City Horrorama Screenings Unveiled: Press Release: "Get ready to scream, horror fans! We’re announcing the first films of Windy City Horrorama’s creeptastic lineup!
First up, it’s the Chicago premiere of The Rusalka*! Director Perry Blackshear reunites with him They Look Like People (2015) team for this tale of a folkloric water spirit, the vengeful man hunting her, and the handsome stranger caught between them. Stuffed to its gills with doomed longing, The Rusalka is an atmospheric elegy for love touched by the cruel hands of fate.
Also joining our 2019 slate of films is the infamous low-budget vigilante shocker, Robot Ninja! This 1989 thriller about...
Windy City Horrorama Screenings Unveiled: Press Release: "Get ready to scream, horror fans! We’re announcing the first films of Windy City Horrorama’s creeptastic lineup!
First up, it’s the Chicago premiere of The Rusalka*! Director Perry Blackshear reunites with him They Look Like People (2015) team for this tale of a folkloric water spirit, the vengeful man hunting her, and the handsome stranger caught between them. Stuffed to its gills with doomed longing, The Rusalka is an atmospheric elegy for love touched by the cruel hands of fate.
Also joining our 2019 slate of films is the infamous low-budget vigilante shocker, Robot Ninja! This 1989 thriller about...
- 3/26/2019
- by Tamika Jones
- DailyDead
‘Roma,’ Alfonso Cuaron‘s nostalgic ode to his ’70s childhood in Mexico City, won over the 84-member Alliance of Women Film Journalists — including me. The stunning black-and-white Netflix release pocketed five Eda wins: Best Film, Best Cinematography, Best Non-English Film, Best Editing and Best Director. Coming in second were those cutthroat royals in “The Favourite” with four wins, including Olivia Colman as Best Actress.
The all-female group’s 12th annual competition once again salutes the best – and some of the worst – in the world of film with 25 categories in three sections. There are the general Best of Awards, Female Focus Awards and Eda Special Mention Awards whose nominees are picked by those Awfj members who send in a nominating ballot. There is room for the good, including Viola Davis of “Widows” receiving the “Actress Defying Age and Ageism Award,” and the bad, as in Jennifer Lawrence of “Red Sparrow,” who...
The all-female group’s 12th annual competition once again salutes the best – and some of the worst – in the world of film with 25 categories in three sections. There are the general Best of Awards, Female Focus Awards and Eda Special Mention Awards whose nominees are picked by those Awfj members who send in a nominating ballot. There is room for the good, including Viola Davis of “Widows” receiving the “Actress Defying Age and Ageism Award,” and the bad, as in Jennifer Lawrence of “Red Sparrow,” who...
- 1/11/2019
- by Susan Wloszczyna
- Gold Derby
Oahunov Nov 8-18, 2018
Kauainov Nov 15-18, 2018
Big Island & Maui Nov 29 -Dec 2, 2018
The 38th Hawaii International Film Festival is about to start and to continue the festival’s proud tradition of showcasing content and creatives from the Pacific, Asia and North America.
The festival this year features over 180 films, talks and events from 37 countries, with 47 Us, International and World Premieres across 32 sections. 2018 continues the tradition of programming a selection of critically-acclaimed and highly-anticipated films from Asia and around the world, while also giving a platform from emerging creative talents from across the Hawaii-Pacific region.
Outstanding films are accompanied by stars and filmmakers from around the world, connecting East and West through a dedication to discussion, diversity and creativity.
We have picked the Asian titles in the Programme and they are a lot!
Let’s have a look:
Shadow – Opening Night Film
China 2018 – Director: Zhang Yimou
50 First Kisses
Spotlight On Japan – Japan...
Kauainov Nov 15-18, 2018
Big Island & Maui Nov 29 -Dec 2, 2018
The 38th Hawaii International Film Festival is about to start and to continue the festival’s proud tradition of showcasing content and creatives from the Pacific, Asia and North America.
The festival this year features over 180 films, talks and events from 37 countries, with 47 Us, International and World Premieres across 32 sections. 2018 continues the tradition of programming a selection of critically-acclaimed and highly-anticipated films from Asia and around the world, while also giving a platform from emerging creative talents from across the Hawaii-Pacific region.
Outstanding films are accompanied by stars and filmmakers from around the world, connecting East and West through a dedication to discussion, diversity and creativity.
We have picked the Asian titles in the Programme and they are a lot!
Let’s have a look:
Shadow – Opening Night Film
China 2018 – Director: Zhang Yimou
50 First Kisses
Spotlight On Japan – Japan...
- 10/18/2018
- by Adriana Rosati
- AsianMoviePulse
Features the voices of: Ruby Barnhill, Jim Broadbent, Ewen Bremner, Lynda Baron, Louis Ashbourne Serkis, Morwenna Banks, Teresa Gallagher, Rasmus Hardiker, Rebecca Kidd, Kate Winslet | Written by Riko Sakaguchi, Hiromasa Yonebayashi, David Freedman, Lynda Freedman | Directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi
Now I’ve already reviewed Mary and the Witch’s Flower earlier this year. That first review is on Nerdly for you to check out and goes into a little more detail about things like the dubbing. However, it’s not very often I give the movies I review a second opinion but how does Mary and the Witch’s Flower hold up after a second glance?Well, honestly, there isn’t much else I can add that I didn’t already mention in my first review of the Studio Ponoc film.
The story of Mary and the Witch’s Flower is based on the children’s classic, My Little Broomstick by Mary Stewart.
Now I’ve already reviewed Mary and the Witch’s Flower earlier this year. That first review is on Nerdly for you to check out and goes into a little more detail about things like the dubbing. However, it’s not very often I give the movies I review a second opinion but how does Mary and the Witch’s Flower hold up after a second glance?Well, honestly, there isn’t much else I can add that I didn’t already mention in my first review of the Studio Ponoc film.
The story of Mary and the Witch’s Flower is based on the children’s classic, My Little Broomstick by Mary Stewart.
- 9/18/2018
- by Xenia Grounds
- Nerdly
"Shun adores baseball. Only eggs defeat him." Here we go! Japanese animation house Studio Ponoc has debuted three 30-second individual trailers for their new short films as part of their first Anthology feature. These short films will be released in Japan later this month together in one extended feature, Ponoc's latest offering since Mary and the Witch's Flower. This new series is titled "Ponoc Short Films Theatre", and this first set is titled Modest Heroes. Ponoc recruited three of Ghibli's finest veteran animators to make these three short films - Kanini & Kanino directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi, Life Ain't Gonna Lose (aka Samurai Egg) directed by Yoshiyuki Momose, and Invisible directed by Akihiko Yamashita. The trailers finally give us a better glimpse at the stories & characters in these shorts, and I'm still crazy excited to watch them. The Invisible short looks like the best, in my opinion, but they all have some serious charm.
- 8/19/2018
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
"You'll be carried away by these modest heroes." Oh my goodness!! Studio Ponoc, the animation studio in Japan that is essentially the spiritual successor to Studio Ghibli, has released the first official trailer for an animated anthology of short films. These short films will be released in Japan this August, their next offering since making Mary and the Witch's Flower (which just opened in the Us earlier this year and is available now on iTunes). This new series is titled "Ponoc Short Films Theatre", and this first set of three shorts is titled Modest Heroes. Ponoc recruited three of Ghibli's finest veteran animators to make these three short films - Kanini & Kanino directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi, Life Ain't Gonna Lose (aka Samurai Egg) directed by Yoshiyuki Momose, and Invisible directed by Akihiko Yamashita. In addition, Japan's Kaela Kimura performs the Modest Heroes theme song, which plays at the end of the anthology feature.
- 7/6/2018
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Inaugural 2017 event guest list included Angelina Jolie, Hiromasa Yonebayashi.
Animation company Gkids and Annecy International Film Festival have announced the second annual Animation Is Film Festival to run October 19-21 in Hollywood.
The festival will showcase animated features, special presentations, and animated short film programmes.
Last year’s inaugural Animation Is Film Festival featured special guests including The Breadwinner (pictured) executive producer Angelina Jolie and director Nora Twomey, The Lego Batman Movie director Chris McKay, The Big Bad Fox co-director Benjamin Renner, The Incredibles producer John Walker, and Mary And The Witch’s Flower director Hiromasa Yonebayashi.
The 2017 jury for...
Animation company Gkids and Annecy International Film Festival have announced the second annual Animation Is Film Festival to run October 19-21 in Hollywood.
The festival will showcase animated features, special presentations, and animated short film programmes.
Last year’s inaugural Animation Is Film Festival featured special guests including The Breadwinner (pictured) executive producer Angelina Jolie and director Nora Twomey, The Lego Batman Movie director Chris McKay, The Big Bad Fox co-director Benjamin Renner, The Incredibles producer John Walker, and Mary And The Witch’s Flower director Hiromasa Yonebayashi.
The 2017 jury for...
- 6/13/2018
- by Jenn Sherman
- ScreenDaily
The program of the 18th Japanese Film Festival Nippon Connection in Frankfurt am Main is complete! From May 29 to June 3, 2018 the audience can discover more than 100 new short and feature films at the biggest festival for Japanese film worldwide – from blockbusters and anime to independent and documentary films. Almost all of the films will be presented as German, European- international, or world premieres. A diverse supporting program provides about 50 exciting cultural activities apart from the cinema. Numerous Japanese filmmakers, musicians, and artists will be our guests at the festival. As the guest of honor, renowned actress Shinobu Terajima will receive the Nippon Honor Award 2018. The events will take place at the festival centers at Künstlerhaus Mousonturm and Theater Willy Praml in der Naxoshalle as well as four additional locations in Frankfurt am Main.
Nippon Cinema
Once more, many stars of the Japanese film scene will be expected to present...
Nippon Cinema
Once more, many stars of the Japanese film scene will be expected to present...
- 5/16/2018
- by Adriana Rosati
- AsianMoviePulse
Features the voices of: Ruby Barnhill, Jim Broadbent, Ewen Bremner, Lynda Baron, Louis Ashbourne Serkis, Morwenna Banks, Teresa Gallagher, Rasmus Hardiker, Rebecca Kidd, Kate Winslet | Written by Riko Sakaguchi, Hiromasa Yonebayashi, David Freedman, Lynda Freedman | Directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi
Mary and the Witch’s Flower is the first film from Studio Ponoc. This studio is founded by Studio Ghibli veterans so the question is: Does Mary and the Witch’s Flower feel like an equal to something like a Studio Ghibli film?
The story of Mary and the Witch’s Flower is based on the children’s classic, My Little Broomstick by Mary Stewart. To those unaware of its story, a young girl called Mary has moved to the countryside and she doesn’t really fit in. One day, she comes across a mysterious and rare flower that gives her magical abilities such as bringing a broomstick to life and...
Mary and the Witch’s Flower is the first film from Studio Ponoc. This studio is founded by Studio Ghibli veterans so the question is: Does Mary and the Witch’s Flower feel like an equal to something like a Studio Ghibli film?
The story of Mary and the Witch’s Flower is based on the children’s classic, My Little Broomstick by Mary Stewart. To those unaware of its story, a young girl called Mary has moved to the countryside and she doesn’t really fit in. One day, she comes across a mysterious and rare flower that gives her magical abilities such as bringing a broomstick to life and...
- 5/7/2018
- by Xenia Grounds
- Nerdly
Fans of Japanese animation needn’t restrict themselves to fantastical TV series – a bit of digging can uncover rare Studio Ghibli features and beyond
If you happen to see Hiromasa Yonebayashi’s lovely Mary and the Witch’s Flower in cinemas this week, and its iridescent bouquet of mad delights gets you on something of an anime kick, the streaming world offers mixed rewards for fans of vibrant Japanese animation. Deep-diving acolytes in the busy, complex realm of anime TV series are increasingly well catered for; film buffs in the genre, however, often have to do a bit more hunting.
A key hindrance on the cinematic front is that Studio Ghibli – still, for most, the gold standard of anime film, and the obvious gateway for dilettantes – has thus far proven rather resistant to video on demand technology, preferring to make tangible collector’s items of their DVD and Blu-ray releases.
If you happen to see Hiromasa Yonebayashi’s lovely Mary and the Witch’s Flower in cinemas this week, and its iridescent bouquet of mad delights gets you on something of an anime kick, the streaming world offers mixed rewards for fans of vibrant Japanese animation. Deep-diving acolytes in the busy, complex realm of anime TV series are increasingly well catered for; film buffs in the genre, however, often have to do a bit more hunting.
A key hindrance on the cinematic front is that Studio Ghibli – still, for most, the gold standard of anime film, and the obvious gateway for dilettantes – has thus far proven rather resistant to video on demand technology, preferring to make tangible collector’s items of their DVD and Blu-ray releases.
- 5/6/2018
- by Guy Lodge
- The Guardian - Film News
Mary and the Witch’s Flower director Hiromasa Yonebayashi on why Japanese directors go wild for Britain’s cuisine, climate, chintz – and unionised miners
‘Clouds in Britain were very different from Japanese clouds,” says director Hiromasa Yonebayashi. “They seemed very close and they went on forever. They really stirred the imagination. I felt like those clouds had been an inspiration for British writers to create lots of fantasy works. It looked as if some hidden castle were about to emerge from them.”
Related: Mary and the Witch's Flower review – charming Japanese children's adventure...
‘Clouds in Britain were very different from Japanese clouds,” says director Hiromasa Yonebayashi. “They seemed very close and they went on forever. They really stirred the imagination. I felt like those clouds had been an inspiration for British writers to create lots of fantasy works. It looked as if some hidden castle were about to emerge from them.”
Related: Mary and the Witch's Flower review – charming Japanese children's adventure...
- 5/4/2018
- by Steve Rose
- The Guardian - Film News
This is the Pure Movies review of Mary and the Witch's Flower, directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi and starring Ruby Barnhill, Kate Winslet, Jim Broadbent, Ewen Bremner and Louis Serkis. Written by Helen Chapman for Pure Movies. Based on the 1971 novel The Little Broomstick by Mary Stewart, Hiromasa Yonebayashi’s film recounts the story of a smart, adventurous heroine capable of holding her own in a dangerous situation. Mary stumbles upon Endor College, a prestigious school for witchcraft which resonates with Hogwarts school from Harry Potter. Her wild red hair also mirrors the character Hermione, as well as her strength and courage, and this should be welcomed by most in an age where Harry Potter won the hearts of children and adults alike. Mary is discovered by the professors of Endor College and is deemed a prodigy, but she soon runs into trouble and relies on her bravery and wits rather...
- 4/27/2018
- by Helen Chapman
- Pure Movies
With a seemingly endless amount of streaming options — not only the titles at our disposal, but services themselves — we’ve taken it upon ourselves to highlight the titles that have recently hit platforms. Every week, one will be able to see the cream of the crop (or perhaps some simply interesting picks) of streaming titles (new and old) across platforms such as Netflix, iTunes, Amazon, and more (note: U.S. only). Check out our rundown for this week’s selections below.
Behemoth (Zhao Liang)
There’s just one thing missing from Zhao Liang’s visually masterful documentary Behemoth: a before image of what this wasteland of coal and rock used to be before God’s beast was unleashed. That creature — as represented by the industrial machine — devours the mountains of Mongolia, exploding large formations into rubble to be separated by the Sichaun people acting as minions. These citizens become the cause and effect,...
Behemoth (Zhao Liang)
There’s just one thing missing from Zhao Liang’s visually masterful documentary Behemoth: a before image of what this wasteland of coal and rock used to be before God’s beast was unleashed. That creature — as represented by the industrial machine — devours the mountains of Mongolia, exploding large formations into rubble to be separated by the Sichaun people acting as minions. These citizens become the cause and effect,...
- 4/20/2018
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Former Ghibli animator/director Hiromasa Yonebayashi has miraculously harnessed the charm of his previous employer for this feature debut from Studio Ponoc; a new anime company founded by producer Yoshiaki Nishimura. Mary and the Witch’s Flower, Yonebayashi’s third feature following Arrietty and When Marnie Was There, is a sprightly and spirited fantasy adventure that’s garlanded with that unparalleled Ghibli magic and matchless capacity to whisk viewers away into captivating fantasylands.
After an action-loaded prologue, the story sashays into serener settings where we meet Mary at the start of her adventure. Mary is an affable yet lumbering youngster, staying with her aunt in a chocolate box village, while her parents are away on a business trip. Mary befriends a black cat who leads her to discover a rare, purple flower (the Fly-by-night). She is then swiftly spirited away to a city in the clouds and welcomed to the...
After an action-loaded prologue, the story sashays into serener settings where we meet Mary at the start of her adventure. Mary is an affable yet lumbering youngster, staying with her aunt in a chocolate box village, while her parents are away on a business trip. Mary befriends a black cat who leads her to discover a rare, purple flower (the Fly-by-night). She is then swiftly spirited away to a city in the clouds and welcomed to the...
- 3/27/2018
- by Daniel Goodwin
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
It’s nearly unfair how director Hiromasa Yonebayashi lures us into a false sense of security within in the whimsical opening moments of his latest film, “Mary and the Witch’s Flower,” and the first for Studio Ponoc. Founded by Yoshiaki Nishimura along with several former Studio Ghibli animators, the comparisons to the disbanded titan of a studio were always going to persist, warranted or not.
Continue reading ‘Mary And The Witch’s Flower’ Doesn’t Quite Capture That Studio Ghibli Magic [Review] at The Playlist.
Continue reading ‘Mary And The Witch’s Flower’ Doesn’t Quite Capture That Studio Ghibli Magic [Review] at The Playlist.
- 2/1/2018
- by Ally Johnson
- The Playlist
“Mary and the Witch’s Flower” is something of a miracle. Regardless of its merits as a movie, the fact that it even exists in such a dire time for animated cinema is something worth celebrating. It was only a few years ago, in August 2014, when the peerless Studio Ghibli announced it was re-evaluating its future in the wake of financial hardships and Hayao Miyazaki’s supposed retirement — the move seemed to confirm the collective fear that the world’s most consistently brilliant film studio was lost without the visionary storyteller responsible for so much of its immortal output.
Back then, the news felt like a potentially fatal blow for hand-drawn animation, the final surrender of a cold war that had started with friendly fire (Pixar) and ended with outright humiliation (“The Emoji Movie”). But all was not lost.
Studio Ghibli soon flickered back to life, co-producing Michaël Dudok de...
Back then, the news felt like a potentially fatal blow for hand-drawn animation, the final surrender of a cold war that had started with friendly fire (Pixar) and ended with outright humiliation (“The Emoji Movie”). But all was not lost.
Studio Ghibli soon flickered back to life, co-producing Michaël Dudok de...
- 1/18/2018
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
I'm pretty excited about this upcoming anime film from Studio Ponoc called Mary and the Witch's Flower. It looks like such a crazy and imaginative film and the first three minutes of the film have been released online and I've gotta say it's totally wild! There's also some crazy cool and weird stuff that you would expect to see from a Studio Ghibli film, like soldiers that morph into flying sea creatures. I guess that makes sense as the film was directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi, an animator who worked for Studio Ghibli on some of their classics such as Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle, and Ponyo. He is also the director of When Marnie Was There and The Secret World of Arrietty.
The movie tells the adventurous story of a young girl named Mary, who discovers a flower that grants magical powers, but only for one night. The film...
The movie tells the adventurous story of a young girl named Mary, who discovers a flower that grants magical powers, but only for one night. The film...
- 1/9/2018
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
We don’t want to overwhelm you, but while you’re catching up with our top 50 films of 2017, more cinematic greatness awaits in 2018. Ahead of our 100 most-anticipated films, we’re highlighting 50 titles we’ve enjoyed on the festival circuit this last year (and beyond) that either have confirmed 2018 release dates or are awaiting a debut date from its distributor. There’s also a handful that are seeking distribution that we hope will arrive in the next 12 months. U.S. distributors: take note!
Lover for a Day (Philippe Garrel; Jan 12)
Philippe Garrel, the 69-year-old veteran of the French New Wave, has produced a casual, bittersweet, and intoxicating study of relationships in flux starring his daughter Esther. In this swift, touching ode to lovers with heart-breaking, irreconcilable differences, the drama appears conventional on first glance, featuring that older-man-younger-women relationship frustratingly perennial in French art cinema, but this is a work of rare...
Lover for a Day (Philippe Garrel; Jan 12)
Philippe Garrel, the 69-year-old veteran of the French New Wave, has produced a casual, bittersweet, and intoxicating study of relationships in flux starring his daughter Esther. In this swift, touching ode to lovers with heart-breaking, irreconcilable differences, the drama appears conventional on first glance, featuring that older-man-younger-women relationship frustratingly perennial in French art cinema, but this is a work of rare...
- 1/8/2018
- by The Film Stage
- The Film Stage
"I mustn't give up... I made a promise...!" GKids has unveiled an official Us trailer for the Japanese anime Mary and the Witch's Flower, made by Studio Ponoc. This film already opened in Japan in July, and we featured the Japanese trailers leading up to that release. Studio Ponoc is the spiritual successor to Studio Ghibli started by a bunch of former Ghibli animators. Their first film tells the story of a girl who discovers a broomstick and goes to a witches school only to learn that the animals are being kept in cages. Directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi, with music by Takatsugu Muramatsu, based on "The Little Broomstick". This trailer features English language voices, since it will be released for one night in theaters dubbed in English. Check it out below if you're still interested. The English language version features the voice talents of Ruby Barnhill (from Spielberg's The Bfg), Kate Winslet,...
- 12/27/2017
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli are back to work on a new feature film, but in the interim when it was thought that The Wind Rises may be their final outing, a handful of veterans from the studio went on to form their own company, Studio Ponoc. Their first feature is Mary and the Witch’s Flower, the latest from director Hiromasa Yonebayashi (The Secret World of Arrietty and When Marnie Was There), an adaptation of Mary Stewart’s The Little Broomstick, as scripted by the director and Riko Sakaguchi (The Tale of the Princess Kaguya). Ahead of a U.S. release in January thanks to Gkids, a new trailer has now arrived.
The story follows a young girl named Mary (Hana Sugisaki) who discovers a forbidden plant that grants her the power to become a witch for one night. Dan Schindel said in our review, “While there are plenty...
The story follows a young girl named Mary (Hana Sugisaki) who discovers a forbidden plant that grants her the power to become a witch for one night. Dan Schindel said in our review, “While there are plenty...
- 12/27/2017
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
‘Mary and the Witch’s Flower’ Trailer: Studio Ponoc’s First Movie Follows in the Footsteps of Ghibli
Studio Ghibli may have closed its doors (for now), but Studio Ponoc is here to try to live up to its mantle as the premiere animated studio outside of Disney and Pixar. Ponoc already has a lot going for it — the studio was founded by Hiromasa Yonebayashi, an animator on Spirited Away, and the director of acclaimed late-era […]
The post ‘Mary and the Witch’s Flower’ Trailer: Studio Ponoc’s First Movie Follows in the Footsteps of Ghibli appeared first on /Film.
The post ‘Mary and the Witch’s Flower’ Trailer: Studio Ponoc’s First Movie Follows in the Footsteps of Ghibli appeared first on /Film.
- 12/26/2017
- by Hoai-Tran Bui
- Slash Film
From the mind of Hiromasa Yonebayashi (Howl's Moving Castle, Princess Mononoke, Ponyo) comes a brand-new Japanese anime fantasy film entitled Mary And The Witch's Flower. Based upon the 1971 children’s book The Little Broomstick by Mary Stewart, the film centers on Mary, an ordinary young girl stuck in the country with her Great-Aunt Charlotte and seemingly no adventures or friends... Read More...
- 12/21/2017
- by Steve Seigh
- JoBlo.com
Beloved animation house Studio Ghibli may be in semi-hibernation at the moment, as they’ve ceased making new movies (not counting whatever Hayao Miyazaki is tinkering working on), but the spirit lives on at Studio Ponoc, founded by several animators from the famed company. And they deliver the goods with “Mary And The Witch’s Flower.”
Directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi (“When Marnie Was There,” “The Secret World of Arrietty“), based on the book by Mary Stewart, and featuring the voices of Ruby Barnhill, Kate Winslet, Jim Broadbent, and Ewen Bremner, the story follows a young girl who discovers a dangerous and secret world of witches.
Continue reading ‘Mary And The Witch’s Flower’ Trailer: Studio Ghibli Magic Lives On at The Playlist.
Directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi (“When Marnie Was There,” “The Secret World of Arrietty“), based on the book by Mary Stewart, and featuring the voices of Ruby Barnhill, Kate Winslet, Jim Broadbent, and Ewen Bremner, the story follows a young girl who discovers a dangerous and secret world of witches.
Continue reading ‘Mary And The Witch’s Flower’ Trailer: Studio Ghibli Magic Lives On at The Playlist.
- 12/21/2017
- by Kevin Jagernauth
- The Playlist
We've got a great new magical U.S. trailer for the upcoming fantasy anime film Mary and the Witch's Flower. The wonderful and imaginative looking film tells the adventurous story of a young girl named Mary, who discovers a flower that grants magical powers, but only for one night. The film features the voice talents of Ruby Barnhill, Kate Winslet and Jim Broadbent.
The film comes from Hiromasa Yonebayashi, an animator who previously worked for Studio Ghibli on anime classics such as Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle, and Ponyo. He is also the director of When Marnie Was There and The Secret World of Arrietty. It looks like he did an incredible job bringing this story to life and I'm pretty excited about seeing it!
Mary is an ordinary young girl stuck in the country with her Great-Aunt Charlotte and seemingly no adventures or friends in sight. She follows...
The film comes from Hiromasa Yonebayashi, an animator who previously worked for Studio Ghibli on anime classics such as Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle, and Ponyo. He is also the director of When Marnie Was There and The Secret World of Arrietty. It looks like he did an incredible job bringing this story to life and I'm pretty excited about seeing it!
Mary is an ordinary young girl stuck in the country with her Great-Aunt Charlotte and seemingly no adventures or friends in sight. She follows...
- 12/21/2017
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
Gkids has amassed nine Oscar nominations for Best Animated Feature since 2009 including one for My Life as a Zucchini last year and two in 2016 — but it has yet to take home the hardware. Now comes the first English-language trailer for its latest pic, featuring the voices of Kate Winslet, Jim Broadbent and The Bfg star Ruby Barnhill. Mary and the Witch’s Flower hails from Hiromasa Yonebayashi, the Oscar-nominated animator behind Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away, Howl's Movin…...
- 12/21/2017
- Deadline
With its debut feature, “Mary and the Witch’s Flower,” Studio Ponoc in Japan offered a new kind of anime fantasy drawn from the DNA of Studio Ghibli. And for founder and former Ghibli producer Yoshiaki Nishimura (“The Tale of The Princess Kaguya,” “When Marnie Was There”) and director Hiromasa Yonebayashi (“The Secret World of Arrietty, “When Marnie Was There”), the experience of making it was a new adventure.
“‘When Marnie Was There’ was a very quiet film about a little girl set in a small village without much action,” said Nishimura. “I wanted a story with a very active, energetic girl with lots of emotion and dynamic action.” And in speaking of his director, who drew dynamic animation for Hayao Miyazaki, “I saw that as a very large weapon to be able to feature in a new film.”
Starting From Scratch
Based on Mary Stewart’s novel, “The Little Broomstick,...
“‘When Marnie Was There’ was a very quiet film about a little girl set in a small village without much action,” said Nishimura. “I wanted a story with a very active, energetic girl with lots of emotion and dynamic action.” And in speaking of his director, who drew dynamic animation for Hayao Miyazaki, “I saw that as a very large weapon to be able to feature in a new film.”
Starting From Scratch
Based on Mary Stewart’s novel, “The Little Broomstick,...
- 12/20/2017
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
A lovingly crafted fantasy on an epic scale, “Mary and the Witch’s Flower” is a film about transformation made by filmmakers in transition. Directed by Studio Ghibli veteran Hiromasa Yonebayashi (2015 Oscar nominee for Ghibli’s “When Marnie Was There”), this action-packed tale of a young witch coming into her power is the first feature from Studio Ponoc, the aspiring animation powerhouse headed by longtime Ghibli lead producer Yoshiaki Nishimura (Oscar nominee in 2014 for producing Ghibli’s “The Tale of Princess Kaguya”). Yonebayashi and Nishimura have based their film on Mary Stewart’s 1971 Ya novel “The Little Broomstick,” a storybook the six-year-old.
- 12/8/2017
- by Ray Greene
- The Wrap
Coming up in the animation ranks at Studio Ghibli as an in-between and key animator before making his directorial debut with The Secret World of Arrietty, and earning his first Oscar nomination for 2014’s When Marnie Was There, Japanese director Hiromasa Yonebayashi struck out on his own this year with Mary and the Witch’s Flower. Based on The Little Broomstick by English novelist Mary Stewart, this dynamic first feature from Yoshiaki Nishimura’s Studio Ponoc tells the…...
- 11/20/2017
- Deadline
Mary and the Witch’s Flower, based on the 1971 children’s novel The Little Broomstick, is the first film from Studio Ponoc, a new Japanese animation studio founded by Yoshiaki Nishimura. Nishimura previously worked at the revered Studio Ghibli, where he produced The Tale of the Princess Kaguya and When Marnie Was There. To build Ponoc, he brought along other Ghibli veterans, including Hiromasa Yonebayashi, who helmed Mary. In his time as an animator, Yonebayashi worked as an artist on such films as Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, and Ponyo, eventually progressing to directing The Secret World of Arrietty and Marnie. With the help of a translator, we spoke to Nishimura and Yonebayashi about Mary and the Witch’s Flower and their new studio’s growing pains.
The Film Stage: What made you pick this project as the first feature for Studio Ponoc?
Yoshiaki Nishimura: At the end of 2014, Studio Ghibli closed its production division,...
The Film Stage: What made you pick this project as the first feature for Studio Ponoc?
Yoshiaki Nishimura: At the end of 2014, Studio Ghibli closed its production division,...
- 10/30/2017
- by Daniel Schindel
- The Film Stage
With this weekend’s launch in Hollywood of the Animation Is Film Festival at the Tcl Chinese 6 Theater, there’s an opportunity to expand industry tastes while influencing the Oscar race. “It’s for film people to find a highly curated selection of the best feature filmmaking from around the world [for that particular year] in one place,” said Aif founder Eric Beckman, the co-founder and president of GKids, which organized the festival in collaboration with the Annecy International Animation Festival, Variety, and Acifa-Hollywood.
After 20 years of success with the New York International Children’s Film Festival, Beckman thought it was time to broaden the appeal in Hollywood with an emphasis on global production and distribution.
Read More:2018 Oscar Predictions: Best Animated Feature
Why launch a new festival?
The timing couldn’t be better: New Academy rules now allow all eligible members to vote for animated features, using preferential voting. However, it remains to...
After 20 years of success with the New York International Children’s Film Festival, Beckman thought it was time to broaden the appeal in Hollywood with an emphasis on global production and distribution.
Read More:2018 Oscar Predictions: Best Animated Feature
Why launch a new festival?
The timing couldn’t be better: New Academy rules now allow all eligible members to vote for animated features, using preferential voting. However, it remains to...
- 10/17/2017
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
Aiming to make an impact this Oscar season, the inaugural Animation Is Film Festival from GKids, the Annecy International Animation Festival, Variety, and Acifa-Hollywood launches October 20-22 at the Tcl Chinese 6 Theater.
The festival will present a selection of new animated feature films from Asia, Europe, South America, and North America, with juried and audience prizes and filmmakers attending most screenings. Additionally, the festival will feature studio events, special screenings, short film programs, and a Vr lounge.
Aif seems well timed: The Academy now allows all members to vote for animated features, using preferential voting. However, it remains to be seen what the dynamic will be in terms of mainstream versus indie nominees.
GKids, which has nine Oscar nominations (including this year’s “My Life as a Zucchini”), has seven movies in contention this season; four showcase in competition at Aif. The highlight is “The Breadwinner” (October 20), a coproduction of Ireland,...
The festival will present a selection of new animated feature films from Asia, Europe, South America, and North America, with juried and audience prizes and filmmakers attending most screenings. Additionally, the festival will feature studio events, special screenings, short film programs, and a Vr lounge.
Aif seems well timed: The Academy now allows all members to vote for animated features, using preferential voting. However, it remains to be seen what the dynamic will be in terms of mainstream versus indie nominees.
GKids, which has nine Oscar nominations (including this year’s “My Life as a Zucchini”), has seven movies in contention this season; four showcase in competition at Aif. The highlight is “The Breadwinner” (October 20), a coproduction of Ireland,...
- 9/21/2017
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
Kate Winslet, Jim Broadbent, Ruby Barnhill, Louis Ashbourne Serkis and Ewen Bremner will voice the English-language version of Mary and the Witch's Flower, the first feature from Studio Ponoc, the anime house founded by former Studio Ghibli director Hiromasa Yonebayashi and producer Yoshiaki Nishimura.
Directed by Yonebayashi, who helmed Oscar-nominated When Marnie Was There and worked on Hayao Miyazaki's biggest hits, Mary and the Witch's Flower has taken more than $27 million at the Japanese box office since it opened on July 8.
Based on The Little Broomstick by British children's author Mary Stewart, the anime follows the adventures of...
Directed by Yonebayashi, who helmed Oscar-nominated When Marnie Was There and worked on Hayao Miyazaki's biggest hits, Mary and the Witch's Flower has taken more than $27 million at the Japanese box office since it opened on July 8.
Based on The Little Broomstick by British children's author Mary Stewart, the anime follows the adventures of...
- 8/31/2017
- by Gavin J. Blair
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Animation is inaugural feature from Studio Ponoc.
Gkids has acquired the North American distribution rights to Mary And The Witch’s Flower and plans a winter release.
Mary And The Witch’s Flower is based on Mary Stewart’s 1971 children’s book The Little Broomstick. The story centres on an ordinary young girl named Mary, who discovers a flower that grants magical powers for only one night. As she is whisked into an exciting new world beyond belief, she must learn to stay true to herself.
Hiromasa Yonebayashi directs the film written by Riko Sakaguchi and produced by Studio Ponoc founder Yoshiaki Nishimura.
Yonebayashi’s The Secret World Of Arrietty remains the highest-grossing Studio Ghibli title in the United States to date.
Gkids distributed previous Yonebayashi and Nishimura films When Marnie Was There and The Tale Of The Princess Kaguya, both of which were nominated for an Academy Award for best animated feature.
Mike Runagall of [link...
Gkids has acquired the North American distribution rights to Mary And The Witch’s Flower and plans a winter release.
Mary And The Witch’s Flower is based on Mary Stewart’s 1971 children’s book The Little Broomstick. The story centres on an ordinary young girl named Mary, who discovers a flower that grants magical powers for only one night. As she is whisked into an exciting new world beyond belief, she must learn to stay true to herself.
Hiromasa Yonebayashi directs the film written by Riko Sakaguchi and produced by Studio Ponoc founder Yoshiaki Nishimura.
Yonebayashi’s The Secret World Of Arrietty remains the highest-grossing Studio Ghibli title in the United States to date.
Gkids distributed previous Yonebayashi and Nishimura films When Marnie Was There and The Tale Of The Princess Kaguya, both of which were nominated for an Academy Award for best animated feature.
Mike Runagall of [link...
- 8/1/2017
- ScreenDaily
Acclaimed animation producer and distributor Gkids has acquired the North American distribution rights to Mary And The Witch’s Flower. The film is the first feature from the Japan-based Studio Ponoc. Academy Award-nominated director Hiromasa Yonebayashi (The Secret World of Arrietty, When Marnie Was There) helms the film based on Mary Stewart's 1971 children's book The Little Broomstick. It was adapted for the big screen by Yonebayashi and Riko Sakaguchi. The story…...
- 8/1/2017
- Deadline
Indie distributor Gkids has acquired the North American distribution rights to Mary and the Witch’s Flower, the inaugural feature from Japan-based Studio Ponoc.
The film is directed by Academy Award-nominee Hiromasa Yonebayashi (Studio Ghibli’s The Secret World of Arrietty and When Marnie Was There) and is produced by Studio Ponoc founder and two-time Academy Award-nominee Yoshiaki Nishimura (Studio Ghibli’s The Tale of the Princess Kaguya and When Marnie Was There).
Gkids distributed Princess Kaguya and When Marnie Was There, both of which were nominated for an Academy Award for best animated feature.
Mary and the Witch’s Flower was written by Riko Sakaguchi,...
The film is directed by Academy Award-nominee Hiromasa Yonebayashi (Studio Ghibli’s The Secret World of Arrietty and When Marnie Was There) and is produced by Studio Ponoc founder and two-time Academy Award-nominee Yoshiaki Nishimura (Studio Ghibli’s The Tale of the Princess Kaguya and When Marnie Was There).
Gkids distributed Princess Kaguya and When Marnie Was There, both of which were nominated for an Academy Award for best animated feature.
Mary and the Witch’s Flower was written by Riko Sakaguchi,...
- 8/1/2017
- by Carolyn Giardina
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Gkids, producer and distributor of animation for adult and family audiences, has announced that it is partnering with Studio Ghibli to handle the famed Japanese animation studio's catalog in North America. Beginning October 17, 2017, Gkids will begin reissuing new Blu-ray and DVD editions of Studio Ghibli's renowned films with six initial titles from Academy Award-winning director Hayao Miyazaki: Howl's Moving Castle, Kiki's Delivery Service, My Neighbor Totoro, Ponyo, Princess Mononoke, and Spirited Away followed by Castle in the Sky and Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind on October 31, 2017. The remaining titles will be reissued in the coming months in brand new Blu-ray and DVD, and are listed below.
The Studio Ghibli library, led by directors and studio co-founders Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata, is one of the most coveted and critically-lauded in animation, and includes such films as the Academy Award-winning Spirited Away, which was recently listed at...
The Studio Ghibli library, led by directors and studio co-founders Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata, is one of the most coveted and critically-lauded in animation, and includes such films as the Academy Award-winning Spirited Away, which was recently listed at...
- 7/17/2017
- by Joseph Medina
- LRMonline.com
Mary and the Witch’s Flower Trailer 3 Hiromasa Yonebayashi‘s Mary and the Witch’s Flower / Meari to majo no hana (2017) movie trailer 3 stars Hana Sugisaki, Ryûnosuke Kamiki, Yûki Amami, Fumiyo Kohinata, and Hikari Mitsushima. Mary and the Witch’s Flower‘s plot synopsis: based on the book by Mary Stewart, “It is [...]
Continue reading: Mary And The Witch’S Flower (2017) Movie Trailer 3: Mary Becomes a Witch For One Night...
Continue reading: Mary And The Witch’S Flower (2017) Movie Trailer 3: Mary Becomes a Witch For One Night...
- 6/12/2017
- by Rollo Tomasi
- Film-Book
"That power will change the world." Studio Ponoc has revealed another new full-length trailer for their animated adventure film Mary and the Witch's Flower, opening in Japan this July. Studio Ponoc is the spiritual successor to Ghibli started by a bunch of former Ghibli animators. You can definitely see how this looks/feels very much like a Ghibli movie, which I think is a good thing. The best way to describe it might be a mashup of The Secret World of Arrietty and Castle in the Sky, but this is still has its own unique story about a girl who discovers a broomstick and goes to a witches school only to learn that the animals are being kept in cages. Directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi, with music by Takatsugu Muramatsu, based on "The Little Broomstick". All these trailers are for the Japanese release, since there still isn't a Us release set yet.
- 6/9/2017
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Back in 2010, a film called The Secret World of Arrietty hit theaters. The animated film was based on the famous English fantasy novel series The Borrowers, which chronicled the adventures of a pint-sized family that lived in the walls and floors of a home. It had long been the subject of adaptations, but Arrietty was the first take in animated form. The film was gorgeous.
While the narrative wasn’t its strongest point, there was an amazing attention to detail that could not be overlooked, and at that time, I made sure to log away the name Hiromasa Yonebayashi, the film’s director. Clearly, this guy would go on to do some great things. Four years later saw the release of his second directed feature, When Marnie Was There. The film was also a critical triumph, and was yet another reason to keep an eye on Yonebayashi.
In the time...
While the narrative wasn’t its strongest point, there was an amazing attention to detail that could not be overlooked, and at that time, I made sure to log away the name Hiromasa Yonebayashi, the film’s director. Clearly, this guy would go on to do some great things. Four years later saw the release of his second directed feature, When Marnie Was There. The film was also a critical triumph, and was yet another reason to keep an eye on Yonebayashi.
In the time...
- 6/9/2017
- by Joseph Medina
- LRMonline.com
Teased and trailered since last year, our excitement is turning to impatience as we await “Mary And The Witch’s Flower.” The first release from Studio Ponoc, which features many players who formerly plied their craft at Studio Ghibli, this one is hitting all the right buttons with us.
Hiromasa Yonebayashi (“The Secret World Of Arrietty,” “When Marnie Was There“) directs this beautiful looking adaptation of Mary Stewart‘s book “The Little Broomstick,” about a young girl who goes on a magical journey.
Continue reading Beautiful New Trailer For ‘Mary And The Witch’s Flower’ From Ex-Studio Ghibli Team at The Playlist.
Hiromasa Yonebayashi (“The Secret World Of Arrietty,” “When Marnie Was There“) directs this beautiful looking adaptation of Mary Stewart‘s book “The Little Broomstick,” about a young girl who goes on a magical journey.
Continue reading Beautiful New Trailer For ‘Mary And The Witch’s Flower’ From Ex-Studio Ghibli Team at The Playlist.
- 6/8/2017
- by Kevin Jagernauth
- The Playlist
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