Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki Retrospective

Studio Ghibli is one of the only foreign animation studios to reach relative mainstream success in North America and Europe. Chances are you might have already seen one of Studio Ghibli's films or have at least heard of them, even if you did not realize it, thanks to Disney's brilliant marketing. A few of the studio's most recognizable works include Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, and Howl's Moving Castle, although their work spans more than 20 feature films.

Pixar producer and director, John Lasseter, often cites Studio Ghibli founder, Hayao Miyazaki, as an inspiration for his work, and he has worked personally with Miyazaki as the director of Disney's English dubs of Ghibli films. There is even a Totoro plushie in Toy Story 3.

In short, regardless of your opinion of Japanese animation, if you consider yourself a film fan, especially of animation, you need to at least watch the studio's most critically acclaimed works. Fans of Pixar, Disney, or family films should also check out the studio's work.

My inspiration for this Studio Ghibli retrospective comes a request from reader, Matthew Birkhofer, who requested "You should make a list of the best Pixar & Studio Ghibli movies, in one list to see where movies add up!" during the "Ask Me Anything" post, which I will answer soon. Since ranking Studio Ghibli and Pixar would result in the bottom half being mostly Pixar and the top half mostly Ghibli, it felt redundant. So, instead, I plan to review every single Studio Ghibli film over the course of this year, including the early work of Hayao Miyazaki before he started Studio Ghibli. The retrospective begins tomorrow with a review of Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro. Please give me some feedback on your opinion this idea in the comment, and whether or not you are interesting.

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Movie Music and More #21: "Arrietty" by Jamie

Hello all, it's Jamie! James asked me to drop in to share one of my favorite soundtracks that I've featured on my blog! So, today I'm highlighting a track from the OST of Studio Ghilbi’s The Secret World of Arrietty, which is story filled with a stunning attention to detail about a unlikely friendship. The soundtrack was one of the elements that really grabbed my attention during my first viewing of the film. Thanks to the Celtic tunes and melodies that captured my heart, I’m now an anime fan. Funny, no?

Sadly, the soundtrack for Arrietty is incredibly hard to find on YouTube, so I only have one song to share today. Thankfully, it's a good one! (I do own the soundtrack, in CD format! Well worth the purchase!)

Shawn's Lament: This song is incredibly peaceful and haunting. It's "music box" sound reminds me of childhood innocence and a bedtime lullaby. The guitar and flute flow smoothly together throughout the song's course, with the strings stepping in every once and awhile to play a few notes. The harp's clear notes dancing up the scale is also a beautiful addition to the melody. I love listening to this at night for it's soothing nature when I can't sleep!

I hope you enjoyed this track; I highlight unique music just like this every Tuesday on my blog Jamie Talks Anime. I'd love to have you visit and find more great music you can enjoy!

Jamie is a Marvel fan, Sherlockian, and anime enthusiast. She sometimes writes about movies and TV shows on her main blog, Through Two Blue Eyes. However, anime is so special to her that she gave it its own blog, where she writes almost more frequently: Jamie Talks Anime. Come visit her anytime, she will welcome you with streamers in the comment sections. ;) Thank you for having me on the blog, James! :D

Top 25 Sci-Fi Movies: Part 3

Part 3 of the Top 25 Science Fiction Movies list continues with several more entries in the list! If you missed Part 1, click here, and here for Part 2.

17: Planet of the Apes

One of my favorite sci-fi films since childhood, Planet of the Apes tells the iconic story of man like apes being the rulers of a mysterious new world. For the era, the ape makeup effects are revolutionary, and if not for the film, many later sci-fi, horror, and other FX films would never have come into existence. Even today, the makeup holds up incredibly well, and it is so much better than the mediocre Tim Burton remake.

In regard to the movie itself, Planet of the Apes is an interesting adventure. Despite being several decades old, there is nothing really like it. Not even the recent Apes films have been able to top the original. 

16: E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial

Steven Spielberg's E.T is among the best family films ever made. For me, a truly great "family film" is one that adults can enjoy just as much as kids and E.T. definitely succeeds. In fact, my first viewing of the film was not until I was 17 or 18. Spielberg is a masterclass director. He can make the most mundane things interesting to watch, and E.T. is a perfect example of his skill.

E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial is also one of the few films that stars a child where the kid does not detract from the film. Henry Thomas's performance off of the lovable E.T. special effect is excellent for his age. My only issue is that the movie does not do all that much in grand scheme of things, but that's fine for what it is.

15: The Girl Who Leapt Through Time

One of my favorite time-travel stories, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, is based on a 1967 novel by Yasutaka Tsutsui. It tells the story of a girl, who can travel-through-time by jumping from a certain height. However, she eventually discovers that time-travel cannot fix everything as problems arise. 

What separates this film from other time-travel stories is that it does not follow the usual "dangers of time-travel." The main character actually uses the time-travel as you would expect a teenager would use it, and yet she is not an annoying teenager like almost every teenage character in recent memory. The mix of comedy and drama is effective, and in the end, the film is a must-see, especially for fans of Studio Ghibli and time-travel.  

14: Alien

Ridley Scott's classic is the principal of science fiction horror! Despite knowing who would ultimately survive, the film manages to create a strong sense of tension. What surprised me the most is how unnerving the alien "Facehuggers" and "Chestbursters" are to witness. My skin crawls just thinking about them. The first scene with the Chestburster remains one of the few times where body horror works to forward the story without seeming over-the-top or unnecessary.

Alien's special effects are yet another highlight as it is some of the best from classic sci-fi. The creature design for the Xenomorph is superb, as it too is one of the best creatures in film history. Lastly, the film set the foundation for one of the best heroines in film, Ellen Ripley.

What do you think of the list so far! Are many of these your favorites? Please let me know in the comments, and if you missed it, please check out my review of Interstellar by clicking here.

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Top 25 Sci-Fi Movies: Part 2

Part 2 of the Top 25 Science Fiction Movies list continues with several more entries in the list! If you missed Part 1, click here.

21: Pacific Rim

Japanese mecha anime brought to life, Pacific Rim is the definition of a fun popcorn flick! Sure, it might be a ripoff of Evangelion and the plot contains some holes, but that’s not the point. The robots, referred to as Jaegers, have a real sense of height to their movements, and not just CGI objects created to sell merchandise *coughTransformerscough*. 

Love it or hate it, Pacific Rim knows exactly what it is, a ridiculously fun action packed summer popcorn flick. It takes a genre that has been relegated to corny Japanese films and anime, and gives it the big-budget Hollywood treatment. In many ways, it is a first of its kind, for western media at least, and let’s hope that the sequel will be even better! 

20: The Thing (1982)

After repeated requests from fellow reviewer, Matthew Birkhofer, to watch and review John Carpenter's The Thing, I finally watched, and I was not disappointed. In the same vein of Ridley Scott's Alien, The Thing is a sci-fi horror thriller that you put you on the edge-of-your-seat at points. The film is also a remake of The Thing from Another World (1951), which makes The Thing one of the best remakes of all-time.

John Carpenter's direction might lack the sustained tension of other horror thrillers of the era, but when it tries to shock the viewer with gruesome violence and a few jump scares, it definitely succeeds. What appealed to me most are the practical effects used to portray The Thing. Sometimes it might look a little corny by today's standards, but as a fan of the art, the FX crew did excellent work on the film. A full review of the film will come eventually.

19: Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan

"KHAAAAN!" Of the many Star Trek films, The Wrath of Khan is, unquestionably, the iconic one in the franchise, and according to many, it is the best. For me, First Contact and the 2009 Star Trek might be the most fun for me, but The Wrath of Khan will always be the most memorable. It captures the core aspects of what makes Star Trek, Star Trek, whereas the 2009 film, as fun as it is, is closer to a Star Wars rip-off.

As for the film itself, the pacing a little slower than necessary, but it makes up for it with an engaging battle between Kirk and Khan. The battle contains many allusions to Moby Dick, which is referred in the film. An interesting fact is that Kirk and Khan never meet face-to-face, which mirrors a battle between two submarine captains. The most iconic and memorable part for me is in the climax, and if you have not seen film, I will not spoiler. I reference the scene when I am in front of a glass door with my brother, so you should know what I am talking if you have seen it. 

18: Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind

The film that launched the famed Studio Ghibli, and Hayao Miyazaki's second feature film, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind remains one of the best works by the Oscar winning director. Set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland where humanity survives on the remaining habitable land. However, unlike most post-apocalyptic films, Nausicaä takes a more optimistic approach as it conveys themes of environmentalism without being terribly overt.

At times the animation shows its age, but it is certainly on par with the Disney films of the era, except much more mature, yet still appropriate for most older children. It is the type of film that truly appeals to audiences of all ages.

Have you seen the movies in this part of the list? What do you think of the list so far? Please comment below, and check back tomorrow for my review of Interstellar!

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

New Studio Ghibli TV Series Coming Next Month!

Studio Ghibli, is releasing a TV series based on a Swedish fantasy book titled, Ronia the Robber's Daughter, or Sanzoku no Musume Ronja, in Japanese. The series is set to air next month during the Fall TV season. Unfortunately, as you can tell from the teaser trailer above, the animation is not going to be Ghibli's usual stunning 2D work, but rather mediocre cel shaded 3D animation, which is becoming all the more common. Hopefully the actual series will look better than this teaser, because a few 3D animated anime like Knights of Sidonia and Nobunaga Concerto have actually been very good. Animation aside, maybe Sanzoku no Musume Ronja will actually be good. Regardless, I intend to watch and review it along with the other series coming out this Fall. What do you think of the teaser and Ghibli making a TV series? Please comment below and let me know, and also check back tomorrow for my review of Noragami.

Also, if you are new to Studio Ghibli's work, you can check out an excellent overview by my friend Jamie by clicking here.

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

The Wind Rises Review

In conjunction with my review of Frozen, which you can read here, here is my review for the other film up for Oscar nomination, The Wind Rises.

The Wind Rises, the last film by critically acclaimed director, Hayao Miyazaki, the founder of the famed Studio Ghibli. 

The film follows Jiro Horikoshi, the man responsible for designing several of Japan's airplanes used during World War II, most notably the Mitsubishi A6M Zero fighter. It follows Jiro from his childhood to the role he played in designing the machines of war. 

Directed by: Hayao Miyazaki

Genre: Drama, Historical drama,

Release Date: July 20, 2013

Running Time: 126 minutes

MMPA rating: PG-13

The Good: Beautiful animation, Well realized characters, Effective romance, Well paced, Strong English dub, Controversial themes discussed, Stunning dream sequences, Intriguing message, Believable character flaws, Brilliant score,

The Bad:

Plot: 8.4/10- Using the art of animation in a biographical film is an intriguing idea that turns out to be incredibly effective. While Miyazaki has openly admitted that the personal life of Jiro is mostly fictional, the actual history of the aircraft designing is fascinating, although history in general interests me. 

The Wind Rises is one of Studio Ghibli's most mature films. While not the most violent, it is realistic for the most part featuring characters with real problems. Also, the pacing could be considered slow by some, but to me, the film was never boring or dull.

In Japan, The Wind Rises stirred up a lot of controversy in the way it portrayed the building of the aircrafts. Some criticized it for glorifying the creation of the war machines while other criticized it for pointing the wrongdoings of Japan for starting a war. To me, the movie effectively portrayed how one man's attempt to create something of beauty, like the airplanes, can be turned into machines of war by others. Another controversy is the amount of smoking in the film, and even though I am 100% against smoking and tobacco of any kind, people back in the 30s and 40s smoked a lot, so it is an accurate representation.

Characterization: 8.5/10- Being one of the only Miyazaki film to feature a male protagonist, Jiro Horikoshi is portrayed effectively. 

He has believable character flaws, yet he is likable enough for the audience to attach to the character during the film, and the romance towards later portion of the film with Naoko is probably the best romance of any Ghibli film. It was compelling without being too sappy or overly dramatic. While the other characters are likable enough, very few receive much character development.

Acting: 8.7/10- Normally, the both the Japanese and English dubs are roughly equal, yet in The Wind Rises is a bit different. In Japanese, Hideaki Anno plays the main character Jiro. 

Anno is best known for creating the infamously popular Evangelion franchise, but The Wind Rises is his first voicing role aside from a few cameos and parodies. Unfortunately, Anno's performance is often flat and lacking in emotion. On the other hand, Joseph Gordon-Levitt in the English dub is superb with a very subtle and nuanced performance that makes his version of Jiro more compelling. As for the rest of the cast in both Japanese and English, they are all top notch without a weak member among either cast with Emily Blunt being the standout best of the supporting actors. 

Art Style: 9.9/10- While one might expect a film more grounded in reality to be weaker in the animation department, The Wind Rises might be the most visually appealing film from Studio Ghibli to date. The character designs for male characters are vastly improved compared to other Ghibli films, while the female ones are as pleasant as always. However, the fluidity of the animation and the background animation in general is where the film truly shines. From the highly detailed planes and houses, to the stunning dream sequences, the animation is utterly amazing, especially in HD. Additionally, the animation provides The Wind Rises an advantage over many other biographical features since the animation always keeps the movie visually interesting even when the story may begin to drag.

Soundtrack: 9.8/10- As expected with Joe Hisaishi's work, the score is simply magnificent. It is sweeping, enchanting, and utterly bone chilling when it needs to be. Only John Williams crafts better orchestral music than Hisaishi.

Humor: N/A- While there are a few scenes of humor, The Wind Rises is a mostly serious film.

Non-Otaku Appeal: The Wind Rises is the exact opposite to virtually everything that the western audiences considers animation to be. It is a mature biopic about a man that happens to be brilliantly animated, and if that is what you want, then, by all means, it is a great film for anyone to watch.

Entertainment Value: 8.3/10- While not the most entertaining Ghibli film, The Wind Rises' characters and historical story were more than enough to hold my attention.

Overall: 8.6/10- Overall, The Wind Rises is one of Studio Ghibli's best efforts with the most personal story since Whisper of the Heart. Few directors could have given us a better swansong than Miyazaki did with The Wind Rises. 

Closing comments: Despite my surprise by how solid of a film Frozen was, The Wind Rises is an unquestionably superior film (at least for adults) in most respects, and the Academy should be ashamed that it lost. However, I am can understand why casual viewers would prefer Frozen.

Recommended for: Studio Ghibli fans, Miyazaki fans, Drama fans, Animation fans, Historical fans,

To read more of my anime reviews, you can click here.

The Wind Rises Review by Rick

Also, if you have reviewed this anime, leave a comment with a link to your review and I will post it here (providing it does not contain any explicit content).

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Frozen vs The Wind Rises: You Decide

Frozen and The Wind Rises, the two most highly regarded animated features of last year, and at the Oscars this past March, they dueled for the Best Animated Feature Award. While Frozen might have won the Oscar, is it really the best animated film of last year? Today you, the reader, will decide which film you think should have won the Oscar, and on Monday and Tuesday I will post my full review of both films so that you will know what my opinion of which film should have won. Of course, many readers probably have yet to see The Wind Rises, and if that is the case, just vote for Frozen, or go watch The Wind Rises. Now let the battle begin!

In this corner we have the fourth highest grossing film of all-time, Frozen! From Disney Animation and directors, Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee, Frozen is a fantasy musical, and since I am sure almost everyone has seen the film, a plot summary is unnecessary. 

Across the ring we have the final film from legendary director Hayao Miyazaki, and one of Studio Ghibli's most recent features, The Wind Rises! The Wind Rises follows Jiro Horikoshi, the man responsible for designing several of Japan's airplanes used during World War II, most notably the Mitsubishi A6M Zero fighter. It follows Jiro from his childhood to the role he played in designing the machines of war.

Which do you prefer? Is there another animated film from last year that you think should have won? Or do you abstain? Please comment and check back tomorrow for my review of Frozen followed by my Wind Rises review on Tuesday.

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

New Studio Ghibli Movie: Tale of Princess Kaguya Trailer

The Tale of Princess Kaguya, Studio Ghibli's film that is finally making its way to a wide release outside of Japan with an English dub, and the English trailer has now been released. The Tale of Princess Kaguya was originally released in November of last year, and it was Ghibli's second to last film released before the temporary closure. The Tale of Princess Kaguya is based on Japan's oldest known narrative, The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter, and it is directed by Ghibli legend Isao Takahata, who has directed films such as Grave of the Fireflies, Pom Poko, and My Neighbors the Yamadas. From the trailer, it is clear that the film is taking a visually different style than most other Ghibli films, with a style more akin to My Neighbors the Yamadas. The English dub cast includes Chloë Grace Moretz, Lucy Liu, and James Marsden. The film is set to be released on October 17, 2014. What do you think of the trailer? Are you excited to see the film? Please comment below and let me know.

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Studio Ghibli Closing!? And a Tribute

Thanks to a confusing unofficial translation that implied Studio Ghibli would be closing for good, everyone freaked out. After the official statement (below) was officially released and translated, it actually said that the studio will be taking a break for the time being after Hayao Miyazaki's retirement to figure things out and decide how they want to proceed. How long of a break, I do not know, but Studio Ghibli is one of the last remaining globally known 2D animation studios around, and as far as I am concerned, they are, by far, the best feature film animation studio of all-time. Better than DreamWorks, Disney, and even Pixar. If you have never seen a Studio Ghibli film, you are certainly missing out on some of the best films ever made. According to some speculation, the recent success of Frozen in Japanese and other Asian countries might be one of the reasons for Ghibli's temporary closing, which is baffling considering that Japan's animation so much better than movies like Frozen that it is not even funny. Having recently seen every Hayao Miyazaki film, as well as most Studio Ghibli films in general, seeing Ghibli take a break is kind of saddening. Hopefully they will return with even more classic films. For anime feature films, all we have now is Mamoru Hosoda (Wolf Children, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, Summer Wars), and the films based off of existing series. Sometime, if readers are interested, I might decide to rank all of Studio Ghibli's films. What do you think of the Studio Ghibli taking a break? Please comment below and let me know.

Here is the official statement: "Obviously Miyazaki's retirement is an enormous change and we are considering how to proceed from such an event but... we don't believe we can just continue with the same approach as we had before. We are taking a small break to think on how best to proceed from here."

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Double Features: Ghibli and Disney Paired by Jamie

Hey, it's me Jamie again! I love animation and I've recently watched a lot of the Studio Ghibli movies, so this has post idea has been at the forefront of my mind the past few weeks (thank you to James, who helped me discover the company and get into it!) Every once and awhile there's enough time for a double feature, so that's what this list is for. Five sets of movies I would watch together on a lazy day.

Before we begin I did want to say one thing: It would be very easy to write a post all about comparing the big names in animation; Disney vs Dreamworks, Dreamworks Vs Pixar, and Ghibli Vs Disney. I mean, we've all done it at some point I'm sure. However, I sometimes get tired of having to pick sides. All the big names have good and not-so-good films, so do I have to pick who I think is best or who I like best every time I discover a new studio?! No, I don't. So, today I wanted give you five Studio Ghibli films paired to Disney films and not pit them against each other. If you're here for me to say which is better, you're not going to find that here today.

Book Adaption: Ponyo and The Little Mermaid

I find it fascinating that these two movies are different versions of the same story. They're both very different from each other, but I find that makes it more interesting to compare. The Little Mermaid delivers a conflict driven plot while Ponyo is almost a bit more of a slice-of-life with the fantasy element, they both give interesting renditions of Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Mermaid. Between the two, I do personally prefer Ponyo as the animation was crazy gorgeous in that movie, but The Little Mermaid features Ursula the sea witch, who is among my top ten most favorite Disney villains of all time. (If you want, you can also call this Ocean Adventures and throw Finding Nemo into the mix if you really really want.)

The Whacky and Weird: Spirited Away and Alice in Wonderland

I feel as though being on drugs must be similar to living in one of these worlds. Personally, I didn't click with either of them, but when I was creating this post there was no way I wasn't going to pass up a chance to pair these two. Spirited Away was plain weird but in a intriguing sort of way, I'll admit. And it did win an Oscar. :) Alice in Wonderland was weird-borderline-creepy. But, I could totally see myself watching these on a funky day where they could be very complimentary. Some quick pros: they both feature female leads, never ending, interesting side-characters, and interesting fantasy worlds. So, not bad. Just weird.

Children's Adventures: Castle in the Sky and Peter Pan

For our little ones or siblings--or even just the child within us--I have a couple of great adventures here. Studio Ghibli's first film (if you're not counting Nausicaa) and Disney's magical Peter Pan delivers the youthful spirit of adventure in different ways that both work. Castle in the Sky has a more 'kiddy' feel than some of their other movies but it's a good, fun type of 'kiddy' feel--with airplanes, pirates and magic--it's one I wish I'd gotten to see growing up. Peter Pan has a more timeless feel to it but still about a few kids who's world just got a bit bigger, also with pirates and flying and magic. :) I would definitely watch these two with my seven year old brother sometime myself.

Teeny Tiny: The Secret World of Arrietty and A Bug's Life

I know, A Bug's Life is a Pixar movie, but how was I NOT going to pair these up?! Worlds we thought we already knew--ant hills and our own homes--are looked at from a completely different angle in these films! The Secret World of Arrietty was my first Studio Ghibli film and I absolutely loved it. It's not an adventure with an epic conclusion or anything, it simply makes a familiar world feel very magical and fascinating. And as to A Bug's Life; I'm one of the people of thinks A Bug's Life is underrated. It delivers miniature adventurers on a grand scale, even if the formula has become overused. I just really like the perspective of the world we're given in both these films quite a lot. 

Heart-Tuggingly Timeless: My Neighbor Totoro and Bambi

Honestly, there are few animated films that can match what is My Neighbor Totoro, with one of the most perfect displays of sisterhood that I have ever seen in film and the simple magic of childhood. However the same could be said for Bambi, with it's steady gaze over the forest's most dearest creatures and their lives growing up. Both are tenderhearted tales, filled with genuine "my heart is smiling!" moments and beautiful animation that really help set their worlds up on two strong feet. Don't get me wrong, they're very different from each other; but they both deliver steady, timeless storytelling that should live on for ages to come.

I love animation dearly; I didn't get to grow up with very much of it, so I'm still trying to get my fill even now!  If you've reached the end of this post, you probably like animation too! You can get to know me better over at my blog Through Two Blue Eyes sometime if you'd like. Thanks for reading and I'll see you next time!

~Jamie

Thanks Jamie for another wonderful guest post!

Whisper of the Heart Review

Whisper of the Heart, the all too often forgotten Studio Ghibli that might just be one of their best to date. 

Unlike the majority of Studio Ghibli's work, Whisper of the Heart is not set in some fantastical realm. It does not even have any fantastical elements and while some might be disappointed by this, it actually results in one of the most involving and personal works from the studio to date. 

The film was directed by Yoshifumi Kondō and the screenplay was written by Hayao Miyazaki. It was said that Kondō was set to take the lead over at Studio Ghibli, but due to aneurysm, which could have been caused by excessive working, he died with Whisper of the Heart being his only Ghibli film, and it still remains one of the Studio's best in my mind.

Directed by: Yoshifumi Kondō

Genre: Drama, Family, Slice-of-Life, Anime, Animation,

Release Date: July 15, 1995

Running Time: 111 minutes

MMPA rating: PG

The Good: Likable characters, Perfect use of slow pacing, Excellent renditions of "Country Roads" (English and Japanese), Well executed story, Violin music, Great soundtrack,

The Bad:

Plot: The following plot summary is copied from Wikipedia.com.
Shizuku Tsukishima is a 14-year-old student at Mukaihara Junior High School, where she is best friends with Yuko Harada. Living in Tokyo with her parents Asako and Seiya, as well as her older sister Shiho, Shizuku is a bookworm and is keen on writing. During an ordinary evening, she looks through the checkout cards in her library books. She discovers they have been checked out by Seiji Amasawa. Over the next few days, Shizuku encounters a young man, later revealed to be Seiji, who often annoys her.
Finding a cat riding a train, Shizuku follows it to discover an antique shop run by Shiro Nishi. In the shop is a cat statuette, "The Baron". After Shizuku returns home, she learns from Yuko that Sugimura has inadvertently upset her, as he does not know that Yuko likes him and instead has been having a crush on Shizuku herself. Sugimura's actions cause an argument with Shizuku, who eventually turns him down.

Watch the movie to see what happens next.

Plot: 9.3/10- Whisper of the Heart's plot is simple yet effective and deep in its own way. It is about a 14 year old girl named Shizuku, and it is basically a coming of age story. For those aspiring writers reading this, there will likely be a lot that you can relate to with the film, and while I am not a writer of fiction, as a writer of non-fiction, there was plenty for me to relate to as well. Also, while possibly slow at times, the pacing was perfect for what the film wanted to accomplish. Throughout the nearly two hour run time, never did I become bored or disinterested.

Writing your first story: Something that a lot of people I know can probably relate to.

With Ghibli movies in general, they often have some a few moments that seem overly and unnecessarily childish and corny, which really annoys me, but Whisper of the Heart never actually had that problem. Even though it was about kids, the movie is one of the Studio's more mature films because it never seemed like it tried to pander to a younger audience at any point.

Despite having some minor problems with some of Ghibli's other work for not having enough conflict, Whisper of the Heart does not necessarily have a lot of conflict, yet it works because it has a well told and story with well developed characters. For those not familiar with Japanese culture, a few aspects of the plot might be difficult to grasp, but the English dub does help with that issue. Also, the route the movie takes never felt predictable.

Characterization: 9.2/10- While not the most memorable character ever, Shizuku is a very well developed and realistic character. She has real problems, and many aspects of her story seemed as though it could actually happen. Seiji, while not given a lot of screen time, is good character for what is required of his character. The old shopkeeper, Shiro Nishi, is one of my favorite characters from the film because of his likable grandfather type personality.
The movie does have some romance, and while romance between characters of this age typically annoys me, since it is animation, I did not have a problem with it. Sometimes the movie borders on sappy or corny, but the movie even pokes fun at that, so it was not a big problem for me.

Acting: 9.0/10- While not perfect, the English dub is very strong and well done. Unlike a lot of other Ghibli dubs, the main actress was not age accurate, but it is not even noticeable during the film. Everyone takes their roles seriously and there is not a single overacted line in the film. The Japanese lead voice actress is closer in age to the character, and as usual, there is nothing negative to say about the Japanese audio. Basically, go with whichever you prefer.

Art Style: 8.7/10- Even compared to some of Ghibli's previous films, Whisper of the Heart's animation is not quite the stunning spectacle that we have come to expect from the Studio. However, the lack in animation is not particularly a notable negative since the film only requires the simplistic style. Additionally, the background art for the film is still unquestionably fantastic.

Miyazaki even managed to fit in some flying through a dream like sequence, despite the real world setting

Soundtrack: 9.0/10- While not on the same level as Joe Hisaishi's work in other Ghibli films, Yuji Nomi's score perfectly suits the film. Being that the violin is my favorite instrument and that one of the characters is an aspiring violin craftsman, there is some really great music utilizing the violin.

In the film, Shizuku writes an alternate translation of John Denver's song "Take Me Home, Country Roads," and the tune to that song is brilliantly used throughout the film in the score, as well as recited a couple of times in the film to great effect. In the English dub version, the characters sing an alternate version of the song, and in the Japanese dub, the characters sing the song in Japanese, both of which are well done renditions. While I am not the biggest fan of Denver's work, "Country Roads" is a song that I often heard ever since I was a kid because my family liked it, so being familiar with the song made me enjoy that aspect more.

Humor: 6.9/10- The film is not a comedy by any means, but the film's few attempts at humor hit the mark nonetheless.

Non-Otaku Appeal: Aside from Ghibli's standard animation style, there is nothing that should prevent non-fans of the genre from enjoying the film, because the movies does not contain anything weird or strange.

Overall: 8.7/10- Overall, Whisper of the Heart is an excellent film that hits every mark; there is virtually nothing negative to say about the film. While many viewers will not find the film nearly as enjoyable as I did, if you are a Ghibli fan, or an aspiring writer, you should at least give the movie a watch.

Closing comments: Typically, this genre of film does not tend to appeal to me; Whisper of the Heart, however, is an exception. It works so well that I cannot help but give it praise. Yoshifumi Kondō's one and only Studio Ghibli before his death remains one of my favorite from the studio thanks to the effective story and likable characters.

Please remember to check back tomorrow for my review of the anime classic, Clannad.

Recommended for: Writers fans, Studio Ghibli fans, Animation fans, Anime fans, Slice-of-Life fans,
To read more of my anime reviews, you can click here.

Thanks Mariah Martinez for highly recommending this underrated gem, you can read her review of the film by clicking here. 

For yet another opinion of the film, you can read Ian's review over on Banon's Roar! by clicking here.

Also, if you have reviewed this anime, leave a comment with a link to your review and I will post it here (providing it does not contain any explicit content).

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Spirited Away Review

Spirited Away, the Academy Award winning film from Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli. A film that often considered by many to be one of the best animated films ever made, and the best film by Hayao Miyazaki. Spirited Away is an animated family film about a young girl named Chihiro that goes on a fantasy adventure to save her parents. Of Studio Ghibli's films, Spirited Away is the most well known by American and western audiences, and it remains the highest grossing to come out of Japan. More than likely, it is the only anime movie that many in the west actually know about. While Spirited Away certainly has its flaws, the movie was a fun and fantastical adventure about coming-of-age that actually manages to tell a story that both children and adults can enjoy. 

My main negative points about Spirited Away are the strange setting that sometimes makes enjoying the movie difficult. The plot and characters are mostly well executed, but some of the strange visuals can be off putting. Considering a lot of the crazy stuff I have seen in anime, it was rather strange that a few minor things in Spirited Away bothered me. Also, some of the movie is unintentionally corny, particularly the witch, and a little overly sentimental. Despite these minor flaws, please understand that these are minor flaws, but major ones. Sometimes when I criticize a famous or popular that I actually enjoyed a lot and I say something negative about, people jump to conclusion that I did not like the movie, but that is far from the case for Spirited Away. Below is a review by the famous Roger Ebert. 

Directed by: Hayao Miyazaki

Genre: Fantasy, Animation, Family, Anime, 

Release Date: July 20, 2001

Running Time: 124 minutes

MMPA rating: PG

The Good: Fluid animation, Strong English dub, Fun adventure, Whimsical atmosphere, Visually stunning, Likable main character, Creepy creatures, Easy to become swept up in the story, Fantastic soundtrack,

The Bad: A little too far out there, Overly sentimental at times,

Plot: The following plot summary is copied from Wikipedia.com.
Ten-year-old Chihiro Ogino and her parents are traveling to their new home when her father takes a wrong turn. They unknowingly enter a magical world that Chihiro's father insists on exploring. While Chihiro's parents eat like pigs at an empty restaurant stall, Chihiro finds an exquisite bathhouse. She meets a young boy, Haku, who warns her to return across the river before sunset. However, Chihiro discovers too late that her parents have turned into actual pigs and she is unable to cross the flooded river, becoming trapped in the spirit world.

Watch the movie to see what happens next.

Plot: 8.6/10- While some of the setting is a little too strange for my taste, not getting invested in Chihiro's story is nearly impossible. What makes Spirited Away such a good movie is how easily the audience can get swept away into this fantasy Miyazaki creates.

Action: 6.0/10- Aside from some classic Miyazaki’s high flying adventure, Spirited Away is not an action film by any means; however, those high flying scenes were a lot of fun.

Acting: 8.6/10- At the time of recording Spirited Away, Daveigh Chase, the voice of Chihiro, was only around eleven and she did an excellent job in the film. Having an accurately aged actor voice the role added to the likability of the character, and Chase's performance was great all around. The rest of the English dub cast gives strong performances that fit their characters well. As usual with most anime movies, the Japanese cast is great.

Art Style: 9.5/10- Studio Ghibli animation, what more needs to be said? Of course the animation is amazing! While Studio Ghibli's character designs are not always my favorite, the fluidity and quality of the animation is as stunning as always.

Soundtrack: 9.8/10- As with most Miyazaki films, Joe Hisaishi scores the film, and he does an excellent job. His themes perfectly compliment the animation with beautiful sweeping music that can give you chills.

Humor: 7.6/10- While Spirited Away is more serious than most animated films that western audiences are accustomed to, there are still some well timed moments of levity throughout the film.

Overall: 8.4/10- Despite my few minor complaints, Spirited Away, as an overall package, it is a fantastic movie with a story that is so involving I could not help but become swept up in Chihiro's fantasy adventure.

Closing comments: While Spirited Away is a family film, it is the type of family film that anyone of any age can enjoy, and it is certainly better than most anything that western animation has ever produced.

Recommended for: Anime fans, Animation fans, Fantasy fans,

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