HBO Max has a channel dedicated to Studio Ghibli films from master animator, Hayao Miyazaki. I was more familiar with My Neighbor, Totoro and Ponyo.
This film was very different from his usual, highly imaginative films. The Wind Rises is a fictional biography of Jiro Horikoshi, the inventor/designer of the fighter plane, Mitsubishi Model 00 or the Zero.
The film is lush and the love story between Jiro and Nahoko poignant. You almost forget you're watching an anime.
Have you seen any of Miyazaki's films?
Glad you liked it but I am not a friend of anime films! Valerie
ReplyDeleteI got interested because the girlies love anime
DeleteI haven't watched any anime but I really should check it out. Have a great start to the new week. hugs-Erika
ReplyDeleteYou won't be disappointed
DeleteDon't dismiss them because they're "anime"-- in America we've come to that term for an entire genre of film which is incorrect. Would you say "I don't watch Animation" in referring to Pixar or Disney or Warner Bros Cartoons?
ReplyDeleteHaving said that-- I can't stand what most of us consider Anime-- the stuff with the big eyes, the bad dubbing, the burst lines and the over the top acting and animation. Miyazaki's inspiration was French Cartoonist Moebius whose llinework and color made him the most popular cartoonist in the world during his time. Miyazaki studied the early works of Disney, like Snow White, and the Fleischer Bros Studios both of which used rotoscoping to get a realistic feel to the work.
All of his work is beautiful and like Director Akira Kurosawa recognized that without a great script you can't make a good movie. I'd recommend any of his films, his big ones are SPIRITED AWAY, TOTORO and HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE-- but GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES, KIKI'S DELIVERY SERVICE and CASTLE OF CAGLIOSTRO are really good.
There is a great documentary on him called THE KINGDOM OF DREAMS which is a fascinating look at his life and his studio system. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED as well.
It goes without saying, but I'll say it anyway, movies should also be watched in letterbox in the original language, so subtitles only-- the American dubbing of some of these films are horrendous.
Thanks, Andy for the explanation and the brief history. I'll have to see if the documentary is available.
DeleteI'am not a fan of anime so i have not seen any of these films. Our kids get us into all kinds of things...lol Happy day CJ! Hugs! deb
ReplyDeleteAs Andy mentioned, Miyazaki's film aren't your run of the mill anime
DeleteHaving read what Andy said I still don't think it's my cup of tea....but it's interesting to learn more about the genre. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteBut how do you know until you try it?
DeleteI need to watch. Regine
ReplyDeletewww.rsrue.blogspot.com
You'll enjoy it
DeleteThis is in my watchlist. Miyazaki is brilliant! Japanese animation covers such a broad range it hurts me when people lump it all together into "I don't like anime" :( Kinda like "I don't like westerns" or "I don't like horror" or "I don't like [any fill in the blank]." I used to say that about romance films. but I've found some I love. It reminds me of my younger son, who when presented with a food would say, "I tried it when I was a baby and didn't like it".
ReplyDelete"I tried it when I was a baby and didn't like it" 😺Great line!
DeleteI hope I can find this somewhere- I loved My Neighbour Tortoro and some others I don't remember the name of. I don't recall seeing this one. Chrisx
ReplyDeleteI had never heard of this one, either. It was a very beautiful and romantic story
Delete