Ponyo

[CMoon]

Hate to start a thread with such a narrow subject, but just came back from this today, very much wowed. I'd not actually been too impressed by Spirited Away or Howl's moving castle (though I enjoyed both), but this was an absolute feast for the eyes! Plot wise, it is a return to the pure innocence of Totoro (and very much from a child's perspective), but for me at least, this film was all about visuals. Here is a case where 3D animation (regardless how great Pixar is) has still not matched the raw imaginative power of hand animation. If this is was the last hand animated film (it isn't), it would be an incredible send off for the medium.

I'd say forget whether or not you like Miyazaki, or whether or not you can stand a film for 5 year olds (and I mean that in a good way); go see it for the pure love of beautiful animation!

[neorichieb1971]

I only just watched Spirited away a few days ago. My first movie I have ever seen from this guy. Then I came across www.hd-trailers.net a day or two later and found this -

http://www.hd-trailers.net/blog/2009/07 ... trailer-2/


As the OP suggests, looks fantastic. I hope for a blu ray of it.

Use the MP4 encode of the trailer if using a PS3.

Enjoy!

[Momijitsuki]

This looks really good, and I want to see it.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

After reading about this mere mentioning of Ponyo film in the local newspaper, I was surprised to learn that it was done by none other than famed Hayao Miyazaki. With Disney's very deep pockets, it's refreshing to see another prominent Japanese anime film have a wider USA film distribution. My local movie theater is showing Ponyo in digital DLP format for that super ultra crisp presentation. ^_~

I'll have to go check it out and see what all the hype about it is. Most Japanese anime, live-action or CGI films only get a few days worth of screening time due to lack of interest and money coming in. Miss out on it and you'll have to wait until it's released on DVD and Blu-Ray formats. ^_~

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[null1024]

I saw a commercial. My jaw fell off.
I'm seeing this one way or another, awesome 2d animation FTW!

[Turrican]

I had the pleasure to see Ponyo at the Venice Film Festival, with Miyazaki himself not too far from my seat... What to say, a genuine hand-drawn masterpiece and I can't but agree with Cmoon's impressions - while I personally loved Spirited Away I too happen to think that Ponyo is a great return to form after the less-than-perfect Howl.

[Necronopticous]

It is a wonderful film in all respects. Hayao Miyazaki is one of the greatest filmmakers alive, anime or no.

[iatneH]

I just found out about this 2 or 3 days ago as well. Somehow my dad had gotten it from BitTorrent before I even heard about it. He's gone nuts, I swear.

Really looking forward to sitting down through this sometime over the next few days. I skipped through just to check that subtitles were working, and the colouring style seems quite different from his earlier films (which I am also going through again - I have a DVD box set of every Ghibli film up to Mononoke Hime, and separate DVDs of everything afterwards).

[NTSC-J]

I'm a Miyazaki fan, and while I haven't seen Ponyo, man is it huge here in Japan, even for a Ghibli movie. All of my students love it and not a day goes by when I don't hear someone singing the theme song. Whenever the school band has an assembly, Ponyo makes it in there. Someday I suppose I'll see it, but I feel burned out on it already.

[junkeR]

I actually just watched Spirited Away for the first time a couple days ago. I didn't really care for it all that much though - probably the piss poor mood I am in currently may have something to do with it.

[Observer]

I think part of the guilt/success of this movie comes from that ridiculously catchy OP tune.

PONYO PONYO PONYO WATATATATATATATA

I'm waiting for the DVD release to see it in japanese as Disney thinks kids nowadays can't read subs and brought it in spanish only.

I would love to see more colourful 2D movies. Last anime movie I saw was 5cm per second and that one destroyed my mood for days, and I'm sure it had its fair share of digital improvements.

[CMoon]

I'm waiting for the DVD release to see it in japanese as Disney thinks kids nowadays can't read subs and brought it in spanish only.

Hopefully not misinterpreting*; but if you're saying 'I'm not watching it in the theatre because of the dub', it's a really poor call. The film doesn't actually have that much talking (more than Wall-E, but still...) and is focused far more on being overwhelmed by beautiful 2D animation. This isn't the sort of thing you can replicate at home (I've tried by projecting classic hand animated films on a wall, and you begin to get the sense of it!)--it was definitely meant to be seen at the theatres. I wouldn't miss it just because of a dub. Hell, I'd go watch this if I didn't even understand the spoken language.

*all apologies if this isn't what you meant, but keep reading posts (on IMDB) from folks who refuse to watch the film dubbed. Blah!

[PC Engine Fan X!]

I actually prefer to watch anime in it's native Japanese with subtitled text. I can read the text faster than what is being said on-screen. Same thing applies to foreign films with subtitled text on the silver screen. Most general audiences don't like to read subtitled text anyways (but it's necessary for the hard-of-hearing & deaf movie attendees). Of course nowdays, most major movie theaters have special equipment to accomdate the special needs of paying movie patrons with special needs. It's all part of doing business with the American Disabilities Act (ADA) in place. ^_~

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[CMoon]

I actually prefer to watch anime in it's native Japanese with subtitled text.

I think most of us prefer this, but there are people boycotting the film for this reason. I think its a poor decision which only sends a message to the studio that there's no audience for this film. It's also the viewer cheating themselves because they'll never recreate the visual experience at home.

Anyway, I don't want to swamp this thread with sub vs dub argument. I strongly prefer subbed myself, but I think the argument is invalid here. This is a visual feast and a good opportunity to show the studios that you support this sort of entertainment in the US (it's even a vote for hand animation.) I think the only valid reason NOT to go support it is poverty.

[Necronopticous]

Hopefully not misinterpreting*; but if you're saying 'I'm not watching it in the theatre because of the dub', it's a really poor call. The film doesn't actually have that much talking (more than Wall-E, but still...) and is focused far more on being overwhelmed by beautiful 2D animation. This isn't the sort of thing you can replicate at home (I've tried by projecting classic hand animated films on a wall, and you begin to get the sense of it!)--it was definitely meant to be seen at the theatres. I wouldn't miss it just because of a dub. Hell, I'd go watch this if I didn't even understand the spoken language.

*all apologies if this isn't what you meant, but keep reading posts (on IMDB) from folks who refuse to watch the film dubbed. Blah!

I'd also like to add that the English dub is very good; not at all a step down from the original, especially for those who don't understand Japanese to begin with.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

I do recall watching a subtitled version of Princess Mononoke with original Japanese language in place at my local theater but that was a rare exception during it's short lived U.S. theatrical run by Disney themselves back in 1999. ^_~

Even Carl Macek's Streamline Pictures company distributed a a subtitled version of Laputa: Castle of the Air in the USA back in 1990. Of course, with the politcally sensitivity correctedness going on nowdays, Disney opted to released it under the slightly modified title of "Castle of the Air" for VHS and DVD formats due to the offending slang term of "Laputa" in the Mexican Spanish speaking world. So be it.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[iatneH]

I hope I haven't offended anyone here with my comment (at least I haven't been quoted yet). I have to agree I tend to prefer subtitles, but I think beginning with Princess Mononoke, Disney has been taking dubbing very seriously so I really wouldn't mind seeing this on the big screen even after I've watched my pirated version. But it depends on whether there is any girl who would want to go see this with me, and that's a whole other issue

[Jon]

I will be showing this to my 6 year old niece as soon as its released on DVD. I have already given her copies of Totoro, Kiki and Spirited Away and she loves all of them.

I actually prefer to watch anime in it's native Japanese with subtitled text.

I think most of us prefer this, but there are people boycotting the film for this reason. I think its a poor decision which only sends a message to the studio that there's no audience for this film. It's also the viewer cheating themselves because they'll never recreate the visual experience at home.

Couldn't agree more, thankfully the English dubbing seems to have gotten better with each film since Princess Mononoke. I still don't know if I will find the time to go the one very out of the way theater in my area showing the movie.

[undamned]

I still don't know if I will find the time to go the one very out of the way theater in my area showing the movie.

Checked this weekend's showings, earlier today. There will be like 5 theaters in the valley showing Let's go!
-ud

[Zeether]

The only bad Ghibli dubs were the ones that Macek did which caused Miyazaki to say "No one's fucking up my stuff."

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Looks good, I want to see this more than inglorious bastards.

Quentin Tarantino's Inglorious Basterds is his 6th film indeed. He's still up to his ol' tricks of directing and method of storytelling. ^_~

Back to the Ponyo topic at hand.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Jon]

Could have done without both Billy Bob and Minnie Driver in Mononoke.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Here are the earnings of Ponyo (aka "Gake no ue no Ponyo" in Japan) at the USA box office with $3,506,000 earned on opening weekend ending 8/16/2009. I'm sure it will do much better sales-wise on DVD and Blu-Ray formats. ^_~

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[neorichieb1971]

Are any movies listed in this thread available on blu ray?

[iatneH]

I don't know if any others will feel the same way, but this really brings me back and makes me feel so young again... even as an adult this makes me wish I could be a part of something fantastic and magical like this.

And on the more technical side, I love the background colouring, it's really unique. Even the way things are drawn is very playful, like how the kitchen counter and range hood and fence pickets aren't drawn with straight lines, and tiny details in the animation and direction - little idle actions the characters make, a coattail getting snagged on a sharp point on a fence - all come together and make this truly delightful to watch. I'm seeing this again for sure.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Miyazaki is known for adding lots of lttle details and enhancements to make his works come alive. It might take extra time to pull it off and the ending results are quite breathtaking indeed. ^_~

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[BrianC]

I don't know if any others will feel the same way, but this really brings me back and makes me feel so young again... even as an adult this makes me wish I could be a part of something fantastic and magical like this.

I agree. I saw this yesterday in the local theater and I loved it.

[Limbrooke]

So with all the discussion about a cartoon I figured I might as well see it too. Downloaded a copy yesterday and watched it today since I had nothing better to do.

Miyazaki is known for adding lots of lttle details and enhancements to make his works come alive. It might take extra time to pull it off and the ending results are quite breathtaking indeed. ^_~

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

The movie was alright and I noticed some small details. My favourite part?

Gotta love the octopus sneaking into the house.

[iatneH]

LOL! Surely Takosuke making a B-Line to Lisa's underwear drawer.

I actually did not notice this. I'll be on the lookout for other funny details next time.

[CMoon]

May your brains all melt forever in the sunshine of happiness...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bka5u3nP ... dded#t=123