Welcome Back, the Hayao Miyazaki I Knew And Admired
Last week the Japanese DVD of the latest Hayao Miyazaki / Studio Ghibli film: Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea (崖の上のポニョ, Gake no Ue no Ponyo) was released and my copy arrived last week.
I admit to the last decade of their work not really resonating with me like the first decade of their work did. Starting with Princess Mononoke, while I admired the films Miyazaki and the Studio (either under his direction or that of others), they were not ones I had a burning desire to go back and see with the exception of Tales of Earthsea (ゲド戦記, Gedo Senki).
But Ponyo... Ponyo is the Miyazaki I remembered and admired. I'll let Wikipedia handle the plot, but I have to say that I was totally enthralled. I showed it to my 30-month old nephew and he never moved an inch the entire 90 minutes. Joe Hisaishi contributed what was probably one of his greatest soundtracks ever which made the film only that much better.
Walt Disney is releasing this movie in theaters in the United States in mid-August and this may be the film that truly breaks out into mainstream American audiences.
I admit to the last decade of their work not really resonating with me like the first decade of their work did. Starting with Princess Mononoke, while I admired the films Miyazaki and the Studio (either under his direction or that of others), they were not ones I had a burning desire to go back and see with the exception of Tales of Earthsea (ゲド戦記, Gedo Senki).
But Ponyo... Ponyo is the Miyazaki I remembered and admired. I'll let Wikipedia handle the plot, but I have to say that I was totally enthralled. I showed it to my 30-month old nephew and he never moved an inch the entire 90 minutes. Joe Hisaishi contributed what was probably one of his greatest soundtracks ever which made the film only that much better.
Walt Disney is releasing this movie in theaters in the United States in mid-August and this may be the film that truly breaks out into mainstream American audiences.