GHP 02/28/10: Studio Ghibli Special

In this newsletter, majority of the topics will be on Studio Ghibli. This will also be more of an extension on what I sent out last time which is about the lunar new year. It seems 2010 is the year of the tsundere. First of all what is a tsundere? Tsundere is a Japanese concept of a character archetype which describes a person with a conceited, irritable, and/or violent personality that suddenly becomes modest and loving when triggered by some sort of cause (such as being alone with someone). It can also describe a contradictory personality which is good-willed on the inside, but with a harsh attitude on the outside. If I should give an example of known tsunderes, lets try a few, probably you will know one of those characters, if not probably I could say Helga G. Pataki of Hey Arnold! is a good western example.

Narusegawa Naru (Love Hina)

She's the lead girl in probably the most successful and well-known harem animes since Tenchi Muyo. Horie Yui’s defining role. Naru is completely tsuntsun with Keitaro when they are around others. However, when alone, she goes entriely deredere.

Shana (Shakugan no Shana)

Urusai! Urusai! Urusai! Shana is the epitome tsundere character. She treats Yuji like shit and is completely serious in combat, but later she’s helplessly in love with Yuji and is willing to throw away everything she knows for him.

Sawachika Eri (School Rumble)

Only in rare occasions does a supporting character become one of the most popular characters, and outranks the lead. Eri (and Yakumo too) have already risen above Tenma.

Tohsaka Rin (Fate/Stay Night)

Rin can replenish my mana any time she wants to. Har har har!

Chidori Kaname (Full Metal Panic!)

Where does Kaname keep that fan of hers? Beating up Sousuke one minute, holding his sleeve the next. Absolutely self-sufficient, strong, and independent, but goes entirely soft for Sousuke.

Anyway back to the topic, why year of the tsundere? Thanks to the newest show I saw "Toradora!" I was introduced to a new one.

Taiga Aisaka (Toradora!)

She is given the nickname "Palmtop Tiger." Her under-developed body and the added nickname has given her a complex which in turn serves to give her a negative attitude and facial expression. Essentially, Taiga gets upset easily and is considerably clumsy. Due to her cute looks, she often gets confessions by boys her age, but she turns down every one of them. Now why is she considered a tsundere? Watch the series.

There you have it, year of the Taiga!!

 

Laugh Trip

Hayao Miyazaki

Reminds you of someone, doesn’t he?

Hayao Miyazaki is a prominent Japanese filmmaker of many popular animated feature films. He is also a co-founder of Studio Ghibli, an animation studio and production company. He remained largely unknown to the West, until Miramax released his 1997 Princess Mononoke. By that time, his films had already enjoyed both commercial and critical success in Japan.

The only guy that could actually draw a pissed off baby and make it look cute. (Screenshot taken from Ponyo)

I have been a fan of Hayao since I have seen Mononoke Hime, I have noticed his stories are more nature oriented and the female characters are empowered. I have seen almost every movie released by Ghibli (sadly it was through pirated means, no one actually officially distributed his works here). A reissue of Totoro, Castle in the Sky, and Kiki's Delivery Service featuring updated cover art highlighting its Studio Ghibli origins is scheduled for March 2, 2010, coinciding with the US DVD and Blu-Ray debut of Ponyo. Lets just hope this gets released here. Every one of Hayao's films were written and directed by him, makes you imagine how many boxes of Koko Krunch he actually eats to make up wonderful stories like these. Castle in the Sky was actually the first movie released under the Studio Ghibli name, almost every title released by Hayao under the Ghibli name was a masterpiece.

If you think his drawing style is familiar, It should be, he used to work under Toei. Here are a few titles:

Puss n' Boots

Heidi, Girl of the Alps

Anne of Green Gables

Sherlock Hound

He also worked with Isao Takahata which is the co-head of Studio Ghibli on Lupin Sansei (series and the movie) and Pippi Longstocking during his time with Toei.

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind

The film has environmentalist undertones and was presented by the World Wide Fund for Nature when it was released in 1984. While created before Studio Ghibli was founded, the film is considered to be the beginning of the studio, and is often included as part of the Studio's works, including the Studio Ghibli Collection DVDs. This movie was published by Toei during that time.

Here were his works under Ghibli Studios:

Castle in the Sky 

My Neighbor Totoro                         

Kiki's Delivery Service                     

Porco Rosso                                      

Princess Mononoke 

Spirited Away 

Howl's Moving Castle   

Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea  

In September 2009 it was reported that Hayao Miyazaki has signed on with Studio Ghibli to direct two more feature-length films with the company over the next three years.

Goro Miyazaki and Tales from Earthsea

Miyazaki's dedication to his work has often been reported to have impacted negatively his relationship with his son Gorō. He has expressed that he doesn't wish to create a dynasty of animators and that his son has to create a name for himself.

Gorō first became involved in Studio Ghibli through producer Toshio Suzuki with his work on the Ghibli Museum. After being asked to draw the storyboards for the proposed Tales from Earthsea, Suzuki decided Gorō should direct the film.

The move to direct the film led to a rift between Gorō and his father, who felt his son did not have the experience to direct a film, and the two were not on speaking terms throughout the movie's development. Despite this, the younger Miyazaki was determined to complete the project.

On June 28, 2006, Gorō held the first preview of the completed Tales from Earthsea, which was surprisingly attended by his father. Hayao was seen to have "(apparently) accepted Gorō" and after, delivered his son a note, stating the film "was made honestly, which was good"

The film was selected in the Out of Competition section at the 63rd Venice Film Festival. Miyazaki was dubiously presented Japan's Bunshun Raspberry Award for "Worst Director", with Tales from Earthsea receiving the award for "Worst Movie", at the end of 2006. However, the film was nominated in 2007 for the Japan Academy Prize for Animation of the Year (losing to The Girl Who Leapt Through Time)

 New Downloads

I never considered downloading concerts before, but for some strange reason it was fun to watch, so here are a few concerts I have downloaded. Some of you may be surprised what it is.

Concerts

Monster Hunter 5th Anniversary Orchestra

conductor: Shuryou Ongakusai   

The orchestrated music of Monhun from the first one to the latest which is Monster Hunter Tri. I was actually surprised that this actually existed.

Super Hero Spirits 2000

Takayuki Miyauchi singing the theme song of Chodenshi Bioman

Relive your childhood by singing the theme songs of tokusatsu characters with the original singers. Yes, Hironobu Kageyama is also here, but he did not sing the theme song of Maskman here. He did sing the one for Jetman though.

Macross Frontier Galaxy Tour Final in Budokan

If you're a fan of Macross Frontier, seeing this concert is a must.

Joe Hisaishi in Budokan

If you do not know who this guy is then you are not a full fledged Studio Ghibli Fan. All of Hayao Miyazaki's movies under Studio Ghibli including Nausicaä (which was still under Toei) was composed by Joe. For those who do not know what Budokan is, watch K-ON! or read the Wikipedia article here. 

Movies

These are all under Studio Ghibli

Gedo Senki (Tales from Earthsea)

The world is gripped in terror as plants are drying up, livestock are going to waste, and the human brain begins to corrupt.
Natural disasters are punishing the kingdom of Enlad and the light which should be bringing balance to the world is weakening. Meanwhile the sacred sword has been stolen from the king by an assassin. On the verge of passing out, the king mutters the name "Arren" . . . the name of his only son who is on a journey to find the source of the destruction in the world. When Arren comes across the powerfull sorcerer Haitaka, a man formerly known as Ged who is the root of the terror, the balance of the world begins to crumble and Arren`s life itself is on the edge. However, when Haitaka witnesses Arren`s inability to overcome the darkenss in his own heart, Haitaka sees elements of himself in the young prince. He spares his life and the two venture out into the world.

Tonari no Yamada-kun (My Neighbors the Yamadas)

Based on Hisaichi ISHII's comic strip Tonari no Yamada-kun, this film is about the daily lives of the Yamada family: Takashi and Matsuko (the father and mother), Shige (Matsuko's mother), Noboru (the son), Nonoko (the daughter), and Pochi (the family dog). The comic is currently serialized in the Asahi Shinbun, though it has been renamed Nono-chan.

Gake no Ue no Ponyo (Ponyo On A Cliff By The Sea)

A young boy, Sousuke, befriends a strange looking goldfish whom he names Ponyo. Unbeknownst to Sousuke, Ponyo is a magic fish who has decided that she wants to live with Sousuke and the other humans. Unfortunately, Ponyo's decision to give up her underwater life creates a crack in an ancient magic spell, and places the world in danger. Together, Sousuke and Ponyo must set things right.

Ghibli ga Ippai Special Short Short

A compialtion of Studio Ghibli's various animated shorts from 1992 to 2005, such as short film, promos, commercials, etc. This is the ultimate collection of short Ghibli films as presented by Ghibli themselves on a dedicated DVD.

Ghiblies  

Ghiblies is a short film aired in 2000 during a TV special about Ghibli. It's about a fictional animation studio named "Ghibli" and the people who work there.

Ongoing Series

Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood

Episode 45

"The Promised Day"
Greed is initially overwhelmed in his fight against Bradley, but, thanks to Lin's instincts, he manages to survive and escape. Meanwhile, Olivier requests, mainly as a means to avoid the family being taken hostage, that her father determine leadership of the household, which leads to a fight she inevitably wins against Alex. May passes through Youswell, and the people there offer to help her on her journey back to Xing, but Envy tricks her into heading back to Central. Ed, Darius, and Heinkel arrive at one of the old hideouts in Central and are soon met by Lin, who had managed to temporarily regain control over his body. Before Greed takes over again, Lin tells Ed that Father will try to open the gate on "The Promised Day." Since Greed had severed his relationships with the homunculi, Ed suggests that Greed become his ally. Greed jokes that he just might consider it if they work for him, but Ed decides to take that suggestion seriously, and Greed accepts the offer. Al passes a message to everyone, from Izumi and Briggs to Riza and Roy, about the promised day, which is set to take place next spring.

Kimi ni Todoke
Episode 09

"New Friend"
Thanks to her practice, Sawako has improved at soccer. She is also happy to see Kazehaya playing sports. Later, Sawako runs into Kurumi, whom she perceives as a friendly and beautiful doll-like girl. Kurumi takes the initiative and calls Sawako a doll, which makes her happy. Ayane (Yano) teases Kazehaya by asking him to call Sawako by her first name, which he can't do. In the meantime, Sawako starts noticing how Kurumi and Kazehaya appear to be close, and wishes to also become cute like Kurumi. Later on, Hirano and Endo allow Sawako to call them "Ekko" and "Tomo." When she encounters Kurumi, who interrupts her conversation with Kazehaya, she unconsciously starts becoming jealous, but is also happy that Kurumi is becoming friends with her.

Complete Series

Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi

Imamiya Satoshi, "Sasshi" to his friends, has grown up in the Abenobashi Shopping Arcade in Osaka, along with his childhood friend, Asahina Arumi. Now, all that was stable in his life is in ruins. His family's bath house has closed and been torn down, and Arumi's family is moving to Hokkaido - and taking her with them. In the midst of all this, something happens to the framework of reality, and Sasshi and Arumi slip into a weird parallel world. It's still Abenobashi, but not their Abenobashi. Strange things are afoot, and Sasshi must find out their meaning, in order to reach a goal that he barely understands.

Princess Lover

One day, after a visit to his parents' grave, Teppei Arima spies a damsel in distress, and nobly saves her from a gang of thugs. Relieved and grateful, she introduces herself as Princess Charlotte Hazelrink. Thinking nothing more of this, Teppei soon receives a surprise call from his grandfather, informing him that he is the heir to the Arima business empire and therefore one of the richest men on the planet! Teppei is introduced to his personal maid, Yuu, and various blue-bloods, among them his arranged fiancee, Sylvia - a fencer with a tongue as sharp as her blade. At school the next day, Teppei meets more new faces, including the snooty Seika Houjouin, and - much to his surprise - Princess Charlotte Hazelrink. Still awkward and uncouth, Teppei must somehow adjust to high society. With girls purusing him at every turn, however, that may be the least of his concerns...

Toradora!

Toradora! is about the teenage boy Ryuuji Takasu who lives with his wild and carefree mother in a house that is afflicted by being overshadowed by a tall block of new luxury apartments next door. One of the block's residents is the diminuitive Taiga, a violent and unhappy girl who lives alone in squalor in a luxury apartment. The pair are drawn together as they are both outcasts, Taiga because of her violent nature and Ryuuji because he has the looks of a thug.