caterpillar79

I am addicted to Miyazaki's films - not (just) because I am Asian (you racists! lol!). I've seen Spirited Away, loved it and want to own it, but everytime I go to the bookstore, they don't have it. I know I can order it onlilne or even at the store, but it is more fun driving down to the store and hang out there for hours. I just love the thrill of looking for it I guess (I'm crazy, huh?).

Last night, since my BF is in his cave again, I watched Howls Moving Castle, wichi made me think about him even more. Call me a lunatic or schizo, I don't care. I likened him to Howl, the main character, and I am Sophie. I bet he'll be thrilled with my analogy that he'd laugh his heart out. But this is not about him.

For me, Howl's Moving Castle is big on virtue: love, forgiveness, long suffering, honesty, trust and devotion. It is an Anime', but it can be related to real life's issues. This is one of Hayao's materpieces, so I urge you to watch it. It is SUPER!

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Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass, but learning how to dance in the rain.

reilu

ahhhhh....ive seen those films...and several others by him....miyazaki is a true artist.

i've always referred to him as the Walt Disney of Japan, and i LOVE LOVE LOVE disney films!!!!!!!! and i also LOVE miyazaki films!!! they are so whimsical, and beautiful, and always have a great heart warming story.

howls moving castle is my favourite of his, tied with princess mononoke.

did you know that howl's moving castle was originally a book written by diane wynne jones?? its a very good book. you should read it. its a little different from the movie, but its the original version, and theres a lot more to the story.

i think he just had a new movie come out this month? im not sure.

miayazaki is amazing.....just like walt disney. they are my two most favourite film makers!!!

caterpillar79

hey, reilu!

I am going to buy the others: Princess Mononoke and Nausicaa. I have seen another film, I don't quite remember the title though, it has something like...The Firefly Hunt or whatever... I am curious about The Cat Returns and Kiki's Delivery Service. Have you seen those?

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Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass, but learning how to dance in the rain.

reilu

Nausicaa is really good!

ive seen kiki's delivery service, or part of it at least, but i didnt like it all that much. i dont now. i think it was the english voice acting i didnt like. maybe i need to watch it in japanese with subtitles??

ive never seen the cat returns. as for the other, its call Grave of the Fireflies...and its good, but its not a typical Miyazaki film. its very serious, but sweet, but very very sad. its about WWII in japan.....sad.

Princess Mononoke is a must see!!!!!!!!! it was my first ever miyazaki film, and its soooooooooooooo beautiful!! lol

Little

Grave of the Fireflies is far from whimsical.
I have a 10-movie set of Studio Ghibli films (that's the studio Miyazaki worked for before he retired) and they're all amazing.
Basically, when people like anime and haven't seen the Miyazaki films, I direct them there first and foremost. They're just an amazing starter point (and won't create drooling Narutards.) Plus, I fall asleep prettymuch within the first 20 minutes of any of them because they're so soothing and nice

caterpillar79

Hahaaha! Is that how you show your appreciation, Little? You're one of a kind...LOL!

Grave of the Fireflies would stir up plenty of discussion points with my students when we talk about WWII, but I have to edit some parts to cut it short. This will be a tedious job. And yeah, it's sad and far from being whimsical.

Can I have a full list of Miyazaki movies that you have? (Really serious with my starting collection!) :-P

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Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass, but learning how to dance in the rain.

Little

I have:
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind
Only Yesterday
Princess Mononoke
Whispers of the Heart
Pom Poko
My Neighbor Totoro
Castle in the Sky
Porco Rosso
Grave of the Fireflies
Kiki's Delivery Service
I Can Hear the Sea (favourite)
and the music video On Your Mark
Spirited Away

They're not all Miyazaki, but they're all Studio Ghibli ... I'm not sure if you can get them all in the US, but most of them are available newly dubbed (like, in the last decade.) The old dub of Totoro is better than the new one, but the old Nausicaä dub (ripped to shreds and called Wind Warriors, if I recall correctly) is reputably not worth the money. Except for Spirited Away, mine are strictly Japanese with subtitles. I started watching anime in the age before dubs were trusted, therefore I prefer subs.
I've seen the Cat Returns, Tales from Earthsea, and Howl's Moving Castle.
Obviously, I'm a fan of all Ghibli films so I have nothing bad to say about them :P

caterpillar79

Thanks so much, Little! I will keep a track of what I have (based on your list - lol!) Maybe I can find better ones at Amazon - I hope.

__________________
Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass, but learning how to dance in the rain.

caterpillar79

Update: I have ordered from a bookstore online, and am currently waiting for the DVDs to arrive by next week. I will definitely watch them over and over.

__________________
Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass, but learning how to dance in the rain.

Isabellacat

I LOVE anime!!!! So how could I not love Miyazaki?? My favorite is Kiki's Delivery Service because that was an early favorite of mine during high school. All his films are great....Princess Mononoke qualifies more than just an animated film...it's just soo beautiful and so much more well put together than alot of live action films. I love that style of animation more better compared to the 3D Pixar animation that seems to be more popular now.

As far as anime goes, I also love the works of Rumiko Takahashi. She made Inu Yasha and I just love that show.

My Neighbor Totoro is another classic.....I love the stuffed Totoro dolls and reminds me I should get one soon.I'd love to have one of the posters of his films too.