After Comcast's recent bid for Disney, I read some reports with a reference to the possibility that Steve Jobs and his Pixar company might join a consortium to make a rival bid for Mousehalla. He shouldn't bother. Rather he should be hot-footing it to Japan to talk to the makers of last year's animation Oscar winner. The Studio Ghibli team are the real inheritors of Walt Disney's mantle of master animators. We've just finished watching 'Grave of the Fireflies', which Roger Ebert described as belonging "on any list of the greatest war films ever made". High praise and richly deserved. Ghibli films can be watched on two levels. First of all the wonderful animation. For me, animation is primarily about light and movement and they just don't come any better than what you get with Ghibli. Truly, Walt would be proud of these guys. Then there is the message. Read (and you really should) the linked Ebert review for an excellent assessment, but needless to say here the anti-war message is as clear as the art you see on the screen. One of those to take with you to your desert island.
Posted by Joe at February 15, 2004 08:18 PMAfter reading all the reviews etc., I'd really like to see if I can maybe rent this movie somewhere... Do you know the title in Japanese?
Posted by: steven at February 15, 2004 08:54 PM'Hotaru no haka'. It should be readily available in any Video Rental store you go to.
Posted by: Joe at February 15, 2004 08:58 PMI've always wondered what the English title would be.
This is a favourite in our household. I thought it was Miyazaki. Interesting to learn it's not.
Posted by: DJ at February 16, 2004 09:00 AMDJ, this animation is based on a story (autobiographical, I think) by Akiyuki Nosaka. And if you want to know more about this guy, read The Pornographers - a superb read in my opinion.
Posted by: martin at February 16, 2004 12:17 PMThe Pornographers is an excellent book, though you might have difficulty getting hold of it. It appears to be out of print. There is a bit of a queue for the one Martin and I shared when reading it. (I'm not even sure who has it just now - Martin?)
Nosaka is an intriguing character and I'm going to try and dig more stuff up about him.
Posted by: Joe at February 16, 2004 04:19 PMNot me, darling. The ball & book are in your court!
Posted by: martin at February 16, 2004 05:32 PMAnd talking of books. Are we any closer to a "I'm finished" with Naipaul?
Posted by: martin at February 16, 2004 05:33 PM