At the risk of sounding hyperbolic, there’s something about the purity of great animated storytelling that can shatter your heart and then make it whole again. (Think Toy Story 3.) Latvian director Gints Zilbalodis’ captivating second feature, Flow, is that kind of marvel, a vividly experiential white-knuckle survival adventure that takes place in a world on the brink of ruin. Told entirely without dialogue, this tale of a cat that evolves from self-preservation to solidarity with a motley crew of other species is something quite special.
Acquired out of Cannes for North America by Sideshow and Janus Films, Flow is of a piece with Zilbalodis’ lauded 2019 debut Away; both are essentially silent movies and both owe a debt to the painterly canvases of animation master Hayao Miyazaki. The new work drops characters designed in classic cartoon style into ravishing photo-realistic environments, at times recalling the woodsy landscapes of Danish artist Peder Mørk Mønsted.
Acquired out of Cannes for North America by Sideshow and Janus Films, Flow is of a piece with Zilbalodis’ lauded 2019 debut Away; both are essentially silent movies and both owe a debt to the painterly canvases of animation master Hayao Miyazaki. The new work drops characters designed in classic cartoon style into ravishing photo-realistic environments, at times recalling the woodsy landscapes of Danish artist Peder Mørk Mønsted.
- 5/24/2024
- by David Rooney
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Gal Gadot Led Heart Of Stone Becomes #2 On Netflix’s Most Watched Movies In Latter Half Of 2023. (Photo Credit – IMDb)
Netflix is one of the leading streaming platforms globally, catering to a wide variety of entertainment. Several movies find their home on the Ott platform after their theatrical release, while some are released directly there. The streaming giant has released data on films with the most views from July 1 to December 31, 2023. Gal Gadot’s Heart of Stone has beaten several other movies to grab the #2 spot, but can you guess which movie is at the top of the list?
The movie Heart of Stone featured Gal, Jamie Dornan, and Bollywood actress Alia Bhatt in leading roles. The plot revolves around an international intelligence operative who must go on a mission to protect a mysterious artificial intelligence system known as The Heart.
Heart of Stone was directed by Tom Harper. Its reported budget was $150 million,...
Netflix is one of the leading streaming platforms globally, catering to a wide variety of entertainment. Several movies find their home on the Ott platform after their theatrical release, while some are released directly there. The streaming giant has released data on films with the most views from July 1 to December 31, 2023. Gal Gadot’s Heart of Stone has beaten several other movies to grab the #2 spot, but can you guess which movie is at the top of the list?
The movie Heart of Stone featured Gal, Jamie Dornan, and Bollywood actress Alia Bhatt in leading roles. The plot revolves around an international intelligence operative who must go on a mission to protect a mysterious artificial intelligence system known as The Heart.
Heart of Stone was directed by Tom Harper. Its reported budget was $150 million,...
- 5/24/2024
- by Esita Mallik
- KoiMoi
It’s been almost ten years since The Hunger Games’ last installment hit the cinemas, but nobody from the main cast has been left in the shadows ever since.
Though Suzanne Collins’ widely famous franchise is expanding its universe and has recently got a brand new ramification titled The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, the original movies are still a frequent binge-watch choice for many fans craving some nostalgia from the past years.
Back in the day, The Hunger Games was a huge success garnering more than $3 billion in total, and it definitely came as a big moment of fame for the franchise’s leading actors whose careers later on skyrocketed for good.
Years after the movie trilogy came to its end, all of them are still doing pretty good.
Jennifer Lawrence (Katniss Everdeen)
Jennifer Lawrence is definitely the one who has nothing to complain about. She owes her now...
Though Suzanne Collins’ widely famous franchise is expanding its universe and has recently got a brand new ramification titled The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, the original movies are still a frequent binge-watch choice for many fans craving some nostalgia from the past years.
Back in the day, The Hunger Games was a huge success garnering more than $3 billion in total, and it definitely came as a big moment of fame for the franchise’s leading actors whose careers later on skyrocketed for good.
Years after the movie trilogy came to its end, all of them are still doing pretty good.
Jennifer Lawrence (Katniss Everdeen)
Jennifer Lawrence is definitely the one who has nothing to complain about. She owes her now...
- 5/21/2024
- by benjamin-patel@startefacts.com (Benjamin Patel)
- STartefacts.com
Ghost Cat Anzu is an intriguing conceptualization for an animated film, existing in a realm similar to Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away yet also standing as its antithesis.
This French-Japanese co-production from Miyu Productions and Shin-Ei Animation based on the manga by Takashi Imashiro is one of the most eccentric pieces of animation I’ve encountered in a long time — in both good and bad ways. It’s good because of the innovative techniques and methods employed by directors Yôko Kuno and Nobuhiro Yamashita, who take bold experimental leaps. However, it’s also bad because Shinji Imaoka’s script meanders for nearly an hour before reaching the film’s true core, demanding a lot of patience from the viewer without providing much substance in return.
The story begins with Karin (voiced by Noa Goto) and her father Tetsuya (Munetaka Aoki) arriving at the Sousei-Ji temple, where her widowed grandfather resides.
This French-Japanese co-production from Miyu Productions and Shin-Ei Animation based on the manga by Takashi Imashiro is one of the most eccentric pieces of animation I’ve encountered in a long time — in both good and bad ways. It’s good because of the innovative techniques and methods employed by directors Yôko Kuno and Nobuhiro Yamashita, who take bold experimental leaps. However, it’s also bad because Shinji Imaoka’s script meanders for nearly an hour before reaching the film’s true core, demanding a lot of patience from the viewer without providing much substance in return.
The story begins with Karin (voiced by Noa Goto) and her father Tetsuya (Munetaka Aoki) arriving at the Sousei-Ji temple, where her widowed grandfather resides.
- 5/21/2024
- by Valerie Complex
- Deadline Film + TV
While much of the Cannes Classics lineup this year look far back in cinema history, a new documentary in the lineup captures a behind-the-scenes look at a recent masterpiece. Hayao Miyazaki and the Heron is an expanded version of Kaku Arakawa’s documentary 2399 Days with Hayao Miyazaki & Studio Ghibli, which recently aired on Japanese television. Capturing the Studio Ghibli founder’s nearly seven-year journey in crafting his recent Oscar winner, the first trailer has now arrived following the film’s premiere, which coincides with the studio receiving an Honorary Palme d’Or.
Here’s the synopsis: “Hayao Miyazaki and the Heron is a two-hour documentary that chronicles the making of The Boy and the Heron, filmed with exclusive access to Studio Ghibli across an astonishing seven years. It is also a record of the collaboration between filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki and producer Toshio Suzuki as they perform an intricate dance of disappointment and friendship,...
Here’s the synopsis: “Hayao Miyazaki and the Heron is a two-hour documentary that chronicles the making of The Boy and the Heron, filmed with exclusive access to Studio Ghibli across an astonishing seven years. It is also a record of the collaboration between filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki and producer Toshio Suzuki as they perform an intricate dance of disappointment and friendship,...
- 5/20/2024
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
At the 77th Cannes International Film Festival, where Studio Ghibli was honored with an Honorary Palme d’Or, Director Goro Miyazaki provided fans with a glimpse into the mindset of his father Hayao Miyazaki.
Speaking to the press, prior to the award ceremony, Goro Miyazaki highlighted Hayao Miyazaki’s competitive spirit. According to him, Hayao Miyazaki, despite his advanced age and illustrious career, still regards every animator around him as a rival.
“Even at his age, every animator around him is a rival. Whether they are younger, his supporting staff, within the company, or outside, if they have the title of animator, they are all rivals,” Goro explained.
He further elaborated on how this competitive nature influences Hayao Miyazaki’s approach to new projects.
After the release of his latest film, The Boy And The Heron, Hayao Miyazaki quickly began conceptualizing his next project.
However, Hayao Miyazaki remains extremely secretive about the specifics.
Speaking to the press, prior to the award ceremony, Goro Miyazaki highlighted Hayao Miyazaki’s competitive spirit. According to him, Hayao Miyazaki, despite his advanced age and illustrious career, still regards every animator around him as a rival.
“Even at his age, every animator around him is a rival. Whether they are younger, his supporting staff, within the company, or outside, if they have the title of animator, they are all rivals,” Goro explained.
He further elaborated on how this competitive nature influences Hayao Miyazaki’s approach to new projects.
After the release of his latest film, The Boy And The Heron, Hayao Miyazaki quickly began conceptualizing his next project.
However, Hayao Miyazaki remains extremely secretive about the specifics.
- 5/20/2024
- by Ami Nazru
- AnimeHunch
More than just a director of animation, Hayao Miyazaki is one of the best filmmakers (of any kind) of all time. His films are beloved and studied. You might as well just hand him an Oscar when he makes a new one. So, it’s incredibly interesting to see what all goes into the making of one of his features.
Read More: ‘The Substance’ Review: Demi Moore & Margaret Qualley Switch In A Visionary Twist On ‘Death Becomes Her’ [Cannes]
As seen in the trailer for “Hayao Miyazaki and the Heron,” you get a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of the Oscar-winning feature, “The Boy and the Heron.” Over the course of the two-hour documentary, you see the relationship between the filmmaker and his producing partner Toshio Suzuki, as both people play off each other and Suzuki, in particular, pushes Miyazaki to go even further with his creativity.
Continue reading ‘Hayao Miyazaki...
Read More: ‘The Substance’ Review: Demi Moore & Margaret Qualley Switch In A Visionary Twist On ‘Death Becomes Her’ [Cannes]
As seen in the trailer for “Hayao Miyazaki and the Heron,” you get a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of the Oscar-winning feature, “The Boy and the Heron.” Over the course of the two-hour documentary, you see the relationship between the filmmaker and his producing partner Toshio Suzuki, as both people play off each other and Suzuki, in particular, pushes Miyazaki to go even further with his creativity.
Continue reading ‘Hayao Miyazaki...
- 5/20/2024
- by Martin Miller
- The Playlist
At the 77th Cannes Film Festival, Goro Miyazaki, director and son of legendary animator Hayao Miyazaki, provided candid insights into the future of Studio Ghibli.
Speaking ahead of receiving an Honorary Palme d’Or on behalf of Ghibli at the 77th Cannes International Film Festival, Goro Miyazaki remarked about the failed generational transitions in Ghibli’s history.
“Ultimately, the history of Ghibli is a history of failed generational transitions.”
He recalled that his father first announced his retirement after completing Princess Mononoke in 1997. The creation of the Ghibli Museum was part of this strategy, offering a place for older animators to continue contributing post-retirement.
However, that never came to pass.
Despite numerous attempts to pass the baton, Goro noted that the critical decisions at Studio Ghibli are still predominantly made by Hayao Miyazaki and producer Toshio Suzuki.
He added that the future direction of the studio will be determined once...
Speaking ahead of receiving an Honorary Palme d’Or on behalf of Ghibli at the 77th Cannes International Film Festival, Goro Miyazaki remarked about the failed generational transitions in Ghibli’s history.
“Ultimately, the history of Ghibli is a history of failed generational transitions.”
He recalled that his father first announced his retirement after completing Princess Mononoke in 1997. The creation of the Ghibli Museum was part of this strategy, offering a place for older animators to continue contributing post-retirement.
However, that never came to pass.
Despite numerous attempts to pass the baton, Goro noted that the critical decisions at Studio Ghibli are still predominantly made by Hayao Miyazaki and producer Toshio Suzuki.
He added that the future direction of the studio will be determined once...
- 5/20/2024
- by Ami Nazru
- AnimeHunch
"He's traveling between reality & fantasy, and losing the ability to tell them apart." Another magnificent doc about Hayao Miyazaki has just debuted. The 2024 Cannes Film Festival is hosting a special series of events - starting out by giving filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki & Studio Ghibli an Honorary Palme d'Or, along with screenings of a few special Ghibli short films and this never-before seen doc. Hayao Miyazaki and the Heron is a two-hour doc film version of the recent making of doc following animation master Miyazaki making his latest film The Boy and the Heron, which also won the Oscar earlier this year. Japan's Nhk TV also aired a version of this doc called 2399 Days with Hayao Miyazaki & Studio Ghibli a few weeks ago. This special Cannes version is a "two-hour window into the heart of Hayao Miyazaki's creative process. The documentary follows six long years of work during the making of The Boy and the Heron.
- 5/20/2024
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Studio Ghibli Awarded Honorary Palme d’Or at Cannes Film Festival - Main Image
Studio Ghibli just made history recently as it was awarded the honorary Palme d’Or at the 77th Cannes Film Festival. This marks yet another major award for the studio, though it’s quite surprising given that Ghibli has not released any new films since The Boy and the Heron last year.
While the Palme d’Or is the most significant Cannes award, the honorary version can be seen as sort of a lifetime achievement award.
Still, it’s a big honor, especially as Ghibli being given the award is a first in Cannes history in one key way.
Why Studio Ghibli’s Honorary Palme d’Or Is a Big Deal
Studio Ghibli is perhaps one of the most celebrated animation studios in Japan, as its works such as Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro are beloved across the world.
Studio Ghibli just made history recently as it was awarded the honorary Palme d’Or at the 77th Cannes Film Festival. This marks yet another major award for the studio, though it’s quite surprising given that Ghibli has not released any new films since The Boy and the Heron last year.
While the Palme d’Or is the most significant Cannes award, the honorary version can be seen as sort of a lifetime achievement award.
Still, it’s a big honor, especially as Ghibli being given the award is a first in Cannes history in one key way.
Why Studio Ghibli’s Honorary Palme d’Or Is a Big Deal
Studio Ghibli is perhaps one of the most celebrated animation studios in Japan, as its works such as Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro are beloved across the world.
- 5/20/2024
- EpicStream
The Cannes Film Festival keeps on chugging, with more acquisitions, more premieres and an honorary Palme d’Or awarded to a studio for the first time.
The Glorious Return of Jacques Audiard
French filmmaker Jacques Audiard is a consistent staple at Cannes. His film “A Prophet” won the Grand Prix in 2010, 2012’s “Rust and Bone” competed for the Palme d’Or and 2015’s “Deephan” won the Palme d’Or. The last time Audiard was at Cannes in 2021, his smaller “Paris, 13th District” competed for the Palme d’Or.
Now he’s back with “Emilia Pérez,” a musical crime comedy about an escaped Mexican cartel leader undergoing gender-affirming surgery that stars Karla Sofía Gascón, Selena Gomez, Zoe Saldaña and Édgar Ramírez. And judging by the response to the film, it sounds like he has a good shot at Cannes’ top prize once again.
The film “landed the loudest, most enthusiastic standing ovation,...
The Glorious Return of Jacques Audiard
French filmmaker Jacques Audiard is a consistent staple at Cannes. His film “A Prophet” won the Grand Prix in 2010, 2012’s “Rust and Bone” competed for the Palme d’Or and 2015’s “Deephan” won the Palme d’Or. The last time Audiard was at Cannes in 2021, his smaller “Paris, 13th District” competed for the Palme d’Or.
Now he’s back with “Emilia Pérez,” a musical crime comedy about an escaped Mexican cartel leader undergoing gender-affirming surgery that stars Karla Sofía Gascón, Selena Gomez, Zoe Saldaña and Édgar Ramírez. And judging by the response to the film, it sounds like he has a good shot at Cannes’ top prize once again.
The film “landed the loudest, most enthusiastic standing ovation,...
- 5/19/2024
- by Drew Taylor
- The Wrap
When Hayao Miyazaki’s long-awaited and supposed swansong The Boy and the Heron opened at No. 1 at the North American box office last December with a record-breaking $12.8 million tally, it was not only the first original anime title to achieve such a feat, but it was the biggest ever opening for U.S. distributor Gkids. It kickstarted what would be a whirlwind few months for the now 16-year-old company as it took the Studio Ghibli film, (which had opened the Toronto Film Festival in September) to an enormous $46.7 million box office gross (more than double their initial projections) in North America and, later a Best Animation win at the Oscars.
“It was the right film for the right time,” says Gkids president Dave Jesteadt. “The Boy and the Heron was Miyazaki’s first film in 10 years, and I think that a normal concern would have been if audiences had forgotten him,...
“It was the right film for the right time,” says Gkids president Dave Jesteadt. “The Boy and the Heron was Miyazaki’s first film in 10 years, and I think that a normal concern would have been if audiences had forgotten him,...
- 5/19/2024
- by Diana Lodderhose
- Deadline Film + TV
“She’s a little unpredictable,” Finneas says of his sister, Billie Eilish. “I say this with love, but I sit next to her during interviews, and I never know what she’s going to say. I really don’t.” We feel the same way. Eilish recently starred on Rolling Stone’s cover for her third time in just a few years, but she still managed to surprise us, taking Rs on a wild, deep dive into her new album, Hit Me Hard and Soft — her best work yet.
Across many...
Across many...
- 5/17/2024
- by Angie Martoccio
- Rollingstone.com
The 2024 Eisner Award nominations are officially in, and a bunch of manga titles and creators made the cut. Beyond the expected inclusion in the Best U.S. Edition of International Material - Asia category—which includes a nomination for Chainsaw Man creator Tatsuki Fujimoto's Goodbye, Eri one-shot, among others—manga popped up in quite a few categories this year. Here's an overview of the manga titles, authors, translators and publishers who could potentially take home the coveted award this year: Best Publication for Teens My Girlfriend’s Child by Mamoru Aoi (translation: Hana Allen / publisher: Seven Seas) Best Humor Publication The Yakuza’s Bias by Teki Yatsuda (translation: Max Greenway / publisher: Kodansha) Best Graphic Album - Reprint Orange Complete Series Box Set by Ichigo Takano (translation: Amber Tamosaitis / publisher: Seven Seas) Best Adaptation from Another Medium #Drcl midnight children by Shin’ichi Sakamoto (translation: Caleb Cook / publisher: Viz Media...
- 5/17/2024
- by Joseph Luster
- Crunchyroll
Michelle Yeoh has had a few hits and misses on the red carpet throughout her career. But most of the time, she makes incredible clothing selections that are often sophisticated, timeless, and have sleek silhouettes.
Her most recent appearance at the 2024 Gold Gala did not disappoint; she looked elegant in a cream Schiaparelli tweed skirt suit with some quirky accessories that, I think, balanced out the ensemble’s more traditional silhouette. She did, however, appear uncomfortable in her Sergio Rossi pumps.
Michelle Yeoh attends the 2024 Gold Gala hosted by Gold House at The Los Angeles Music Center to present Cynthia Erivo with the Gold Ally Honor (Credit: Faye’s Vision / Cover Images)
The 2024 Gold Gala
The 3rd Annual Gold Gala celebrated Aapi (Asian American and Pacific Islander) leaders and game-changers who made the Gold House A100 List and significantly influenced culture and society the previous year.
As per the press release,...
Her most recent appearance at the 2024 Gold Gala did not disappoint; she looked elegant in a cream Schiaparelli tweed skirt suit with some quirky accessories that, I think, balanced out the ensemble’s more traditional silhouette. She did, however, appear uncomfortable in her Sergio Rossi pumps.
Michelle Yeoh attends the 2024 Gold Gala hosted by Gold House at The Los Angeles Music Center to present Cynthia Erivo with the Gold Ally Honor (Credit: Faye’s Vision / Cover Images)
The 2024 Gold Gala
The 3rd Annual Gold Gala celebrated Aapi (Asian American and Pacific Islander) leaders and game-changers who made the Gold House A100 List and significantly influenced culture and society the previous year.
As per the press release,...
- 5/15/2024
- by Anne De Guia
- Your Next Shoes
Meryl Streep, the most celebrated screen actress of her time, added another prize to her collection — one of the few that she hadn’t received already — when she was presented with an honorary Palme d’Or during the opening ceremony of the 77th Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday night.
Upon being called to the stage and handed the gold-plated emblem of the city of Cannes by French actress Juliette Binoche, the 74-year-old received a thunderous 2.5-minute standing ovation from the more than 2,000 guests who packed the Grand Lumiere Theatre. Among them was Greta Gerwig, Streep’s Little Women director and this year’s Cannes jury president, who wiped away tears as Streep basked in the applause.
“You changed the way we look at women,” said Binoche, choking up with emotion as Streep comforted her.
“This prize is unique in the world of cinema and I’m very, very honored to receive it,...
Upon being called to the stage and handed the gold-plated emblem of the city of Cannes by French actress Juliette Binoche, the 74-year-old received a thunderous 2.5-minute standing ovation from the more than 2,000 guests who packed the Grand Lumiere Theatre. Among them was Greta Gerwig, Streep’s Little Women director and this year’s Cannes jury president, who wiped away tears as Streep basked in the applause.
“You changed the way we look at women,” said Binoche, choking up with emotion as Streep comforted her.
“This prize is unique in the world of cinema and I’m very, very honored to receive it,...
- 5/14/2024
- by Scott Feinberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Anime is bigger than ever. With dedicated streaming services such as Crunchyroll enjoying a meteoric rise, rivals Netflix and Prime Video getting in on the action with their own dedicated selection, and even Disney – the arbiter of western animation – now boasting a growing number of exclusive anime series on Disney+, the availability and popularity of Japanese animation has never been greater.
Yet it's in film where anime has enjoyed the biggest boom, with the likes of Your Name and Miss Hokusai heralding a new era of excellence in animation, adding to a canon of definitive works such as Akira and My Neighbour Totoro. But with decades of brilliance to choose from, getting started on anime – or just choosing what to watch for movie night – can be daunting.
We've plucked out the best of the best to get you started, with a selection that highlights the medium's rich diversity of genres and styles,...
Yet it's in film where anime has enjoyed the biggest boom, with the likes of Your Name and Miss Hokusai heralding a new era of excellence in animation, adding to a canon of definitive works such as Akira and My Neighbour Totoro. But with decades of brilliance to choose from, getting started on anime – or just choosing what to watch for movie night – can be daunting.
We've plucked out the best of the best to get you started, with a selection that highlights the medium's rich diversity of genres and styles,...
- 5/14/2024
- by Matt Kamen
- Empire - Movies
Classic anime film Panda! Go, Panda! is a mainstay for many reasons—a big one being the pre-Ghibli involvement of legendary directors Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata. The beloved children's feature will be coming back to theaters this month for one night only, followed by a special talk show event. The screening will be held as part of a special program via DreamPass , with a giveaway taking place in the lobby on the same night. Related: Panda! Go, Panda! Anime Film Opens Interactive Art Exhibition After the screening of the film, Takeshi Honda and film researcher Seiji Kanoh will appear for a live talk show event. The screening will take place May 25 at the Akihabara Udx Theatre in Tokyo. Panda! Go Panda! is written by Hayao Miyazaki, directed by Isao Takahata and features animation production by Tokyo Movie Shinsha and A Production. The film was originally released in Japanese theaters...
- 5/14/2024
- by Kara Dennison
- Crunchyroll
Hayao Miyazaki’s Studio Ghibli hired an American, Steve Alpert, as the head of its international division in 1996. His main duties involved the translation of Ghibli’s projects for the English-speaking audience. In his memoir, Sharing a House with the Never-Ending Man, Alpert detailed his experience working with Miyazaki. He also told the story about how Harvey Weinstein’s Miramax posed a problem for his first Ghibli project, Princess Mononoke.
Princess Mononoke was one of the first films from Hayao Miyazaki’s Studio Ghibli to establish an influence outside Japan
However, Alpert did not have to single-handedly deal with Miramax to save Miyazaki’s film as he had help from screenwriter Neil Gaiman. Gaiman was hired by the studio to write the English-language screenplay of the film.
Miramax Tried To Disneyfy Hayao Miyazaki’s Princess Mononoke
Neil Gaiman defended Princess Mononoke when Miramax tried to interfere in the translation process...
Princess Mononoke was one of the first films from Hayao Miyazaki’s Studio Ghibli to establish an influence outside Japan
However, Alpert did not have to single-handedly deal with Miramax to save Miyazaki’s film as he had help from screenwriter Neil Gaiman. Gaiman was hired by the studio to write the English-language screenplay of the film.
Miramax Tried To Disneyfy Hayao Miyazaki’s Princess Mononoke
Neil Gaiman defended Princess Mononoke when Miramax tried to interfere in the translation process...
- 5/13/2024
- by Hashim Asraff
- FandomWire
Hayao Miyazaki has been regarded as one of the greatest animation filmmakers of all time. The animator has worked on several Studio Ghibli films, which he co-founded in the 1980s. His films such as Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, and Princess Mononoke have all been regarded as some of the best anime films of all time.
Miyazaki came out of his retirement to create his final epic The Boy and the Heron. The film was released last year and won many accolades, including the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. While the film has many Easter Eggs that reference other films by Miyazaki, one of the most important characters is reportedly inspired by the animator’s mentor.
The Boy And The Heron Has A Reference to Hayao Miyazaki’s Mentor Isao Takahata A still from Hayao Miyazaki’s The Boy and the Heron
Hayao Miyazaki had announced his retirement after...
Miyazaki came out of his retirement to create his final epic The Boy and the Heron. The film was released last year and won many accolades, including the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. While the film has many Easter Eggs that reference other films by Miyazaki, one of the most important characters is reportedly inspired by the animator’s mentor.
The Boy And The Heron Has A Reference to Hayao Miyazaki’s Mentor Isao Takahata A still from Hayao Miyazaki’s The Boy and the Heron
Hayao Miyazaki had announced his retirement after...
- 5/13/2024
- by Nishanth A
- FandomWire
If the '90s had the surprise hit "Dragon Ball Z," the '00s had "Naruto," and the 2010s had "Attack on Titan," then the 2020s unequivocally belong to "Demon Slayer." The manga by Koyuharu Gotouge and its anime adaptation by studio Ufotable took the world by storm the moment they debuted, with the manga becoming one of the best-selling ever, while the anime became an instant hit. The first film, "Demon Slayer: Mugen Train," overcame Hayao Miyazaki's classic "Spirited Away" to become the highest-grossing Japanese film ever in Japan and the highest-grossing film of 2020 worldwide.
Even its subsequent movies, which are literally just compilations of previously-released season finales plus the first episode of the following season, have made some serious cash, leading us to dub the latest movie, "To the Hashira Training," as a savior of cinema at a time when the box office desperately needed help. The...
Even its subsequent movies, which are literally just compilations of previously-released season finales plus the first episode of the following season, have made some serious cash, leading us to dub the latest movie, "To the Hashira Training," as a savior of cinema at a time when the box office desperately needed help. The...
- 5/13/2024
- by Rafael Motamayor
- Slash Film
Guillermo Del Toro loves giant robot action films and he even made a film based on the mechas, Pacific Rim. When Del Toro promoted his 2013 film in Japan, he came across a life-sized Gundam statue that left him in awe. As the old video resurfaces on the internet, fans call for a live-action Gundam movie directed by the Pan’s Labyrinth director. Some fans also wanted him to consider making another film in the Pacific Rim franchise.
Guillermo Del Toro’s old video prompts fans to demand a live-action movie based on the central character from Mobile Suit Gundam
Del Toro’s love for all the nerdy things is quite famous and his home is filled with collectibles and memorabilia. He has also revealed his love for video games and Japanese manga and anime. Seeing the Gundam statue, the true nerd in him just came out.
Guillermo Del Toro’s...
Guillermo Del Toro’s old video prompts fans to demand a live-action movie based on the central character from Mobile Suit Gundam
Del Toro’s love for all the nerdy things is quite famous and his home is filled with collectibles and memorabilia. He has also revealed his love for video games and Japanese manga and anime. Seeing the Gundam statue, the true nerd in him just came out.
Guillermo Del Toro’s...
- 5/13/2024
- by Hashim Asraff
- FandomWire
The premiere of last night’s episode of Demon Slayer: Hashira Training Arc has everyone pumped for what lies ahead this season. Despite Tengen and the other Hashiras prepping the young trio for the long battle ahead with Muzan, they still have another task upon their hands- Learning how Nezuko fully embraced the sun and was left unscathed.
Nezuko conquers the demons’ weakness! | Demon Slayer
As emotional a moment this was for us all, and especially Tanjiro, many fans have often compared the weight of this scene with another prominent mark in Demon Slayer— Rengoku’s death.
The Mugen Train movie took the world by storm in more ways than one. Punching through box office records and Rengoku alike, the final minutes of the arc had us all crying with our favorite boar boy. With such a strong record, To the Hashira Training had a mountain to climb.
The Hashiras...
Nezuko conquers the demons’ weakness! | Demon Slayer
As emotional a moment this was for us all, and especially Tanjiro, many fans have often compared the weight of this scene with another prominent mark in Demon Slayer— Rengoku’s death.
The Mugen Train movie took the world by storm in more ways than one. Punching through box office records and Rengoku alike, the final minutes of the arc had us all crying with our favorite boar boy. With such a strong record, To the Hashira Training had a mountain to climb.
The Hashiras...
- 5/13/2024
- by Divyashree Shashidhar
- FandomWire
You might think that the person responsible for some of the greatest works in the animated genre might be satisfied with his career. However, Genndy Tartakovsky is just getting started. The Russian-American animator has created shows like Dexter’s Laboratory, The Powerpuff Girls, and Samurai Jack, which have been crucial to our childhoods.
Genndy Tartakovsky’s Dexter’s Laboratory
He also went on to work on projects like Star Wars: Clone Wars and Hotel Transylvania as well as created an adult animated action horror, Primal. Clearly, Genndy Tartakovsky’s career is filled to the brim with successes but he believes he still has a long way to go before he finds his magnum opus. In fact, there is one incredible animator out there that Genndy Tartakovsky wants to be like, if not better – Hayao Miyazaki.
Genndy Tartakovsky Wants to Have a Career Like Hayao Miyazaki
Hayao Miyazaki’s The Boy and the Heron (2023)
Founder of Studio Ghibli,...
Genndy Tartakovsky’s Dexter’s Laboratory
He also went on to work on projects like Star Wars: Clone Wars and Hotel Transylvania as well as created an adult animated action horror, Primal. Clearly, Genndy Tartakovsky’s career is filled to the brim with successes but he believes he still has a long way to go before he finds his magnum opus. In fact, there is one incredible animator out there that Genndy Tartakovsky wants to be like, if not better – Hayao Miyazaki.
Genndy Tartakovsky Wants to Have a Career Like Hayao Miyazaki
Hayao Miyazaki’s The Boy and the Heron (2023)
Founder of Studio Ghibli,...
- 5/13/2024
- by Mishkaat Khan
- FandomWire
Exclusive: Natalie Portman has joined the voice cast for French director Ugo Bienvenu’s upcoming animated feature Arco about a boy who uses rainbows to travel through time and his adventures as he gets stuck in the wrong era.
Portman is also producing with Sophie Mas under their joint Paris and New York banner MountainA with Félix de Givry at Paris-based Remembers.
Taking its cue from the fantasy premise that rainbows are time machines, the movie revolves around 10 year old rainbow-child Arco, who lives in the distant future, 2932.
His maiden journey in his multi-colored suit does not go to plan. He loses control and veers off course to land in a near future, 2075, where Iris, a girl the same age as Arco, witnesses his fall and then makes it her mission to get him home.
Arco
Arco is the first feature for Bienvenu after short films Maman and L’entretien and comic books.
Portman is also producing with Sophie Mas under their joint Paris and New York banner MountainA with Félix de Givry at Paris-based Remembers.
Taking its cue from the fantasy premise that rainbows are time machines, the movie revolves around 10 year old rainbow-child Arco, who lives in the distant future, 2932.
His maiden journey in his multi-colored suit does not go to plan. He loses control and veers off course to land in a near future, 2075, where Iris, a girl the same age as Arco, witnesses his fall and then makes it her mission to get him home.
Arco
Arco is the first feature for Bienvenu after short films Maman and L’entretien and comic books.
- 5/13/2024
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Lucy Liu was honored with the Legend award at the third annual Gold House Gold Gala on Saturday in Los Angeles.
Liu delivered a passionate speech after accepting the award from Regina King. “What I love about Regina is that she always makes choices that are for her,” Liu told the audience. “When I started over 30 years ago, there weren’t a lot of choices that I could make for myself.”
Liu — whose credits include “Ally McBeal,” “Elementary,” “Kill Bill Vol. 1,” “Charlie’s Angels” and Steven Soderbergh’s “Presence” — talked about having to make casting decisions “because of limitations.” She said, “I love that we are all here tonight because there is no ceiling, and I’ve never seen that for myself. I want us to all collectively understand how special this moment is that we are together as a community. I share this award with you because you have lifted me up,...
Liu delivered a passionate speech after accepting the award from Regina King. “What I love about Regina is that she always makes choices that are for her,” Liu told the audience. “When I started over 30 years ago, there weren’t a lot of choices that I could make for myself.”
Liu — whose credits include “Ally McBeal,” “Elementary,” “Kill Bill Vol. 1,” “Charlie’s Angels” and Steven Soderbergh’s “Presence” — talked about having to make casting decisions “because of limitations.” She said, “I love that we are all here tonight because there is no ceiling, and I’ve never seen that for myself. I want us to all collectively understand how special this moment is that we are together as a community. I share this award with you because you have lifted me up,...
- 5/12/2024
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
Given the weight and scope of Frank Herbert’s Dune, Denis Villeneuve’s decision to split his adaptation of the novel into multiple parts not only makes sense, but it allows for a clean division at the moment the story tips over from a narrative rooted in court intrigue and hostile power plays redolent of Old World Europe into one steeped in a lysergic blend of ecological fable and Islamic mysticism.
The first film ended with Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) escaping from a coup that left his ducal father dead and House Atreides’s hopes for control of the planet Arrakis shattered by their noble rivals, the Harkonnens. Left in Arrakis’s vast desert with his mother, Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson), Paul falls in with the indigenous Fremen people, who view him as their possible messiah in a fight to regain control of their colonized planet and its invaluable spice resource.
The first film ended with Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) escaping from a coup that left his ducal father dead and House Atreides’s hopes for control of the planet Arrakis shattered by their noble rivals, the Harkonnens. Left in Arrakis’s vast desert with his mother, Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson), Paul falls in with the indigenous Fremen people, who view him as their possible messiah in a fight to regain control of their colonized planet and its invaluable spice resource.
- 5/11/2024
- by Jake Cole
- Slant Magazine
Academy Award-Winning The Boy and the Heron Anime Film Gets BTS Documentary - Main Image
The Boy and the Heron anime film continues to captivate hearts and minds across generations worldwide. With the upcoming The Boy and the Heron documentary, a new portal into the creative process of Hayao Miyazaki will be shown to the viewers.
This new behind-the-scenes documentary will provide viewers with unprecedented access to Hayao Miyazaki’s craftsmanship and dedication that go into each frame of the award-winning anime film, making it a must-have for fans!
The Boy and the Heron Anime Film’s BTS Documentary Is Coming to Blu-Ray and DVD
The Boy and the Heron anime film is getting a new documentary titled Hayao Miyazaki and the Blue Heron: The Path (Road) to How Do You Live?
It will be a collection of completely re-edited material from the documentary The Style of Professional Work: Ghibli...
The Boy and the Heron anime film continues to captivate hearts and minds across generations worldwide. With the upcoming The Boy and the Heron documentary, a new portal into the creative process of Hayao Miyazaki will be shown to the viewers.
This new behind-the-scenes documentary will provide viewers with unprecedented access to Hayao Miyazaki’s craftsmanship and dedication that go into each frame of the award-winning anime film, making it a must-have for fans!
The Boy and the Heron Anime Film’s BTS Documentary Is Coming to Blu-Ray and DVD
The Boy and the Heron anime film is getting a new documentary titled Hayao Miyazaki and the Blue Heron: The Path (Road) to How Do You Live?
It will be a collection of completely re-edited material from the documentary The Style of Professional Work: Ghibli...
- 5/10/2024
- EpicStream
The Boy and the Heron Movie Review Rating:
Star Cast: Soma Santoki, Masaki Suda, Ko Shibasaki, Aimyon, and Yoshino Kimura
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
The Boy and the Heron Movie Review ( Photo Credit – IMDb )
What’s Good: The film’s animation is breathtaking, proving that classic 2D animation still has space on the big screen.
What’s Bad: The film’s story can get confusing sometimes, and many audience members will only know what is happening if they pay full attention.
Loo Break: No loo breaks for this one. The film asks for your full attention as you need to decipher its symbolism to give meaning to the film.
Watch or Not?: Yes, this could be Miyazaki’s last film and needs to be watched on the big screen.
Language: Japanese (with subtitles)
Available On: Theaters
Runtime: 124 Minutes
User Rating:
Hayao Miyazaki’s career has been one of the most...
Star Cast: Soma Santoki, Masaki Suda, Ko Shibasaki, Aimyon, and Yoshino Kimura
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
The Boy and the Heron Movie Review ( Photo Credit – IMDb )
What’s Good: The film’s animation is breathtaking, proving that classic 2D animation still has space on the big screen.
What’s Bad: The film’s story can get confusing sometimes, and many audience members will only know what is happening if they pay full attention.
Loo Break: No loo breaks for this one. The film asks for your full attention as you need to decipher its symbolism to give meaning to the film.
Watch or Not?: Yes, this could be Miyazaki’s last film and needs to be watched on the big screen.
Language: Japanese (with subtitles)
Available On: Theaters
Runtime: 124 Minutes
User Rating:
Hayao Miyazaki’s career has been one of the most...
- 5/10/2024
- by Nelson Acosta
- KoiMoi
Nausicaä Of The Valley Of The Wind, written and directed by Academy Award®-winner Hayao Miyazaki, is an epic masterpiece of sweeping scope and grandeur that remains one of the most breath-taking and exhilarating animated films of all time.
In the years after an apocalyptic war, a brave princess fights nefarious forces to save her people and the planet.
Nausicaä Of The Valley Of The Wind will be in theatres May 19 and May 21.
Watch the trailer and buy your tickets Here
Nausicaä Of The Valley Of The Wind
Castle In The Sky is a timeless story of courage and friendship, with stunning animation from acclaimed Academy Award®-winning director Hayao Miyazaki.
Brought together one fateful night, Pazu and Sheeta must unlock the mystery of the legendary floating castle.
The English-dubbed cast includes the vocal talents of Anna Paquin, James Van Der Beek, Cloris Leachman, Mark Hamill, Mandy Patinkin, and more!
In the years after an apocalyptic war, a brave princess fights nefarious forces to save her people and the planet.
Nausicaä Of The Valley Of The Wind will be in theatres May 19 and May 21.
Watch the trailer and buy your tickets Here
Nausicaä Of The Valley Of The Wind
Castle In The Sky is a timeless story of courage and friendship, with stunning animation from acclaimed Academy Award®-winning director Hayao Miyazaki.
Brought together one fateful night, Pazu and Sheeta must unlock the mystery of the legendary floating castle.
The English-dubbed cast includes the vocal talents of Anna Paquin, James Van Der Beek, Cloris Leachman, Mark Hamill, Mandy Patinkin, and more!
- 5/8/2024
- by Adriana Rosati
- AsianMoviePulse
Case Closed: The Million-dollar Pentagram , the 27th feature film in the Case Closed/Detective Conan anime franchise, earned 1.627 billion yen (10.51 million Usd) on 1.13 million admission in its fourth weekend of May 3-5, according to Kogyo Tsushinsha. Mainly due to Japan's Golden Week holiday period, the fourth-weekend revenue was 20 percent up from the previous third weekend's 1.355 billion yen (8.76 million Usd). The film has now stayed number one at the Japan box office for four consecutive weekends since its release on April 12. After 25 days on release, the movie has earned a cumulative 12.09 billion yen (78.13 million Usd) on 8.453 million admissions, making it the second top-grossing film in the Detective Conan anime film series, behind only the 2023 film Black Iron Submarine with 13.88 billion yen. The Million-dollar Pentagram has now also become the 31st top-grossing film of all-time ever released in Japan, surpassing Hayao Miyazaki's 2013 film The Wind Rises with 12.02 billion yen. Related: Detective...
- 5/8/2024
- by Mikikazu Komatsu
- Crunchyroll
“Emmanuelle,” a new feature from French writer-director Audrey Diwan, will world premiere in competition as the opening film for the 72nd San Sebastian Film Festival, which kicks off on September 20.
Inspired by the eponymous erotic novel by Emmanuelle Arsan, the film tells the story of a woman looking for a lost pleasure. During a business trip to Hong Kong, she meets several new people, including a man named Kei, who constantly eludes her. According to the director, the story was conceived as an exploration of pleasure in the post #MeToo era.
Diwan, a Venice Golden Lion winner for her 2021 film “Happening,” co-wrote “Emmanuelle” with fellow filmmaker Rebecca Zlotowski, whose 2013 feature “Grand Central” screened in competition at Cannes and won the François Chalais Award.
Chantelouve, Rectangle Productions and Goodfellas (formerly Wild Bunch) produce. “Emmanuelle” will be distributed by Pathé in France, where it will debut on September 25, and Beta Fiction in Spain.
Inspired by the eponymous erotic novel by Emmanuelle Arsan, the film tells the story of a woman looking for a lost pleasure. During a business trip to Hong Kong, she meets several new people, including a man named Kei, who constantly eludes her. According to the director, the story was conceived as an exploration of pleasure in the post #MeToo era.
Diwan, a Venice Golden Lion winner for her 2021 film “Happening,” co-wrote “Emmanuelle” with fellow filmmaker Rebecca Zlotowski, whose 2013 feature “Grand Central” screened in competition at Cannes and won the François Chalais Award.
Chantelouve, Rectangle Productions and Goodfellas (formerly Wild Bunch) produce. “Emmanuelle” will be distributed by Pathé in France, where it will debut on September 25, and Beta Fiction in Spain.
- 5/7/2024
- by Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
While it might seem inevitable that Hayao Miyazaki’s latest would hit physical disc this year, what’s different is the format we’re talking about. The Boy And The Heron has been announced for DVD, Blu-Ray and 4K — the first Miyazaki film to be offered in a resolution that high. It’s true; none of the other Ghibli notables have hit 4K disc yet. Whether that’s because of rights issues or not, we don’t know, but this one’s new enough to have 4K as an option right from the start. There will be three editions of The Boy And The Heron available, each with two discs: DVD and Blu-Ray, 4K and Blu-Ray, and a limited edition Steelbook (with 4K and Blu-Ray). Each version will contain both the original Japanese track and a new English track starring the voices of Christian Bale, Dave Bautista, Gemma Chan, Willem Dafoe,...
- 5/2/2024
- by Peter Paltridge
- popgeeks - film
Dev Patel, Jason Momoa, Olivia Rodrigo and James Wan are the entertainers topping Gold House’s A100 list of the most influential Asian Pacifics across culture for 2024.
Annually released on the first day of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month since 2018, this year’s A100 also includes Keanu Reeves, Hayao Miyazaki, BTS member Jung Kook, Academy president Janet Yang and — in a sign of the relative plenitude of Api-fronted content today — key creatives and cast members from Avatar: The Last Airbender, 3 Body Problem, Past Lives, One Piece, Expats, Elemental, Shōgun and The Sympathizer.
“This year was special: Asian Pacific leaders had a record number of records broken while building a more inclusive tomorrow for all, particularly in new avenues like AI,” Gold House CEO Bing Chen and COO Jeremy Tran said in a joint statement. “Gold House is honored to celebrate so many new and established leaders who are committed to both equity and excellence.
Annually released on the first day of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month since 2018, this year’s A100 also includes Keanu Reeves, Hayao Miyazaki, BTS member Jung Kook, Academy president Janet Yang and — in a sign of the relative plenitude of Api-fronted content today — key creatives and cast members from Avatar: The Last Airbender, 3 Body Problem, Past Lives, One Piece, Expats, Elemental, Shōgun and The Sympathizer.
“This year was special: Asian Pacific leaders had a record number of records broken while building a more inclusive tomorrow for all, particularly in new avenues like AI,” Gold House CEO Bing Chen and COO Jeremy Tran said in a joint statement. “Gold House is honored to celebrate so many new and established leaders who are committed to both equity and excellence.
- 5/1/2024
- by Rebecca Sun
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
A few years ago, Masashi Kishimoto and Yoshihiro Togashi sat down together for an interview, where they also answered some fan questions about their creative process and other aspects of Naruto and Hunter x Hunter. One fan question during the discussion prompted Togashi to compare Kishimoto to Hayao Miyazaki of Studio Ghibli.
Naruto and Sasuke in a still from Naruto
Miyazaki is one of the legends in the anime industry and is known primarily for his works like Spirited Away, The Boy and the Heron, Princess Mononoke, Howl’s Moving Castle, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, and many more. The creator has won two Academy Awards in the Best Animated Feature category for Spirited Away and The Boy and the Heron.
During the interview, Kishimoto and Togashi were discussing their drawing skills when they were kids, and that’s when Togashi compared Kishimoto’s skills with Studio Ghibli’s director.
Naruto and Sasuke in a still from Naruto
Miyazaki is one of the legends in the anime industry and is known primarily for his works like Spirited Away, The Boy and the Heron, Princess Mononoke, Howl’s Moving Castle, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, and many more. The creator has won two Academy Awards in the Best Animated Feature category for Spirited Away and The Boy and the Heron.
During the interview, Kishimoto and Togashi were discussing their drawing skills when they were kids, and that’s when Togashi compared Kishimoto’s skills with Studio Ghibli’s director.
- 5/1/2024
- by Tarun Kohli
- FandomWire
One of the year’s most anticipated films will be on sale for independent buyers at the upcoming Cannes market. We can bring you news that French sales company Goodfellas has boarded Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis ahead of the movie’s world premiere in Competition at the festival.
Also confirmed today is the film’s French deal with Le Pacte and the involvement of longtime Coppola collaborator Paul Rassam.
Speculation has been rife around rollout plans for the $120M self-financed epic ever since Coppola showed it for the first time to buyers at L.A.’s Universal CityWalk Imax Theater at the end of March, with the screening followed shortly after by news of its Cannes selection.
Adam Driver stars as an idealistic architect attempting to rebuild New York as an American Utopia, with the ensemble cast also featuring Nathalie Emmanuel, Aubrey Plaza, Shia Labeouf, Dustin Hoffman, Jon Voigt,...
Also confirmed today is the film’s French deal with Le Pacte and the involvement of longtime Coppola collaborator Paul Rassam.
Speculation has been rife around rollout plans for the $120M self-financed epic ever since Coppola showed it for the first time to buyers at L.A.’s Universal CityWalk Imax Theater at the end of March, with the screening followed shortly after by news of its Cannes selection.
Adam Driver stars as an idealistic architect attempting to rebuild New York as an American Utopia, with the ensemble cast also featuring Nathalie Emmanuel, Aubrey Plaza, Shia Labeouf, Dustin Hoffman, Jon Voigt,...
- 4/30/2024
- by Melanie Goodfellow and Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Studio Ghibli films are officially getting the 4K treatment on home video with the upcoming arrival of Hayao Miyazaki's The Boy and the Heron . The latest film from the revered director arrives on July 9, 2024 through Gkids and Shout! Studios in a variety of packages, including 4K Uhd + Blu-ray , Blu-ray + DVD and a limited edition Steelbook that includes the 4K and Blu-ray discs. Ahead of that, The Boy and the Heron will hit on-demand digital platforms in HD—as well as 4K with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos where available—on June 25. Gkids and Shout! are packing all versions with the original Japanese language audio and the English dub. Here's an overview of the special features: Feature-Length Storyboards Interview with Composer Joe Hisaishi Interview with Producer Toshio Suzuki Interview with Supervising Animator Takeshi Honda Drawing with Takeshi Honda “Spinning Globe” Music Video Teasers & Trailers The Boy and the Heron pre-orders are live now,...
- 4/29/2024
- by Joseph Luster
- Crunchyroll
Studio Ghibli founder Hayao Miyazaki is 83; because of this and his own past flirtations with retirement, some morbid critics are a bit too eager to look at how each new Miyazaki film would serve as his career capstone.
I'm going to keep such thoughts to a minimum, but Miyazaki's latest film, 2023's "The Boy and the Heron", couldn't have been made by anyone but a man aware he's aging. Set in Japan during World War II, the movie centers on young Mahito, who must reckon with the loss of his mother as he falls into a Lewis Carroll-style fantasy world held together by its elderly creator.
"The Boy and the Heron" won Best Animated Feature at the Oscars earlier this year (which it totally deserved). If you haven't seen it yet, don't fret. U.S. distributor GKids has announced the home media release date for the film — including a Blu-ray release date.
I'm going to keep such thoughts to a minimum, but Miyazaki's latest film, 2023's "The Boy and the Heron", couldn't have been made by anyone but a man aware he's aging. Set in Japan during World War II, the movie centers on young Mahito, who must reckon with the loss of his mother as he falls into a Lewis Carroll-style fantasy world held together by its elderly creator.
"The Boy and the Heron" won Best Animated Feature at the Oscars earlier this year (which it totally deserved). If you haven't seen it yet, don't fret. U.S. distributor GKids has announced the home media release date for the film — including a Blu-ray release date.
- 4/29/2024
- by Devin Meenan
- Slash Film
In a recent interview with Full Frontal, Koji Takeuchi shared his thoughts on the current state of anime events and the declining importance of animation creators within the context of prominent anime events such as AnimeJapan.
Expressing his reservations about Anime Japan, Takeuchi acknowledged its appeal to certain audience, but underscored the event’s primary focus on merchandising and crowd engagement, which often overshadowing the contributions of animators and directors.
“While Anime Japan serves its purpose for those who are looking forward to it, it primarily revolves around selling merchandise and attracting crowds for commercial purposes. The focus is on gathering voice actors to draw in audiences rather than directly benefiting the animation creators themselves.“
Takeuchi then addressed the diminishing presence of anime creators in such events, attributing it to a lack of platforms for meaningful discussions.
Reflecting on the past, he reminisced about the pivotal role of magazines like...
Expressing his reservations about Anime Japan, Takeuchi acknowledged its appeal to certain audience, but underscored the event’s primary focus on merchandising and crowd engagement, which often overshadowing the contributions of animators and directors.
“While Anime Japan serves its purpose for those who are looking forward to it, it primarily revolves around selling merchandise and attracting crowds for commercial purposes. The focus is on gathering voice actors to draw in audiences rather than directly benefiting the animation creators themselves.“
Takeuchi then addressed the diminishing presence of anime creators in such events, attributing it to a lack of platforms for meaningful discussions.
Reflecting on the past, he reminisced about the pivotal role of magazines like...
- 4/29/2024
- by Ami Nazru
- AnimeHunch
Since establishing Studio Ghibli in 1985, Hayao Miyazaki has continued to deliver some of the finest films the medium of animation has to offer. Unsurprisingly, the filmmaker once again hit it out of the park with The Boy and the Heron, which earned the director his second Oscar win, 2-decades after winning the accolade back in 2002 for Spirited Away.
But before The Boy and the Heron hit theatres last year, British author Neil Gaiman, who has been a huge admirer of Miyazaki since the ’90s, explained what makes the Japanese filmmaker so special. Neil Gaiman on What Makes Hayao Miyazaki Special
The Boy and the Heron | Studio Ghibli
After learning that Genzaburo Yoshino’s 1937 novel was serving as the basis for Hayao Miyazaki‘s 12th feature film, Neil Gaiman opted to read its English translation How Do You Live. Gaiman, who himself once worked on the English translation for Studio Ghibli’s Princess Mononoke,...
But before The Boy and the Heron hit theatres last year, British author Neil Gaiman, who has been a huge admirer of Miyazaki since the ’90s, explained what makes the Japanese filmmaker so special. Neil Gaiman on What Makes Hayao Miyazaki Special
The Boy and the Heron | Studio Ghibli
After learning that Genzaburo Yoshino’s 1937 novel was serving as the basis for Hayao Miyazaki‘s 12th feature film, Neil Gaiman opted to read its English translation How Do You Live. Gaiman, who himself once worked on the English translation for Studio Ghibli’s Princess Mononoke,...
- 4/28/2024
- by Santanu Roy
- FandomWire
Harvey Weinstein made headlines again recently as his conviction on counts of r*pe in New York was reportedly overturned by the New York Court of Appeals. The former studio head became the catalyst for the ‘#MeToo’ and ‘Time’sUp’ movements across the globe and his conviction was regarded as a huge victory for the movement.
Weinstein was known for his alleged unethical business practices even before his serious crimes came to the forefront. He came under fire recently when it became known that his company Miramax reportedly removed author Neil Gaiman’s credits from the posters of the English version of Studio Ghibli’s Princess Mononoke. Gaiman had reportedly been the main translator of the project.
Harvey Weinstein’s Miramax Removed Neil Gaiman’s Credits From Princess Mononoke Harvey Weinstein | Credits: YouTube/CNN
Harvey Weinstein‘s r*pe conviction was reportedly recently overturned by the New York Court of Appeals.
Weinstein was known for his alleged unethical business practices even before his serious crimes came to the forefront. He came under fire recently when it became known that his company Miramax reportedly removed author Neil Gaiman’s credits from the posters of the English version of Studio Ghibli’s Princess Mononoke. Gaiman had reportedly been the main translator of the project.
Harvey Weinstein’s Miramax Removed Neil Gaiman’s Credits From Princess Mononoke Harvey Weinstein | Credits: YouTube/CNN
Harvey Weinstein‘s r*pe conviction was reportedly recently overturned by the New York Court of Appeals.
- 4/27/2024
- by Nishanth A
- FandomWire
Hayao Miyazaki’s stories have a lot of themes that one might also find in J.R.R. Tolkien’s work. There is a healthy respect for the environment and a general idea of hope in both their works. However, Miyazaki has come out saying why he hates the Lord of the Rings films, and his argument could actually cause fans to think about what he is saying.
A still from Lord of the Rings
Miyazaki’s issues with movies and fantasy like Lord of the Rings stem from the way in which the characters and themes are represented in such stories, usually portraying good and evil as extreme opposites that need to be solved with violence over everything else. Miyazaki revealed how he felt about these types of conflict and they correlate to fantasy fiction in general.
Hayao Miyazaki abhors how American cinema deals with the enemy
A still from Princess Mononoke...
A still from Lord of the Rings
Miyazaki’s issues with movies and fantasy like Lord of the Rings stem from the way in which the characters and themes are represented in such stories, usually portraying good and evil as extreme opposites that need to be solved with violence over everything else. Miyazaki revealed how he felt about these types of conflict and they correlate to fantasy fiction in general.
Hayao Miyazaki abhors how American cinema deals with the enemy
A still from Princess Mononoke...
- 4/27/2024
- by Anuraag Chatterjee
- FandomWire
French film executive Cécile Gaget is stepping down as CEO of Wild Bunch and joining Carrousel Studios, the new European production group launched last month by Lupin star Omar Sy, Fast X director Louis Leterrier and producer Thomas Benski. Gaget was appointed CEO of Carrousel and will take up the job on May 1.
Carrousel, launched with backing from CAA Media Finance, is being billed as an “artists first” European studio that will focus on elevated genre fare for film and TV, aiming to leverage European tax and production incentives, as well as tap into the continent’s deep well of talent, to produce content for the European and global market.
With Gaget, the company has scored one of Europe’s top film execs with a deep knowledge of both the financial and practical on-the-ground business of independent production and distribution. She’s held positions at several of the continent’s top studios and mini-majors,...
Carrousel, launched with backing from CAA Media Finance, is being billed as an “artists first” European studio that will focus on elevated genre fare for film and TV, aiming to leverage European tax and production incentives, as well as tap into the continent’s deep well of talent, to produce content for the European and global market.
With Gaget, the company has scored one of Europe’s top film execs with a deep knowledge of both the financial and practical on-the-ground business of independent production and distribution. She’s held positions at several of the continent’s top studios and mini-majors,...
- 4/26/2024
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The official websites of Book My Show and PVR Cinemas have listed the release date for Hayao Miyazaki’s Oscar winning anime film, The Boy & the Heron, as May 10, 2024 in India.
However, both Warner Bros. India and PVR Cinemas are yet to announce it officially at the time of writing.
It was previously revealed that Warner Bros. India will be releasing The Boy & the Heron in India, however, an exact release date was not revealed.
The Boy And The Heron (called How Do You Live), released in Japan on July 14, 2023. It became the first ever Studio Ghibli film to get simultaneous IMAX release. It also became the first-ever animated film as well as Japanese film to open the 48th Toronto International Film Festival.
The movie experimented with an unconventional marketing strategy in which the studio decided not to promote the film.
Joe Hisashi composed music for the anime film.
However, both Warner Bros. India and PVR Cinemas are yet to announce it officially at the time of writing.
It was previously revealed that Warner Bros. India will be releasing The Boy & the Heron in India, however, an exact release date was not revealed.
The Boy And The Heron (called How Do You Live), released in Japan on July 14, 2023. It became the first ever Studio Ghibli film to get simultaneous IMAX release. It also became the first-ever animated film as well as Japanese film to open the 48th Toronto International Film Festival.
The movie experimented with an unconventional marketing strategy in which the studio decided not to promote the film.
Joe Hisashi composed music for the anime film.
- 4/26/2024
- by A.R. Madillo
- AnimeHunch
The year 2023 was an embarrassment of riches when it came to animation. Movies like “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” became massive commercial successes and crossed the billion-dollar mark at the box office, while movies like “Nimona” and “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem” hit big with audiences and critics. There were films that boasted wildly different aesthetics and showed the power of the animation medium, like “Blue Giant” and “The First Slam Dunk.” We also saw the return of legendary animator Hayao Miyazaki, who gave us his most personal film to date with “The Boy and the Heron.”
That’s a lot for 2024 to live up to — luckily, it seems the year will bring with it a healthy mix of big studio franchises and more grown-up animated fare. There are still big and highly anticipated animated movies slated to be released in 2024. Here is a rundown of 2024 animated releases with updates to come.
That’s a lot for 2024 to live up to — luckily, it seems the year will bring with it a healthy mix of big studio franchises and more grown-up animated fare. There are still big and highly anticipated animated movies slated to be released in 2024. Here is a rundown of 2024 animated releases with updates to come.
- 4/25/2024
- by Rafael Motamayor and Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
Following two sold-out limited seasons at London’s Barbican, the Royal Shakespeare Company’s acclaimed stage version of Hayao Miyazaki’s Studio Ghibli classic My Neighbour Totoro will transfer to the West End early in 2025.
The show broke box office records during both its inaugural 15-week term in 2022 and repeated that success on its second iteration, which played for 17 weeks from last November until last month.
Griselda Yorke, My Neighbour Totoro’s executive producer for the RSC, revealed that more than 290,000 saw the production at the Barbican.
Griselda Yorke, executive producer of My Neighbour Totoro for the RSC
Yorke and her RSC colleagues have secured the Gillian Lynne Theatre beginning March 8, 2025 for an initial 34-week period through November 2, 2025.
In a sense, the move to the Gilly Lynne — how some affectionately refer to the theatre named for legendary Cats and Phantom of the Opera choreographer, the late Dame Gillian Lynne — moves My Neighbour Totoro,...
The show broke box office records during both its inaugural 15-week term in 2022 and repeated that success on its second iteration, which played for 17 weeks from last November until last month.
Griselda Yorke, My Neighbour Totoro’s executive producer for the RSC, revealed that more than 290,000 saw the production at the Barbican.
Griselda Yorke, executive producer of My Neighbour Totoro for the RSC
Yorke and her RSC colleagues have secured the Gillian Lynne Theatre beginning March 8, 2025 for an initial 34-week period through November 2, 2025.
In a sense, the move to the Gilly Lynne — how some affectionately refer to the theatre named for legendary Cats and Phantom of the Opera choreographer, the late Dame Gillian Lynne — moves My Neighbour Totoro,...
- 4/23/2024
- by Baz Bamigboye
- Deadline Film + TV
While Hayao Miyazaki deservedly took home the Oscar for The Boy and the Heron, another nominee is well worth your attention. Pablo Berger’s Cannes favorite Robot Dreams, which had an awards-qualifying run way back in December (solidifying it as a 2023 film), will finally properly open next month from Neon. Ahead of the release, a new trailer has arrived.
Here’s the simple synopsis: “Dog lives in Manhattan and he’s tired of being alone. One day he decides to build himself a robot, a companion. Their friendship blossoms, until they become inseparable, to the rhythm of 80’s NYC. One summer night, Dog, with great sadness, is forced to abandon Robot at the beach.”
John Fink said in his review, “By far one of the most delightful films of the year––even when it breaks your heart––Pablo Berger’s Robot Dreams is a deceptively simple take on companionship that...
Here’s the simple synopsis: “Dog lives in Manhattan and he’s tired of being alone. One day he decides to build himself a robot, a companion. Their friendship blossoms, until they become inseparable, to the rhythm of 80’s NYC. One summer night, Dog, with great sadness, is forced to abandon Robot at the beach.”
John Fink said in his review, “By far one of the most delightful films of the year––even when it breaks your heart––Pablo Berger’s Robot Dreams is a deceptively simple take on companionship that...
- 4/23/2024
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Of all the American streaming services, Netflix is the one that relies most heavily on international projects. Its most critically and popularly acclaimed films and series are regularly projects originating in Europe, K- and J-dramas streamed on Netflix receive high ratings on review aggregators, and, of course, the company is betting big on anime.
Japanese animation arrived on the service in 2014, when Knights of Sidonia was announced as Netflix's first 'original' anime series, followed by many other original and licensed, failed and successful projects, as well as live-action adaptations from Death Note to One Piece, and now, 10 years later, the Netflix series Delicious in Dungeon has a perfect 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
On that note, the huge deal was the April 5 addition to Netflix's library of the feature-length anime film Suzume by renowned Japanese filmmaker Makoto Shinkai. The film received rave reviews from critics and audiences alike during its theatrical release,...
Japanese animation arrived on the service in 2014, when Knights of Sidonia was announced as Netflix's first 'original' anime series, followed by many other original and licensed, failed and successful projects, as well as live-action adaptations from Death Note to One Piece, and now, 10 years later, the Netflix series Delicious in Dungeon has a perfect 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
On that note, the huge deal was the April 5 addition to Netflix's library of the feature-length anime film Suzume by renowned Japanese filmmaker Makoto Shinkai. The film received rave reviews from critics and audiences alike during its theatrical release,...
- 4/23/2024
- by louise.everitt@startefacts.com (Louise Everitt)
- STartefacts.com
Leading French production-distribution outfit Le Pacte has boarded the upcoming 2D animated feature project “Conference of the Birds,” which will be spotlighted at the Marché du Film’s Animation Day during this year’s Cannes Festival.
In addition to co-producing, Le Pacte will handle French distribution and serve as international sales agent on the film, part of the five-title Annecy Showcase at the Animation Day. Confirmed voice cast members include Golshifteh Farahani and Louis Garrel.
“Conference of the Birds” is an updated adaptation of Farid al-Din Attar’s 900-year-old Persian poem of the same name. The film centers on a flock of birds who are the sole survivors of a man-made natural disaster. Leading the avian gang is Hod-Hod, a young adventurous hoopoe who sets off on a quest to meet the legendary bird Simorgh, rumored to hold the key to solving all the birds’ problems.
According to the filmmakers,...
In addition to co-producing, Le Pacte will handle French distribution and serve as international sales agent on the film, part of the five-title Annecy Showcase at the Animation Day. Confirmed voice cast members include Golshifteh Farahani and Louis Garrel.
“Conference of the Birds” is an updated adaptation of Farid al-Din Attar’s 900-year-old Persian poem of the same name. The film centers on a flock of birds who are the sole survivors of a man-made natural disaster. Leading the avian gang is Hod-Hod, a young adventurous hoopoe who sets off on a quest to meet the legendary bird Simorgh, rumored to hold the key to solving all the birds’ problems.
According to the filmmakers,...
- 4/23/2024
- by Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
“A New Dawn,” the feature debut of Yoshitoshi Shinomiya, an animator on Makoto Shinkai’s blockbuster “Your Name,” is one draw in a five-title Annecy Animation Showcase which involves producers of real impact on the global independent animation scene.
The showcase will unveil a second brand-new animation project, “Mu-Ki-Ra,” co-produced by “Unicorn Wars” backer Abano Producións. The Showcase also features two key French prestige animation titles: “Conference of the Birds,” now backed by Le Pacte, and “In Waves,” from Silex Films, Anonymous Content, and leading sales agency Charades. Rounding up the selection is the anticipated Mexican feature “The Language of Birds.”
The Annecy Festival has long been the most important date on the international animation calendar, unfolding on the picturesque shores of Lake Annecy in France each summer.
In 2016, Cannes’ Marché du Film started providing a spring sneak peek at a small collection of work-in-progress titles that would...
The showcase will unveil a second brand-new animation project, “Mu-Ki-Ra,” co-produced by “Unicorn Wars” backer Abano Producións. The Showcase also features two key French prestige animation titles: “Conference of the Birds,” now backed by Le Pacte, and “In Waves,” from Silex Films, Anonymous Content, and leading sales agency Charades. Rounding up the selection is the anticipated Mexican feature “The Language of Birds.”
The Annecy Festival has long been the most important date on the international animation calendar, unfolding on the picturesque shores of Lake Annecy in France each summer.
In 2016, Cannes’ Marché du Film started providing a spring sneak peek at a small collection of work-in-progress titles that would...
- 4/23/2024
- by Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
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