We are just having fun reviewing and discussing comic books, graphic novels, manga, anime/animation, music and movies that we have recently read, listened to or watched.
Koju Hoshino, President of Studio Ghibli, announced at the Venice Film Festival that Hayao Miyazaki will be retiring. Miyazaki’s latest animated film The Wind Rises will be his last film. Other films that everyone knows him by are Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle, Ponyo, and many others that are to numerous to list. His films have become classics in the animated world and Miyazaki is considered a Master and Champion of the animated film.
If any librarians have patrons (that are anime and manga fans) planning a visit to Japan make sure you tell them to visit the Ghibli Museum. Anime News Network’s site, linked below, has an article about the Ghibli Museum. Part of the Museum’s new display there will be a life-size rendition of the Catbus from My Neighbor Totoro. The Museum has had a plush piece that was child size however this new piece is adult size. From the Catbus the Museum attendees will exit on the second room. Once on the second room attendees will see recreations of: the Tokyo-area antique shop from Whisper of the Heart; the restaurant from Spirited Away; milliner’s hat shop from Howl’s Moving Castle and the forest from Princess Mononoke.
Diana Wynne Jones passed away this last Saturday. Fans of hers will recognize her immediately. However, this post is for the Anime fans that might not realize they know her. Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli adapted Jones’ Howl’s Moving Castle, which was an Oscar nominated movie in 2004. Our condolences go out to her family and friends.