Studio Ghibli Alert - Film 4

[TensionWheelsCoolHeels]

My Neighbour Totoro is on film 4 this Sunday, Howls Moving Castle is on on Monday and Spirited Away is on on Wednesday. There might be others but that's all my planner lets me see.

[ChunkyPickle]

I'd barely watched them before, but recently DP put Howl's moving Castle on for DS and I have to say I didn't find it a huge step forward for feminism..

Sure, the main character was female, but the whole plot revolved around her finally being rescued by the prince because she was such a kind person with a bit of sexual harassment she should be grateful for thrown in at the beginning (OK, the fact that she became invisible once she was old was a feminist point I suppose). In the meantime she ingratiated herself by doing the housework and tidying up (simplified the plot a bit, but that's basically it) for the poor blokes in the flying castle.

[fuzzpig]

We loooove Ghibli :)

In fact while we've generally moved away from character branded stuff this year, DD is getting a cuddly Totoro this Xmas! And I am thinking of getting myself this with the last of my birthday money :o

Friday night is movie night at our house, and the other week I found a cheap copy of Panda Go Panda (which I think is not ghibli, but is by Miyazaki who was behind Totoro/Kiki etc, I may be wrong though) so we will be watching that for the first time tomorrow :)

[exexpat]

I think the Disney buying Ghibli story was an April fool - it went round twitter, but the source just seems to be this blog post on April 1st.

Disney has distribution rights to some Ghibli films and does the dubbing into English etc, but I haven't heard anything from a reliable source about them actually buying into Ghibli or affecting the creative process (thank goodness).

[HowlingTrap]

I know I didnt know how harrowing it was going to be I was expecting a the railway children type affair when I read WWII :o

[TerrariaMum]

ChunkyPickle, try the book of Howl's Moving Castle. It is v. different from the film and much better. In fact, Miyazaki has since admitted that he got the adaptation wrong. Sophie is not so passive at all.

[AryaofhouseSnark]

thanks for clearing that up exexpat, glad to hear it it was an April fool.

[southeastastra]

totoro is on now

[carolinecordery]

I just wish they wouldn't have the wind keep blowing up the little girls' tiny short skirts in these films and lingering on their little exposed panties. Thinking of Kiki mainly as I saw that one most recently.

[Poppyinafield]

Spirited away is an amazing piece of artwork and intriguing story. I did not not know that Disney had acquired their studio. This does not bode well at all. From a feminist perspective I would presume that films generally are a no go area or do you have an approved list ? In a brief ninety minutes of film there have to be an awful lot of presumptions to set the characters , scene and get the plot going. Most films are of their time. Have a look at the silent world by jacque cousteau for instance to witness how much the field of conservation has moved on ever so slightly.

[exexpat]

Poppy - Disney haven't bought Ghibli - see my post five before yours.

[Rooners]

first one we had was Totoro in Spanish. Our friend sent it to us in VHS many years ago when ds1 was little. It was epic - even though we couldn't understand the words. It didn't matter.

To-TOR-ro is how I think of it in my mind - Toe-to-ro sounds weird!

Ds2 used to call it Toadroll. We have a lot of them in English now...Howl is my favourite.

[CaptChaosGlitteryBaubles]

My Neighbour Totoro is on an Amazon lightning deal right now, should anyone be interested.

Looks like my DNieces will be getting a little something extra!

[Rooners]

I want to buy it in Spanish again. Mi Vecino Totoro.