March 2008

March 31, 2008 Studio Ghibli Booth, Hisashi Concert
GhibliWorld has photos of the Studio Ghibli booth at this year's Tokyo International Anime Fair.

Joe Hisaishi's official website announced that he will holds a large-scale concert in August. Titled "The memorial of the Gake no ue no Ponyo public release. Joe Hisaishi in Budokan - 25 years with Hayao Miyazaki" Hisaishi will be accompanied by a 200 piece orchestra and a 400 member chorus. Songs from all of Hisaishi's collaboration with Miyazaki will be performed.

Two performances are scheduled at the Nippon Budokan, August 4 at 6:30pm and August 5 at 3pm.

Thanks to Peter van der Lugt and T. Ishikawa for the news.


March 24, 2008 "Ponyo" News Flood
According to the March 23 production diary, voice recording of Ponyo has begun. The diary shows a picture of an interview with a voice cast for a TV program and bonus feature sure to end up on the DVD. The diary's author also mentions that he or she did a voice in a previous Ghibli film.

The March 15 production diary stated that the number of the animation cels in Ponyo exceeds 160,000. Comparisons:
*Howl's Moving Castle: ~148,000
*Princess Mononoke: ~140,000
*Spirited Away: ~112,000

GhibliWorld brings two bits of news. One is a closer look at the film's handbill and the other is a summary of Ghibli Asemamire Episode 25.

The Studio Ghibli Museum announced its next exhibition, "The Small Louvre Museum".
Original idea and supervisor: Goro Miyazaki
Art director: Yohei Taneda
Special cooperation: Louvre Museum

Thanks to T.Ishikawa and Peter van der Lugt for the news.


March 18, 2008 "Snow Queen" on DVD
Lev Atamanov's Snow Queen (an influential film to Miyazaki) receives a DVD release from the Studio Ghibli Museum Library on July 2. Details available at GhibliWorld.

Thanks to Peter van der Lugt for the news.


March 16, 2008 "Howl's Moving Castle" on Cartoon Network, Ghibli Layout Exhibition
The English dub of Howl's Moving Castle is airing on Cartoon Network March 16 (Sunday) at 7:00pm.

Over 1000 pieces of artwork from Nausicaa to Ponyo are on display at the Ghibli Layout Exhibition. GhibliWorld has some additional details.

Thanks to trey hulse, Peter van der Lugt, and T. Ishikawa for the news.


March 12, 2008 Official English Title for "Ponyo"
GhibliWorld obtained a copy of the film's handbill and the official English title is Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea.

Thanks to Peter van der Lugt for the news.


March 9, 2008 More "Ponyo" Details, New Ghibli Museum Exhibit, "Tales from Earthsea" In Finland
GhibliWorld has some new "Ponyo" details extracted from a Toshio Suzuki newspaper interview and corresponding podcast.

According to Tokyo International Anime Fair website, Studio Ghibli will announce details of the "Studio Ghibli Layout Exhibition" which is to be held in Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo.

Both the "Mitaka no Mori Anime Festival" website and Studio Ghibli Museum director's blog mention tha the next museum
exhibition will be produced by Yohei Taneda.

"Tales from Earthsea" (Maameren Tarinat) was released on DVD in Finland on March 7. It's a two-disc set with the usual array of extras but only contains Japanese audio.

Thanks to Peter van der Lugt, T. Ishikawa, and Henri Partanen for the news.


March 3, 2008 "Porco Rosso" In Finland
Porco Rosso has its premiere in Finland March 7 with distribution by Cinema Mondo.

Official Site

Thanks to Henri Partanen for the news.


March 2, 2008 Updated: Suzuki Reveals Takahata's Next Film
On the latest Ghibli Asemamire radio show Toshio Suzuki mentioned Takahata's next film is based on a traditional Japanese lullaby.

The intent of a lullaby is to calm a baby but the text can be a polar opposite, Takahata makes this juxtaposition the subject of his next film.

Details on the Japanese lullaby "Komoriuta".

According to Suzuki, Seiichirou Ujiie (age 81) the chairperson of NTV loves Takahata's works. He said, "I can't die till I watch Takahata-san's next film". Suzuki meets him every month and Ujiie always talks about Takahata. Suzuki said, "I was told by Ujiie-san, 'It is your responsibility that Takahata-san's film has not been made.' (laughs)".

GhibliWorld has a full English summary.

Thanks to T. Ishikawa and Peter van der Lugt for the news.