August 31, 2001 UK "Princess Mononoke" DVD Details
Joe Curzon passed along the following to the MML:
The DVD will have:
August 31, 2001 Disney Petition
An online petition in response to the Inside.com article is located here.
However, writing a snail-mail letter has proven much more effective; visit this page for details.
Thanks to the multiple people who sent in the petition URL.
August 24, 2001 Inside.com Article on the Disney/Tokuma Deal
A good write-up of the current Disney/Tokuma situation.
One thing easy-to-miss point in the article (read closely!) is that Disney agreed to release "Princess Mononoke" in the US sight unseen; relying on his previous films as a barometer of how "Mononoke" would look. Thus their hands were tied when "Mononoke" turned out to be darker then they'd expected.
August 23, 2001 "Howl's Moving Castle" by Ghibli
According to Diana Wynne Jones's official site (http://www.dianawynnejones.com/), her novel _Howl's Moving Castle_ "is definitely going to be made into an animated film, by acclaimed Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki. It will be released in 2003 worldwide by Disney."
However, this could be misleading (or there might be a misunderstanding on Ms. Jones' side). It is unlikely that Miyazaki himself would direct this film, considering his recent comments on "retiring from feature-length film making" and schedule.
He could be producing, or writing storyboards for it.
Ghibli is currently making two films, directed by young directors (one of them is by Mamoru HOSODA, the director of Digimon movie) to be released in Japan in 2002. _Howl's_ could be one of them, considering the timing of release, but there has been no official word from Ghibli.
August 15, 2001 Next Studio Ghibli Film
Miyazaki will supervise (but not direct) the next Studio Ghibli film. The directing role falls to Mamoru HOSODA, best known as the director of the "Digimon" series. The film is slated for release in the summer of 2002 and will be about 1 hour 40 minutes.
An unknown mid-length film (1 hour 10 minutes) is also underway at Studio Ghibli, this film is being directed by a young freelance animator.
Sources:
http://animenation.net/news/news.php3
http://homepage2.nifty.com/kannagi/backnumber.htm
http://www5.hokkaido-np.co.jp/bunka/miyazakihayao/
August 1, 2001 Official "Princess Mononoke" (DVD/VHS) Release Date for the UK
The DVD and VHS will hit the streets on Monday, October 22; coinciding with the Barbican Festival. The DVD will include a copy of Helen McCarthy's book, "Hayao Miyazaki, Master of Japanese Animation".
There are few details at this time, the video listings will be updated as more information becomes available.
Thanks to Joe Curzon for the details.
August 1, 2001 "Princess Mononoke" European Petition
Disney is planning on a European release without the Japanese audio track.
More information at the petition site.