- Joined
- Feb 8, 1999
- Messages
- 18,428
- Real Name
- Robert Harris
I'm a huge fan of the works of Hayao Miyazaki, and Studio Ghibli in Japan.
I've owned this series of films in several different incarnations, but haven't been as pleased with the
overall presentation since Shout Factory announced their Steelbook series via their GKIDS line.
Some may believe that the series is being over-published - it was with Disney for awhile. And of course,
there are all of the plush toys, costumes, T-shirts, book bags, comics, books and other merchandising tie-ins.
But during a time when virtually all animation was being pushed through computers, the Studio
Ghibli films were still (for the most part) hand-drawn art, with Princess Mononoke (1997) being the first
to include a serious portion of CGI.
I have my favorites, and two of them are just being released in Shout's new Steelbook format - Castle in the Sky (1986), and Spirited Away (2001). At 79, he's still at work, and if anyone isn't familiar with his later works, take a look at The Wind Rises (2013).
In a similar style, also consider Weathering with You, which I recently reviewed in 4k, directed by Makoto Shinkai.
What caught my attention in these new (actually re) releases, is simply their new packaging, which caught my eye as pure animation art.
I hate to sound as if I'm hawking these films, but I love them, and with families spending a bit more time indoors, and the Holidays approaching, the series makes wonderful gifts. It also allows Shout to publish more of them, as there are a handful yet to come to complete the series in Steel. Not that there's anything wrong with the myriad of Disney princesses, and Pixar wonders, but these are just special.
As someone who normally tosses any but the most interesting slipcases into recycling, this is a series that looks far better with the face of the artwork exposed, as opposed to the spine. That small Renoir can go in the back closet.
And for those unaware, don't for a moment equate these with Saturday morning limited animation fair.
Image – 5
Audio – 5
Pass / Fail – Pass
Very Highly Recommended
RAH
I've owned this series of films in several different incarnations, but haven't been as pleased with the
overall presentation since Shout Factory announced their Steelbook series via their GKIDS line.
Some may believe that the series is being over-published - it was with Disney for awhile. And of course,
there are all of the plush toys, costumes, T-shirts, book bags, comics, books and other merchandising tie-ins.
But during a time when virtually all animation was being pushed through computers, the Studio
Ghibli films were still (for the most part) hand-drawn art, with Princess Mononoke (1997) being the first
to include a serious portion of CGI.
I have my favorites, and two of them are just being released in Shout's new Steelbook format - Castle in the Sky (1986), and Spirited Away (2001). At 79, he's still at work, and if anyone isn't familiar with his later works, take a look at The Wind Rises (2013).
In a similar style, also consider Weathering with You, which I recently reviewed in 4k, directed by Makoto Shinkai.
What caught my attention in these new (actually re) releases, is simply their new packaging, which caught my eye as pure animation art.
I hate to sound as if I'm hawking these films, but I love them, and with families spending a bit more time indoors, and the Holidays approaching, the series makes wonderful gifts. It also allows Shout to publish more of them, as there are a handful yet to come to complete the series in Steel. Not that there's anything wrong with the myriad of Disney princesses, and Pixar wonders, but these are just special.
As someone who normally tosses any but the most interesting slipcases into recycling, this is a series that looks far better with the face of the artwork exposed, as opposed to the spine. That small Renoir can go in the back closet.
And for those unaware, don't for a moment equate these with Saturday morning limited animation fair.
Image – 5
Audio – 5
Pass / Fail – Pass
Very Highly Recommended
RAH
