Hayao Miyazaki

My main interests in life are women, whisky, aircraft, Japan, the great outdoors, film and music. All of which to say that Hayao Miyazaki is a longtime favourite.

Miyazaki's latest and possibly final film, The Wind Rises, has been out in Nippon for a few weeks now and I'm curious to see whether it rivals what I consider his masterpiece, Porco Rosso. First British reviews are encouraging:

http://www.screendaily.com/reviews/the-latest/the-wind-rises/5059823.article?blocktitle=Latest-Reviews&contentID=1479

The Wind Rises' soundtrack (but not, I assume, that rather saccharine song), is by Miyazaki's old collaborator Joe Hisaishi. It's on Youtube at the moment, but expect it to be taken down soon.

I wouldn't have thought you were a Miyazaki fan, Ambler. I seem to recall some conversation way back when when you said you weren't particularly interested in Asian cinema (though perhaps I'm confusing you with someone else).

I need to see more Miyazaki. I've seen PRINCESS MONONOKE and SPIRITED AWAY, and some bits and pieces of THE CASTLE OF CAGLIOSTRO. Of those, I only really responded to SPIRITED AWAY, though the visual imagination on display in all three films is considerable. I'm very interested in THE WIND RISES, given its subject matter.

Twitch reports that Hayao Miyazaki is officially retiring:

http://twitchfilm.com/2013/09/venice-2013-miyazaki-hayao-officially-to-retire.html

Quote :

Studio Ghibli president Hoshino Koji just officially announced the retirement of master animation director Miyazaki Hayao, whose latest feature Kaze Tachinu (The Wind Rises) is screening in competition at the Lido. The announcement was made today at the Venice Film Festival's press conference room.

Harmsway wrote:

I wouldn't have thought you were a Miyazaki fan, Ambler. I seem to recall some conversation way back when when you said you weren't particularly interested in Asian cinema (though perhaps I'm confusing you with someone else.

No, your recall is excellent - I'm not particularly interested in Asian cinema. However, I'm fascinated by Japanese culture, aviation and Joe Hisaishi. Miyazaki brings all three together for me.

Interesting piece on The Wind Rises here:

http://voices.yahoo.com/miyazakis-wind-rises-ignites-debate-japanese-box-12282476.html?cat=37

Ecowarriors at The Guardian have bought a timemachine and given the Mitsubishi Zero jet power.

http://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/sep/01/venice-film-festival-review-wind-rises

Arts and humanities degrees aka pig ignorance aren't much of a basis to lay down the law on the environment, science and technology, but that's never stopped them yet.

is this a first for anime? Artist Kazuhiko Hachiya has recreated the Möwe from Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind. No one's died yet ...

http://www.spoon-tamago.com/2014/07/29/artist-recreates-nausicaas-jet-glider-to-promote-world-peace/

The studio that produced much of Miyazaki's work seems to have folded (though perhaps not quite):

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/film-news/11001081/Studio-Ghibli-may-stop-making-films.html

Thanks for that, Oppers. I haven't been so shaken since I found out that the creator of Bambi wrote child pornography.

Interesting to read that The Wind Rises has yet to show a profit. I suppose this is another example of the changing commercial landscape. A bit like Peter Gabriel or Elton John touring their back catalogue, but saying there's insufficient paying demand for new material.