What film is best to introduce a new fan to Miyazaki?

Gallennon · Post by **Gallennon** » Fri Apr 01, 2011 21:31 -0700

A friend and I have had this discussion over and over again. I was actually curious what others would consider would be the best film they pick to introduce someone, who has never seen a Ghibli film, to Miyazaki's work?

comicsoccerguy · Post by **comicsoccerguy** » Fri Apr 01, 2011 23:31 -0700

I would have to go with Princess Mononoke. It is my personal favorite and in my opinion has the best Score out of them all.
My wife feels that the best would be Spirited Away as it encompasses more of the same feelings and themes as most of the rest of his works, however her personal favorite is a toss up between Howl's Moving Castle and Princess Mononoke.

estee · Post by **estee** » Sat Apr 02, 2011 7:18 -0700

Yeah, Princess Mononoke is the best. It has plenty of action and moves quickly. And the dubbing is first rate.

Usually, I'm not a fan of dubbing, but it really works with this flick.

I'd leave Spirited Away for last. While I liked it, I found watching it to be a bit of a labour. You have to pay close attention. Miyazaki has the rare gift of creating his own mythology and so there are lots of details that aren't recognizable right away.

Stan Sakai · Post by **Stan Sakai** » Sat Apr 02, 2011 8:06 -0700

My favorite is My Neighbor Totoro. Charming movie.

Post by **Mayhem** » Sat Apr 02, 2011 8:42 -0700

The Japanese (subbed) version of Totoro was on TV last week... hadn't seen it in ages, so I stayed up for it (it started at 3am

).

The odd thing is, my favourite Ghibli film isn't a Miyazaki production... I have a bit of a soft spot for "The Cat Returns" myself...

Jet_Jaguar · Post by **Jet_Jaguar** » Sat Apr 02, 2011 9:12 -0700

I think Princess Mononoke was the first Miyazaki film I ever saw. I like it and I think it's a good film, but I'm not sure it's an ideal introduction to Miyazaki's work (I sort of think something a little "lighter" might be a better introduction to Miyazaki's work, but I suppose that sort of depends on what kind of expectations the person you're introducing to Miyazaki has). If I were to recommend a film to be someone's first Miyazaki experience, it would probably be either Totoro or Laputa (aka Castle in the Sky). Kiki's Delivery Service probably wouldn't be a bad choice either. If you show the English-dubbed version to someone, make sure it's not the older DVD since I think the Japanese songs at the beginning and end of the film get replaced in the English-dubbed version, and I'd say they're a fairly important part of the film (I used to think they were composed by Joe Hisaishi, but they're actually old songs from the 1960s or 70s).

Kiki's Delivery Service - Japanese Theme (Beginning Credits)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYbfzFCnnzU

Majo no Takkyūbin OST - Yasashisa Ni Tsutsumareta Nara

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6FIGkCrZGs

SHIZEN · Post by **SHIZEN** » Sat Apr 02, 2011 10:39 -0700

Nausicaa is amazing to

Gallennon · Post by **Gallennon** » Sat Apr 02, 2011 17:56 -0700

Ok since I started this I guess I shoudl now enter which ones I have championed in my discussions with my friend.

Laputa (Castle in the Sky) I agree is one I show to a new fan, though I am mad at the dub for leaving out very obvious lines (people the character's mouth is still moving, I don't care if he is just laughing, freaking laugh or put some sort of sound there and not just dead air.) Though the sub anger me as well, because they neglect to subtitle lines being said. Yes, this is the Disney release. Still I feel it does capture a lot of Miyazaki's style and over all is a great film.

Depending on the person My Neighbor Totoro I would either show or stay away from. Totoro is beautiful, but the childish side of it may turn some viewers off I feel.

Nausicca of The Vally of the Wind I would show, but only if they like sci fi/fantasy, because the film does come off more as an anime, then a Miyazaki film.

The one I would most likely use would be Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro, not because it deals with a great anime iconic character by Monkey Punch, but embraces all of Miyazaki's trademarks and is a very well told story capturing all the elements not just found in Gihbli films, but also in good anime.

The one film I would leave last in showing a new fan would be Ponyo. It is a great film, but it is really kiddie and comes across a bit experimental in parts. It also is not as strong as Totoro.

BTW Totoro was ruined for me by the South Park episode where Cartmen, as The Coon, trick Cathullu to team up with him by using the same cute methods the little girl uses when she first meets Totoro....plus the song......

My personal favorite film by Gihbli is also not a Miyazaki film. It is Pom Poko.[/i]

Jet_Jaguar · Post by **Jet_Jaguar** » Sun Apr 03, 2011 8:52 -0700

Gallennon wrote: My personal favorite film by Gihbli is also not a Miyazaki film. It is Pom Poko.

I like that movie too. I wish Disney would release it on Blu-Ray, but I'm not holding my breath on that (especially since Ponyo and Nausciaa are the only Ghibli films out on Blu-Ray in the U.S. right now). I think Pom Poko director Isao Takahata (who also made Graveyard of the Fireflies) made a new movie recently, but I haven't heard much about it.

TigerRider · Post by **TigerRider** » Sun Apr 03, 2011 22:55 -0700

It would depend on the age of, who should watch it:

young - Totoro

older - Mononoke

greetings,
Jens

Angilasman · Post by **Angilasman** » Mon Apr 04, 2011 6:36 -0700

Jet_Jaguar wrote:
Gallennon wrote: My personal favorite film by Gihbli is also not a Miyazaki film. It is Pom Poko.
I like that movie too. I wish Disney would release it on Blu-Ray, but I'm not holding my breath on that (especially since Ponyo and Nausciaa are the only Ghibli films out on Blu-Ray in the U.S. right now).

I think they're just releasing them as Ghibli themselves are. Nausicaa came out on BluRay in Japan and a few months later Disney released a US version. So when Pom Poko gets the HD treatment over there a US release will probably follow.

Either way, the current Pom Poko DVD already looks swell upconverted on an HD set.

As for the best way to introduce someone to Miyazaki... well, it's like saying what's the best Beatles album: you're gonna get a different answer from everybody. My favorite is Porco Rosso, but that's prossibly the quirkiest and least accessible of his films (not that it's terriblty unaccessible, just in comparsion to others).

Gallennon · Post by **Gallennon** » Tue Apr 05, 2011 7:40 -0700

I think they're just releasing them as Ghibli themselves are. Nausicaa came out on BluRay in Japan and a few months later Disney released a US version. So when Pom Poko gets the HD treatment over there a US release will probably follow.

Either way, the current Pom Pokhttp DVD already looks swell upconverted on an HD set.

Personally I do not see the need for Blu-Ray for a lot of the older Ghibli material. I purposely bought Nausicaa on DVD when I had the Blu-ray option. I feel that the HD would actually hurt these films due to their age and the methods used to film them. The HD would of course make the film look clean, but it also would reveal a lot of the tricks and "strings attached" that the film never intended for audience to see. Thus making the film look sloppy, unprofessional, or juts bad.

Jet_Jaguar · Post by **Jet_Jaguar** » Tue Apr 05, 2011 8:17 -0700

Gallennon wrote:The HD would of course make the film look clean, but it also would reveal a lot of the tricks and "strings attached" that the film never intended for audience to see. Thus making the film look sloppy, unprofessional, or juts bad.

I actually don't mind that. I sort of liken it to being able to see the brushstrokes in a painting. When DVD was relatively new, it would bug me a little that the picture quality was so clear that I was able to see the flaws in the special effects work of old sci-fi movies, but I feel like I've reached a point where that doesn't bother me. I remember listening to a commentary track that Francis Ford Coppola and Martin Scorsese did for the 1940 version of The Thief of Bagdad (a great movie BTW, go see it if you haven't) where Coppola says that even though the special effects work in the film is rather primitive by today's standards, he still enjoys it because it requires more imaginative engagement than slick CGI effects.

Angilasman · Post by **Angilasman** » Thu Apr 14, 2011 12:09 -0700

^I agree. I just got the BluRay of the original Errol Flynn Robin Hood and it had two HD Looney Tunes as special features (Rabbit Hood and Robin Hood Daffy, naturally). They both look absolutely fantastic.

Even if you see the fingerprints of being man-made in something, as long as it was carried out with care, imagination, and flourish it will still look great.

maichan · Post by **maichan** » Tue Aug 02, 2011 14:28 -0700

Not to resurrect an old discussion, but I'd have to agree with what Jet_Jaguar and TigerRider said. Start out with one of the lighter toned films, and if a person likes that then go to the heavier stuff. Of course it all depends on personal preferences. I tend to judge an anime by the art first and then the story - although the final reasoning is a fine line between the two.

I started out with Nausicaä. Nausicaä was my introduction to Miyazaki. I actually first bought the manga (the translated TPB version...I think published by Viz Comics?), which eventually led to the VHS version (yes I started with VHS, it was that long ago). Nausicaä was my favorite for a long time - but that was because I never watched any others. Then I went to see Princess Mononoke in a movie theater. Bingo, a new favorite. Soon I started buying the DVDs. Now, I've watched them all, but it's hard for me to pick a favorite. I like them all for different reasons. If I had to pick one however, I'd have to go with Stan and say Totoro...

it's a feel good film!