Studio Ghibli Collection Thread

[aimforsilence]

I bet it'll come out with the Totoro/Fireflies wave. Or very shortly after!

[supasmashbrotha76]

Hello. Just wanted to pop in and say how jealous I am of you guys! US takes forever! I understand the reasoning with Japan and US being same region and all, but still. I think I'll just get a region free player and get some of these! Any tips on a good region free player?

[svenge]

Originally Posted by supasmashbrotha76

Hello. Just wanted to pop in and say how jealous I am of you guys! US takes forever! I understand the reasoning with Japan and US being same region and all, but still. I think I'll just get a region free player and get some of these! Any tips on a good region free player?

If you don't need an English dub (just English subtitles), then perhaps you should consider getting the Region-A Hong Kong releases. They cost about $35 each and can be bought @ YesAsia or DDDHouse.

Howl's Moving Castle, My Neighbors the Yamadas, and Tales From Earthsea already have HK releases with the original Japanese audio and English subtitles. They'll likely put out Totoro and Grave of the Fireflies in October or November (about the same time as in the UK).

Since no one knows when Disney will release those 5 films in the US, the Hong Kong releases are the way to go for a Region-A disc that won't bankrupt you (like Japan's $75 releases) or require a region-free player (like the Briish releases).

Of course if you do want/need an English dub, disregard all that.

[solesupremebeing]

Originally Posted by faerieoftheforest

I'm a 29 year old man and I have a plushie Totoro. Attachment 48217

I'm a fully grown man, and I have a Totoro, Chibi, Teto, Jiji, Lily and a Kittenbus.

[supasmashbrotha76]

Originally Posted by svenge

If you don't need an English dub (just English subtitles), then perhaps you should consider getting the Region-A Hong Kong releases. They cost about $35 each and can be bought @ YesAsia or DDDHouse.

Howl's Moving Castle, My Neighbors the Yamadas, and Tales From Earthsea already have HK releases with the original Japanese audio and English subtitles. They'll likely put out Totoro and Grave of the Fireflies in October or November (about the same time as in the UK).

Since no one knows when Disney will release those 5 films in the US, the Hong Kong releases are the way to go for a Region-A disc that won't bankrupt you (like Japan's $75 releases) or require a region-free player (like the Briish releases).

Of course if you do want/need an English dub, disregard all that.

Thanks for the advice. I've actually gotten the HK Howls castle release recently. Love it! Except the aspect ratio is off a little. I think. Are all the HK version 1:78 instead of 1:85?

[manicsounds]

I'm hoping for more extras on the UK releases. The Japanese Totoro release is just an embarrassment in the extras department. The US Disney DVD had some pretty substantial extras, and most likely those will be ported over since Studio Canal has a track record so far of porting over the Disney extras.

[Sinthetic]

Originally Posted by manicsounds

I'm hoping for more extras on the UK releases. The Japanese Totoro release is just an embarrassment in the extras department. The US Disney DVD had some pretty substantial extras, and most likely those will be ported over since Studio Canal has a track record so far of porting over the Disney extras.

What are the extras on the JP BD mate?

[svenge]

Originally Posted by supasmashbrotha76

Thanks for the advice. I've actually gotten the HK Howls castle release recently. Love it! Except the aspect ratio is off a little. I think. Are all the HK version 1:78 instead of 1:85?

Since IVL gets their masters from Ghibli, they would presumably keep the same ARs as their Japanese counterparts. The Amazon.co.jp listing for Howl's says it's 1.77:1 as well.

[hempo22]

any chance that an UK pack of totoro and fireflies will happen? would be awesome to have as a double feature, just like the japanese theatrical release was :P

Originally Posted by supasmashbrotha76

Thanks for the advice. I've actually gotten the HK Howls castle release recently. Love it! Except the aspect ratio is off a little. I think. Are all the HK version 1:78 instead of 1:85?

even if they are, there isn't a big difference between the two. Often 1.85:1 movies get labeled 1.78:1 (or 1.77:1) and vice versa because they're so similar. They look at the picture and go:

"So it's not cinemascope (2.35:1) and not a square (4:3)... Then it's standard widescreen! 1.78:1... or 1.85:1... Um... Eeny, meeny, miny, moe..."

[svenge]

Originally Posted by hempo22

even if they are, there isn't a big difference between the two. Often 1.85:1 movies get labeled 1.78:1 (or 1.77:1) and vice versa because they're so similar. They look at the picture and go:

"So it's not cinemascope (2.35:1) and not a square (4:3)... Then it's standard widescreen! 1.78:1... or 1.85:1... Um... Eeny, meeny, miny, moe..."

Actually I just looked at a full-sized screengrab of the JP release of Howl's from Asianblurayguide.com, and it's got 20 pixels of black border on both the top and bottom with no border on the sides, which makes it 1920x1040 (i.e. 1.85:1). I don't have the HK version (or screencaps thereof) so I can't say what the deal is with that one.

Based on the BDInfo scans, I know for a fact that the HK used a different video encode than the JP disc (unlike what was done for Laputa), but I can't say anything about the HK release's video master with any kind of certainty.

[GenPion]

Has anyone thought about making custom covers for the Studio Ghibli films?

Specifically, I'm wondering what it would entail to make custom covers that match the Japanese covers -- only with English text and designed for standard Blu-ray cases. I'd probably love something like that and would consider using covers like that as an option.

However, I've never designed nor printed custom covers before. I wonder if there would be group interest in something like this with someone willing to do the printing/designing with others expressing interest contributing towards the printing/shipping costs?

Any interest?

[GenPion]

Taking the idea even further:

What if these were designed to fit in the clear Criterion cases? This would help these to stand out even more as a collection, and you can purchase blank cases on the Criterion website.

Also, is it possible to print on both sides? The color scheme could be used on the inside of each cover so that the case's showcase the color schemes when opening up cases...

If no one want's to translate the title-font's, the original Japanese text/logos would still look amazing... but maybe we could have it display the English title (in small font) upon the front artwork as well? Just a thought.

If this was done I could mix and match my UK/US releases and have something half-way close to the Japanese cover-artwork. It wouldn't be an equal match, but it would still be really cool.

[Sinthetic]

Originally Posted by GenPion

Taking the idea even further:

What if these were designed to fit in the clear Criterion cases? This would help these to stand out even more as a collection, and you can purchase blank cases on the Criterion website.

Also, is it possible to print on both sides? The color scheme could be used on the inside of each cover so that the case's showcase the color schemes when opening up cases...

If no one want's to translate the title-font's, the original Japanese text/logos would still look amazing... but maybe we could have it display the English title (in small font) upon the front artwork as well? Just a thought.

If this was done I could mix and match my UK/US releases and have something half-way close to the Japanese cover-artwork. It wouldn't be an equal match, but it would still be really cool.

Mate, go into the US Forum and the Custom Covers thread. There are a couple of guys there who make excellent stuff. One lad in particular makes Criterion style/size covers for all his films.


Looked what popped in this morning!

2 days via Airmail from CDJapan.



Wara wara Totoro, Totoro.

EDIT: I just noticed a free gift in the box...

[felipefps]

Could someone confirm to me if the US releases bring the names of the american cast at the beginning of the movies? I believe this happened in Ponyo and it's something that would really put me off of these editions.

Thanks!

[Porco Azzurro]

Originally Posted by felipefps

Could someone confirm to me if the US releases bring the names of the american cast at the beginning of the movies? I believe this happened in Ponyo and it's something that would really put me off of these editions.

Thanks!

I have the US Nausicaa and it does seem to be the case that you can't avoid the US cast/translated titles on that. Very annoying. Puts me off the US versions too.

[felipefps]

Originally Posted by Porco Azzurro

I have the US Nausicaa and it does seem to be the case that you can't avoid the US cast/translated titles on that. Very annoying. Puts me off the US versions too.

Thanks!! I've been asking this question here, but no one had answered it yet.

So I believe I'll have to save for the japanese ones.

[Porco Azzurro]

Originally Posted by felipefps

Thanks!! I've been asking this question here, but no one had answered it yet.

So I believe I'll have to save for the japanese ones.

I'm pretty sure you can get rid of the titles on the UK versions though... as long as you set the language to Japanese and subtitles off. I'd have to check to be 100% sure...

[gavinh2008]

Originally Posted by Sinthetic

Mate, go into the US Forum and the Custom Covers thread. There are a couple of guys there who make excellent stuff. One lad in particular makes Criterion style/size covers for all his films.


Looked what popped in this morning!

2 days via Airmail from CDJapan.

[Show spoiler]

Wara wara Totoro, Totoro.

EDIT: I just noticed a free gift in the box...

[Show spoiler]

Oh my God that looks amazing! So £60 including postage and it came packaged good enough to not cause any damage in transit? I am so getting one of these Japanese releases by the end of this month.

[Sinthetic]

Originally Posted by gavinh2008

Oh my God that looks amazing! So £60 including postage and it came packaged good enough to not cause any damage in transit? I am so getting one of these Japanese releases by the end of this month.

Mate, packed like it was housing a bomb. That is from CDJapan. Around £63 quid with Airmail but got here in 2 days (couldn't believe it).

YesAsia are around £57, packaging isn't as good and delivery takes 10 working days.

I'd rather pay the extra £7 and get it quickly and securely!

[gavinh2008]

Originally Posted by Sinthetic

Mate, packed like it was housing a bomb. That is from CDJapan. Around £63 quid with Airmail but got here in 2 days (couldn't believe it).

YesAsia are around £57, packaging isn't as good and delivery takes 10 working days.

I'd rather pay the extra £7 and get it quickly and securely!

I agree, there's no point paying a price that high to have it come in bad condition. Better to be safe than sorry and that extra £7 is the difference between having a battered one to a perfect one. Thanks for the info I am so excited to buy my first Japanese Ghibli Blu-ray