Princess Mononoke, The Cat Returns on Blu-ray

[kemcha]

I don't know if anyone has heard, but Anime News Network is reporting that Studio Ghibli is working with its international distributors to release Princess Mononoke and The Cat Returns on Blu-ray. This is no doubt great news and that we can expect Disney to be making an announcement anytime soon.

Studio Ghibli made the announcement via twitter and that with the release of the Japanese disks in Japan, both of which contained Japanese Audio with Subtitles as well as a Dubbed English track, we can expect these to be released in the United States soon.

http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news...r-intl-blu-ray
https://twitter.com/ghibli_intl/stat...46395022401536

Anime News Network just posted this information.

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by kemcha

I don't know if anyone has heard, but Anime News Network is reporting that Studio Ghibli is working with its international distributors to release Princess Mononoke and The Cat Returns on Blu-ray. This is no doubt great news and that we can expect Disney to be making an announcement anytime soon.

Now, that just brings up the debate of whether Disney STILL owns video rights to Mononoke.
(They only had theatrical when the deal happened, and a lot of special negotiation had to be made for putting out the Miramax DVD after fan complaint when Miramax could "only" put out the dubbed version.
Leaving aside the whole GKids question of current ownership.)

[tonylopez]

I really hope this happens. I do love these films.

[Hek_qwerr]

I went with the japanese release of mononoke just because i couldnt wait on that release,and usually they get the better editions then what disney puts out

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by EricJ

Now, that just brings up the debate of whether Disney STILL owns video rights to Mononoke.
(They only had theatrical when the deal happened, and a lot of special negotiation had to be made for putting out the Miramax DVD after fan complaint when Miramax could "only" put out the dubbed version.
Leaving aside the whole GKids question of current ownership.)

It's been confirmed for over a year that they have rights to it. They still sell the DVD on their website, and have a page for it as well

They even re-released it a few years ago with updated artwork to add the Disney logo, and Studio Ghibli collection banner:

[tylergfoster]

Wake me when they announce Spirited Away.

In case anyone's wondering, I've held the above DVD in my hand, so it's not just online promo artwork.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by tylergfoster

Wake me when they announce Spirited Away.

In case anyone's wondering, I've held the above DVD in my hand, so it's not just online promo artwork.

I'm eagerly awaiting that too. It should definitely be released in Japan this year, so I'm thinking it's strong possibility for the US next year.

I didn't expect to see The Cat Returns in the US this year since it just came out in Japan in December. I was guessing The Wind Also Rises, Mononoke, and Kiki's Delivery Service.

[Gold Ranger]

About time!
After this all that's left is what?
Spirited Away
Grave of the FireFlies
Pom Poko
Porco Rosso
Tales from EarthSeas (not on BD in the USA)
Is that it?
Why do I feel like I'm missing some?

[Jasonic]

I already have the Japanese edition. But I double dip for both JP and US releases with these, so I'll definitely buy it when it comes out.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by KaineKinetic

About time!
After this all that's left is what?
Spirited Away
Grave of the FireFlies
Pom Poko
Porco Rosso
Tales from EarthSeas (not on BD in the USA)
Is that it?
Why do I feel like I'm missing some?

Grave of the Fireflies is already released here: https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Grave...Blu-ray/51788/

Of the ones remaining, Disney will likely do releases for Spirited Away, Porco Rosso, and Kiki's Delivery service. I don't see them releasing Pom Poko, and Earthsea on BD, but you never know.

[Jasonic]

Originally Posted by KaineKinetic

About time!
After this all that's left is what?
Spirited Away
Grave of the FireFlies
Pom Poko
Porco Rosso
Tales from EarthSeas (not on BD in the USA)
Is that it?
Why do I feel like I'm missing some?

They haven't released the Yamadas either. Which may be another questionable one for Disney to release on BD. It's hard to say if Disney will release all the ones they have licences for or not, as they aren't the most consistent company.

[svenge]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Grave of the Fireflies is already released here: https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Grave...Blu-ray/51788/

Of the ones remaining, Disney will likely do releases for Spirited Away, Porco Rosso, and Kiki's Delivery service. I don't see them releasing Pom Poko, and Earthsea on BD, but you never know.

Originally Posted by Jasonic

They haven't released the Yamadas either. Which may be another questionable one for Disney to release on BD. It's hard to say if Disney will release all the ones they have licences for or not, as they aren't the most consistent company.

I think it boils down to Isao Takahata's films (except for Grave of the Fireflies) generating far less consumer interest Stateside than Hayao Miyazaki's output.

[kemcha]

Studio Ghibli is all of Studio Ghibli. Hayao Miyazaki isn't the only films they've produced. I happen to love My Neighbor's, The Yamadas. It's absolutely hilarious. I love Beluschi's voice over work.

[Oscar Rothman]

I don't see any mention of US release in that tweet. Besides there's an Anime sub-forum for stuff like this. Double fail

[rickah88]

Originally Posted by Oscar Rothman

I don't see any mention of US release in that tweet. Besides there's an Anime sub-forum for stuff like this. Double fail

Exactly.

[Kriztoffer Swank]

Maybe it's different with Ghibli and Disney's partnership, but most anime studios in Japan seem to stipulate that a US release can't be within a year of the original Japanese release, to encourage fans over there to pay the absurd prices and not import our discs. It's why Region B gets a lot of anime before we do.

I wouldn't count on Mononoke being released by Disney this year—and given how slow they've been getting Ghibli titles out, I'd be surprised if it came out next year.

But I paid the mega-moola to import because man I love that movie and wanted it ASAP.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by Kriztoffer Swank

Maybe it's different with Ghibli and Disney's partnership, but most anime studios in Japan seem to stipulate that a US release can't be within a year of the original Japanese release, to encourage fans over there to pay the absurd prices and not import our discs. It's why Region B gets a lot of anime before we do.

I wouldn't count on Mononoke being released by Disney this year—and given how slow they've been getting Ghibli titles out, I'd be surprised if it came out next year.

But I paid the mega-moola to import because man I love that movie and wanted it ASAP.

Yeah I think it's the same with Ghibli too. Most JP releases don't arrive in the US for at least 9-12 months from what I've noticed. So that would rule out Mononoke and Cat Returns.

Both Kiki's Delivery Service and Porco Rosso would be available though, so if they truly do have to wait several months, then those are more likely to be released in May/June

[kemcha]

Generally what happens is that if an anime is released in Japan on Blu-ray or DVD or whatever format, the same format/release won't happen until the following year. Since Disney has exclusivity on all Ghibli films, this was just a wide-announcement by Ghibli Japan indicating that the next batch of films are available for release and that they're informing their distribution partners that they're available to release these next two films.

While it's true that no exact date has been announced, this is simply an advance announcement by Studio Ghibli in that they were informing the general public that the next two films to get the Blu-ray treatment distribution in various markets, such as Europe and the United States, would simply be Princess Mononoke and The Cat Returns.

More than likely, we can expect these two films to be released in time for Christmas 2014. I also think this is just Studio Ghibli trying to keep the general anime community more informed in regards to these Blu-ray releases.

[MifuneFan]

If I had to guess, I'd say the UK gets both titles this year, and the US next. I'd love to be wrong about that since I want the US version of Mononoke asap. I'm also hoping Spirited Away gets announced for a Summer release in Japan, so that it can be released in the US next May/June too.

[captveg]

These seem like the catalog titles that will get released alongside the Blu-ray of The Wind Rises.