The Studio Ghibli (JP) Discussion Thread

[Vakulinchuk]

I'm having pessimistic thoughts about the box... I mean, with only a few weeks away, it would take some dedication on Ghibli's part to add faithful english subtitles to the features. But Ghibli has probably bigger issues to address these days, not to mention that lately they've dropped the ball a number of times. (see: not including On your mark in the previous box, ruining Cagliostro with DNR and so on).

[Dan8700]

Originally Posted by GenPion

Ponyo JP... well, in my own opinion, the JP Miyazaki set has the VERY BEST presentation of Ponyo to date. It's stunning. I thought it was a big leap forward from the US Blu-ray which was similar to the JP edition but without lossless JP audio and English title cards.

FYI, Ponyo's best release is actually the Optimum, as per https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread...ghlight=ghibli



edit: some HK and TW releases are interlaced c**p.

[GenPion]

Originally Posted by Dan8700

FYI, Ponyo's best release is actually the Optimum, as per https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread...ghlight=ghibli



edit: some HK and TW releases are interlaced c**p.

Actually, it's the presentation on the JP re-release. That's what I was referring to. It's still not listed in the main part of that thread as it needs updates. Ponyo JP re-release has around 33mbps bit-rate and the original DTS-HD Master Audio 6.1.

[DuoSonic]

Hi everyone,

Just registered today and this thread has been very useful. I'm a huge Ghibli fan, and especially of Miyazaki. I bought a multi-region DVD player just to play the Japanese DVDs of his films as they came out. Other then the Totoro/Fireflies 2-pack from Japan, I've been sticking with the US blu-rays and am frustrated that Mononoke has dubtitles. This got my thinking...

Is there a list that details the best English subtitles? I've found subtitles vs. dubtitles information, but that's it. For instance, I've read on The Digital Bits that the US Mononke DVD has different subtitles than the Japanese blu-ray. But I can't find an opinion on which translation is better. I'd love to see a list of varying subtitles with opinions on highest quality translation.

Thanks, everyone. FYI - I just ordered the Japanese Miyazaki set. I'm annoyed it won't have all the supplements, or the subtitles for Cagliostro, but I'm excited for the great transfers. I, too, love Ponyo and am excited to see that transfer.

[svenge]

Originally Posted by DuoSonic

Is there a list that details the best English subtitles? I've found subtitles vs. dubtitles information, but that's it. For instance, I've read on The Digital Bits that the US Mononke DVD has different subtitles than the Japanese blu-ray. But I can't find an opinion on which translation is better. I'd love to see a list of varying subtitles with opinions on highest quality translation.

The Japanese box set's BDs have the best English subtitles for all films involved (except Cagliostro, obviously).

The US releases that have dubtitles include Mononoke, Laputa, and Kiki; also the review for The Wind Rises from The Digital Bits indicates that the English subs for the US release aren't as good as the ones on the JP release, but aren't dubtitles either. The rest of the existing US releases are fine on the subtitle front.

As for Cagliostro, your options are to either pick up the stand-alone Japanese release (which does have English subtitles for some reason) or wait for Discotek to put out their US release sometime in early 2015.

[DanielMann]

So I saw this today at the Sydney Japanese Film Festival.

I truly believe that some stories are just better suited to animation. This is one of them. For the most part, the human aspects are fine. I think the girl playing Kiki did an admirable job and she has enough spunk and charm to pull it off and make it her own. She's the least of its problems. But the moment it aspires of grandeur involving the fantastical then holy shit does the lack of budget show. Riddled with terrible cgi throughout, it leaves you kind of desiring the simple charm of its cell based animated predecessor instead.

The human elements work well enough and it's heart is in the right place. But that lack of budget really helps to kill momentum.

[Girls With Guns]

Yes, you could pretty much tell just from the very few trailers seen here online that the movie was going to be very... awkward. It's a shame, but it's not unusual at all - it seems many animated films don't translate well to live action films - and a lot of those films do tend to be made on a much smaller budget by smaller film companies.

[nusilver]

It's actually not an adaptation of the Ghibli film, though -- it's an adaptation of the book. Are book adaptations usually that... shoddy... in Asian cinema, too?

Also... my On Your Mark isn't here today and the tracking hasn't been updated since Thursday, but I imagine it will probably be here by Wednesday or so.

[solesupremebeing]

Anybody want to buy a copy of On Your Mark on Blu Ray from Yahoo Auctions Japan?

http://page4.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/d159156044

ONE MILLION YEN!

[GenPion]

Ha-Ha. That seller is kidding themselves... anyone can get it in Japan for free for over a year from now and it would be far less expensive for them to just buy the Miyazaki set and send in a postcard for the release.

[Anamnesis]

Somebody here in Australia appears to be selling come cells from Kiki's Delivery Service... not really sure where they got them from, but they are interesting none the less...

eBay Link

[deschain]

Originally Posted by Anamnesis

Somebody here in Australia appears to be selling come cells from Kiki's Delivery Service... not really sure where they got them from, but they are interesting none the less...

eBay Link

Probably got them from Japan, there are a lot of Kiki cels out there, when I was in mandarake in Tokyo over the summer a guy handed me a huge folder filled with Kiki cels. They don't seem to be hugely popular with collectors.

[solesupremebeing]

Originally Posted by Anamnesis

Somebody here in Australia appears to be selling come cells from Kiki's Delivery Service... not really sure where they got them from, but they are interesting none the less...

eBay Link

Kiki cels are some of the easiest to come by, and of all that I have seen out there, the ones that seller has aren't that great.

[joelgutheil]

Originally Posted by solesupremebeing

Kiki cels are some of the easiest to come by, and of all that I have seen out there, the ones that seller has aren't that great.

I'm a bit of a cel noob: how do you know what's genuine and what's fake?

[rickah88]

Originally Posted by joelgutheil

I'm a bit of a cel noob: how do you know what's genuine and what's fake?

I am as well, but I think most "legit" cells would have some sort of Certificate of Authenticity, detailing: who/what/where/when, and possibly have some sort of artist signature.

I would definitely do some research if you are thinking about buying, especially if it's an expensive item.

[solesupremebeing]

Originally Posted by rickah88

I am as well, but I think most "legit" cells would have some sort of Certificate of Authenticity, detailing: who/what/where/when, and possibly have some sort of artist signature.

I would definitely do some research if you are thinking about buying, especially if it's an expensive item.

Cels don't have any of these things. Most original cels produced by Ghibli, Disney and other animation studios were either binned, or the acetate is wiped clean and reused. They didn't give out certificates of authenticity with cels that were basically going to be binned. I watched a documentary which featured this guy who used to live close to one of the animation studios that Miyazaki worked for before Studio Ghibli (I forget which one), and this guy, had folders and folders full of original animation cels. He used to go to the bins at the back of the studio every so often and dig out all of the discarded cels.

[rickah88]

Originally Posted by solesupremebeing

Cels don't have any of these things. Most original cels produced by Ghibli, Disney and other animation studios were either binned, or the acetate is wiped clean and reused. They didn't give out certificates of authenticity with cels that were basically going to be binned. I watched a documentary which featured this guy who used to live close to one of the animation studios that Miyazaki worked for before Studio Ghibli (I forget which one), and this guy, had folders and folders full of original animation cels. He used to go to the bins at the back of the studio every so often and dig out all of the discarded cels.

Of course they do. Almost any collectible, in the world, worth it's weight in gold is going to have some form of authenticity...or you're going to run the risk of getting a fake.

If I'm going to drop 3grand on a Ghibli cel I want something showing that it's authentic, but that's just me.

[solesupremebeing]

Originally Posted by rickah88

Of course they do. Almost any collectible, in the world, worth it's weight in gold is going to have some form of authenticity...or you're going to run the risk of getting a fake.

If I'm going to drop 3grand on a Ghibli cel I want something showing that it's authentic, but that's just me.

If you're waiting for a Studio Ghibli cel with a certificate of authenticity from Studio Ghibli, then you're never going to own a Ghibli cel, simple as.

[deschain]

Originally Posted by rickah88

Of course they do. Almost any collectible, in the world, worth it's weight in gold is going to have some form of authenticity...or you're going to run the risk of getting a fake.

If I'm going to drop 3grand on a Ghibli cel I want something showing that it's authentic, but that's just me.

Hahaha NO. Jamie is right, hardly any cel will have a cert of authenticity, it's very rare for a cel to have one. A cel's authenticity is usually always based on where or who you buy the cel from. For instance if you buy a cel from a Mandarake store or auction you're pretty much guaranteed it's authenticity as they only deal in genuine items and anything else they clearly label as fan cels. Certs of authentic seem to be an American thing, but a cert of authenticity is easier forged than a cel. Someone's been watching too much reality TV, what's it called... Hollywood treasure?

[rickah88]

Originally Posted by solesupremebeing

If you're waiting for a Studio Ghibli cel with a certificate of authenticity from Studio Ghibli, then you're never going to own a Ghibli cel, simple as.

Originally Posted by deschain

Hahaha NO. Jamie is right, hardly any cel will have a cert of authenticity, it's very rare for a cel to have one. A cel's authenticity is usually always based on where or who you buy the cel from. For instance if you buy a cel from a Mandarake store or auction you're pretty much guaranteed it's authenticity as they only deal in genuine items and anything else they clearly label as fan cels. Certs of authentic seem to be an American thing, but a cert of authenticity is easier forged than a cel. Someone's been watching too much reality TV, what's it called... Hollywood treasure?

It doesn't have to come directly from Ghibli itself. In fact most CoA's don't come direct from the source, but are usually 3rd party companies.
Which is why I only buy from trusted CoA companies that have been in the business for a long time.
I can't speak for the rest of the world, but again, if I'm dropping a good amount of coin on a collectible I want something in writing. Of course anything can be forged, which is why you go with reputable companies.
To each his own, I suppose.