Disney/Studio Ghibli DVD Talkbacks

[Kenai]

Forgive me if this belongs in another forum, but since I'm a newbie, I figured this would fit here, and seeing as how there wasn't really any talkbacks for them.

First off I wanna talk about one of the most magicial ones I've seen, Kiki's Delivery Service. I loved this movie, I saw it on the Disney channel and didn't think too much of it, but then I saw it more and grew to love it. The characters are all very in-depth. And let's not forget, for what seems the brief time he's on, Phil Hartman doing a spectacular job as Jiji. I liked Ursula, most cuz I admire someone who spends her summer days out in the woods being at her cabin, care-free and happy.

I'll add more on others later.

Feel free to talk.

[Luke]

I've only seen <i>Kiki's Delivery Service</i> in Japanese and I liked it quite a bit. Seeing as how Phil Hartman is brilliant in most things I've seen him, I'd love to see, or rather hear, how brings the cat to life.

Welcome to the forum, Kenai! Nice to have another member to contribute to discussions!

[Kenai]

Thanks for the welcome, glad to be aboard.

[ichabod]

I have to be honest, but I honestly found Kiki's Delivery Service to be a little bland. I had seen most of the other Ghibli movies before this and thought they were wonderful, but when I saw this I was quite disappointed. Perhaps I was spoiled by the others, but I wasn't really moved by this and on the whole I didn't really feel it went anyway. It was still good though and I would probably recommend it, but I don't think I would buy it because like I said it didn't do much for me.

[Disneykid]

I absolutely love Kiki's Delivery Service. It's my favorite non-Disney or Pixar animated film, period. Miyazaki doesn't rub anything in the audience's faces. He lets the story unfold slowly and gently. In terms of filmmaking and storytelling, the closest American animated film I can think of that's like it is The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. Both films are a sort of, "How we wish life to be" genre. No one's evil, no one has any serious cares in the world, and any problems that arise are solved quickly and easily. Because of that, some may find it boring, but Miyazaki incorporates some potent themes of growing up and being self-confident that make things interesting without getting cheesy. I also love how the magic (which is really just broom flying) serves the story without becoming it. Really, you can replace the broom flying with bike pedalling or something and the heart of the story is still there; the flying just makes it more interesting.

[castleinthesky]

Kiki's Delivery Service was my first meeting with Studio Ghibli back in 1998 when it came out on VHS. Kiki was a good movie, but It has grown on me. The story of Kiki's Delivery Service is very laidback. It lets you think while you are watching it. I like how the story does not have a villain which also occurrs in other Miyazaki fims such as Nausicaa, Spirited Away, and Mononoke. But unlike those three Kiki really has no evil (maybe except the girl who didn't want her grandmother's tuna pot pie ) Gigi is my favorite character, mostly because of Phil Hartman. Phil did a terrific job to make the cat comical. Kirstin Dunst also does a good job as the voice of Kiki. The animation in Kiki's Delivery Service is spectacular as usual in all Studio Ghibli films. The animation makes me want to become part of the story and live in the town by the sea. The score is stupendous. Joe Hisashi does a great job like all his other Studio Ghibli scores. The score is a vital part of the film and puts you into the film. Unfortunately we cannot get a soundtrack here in the U.S. All in all Kiki's Delivery Service is one of the best movies ever, in my opinion and it is worthy to be in any DVD collection.

[Kenai]

Kiki's Delivery Service was my first meeting with Studio Ghibli back in 1998 when it came out on VHS. Kiki was a good movie, but It has grown on me. The story of Kiki's Delivery Service is very laidback. It lets you think while you are watching it. The animation in Kiki's Delivery Service is spectacular as usual in all Studio Ghibli films. The animation makes me want to become part of the story and live in the town by the sea. The score is stupendous. Joe Hisashi does a great job like all his other Studio Ghibli scores. The score is a vital part of the film and puts you into the film. Unfortunately we cannot get a soundtrack here in the U.S. All in all Kiki's Delivery Service is one of the best movies ever, in my opinion and it is worthy to be in any DVD collection.

I agree, most definitely. The score was beautiful, just beautiful. I loved the score "Pick Up Day" and "Very Busy Kiki", very fun ones.

The town is one that is located in Europe, near the Mediterrean, according to Miyazaki. Of course it's fictious, but the settings are real. If it weren't fictious, I would probably say this would be a French or Italian seaside village. Miyazaki also states the town and surrounding countryside were based off places like Amsterdam, Stockholm, Prague, etc.

[boss]

but then I saw it more and grew to love it. The characters are all very in-depth. Feel free to talk.

For us the odd thing is/was that when we watch most Studio Ghibli films more than once, the more we enjoy them. For some reason the S/G films just seem to get/be better and better the more time we see them. I know the wife and kids have there favorites as do I, I like all of there films alot but right now I get a kick out of Porco Rosco and Castle in the Sky the most.

Some people say that S/G films have a high replayability, I agree, it almost seems as if these films can played as much as a/your favorite music cd with out getting board of them.

I think it has something to do with the detail in the films, I have caught my kids playing "I spy with my little eye" games with S/G films but not with others interestingly.

I am really looking forward to taking my family to see Howl's Moving Castle when it comes to theaters here. I heard that Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind will get a limited theater release, I sure hope it comes here too.

[Kenai]

Time for today's talkback of one of the coolest movies ever, The Cat Returns.

As once said on a Ghibli site, this movie is as digestible as chicken soup. It's that heartwarming. Very magical, kind of like Disney in the Walt-era age.

Haru is the typical Japanese schoolgirl, although be it more clumsy and not popular with her peers. One day however, she saves the Cat Prince, Prince Lune, from being run over by a truck. As a reward, the king extends his thanks with many gifts, some not fitting for a human. The big surprise comes when she gets an invite to the Cat Kingdom, and from there, things unfold briskly for poor Haru.

First off, the animation, great! The voice casting is by far the most excellent I've seen from the Ghibli films (next to Kiki's Delivery Service). Natori, even though he wasn't a HUGE player, was my favorite(you know, the beatnik looking cat who had great concern for the King). Anne Hathaway did a real nice job as Haru, and Cary Elwes....man....what a cool voice! Very very cool!

Thoughts?

[Sunset Girl]

I haven't had a chance to watch the new wave of Miyazaki's yet, but I'm a huge fan of Spirited Away and Kiki's Delivery Service.

I think that Disney did an excellent job with both of the dubs. In fact, the only voice I didn't really care for was Kirsten Dunst's. I mean, I think she did a fine job and everything, but in this case the Japanese voice artist sounds a lot sweeter and more sincere. But I don't know, that's just me.

I also just caught Castle of Cagliostro for the first time. Even though it's not Disney, I mention it because it is early Miyazaki. And it is really, really cool.

[castleinthesky]

The Cat Returns is a great movie, but it is definately lacking what other Ghibli movies have. The Cat returns has a great story and a terrific picture. Being a movie that had a new director and had new animators it was done well. The only flaw in the Cat Returns is the voice dubbing. I usually have no problem with Disney's dubs, but this one could be better. For one the voices of Toto and the servant cat were off. The servant cat is voiced by a female in Japanese, but in English it is voiced by a male. Does the cat have a sex change or something. Besides that I love the Cat Returns. I like how it is like a prolonged good anime episode as well. All in all I would give The Cat Returns 8.5/10.

By the way Kenai, I suggest you start Gibli Talkback topics such as Gibli Talkback: Spirited Away, instead of keeping all the different movies in one topic.

[Kenai]

Yeah that would be a good idea. I should've thought of that.

Glad to see another fan who liked the picture, great taste castleinthesky. But..as for the voice dubbing thing, I actually thought it was great. I never noticed Toto or Natoru's voices to be off (Natoru=servant cat). Andy Richter was a great choice for him. And as for the whole sex change thing well, I guess it wouldn't be too different from voice actors over here. I mean, Katie Soucie has done male voices before, so maybe that rule applies over in Japan,too.

Also something interesting was that in the end credits it listed the casting for the English voices was done and recorded at the Disney studios in Burbank. So I guess this was a true Disney dub. I should look up Kiki and see if that one is also.