Collected Works of Hayao Miyazaki, The (Blu-ray) (2015)

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   Hayao Miyazaki is a giant of world animation, famous around the world for films like Spirited Away, My Neighbour Totoro, Porco Rosso, Ponyo and more. To mark his retirement from feature film direction, Madman Entertainment has put together this wonderful box set of his films, which are all wonderful films in their own right. People who love his work will have their favourites, for me I find it hard to choose between the lovely fantasy of My Neighbour Totoro and the magnificent beauty of Ponyo. This set collects all the Blu-ray editions of all 11 of his feature films and adds an extra DVD of some of his early work and other extras. It is well packaged in a white box including a comprehensive booklet and postcard size movie posters for all the films. There is also an all DVD version available.

    The biggest hurdle for people considering the purchase of this set is probably the fact that many fans will have already purchased the individual Blu-ray editions as they were released over the last few years, and although repacked the contents are the same in this set. If you have not upgraded your Ghibli collection to Bluray, however, this set is a must buy.

    Highly Recommended.     A wonderful collection of films by the great animator Hayao Miyazaki released to coincide with his retirement from feature film direction.

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall

Castle of Cagliostro, The (Rupan Sansei: Kariosutoro No Shiro) (Blu-ray) (1979)

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General		Extras
Category	Anime	Menu Audio Multiple Angles-Storyboard Art Theatrical Trailer
Rating
Year Of Production	1979
Running Time	99:35
RSDL / Flipper	Dual Layered	Cast & Crew
Start Up	Menu
Region Coding	4	Directed By	Hayao Miyazaki
Studio Distributor	Madman Entertainment	Starring	None Given
Case	Standard Blu-ray
RPI	$34.95	Music	Yuji Ohno

Video		Audio
Pan & Scan/Full Frame	None	Japanese DTS HD Master Audio 5.1 Japanese Linear PCM 48/24 2.0 mono English Linear PCM 48/24 2.0 mono
Widescreen Aspect Ratio	1.85:1
16x9 Enhancement
Video Format	1080i
Original Aspect Ratio	1.85:1	Miscellaneous
Jacket Pictures	Yes
Subtitles	English	Smoking	No
		Annoying Product Placement	No
		Action In or After Credits	No

    The Castle of Cagliostro (Rupan sansei: Kariosutoro no shiro) is one of the latest Hayao Miyazaki titles to get a Blu-ray upgrade from Madman Entertainment. This is his first film made before he started the Ghibli studio and despite being his first many of his stylistic approaches are here fully formed such as his love of interesting flying machines. Our review of the original DVD release from 2001 can be found here. This was followed by a Special Edition DVD in 2007 which we reviewed here. They will give you an overview of the plot although the first one seems closer to the mark in terms of plot to me.

    Based on those reviews, this is clearly a huge step up in sound and vision terms, however fans might want to hang on to one of the previous releases as some of the extras have not made the transition to high definition. See below in the extras section for details.

    This is a wonderful adventure films suitable for kids from about 8 and very enjoyable for adults. There is action and excitement, adventure, humour and marvellous hand drawn animation. The film is based on a manga and the character has been in a number of films. Many consider this to be the best film of Lupin (the main character) however, others say this takes the character too far from his usual persona of being a bit of a scoundrel. I can't really comment as I haven't seen any of the other films but I can say this is a wonderful and humourous adventure for those without knowledge of the manga or other experience with the character. It is rated M in this country which seems a little over the top to me as the violence here is generally quite tame. I suppose the rating may relate to couple of moments with knives.

Video

    There are subtitles available in English which follow the Japanese dialogue, which is quite different to the English dub (which I will discuss more below).

Video Ratings Summary

Sharpness
Shadow Detail
Colour
Grain/Pixelization
Film-To-Video Artefacts
Film Artefacts
Overall

Audio

Audio Ratings Summary

Dialogue
Audio Sync
Clicks/Pops/Dropouts
Surround Channel Use
Subwoofer
Overall

Menu

    The menu included sounds and pictures from the film.

Storyboards

Original Japanese Theatrical Trailer (2:15) 

    This Blu-ray is available in the same format in the UK but has not been released in Region A yet. There is a non English-friendly Japanese Blu-ray but this does not even include English subtitles.

    The video quality is great for a film of this age.

    The audio quality is very good.

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall

Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (Studio Ghibli) (Blu-ray) (1984)

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General		Extras
Category	Animation	Audio Commentary-Hideaki Anno (Animator) & Kazuyoshi Katayama (As. Director) Audio Interview-Cast-with Toshio Suzuki and Hideaki Anno Featurette-Behind The Scenes-Behind the mike featurette with US voice actors Storyboard Comparisons-Picture-in-Picture storyboards Theatrical Trailer-Five original Japanese theatrical trailers Featurette-The birth story Of Studio Ghibli featurette
Rating
Year Of Production	1984
Running Time	116:55
RSDL / Flipper	Dual Layered	Cast & Crew
Start Up	Menu
Region Coding	4	Directed By	Hayao Miyazaki
Studio Distributor	Madman Entertainment	Starring	Sumi Shimamoto Mahito Tsujimura Hisako Kyôda Gorô Naya Ichirô Nagai Kôhei Miyauchi Jôji Yanami Minoru Yada Rihoko Yoshida Masako Sugaya Takako Sasuga Chika Sakamoto TARAKO
Case	Amaray Variant
RPI	$39.95	Music	Joe Hisaishi Naoki Kaneko Tomoko Kida

Video		Audio
Pan & Scan/Full Frame	Unknown	Japanese Linear PCM 48/16 2.0 (1536Kb/s) English Linear PCM 48/16 2.0 (1536Kb/s)
Widescreen Aspect Ratio	1.85:1
16x9 Enhancement
Video Format	1080p
Original Aspect Ratio	1.85:1	Miscellaneous
Jacket Pictures	No
Subtitles	English	Smoking	Yes
		Annoying Product Placement	No
		Action In or After Credits	No

     Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind is considered to have inspired the birth of Studio Ghibli, the film that brought about the studio's existence and which represents writer/director Hayao Miyazaki's animation style and themes. The main theme here is the environment, repeated again in later works such as Princess Mononoke (1998) and Ponyo (2008), although the post-apocalyptic world of this film makes it darker and more violent than later Studio Ghibli efforts. (Incidentally, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind was to be rated PG for low level violence for its release on Blu-ray, like the 2005 release by Madman on DVD, but subsequently was released in late 2010 with a General rating. In my opinion, PG is more accurate due to the battles in the film). The initial dubbing into English for the American market in 1985 led to Hayao Miyazaki demanding straight dubs into English and no cuts for his future projects, something that Disney have honoured. A funny anecdote related to this; after the film was cut to 93 minutes and renamed Warriors of the Wind, with dubbing in English demonstrating that the cast had no clue what the original story in Japanese was about, when Miramax executive Harvey Weinstein wanted to re-edit Princess Mononoke in 1998 he was sent an authentic Japanese sword (a katana) attached with a note stipulating "no cuts". In 1995 the Japanese dialogue was re-subtitled in English. In 2003 Disney assembled accomplished actors such as Alison Lohman, (Nausicaä), Patrick Stewart (Lord Yupa), Edward James Olmos (Mito), Uma Thurman (Lady Kushana), Shia LaBeouf (Asbel) and Mark Hamill (Mayor of Pejite) to re-voice the main characters in English. The dub script was written by Donald H. Hewitt and Cindy Davis Hewitt who had also done Spirited Away in 2001.

     The plot of the film, according to its Ghibliwiki page is detailed below: (So don’t read on if you don't want plot details revealed).

     It has been a millennium since a global war known as the "Seven Days of Fire" destroyed human civilization. Only a tiny remnant of humanity survives, huddled in small enclaves across the continents. The Fukai, a thick jungle whose spores and plant life are poisonous to humans, covers much of the Earth’s surface. Feeding on the pollutants of the former human civilization, the Fukai continues to expand, enveloping the outposts of mankind and consuming them. Giant mutated insects are now the dominant form of life, living both in and above the Fukai. Of these, the Ohmu reign supreme - seventy-metre long pillbug-shaped guardians of the Fukai. One of these islands of humanity is known as the Valley of the Wind. Protected from the spores by strong winds from the sea, these winds also power a forest of windmills to perform work and pump water from underground wells. Nonetheless, the inhabitants of the Valley must still be vigilant to ensure that the fungi do not gain a foothold amongst their crops and water supply.

     All those who dare enter the Fukai must wear breathing masks, lest the spores rot their lungs. One of these explorers is the Princess Nausicaä, the only surviving child of King Jil, ruler of the Valley. Riding far above the Fukai and desert on her mehve, she sails over the fossilized remains of the kyoshinhei – "Giant God Soldiers" - who destroyed civilization during the Seven Days of Fire. Nausicaä sets down at the edge of the jungle and enters to collect spore samples. As she explores, she comes across the recently-sloughed carapace of an Ohmu. Excitedly, she removes one of the eyepieces to take back to turn into a window. As she prepares to return, she hears the report of a gunshot. Rushing back to her mehve, she sees a figure on bird back exit the forest, followed moments later by an ohmu, its dozens of eyes red in anger. She flies in front of the ohmu, dropping flash bombs to stop it and soothe its anger. Slowly, the eyes turn blue and the ohmu renters the Fukai. Nausicaä lands next to the individual, and is surprised to see that he is Lord Yupa, a teacher who travels amongst the remaining human communities. Yupa explains that, in rescuing a small mammal, he had fired on an insect. He opens his pouch and out pops a small fox-squirrel. Though defensive at first, the fox-squirrel soon settles down and Nausicaä names him Teto. Yupa adds that he is on his way back to the Valley, and Nausicaä rides on ahead. That evening, Yupa and Jil are discussing Yupa’s travels and the continual decline of humanity as the Fukai moves ever onward. Though protected from direct contact with the poison, it nonetheless affects everyone, slowly ossifying their bodies as it ages them prematurely. Oh-baba, an elderly blind wise woman, claims that Yupa travels the world seeking a hero that legends say "...is a person clad in blue standing in a golden field who will find the bond between humanity and the earth, and lead the people to a pure land..." Yupa denies this, stating that he is studying the makeup of the Fukai.

     During the night, Nausicaä is woken from her sleep by a large windstorm lashing the Valley. Troubled, she dresses and climbs onto the roof with the night watch. To their horror, they see a massive Torumekian transport appear out of the storm, covered in a swarm of attacking insects. The crippled vessel attempts to continue on, but is finally brought down, crashing near the fields in a massive fireball. Nausicaä is the first to arrive at the site, and begins to search for survivors. She finds a young girl about her age in the wreckage, and is incensed to see she is a prisoner, her hands chained. Nausicaä pulls her out, but discovers that the girl has suffered a fatal injury. The girl tells Nausicaä that her name is Rastel and that she is a princess of the kingdom of Pejite. She asks Nausicaä to be sure that the transport’s cargo is destroyed. Looking over the blazing inferno, Nausicaä assures Rastel that whatever the ship was carrying has been incinerated. Relieved, Rastel settles back and quietly passes away.

     Fungi from the doomed transport have landed in the fields, and the inhabitants of the Valley scramble to burn the infection before it spreads and ruins their crops. They come across one of the insects, injured, and prepare to kill it. They are stopped by Yupa, who explains that if attacked, the insect will summon a swarm which will wipe out the Valley. Using a whistle spun rapidly on the end of a string, Nausicaä lures the insect into the air and out of the Valley. The next day, a squadron of transports and corvettes from the Torumekian Empire descend upon the Valley. Disgorging troops encased in armour and tanks, they quickly secure the Valley. Nausicaä, out in the fields when the invasion began, rushes back to the castle to find a squad of soldiers over her father, who lay dead in his bed. Consumed in rage, she lashes out and engages them in combat. However, her weapons prove ineffective against the armour and only the sudden appearance of Lord Yupa in the middle of the fight saves Nausicaä from sharing the fate of her late father.

     Outside, the inhabitants of the Valley learn of Jil’s death and prepare to rush the Torumekian line, though it would mean certain death. Nausicaä appears before them and orders them to stand down. Princess Kushana of Torumekia, the commander of the invasion force, explains to the population that it is the intention of the Torumekian Empire to burn the Fukai and reclaim the earth for humanity. Oh-baba warns Kushana that other great empires have tried to destroy the Fukai. However, the ohmu and other insects have risen up and destroyed the empires instead. Kushana explains that this time humanity will prevail. She reveals that the transport that had crashed the night before was carrying a proto-God Soldier. The Torumekians plan to revive it and use it against the Fukai. Kushana decides to revive the God Soldier in the Valley, and take Nausicaä and the Valley’s elders back with her to the Torumekian capital as hostages to ensure that the residents of the Valley behave. She leaves her Chief of Staff, Kurotawa, in charge of the revival process.

     Yupa seeks Nausicaä in the castle basement and discovers that she has been tending a secret garden. Nausicaä tells him that she has been raising the spores she has collected in the Fukai. If grown in clean soil and fresh water, the spores do not give off toxins. She is depressed that the garden will now die in her absence, as she hoped to discover a way to cure the pollution-induced disease that had been killing her father and the other elders.

     Once airborne, the Torumekian force is set upon by a single Pejite fighter under the control of Prince Asbel, brother of the slain Rastel. He manages to destroy the Torumekian transports, but Nausicaä, horrified at the death occurring around her, climbs onto the transport and opens her arms to the diving Pejite fighter. Asbel, seeing Nausicaä, for a second sees his sister Rastel and his hesitation allows a Torumekian corvette to shoot him down. Nausicaä, Mito, and Kushana escape their burning transport aboard the Valley gunship, taken by Kushana as part of her booty. They link up with the remaining hostages, who were carried along in a glider. To the consternation of the others, Nausicaä removes her mask to show them that the upper atmosphere has been cleansed of poisons. The group settles down on a large, clear lake to determine their next course of action. However, Kushana removes a concealed gun and attempts to assume command. Before she can do anything, a group of Ohmu rise from the depths and encircle them. Nausicaä, unafraid, allows the Ohmu to examine her with their feelers and they recede.

     Nausicaä boards her mehve and starts to explore the lake area. She comes across Asbel, under attack by a group of insects. Out of ammunition, the insects force Asbel off a cliff. Nausicaä catches him as he falls, but her mehve is clipped by a large insect and they crash to the jungle floor, sinking from view in the fine sand. Unconscious from the impact of the fall, Nausicaä dreams of her past. On a trip with her parents and retainers, she had come across a baby Ohmu. She tried to shelter it from view, but her father took it away as Nausicaä pleaded for them to spare it. She awakes from her dream to find herself in a massive underground forest. Huge trees spread their branches in a canopy, with the fine sand sifting down from between the branches. Nausicaä discovers that the trees of the Fukai are absorbing the poisons, crystallizing them in their dying cells. This process has cleansed the water and soil of poisons. They determine that the floor of the Fukai is anchored in the branches of these forest giants. The Fukai is actually slowly purifying the water and soil of Earth. Happy with their discovery, they share a meal of chico nuts (given to Nausicaä by the girls of the Valley before she left) and go to sleep.

     Back in the Valley, Yupa discovers the Torumekian plans to revive the God Solider. While he leaves to find Nausicaä, the rest of the villagers rise up against the Torumekians. The following morning, Nausicaä and Asbel fly to the capital city of Pejite, only to find that the insects of the Fukai, led by the Ohmu, have attacked and destroyed it. Standing in the ruins, they see a Pejite transport land. Asbel learns that the Torumekians lured the insects to Pejite, and that they plan to do the same to the Torumekian forces now occupying the Valley of the Wind. They will then capture the God Soldier for themselves and use it to destroy the Fukai, which is now absorbing their city. Nausicaä attempts to escape to warn her people, but is restrained. Asbel moves to help her, and is knocked unconscious by his troops.

     Nausicaä awakes aboard the transport. The Queen of Pejite, along with some of the other women, release Nausicaä from her prison aboard the plane. They then dress her in the outfit of one of the Pejite girls and take her to her mehve. However, a Torumekian gunship appears and grapples the Pejite vessel in a boarding operation. Nausicaä launches from the transport, and is chased by the gunship. She successfully evades them long enough for Yupa and Mito to appear in the Valley gunship and dispatch it. Nausicaä transfers to the gunship and they head off to find the baby ohmu. By the failing light they see a literal sea of ohmu moving towards the Valley, their eyes red in anger. She moves on, and comes across the object of their anger - a baby ohmu has been suspended with barbed hooks from beneath a Pejite Flying Jar. The creature has been run through with harpoons and is bleeding profusely. Enraged by the atrocity she sees before her, she tries to get the Pejite to stop. They respond with gunfire, and Nausicaä is hit in the shoulder and ankle by rounds as she does a flying tackle into the Jar. The Jar descends to an island in the middle of an acid lake, and the tortured ohmu yanks the Jar out of the sky as soon as it attains landfall. Nausicaä goes to the creature which is trying to return to its kind by heading for the acid lake. She pleads with it to stop, but it moves onwards. The movement aggravates its injuries, and its spurting fluids stain Nausicaä’s outfit blue. As the acidic water flows across her boot and into her wound, she cries out and collapses in pain on the beach, grasping her ankle. The ohmu immediately stops, and deploys its feelers into the wound. There is a soft glow and the wound is healed. It then moves onto her shoulder and heals that wound as well.

     By now the Pejite are stirring, and Nausicaä turns her gun upon them. She orders them to take the ohmu to a point before the advancing horde in an attempt to get them to stop their advance. The inhabitants of the Valley, outmatched by the Torumekian forces, have fought a withdrawal back to an ancient and shattered starship from before the Seven Days of Fire. Kushana has since returned from the Fukai and gathers her forces to put down the rebellion. As she arrives, she sees the advancing ohmu horde and orders her troops to take up a defensive position around the starship while she returns and gets the God Solider. Kurosawa tells her that it is too soon, but she replies that their situation is too pressing and leaves. The troops, seeing the huge insect force bearing down on them, soon break ranks and start to run. However, Kushana appears on the hill atop an armoured vehicle. To the awe and horror of Torumekian and Valley-person alike, a massive humanoid form appears, climbing over the hill and over Kushana. The God Soldier, its flesh flowing like mud, turns toward the approaching ohmu. At Kushana’s command, a beam of pure energy lances out across the forward echelon of ohmu and a multi-kiloton nuclear fireball erupts, vaporizing the entire front group. However, the God Soldier was birthed far too soon and the flesh starts to pour from its inner skeletal structure. Again, the nuclear beam fires and another huge group of ohmu are destroyed. However, by now the nuclear core is exhausted and the God Soldier crumbles into a pile of liquid flesh and bones. Though savaged, there are still thousands of ohmu who continue to charge. Those on the starship brace themselves for their impending deaths. Suddenly, shouts and cries erupt from the crowd as Nausicaä appears over the acid lake. The Pot sets the baby ohmu down and Nausicaä leaps out. They stand before the ohmu horde that, blinded by their rage, plough right over them. Nausicaä is thrown high in the air by the impact of the thousands of legs, disappearing in the heaving mass.

     Assuming their princess is dead, the Valley-people mourn. However, the ohmu suddenly stop. From the centre, the red eyes of anger turn the cool blue of peace. Like the ripples of a pebble dropped in a pond, the blue expands outwards amongst the ohmu until all are at peace. The ohmu surrounding the broken body of Nausicaä put out their feelers and lift her into the sky, healing her. As she awakes and rises to her feet, the sheer number of glowing feelers supporting her make it look as if she was standing in a field of golden wheat.

     We are treated to scenes of life returning to normal in the Valley. The Torumekians board their transports and depart, Yupa and Prince Asbel explore the Fukai, and Nausicaä trains young fliers. And in the under-forest of the Fukai, a single chiko plant sprouts in the clean sand beside Nausicaä’s discarded helmet. When the children describe the scene to the blind Oh-baba, she cries out that the prophecy of the one in blue upon a field of gold has come true. Nausicaä is the one who found the bond between humanity and the ohmu.

Video

     The main presentation and extras takes up 37.71 gb of space on a dual-layered BD-50 Blu-ray disc. The aspect ratio is 1:85:1.

     The 1080p24 video transfer is encoded with the MPEG-4 AVC codec with an average bitrate of 31.17 Mbps . The image looks very good for a traditional animated “cel” feature with a slight film grain evident. According to IMDb, 56078 traditional “cels” and 263 colours were used for this film which explains why the image looks so vivid and bright, yet also menacing and dark. Minor film artefacts appear in the transfer in white (negative artefacts), possibly dust that was on the film when the master negative was transferred to DVD.

     Subtitles are available in English for the Japanese soundtrack and alternatively in English for the audio commentary with Hideaki Anno and Kazuyoshi Katayama which is in Japanese.

Video Ratings Summary

Sharpness
Shadow Detail
Colour
Grain/Pixelization
Film-To-Video Artefacts
Film Artefacts
Overall

Audio

     The main soundtracks are both uncompressed 48khZ/16-bit Linear PCM tracks encoded at 1536 kbps each. The Japanese and English dub are both featured in their original 2.0 stereo format, no 5.1 re-mixing here! Dialogue is easy to understand and is well synchronised for an animated feature. (How lucky were they to dub this in English when the main characters wear masks?)

     The music was done by Japanese master Joe Hisaishi after he was recommended to Hayao Miyazaki to create an album for the film's soundtrack. The success of Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind enabled Hisaishi to gain a reputation as a film composer and he continues to do Miyazaki's soundtracks to this day. (Most recently with Ponyo).

     The surround channel usage is limited to stereo effects in the front two speakers. The uncompressed soundtracks are not as defined as other contemporary Blu-ray 5.1 mixes, especially in the lower-end bass range, but it serves the film well enough anyway. The subwoofer is not utilised for the main soundtracks in Japanese and English.

Audio Ratings Summary

Dialogue
Audio Sync
Clicks/Pops/Dropouts
Surround Channel Use
Subwoofer
Overall

Audio commentary with Hideaki Anno (Key Animation, creator of EVANGELION) and Kazuyoshi Katayama (Assistant Director)

     This audio commentary was available on the Region 2 Japanese DVD release from 2004, albeit unsubtitled. Here we get it subtitled in English and it is replete with funny anecdotes about the alternative opening sequence, the animation involved in the God Warrior sequence, the production of the film, the problem with the cost of paying animators for the project and Miyazaki's attention to detail. I found myself genuinely entertained by this commentary; despite the fact that it is in Japanese, you soon get used to following the translated subtitles in English.

Audio interview with Toshio Suzuki and Hideaki Anno - Nausicaä and Evangelion! The Whereabouts of the Giant Warrior (43:45)

     Toshio Suzuki and Hideaki Anno discuss their involvement in the production. You need to follow the English subtitling carefully here because all you get is a blue background with a countdown sequence to accompany the interview visually. A better idea would have been to use production stills instead.

Behind the mike featurette with US voice actors including Patrick Stewart (7:45)

     The American cast of voice actors provide interviews detailing their experience in providing the English dub and the honour of working on a Hayao Miyazaki film.

Picture-in-Picture complete storyboards

     Here you have the option of playing the film with the original storyboards playing along in the corner of the image. Previously, the Region 4 DVD allowed you to switch between the main feature and the storyboards, so it's nice to have this feature updated thanks to the film's release on Blu-ray.

Five original Japanese theatrical trailers (8:15)

     Three theatrical trailers, a TV Spot and an advertisement trailer are included here.

The Birth of Studio Ghibli (27:44)

     In Japanese we get the history of the birth of Studio Ghibli recreated with the aid of actors. Producer Toshio Suzuki and Hayao Miyazaki created Studio Ghibli thanks to the success of Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind. Included here are stories about how Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind was rejected outright at one stage, Grave of the Fireflies came close to being shutdown due to cost (it was made at the same time as My Neighbour Totoro which meant a heavier workload for the studio to prepare the two films on time) and an explanation of the pronunciation of the word Ghibli, which Miyazaki got incorrect! This television documentary aired in Japan in 1998, and it comprises stock footage, interviews and still shots up to the release of the 1998 film, Princess Mononoke.

    The Region B United Kingdom Optimum release on Blu-ray is identical in technical specifications and extras to the Region B Madman Australian release on Blu-ray. The United States Blu-ray/DVD combo will be released in March, 2011 and this will feature a World of Ghibli interactive feature - Enter the Lands and a Behind the Studio interview with Hayao Miyazaki, but will miss out on the audio commentary and interview found on the Region B Optimum and Madman Blu-ray releases.

    If you are a fan of Studio Ghibli films then do yourself a favour and check this out on Blu-ray; you won't be disappointed!

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall

Laputa: Castle in the Sky (Tenkû no Shiro Rapyuta) (Blu-ray) (1986)

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General		Extras
Category	Animation	Featurette-Behind the Microphone Credits-Textless Opening And Closing Credits Storyboards-Picture in Picture Featurette-Behind the Studio Theatrical Trailer-Japanese Trailers Trailer-Ponyo,Spirited Away,My Neighbours the Yamadas, Trailer-Nausicaa, Howl's Moving Castle Featurette-Promotional Video
Rating
Year Of Production	1986
Running Time	124:00
RSDL / Flipper	RSDL	Cast & Crew
Start Up	Menu
Region Coding	2,4	Directed By	Hayao Miyazaki
Studio Distributor	Madman Entertainment	Starring	Mayumi Tanaka James Van Der Beek Keiko Yokozawa Anna Paquin Kotoe Hatsui Cloris Leachman Minori Terada Mark Hamill Fujio Tokita Richard A. Dysart Ichirô Nagai Jim Cummings
Case	?
RPI	?	Music	Jô Hisaishi

Video		Audio
Pan & Scan/Full Frame	None	English Linear PCM 96/24 5.1 (4608Kb/s) Japanese Linear PCM 96/24 2.0 (1536Kb/s)
Widescreen Aspect Ratio	1.85:1
16x9 Enhancement
Video Format	1080p
Original Aspect Ratio	1.85:1	Miscellaneous
Jacket Pictures	Yes
Subtitles	English	Smoking	No
		Annoying Product Placement	No
		Action In or After Credits	No

 Laputa : Castle in the Sky has the distinction of being the first feature film from Studio Ghibli. Released in 1986 it was a huge success in Japan and a moderate success on dubbing and release in the West.

It is the third catalogue title of the work of Ghibli/Miyazaki after Nausicaa: Valley of the Wind and My Neighbours the Yamadas to recieve a High Definition makeover. Ponyo, the most recent Ghibli film to be released in cinemas in the West has also had a Blu-ray release, which was rapturously reviewed on this site.

Laputa was previously released on DVD several years ago. That release was comprehensively reviewed on this site . To that review I suggest the curious should turn to compare comments on the picture and sound quality as well as some further information about the plot of the film.

For those who can't bear the click of a mouse the plot of Laputa is pretty straightforward. A gang of pirates led by the tough Dola attack a zeppelin like passenger craft in search of a crystal. That crystal is in the possession of the mysterious Colonel Muska. In the invasion a distracted Muska is knocked out by a young girl, Sheeta, who puts it around her neck and falls from the craft to a presumed death. But no, for the crystal glows and she floats down to earth into the arms of a young boy, Pazu, who works at the local mines. Pazu shelters Sheeta and the two become friends. Meanwhile, two sinister forces come looking for Sheeta; Dola and her pirate cronies and the increasingly sinister Colonel Muska.

What is going on? It turns out that all want the crystal for its primary function - as a guide to the mythical floating city of Laputa, a haven of technology and wealth. Exactly why they want to find Laputa plays out during the course of the movie, which introduces mecha and aerial battle scenes, the latter preoccupation with flight which would become a touchstone of Miyazaki's work.

As a film Laputa is an excellent animated experience. In his book Starting Point 1979-1996 Miyazaki expressed his desire for the film to appeal primarily to the younger set:
In the midst of this it is important for us not to lose sight of the fact that animation should above all belong to children, and that truly honest works for children will also succeed with adults.
The skill of Miyazaki is to engage adults through the story and perhaps the recapturing of youth rather than by throwing in "adult references", as if the filmmakers are trying to say to the adults that they too know that animated films are "kiddie stuff".

Back to the Blu-ray. To lovers of the film or Miyazaki-san the question is simple - should you update to high definition?

In fact, true lovers of the Ghibli movies will probably have already added it to their collection.

For those who admire the film but are not a slave to it - is this worth purchasing?
As always that question comes down to a few simple questions: 1. Is the vision a significant improvement? 2. Is the sound a significant improvement? 3. Are there new and interesting extras?
The answers? See below...

Video

   Laputa was previously released on DVD in its original aspect ratio - 1.85:1.

It is no surprise that this ratio has been preserved for the Blu-ray release.

The film looks the best it has ever looked on this Blu-ray. The beauty of the hand drawn animation comes to the fore in some of the set-pieces including the opening shots of the zeppelin moving through the dark clouds.

Nothing should suggest to purchasers, however, that this film looks as good as the newly minted Ponyo. It looks wonderful for an animated feature from 1986.

The animation is simple, yet effective. The lines are cleanly drawn and the colours are stable. It doesn't look as sharp as a modern anime. That won't worry Studio Ghibli fans.

In the DVD review TonyR spoke of problems with the NTSC transfer causing interlacing artefacts. The Blu-ray release doesn't feature this problem.

There are subtitles in English. Comparing the English audio to the subtitles shows a considerable variation in the spoken and written word, although I couldn't say if it closely approximates the actual Japanese script.

Video Ratings Summary

Sharpness
Shadow Detail
Colour
Grain/Pixelization
Film-To-Video Artefacts
Film Artefacts
Overall

Audio

   Laputa features two soundtracks. English LPCM 5.1 running at 4608 Kb/s and Japanese LPCM 2.0 running at 1536 Kb/s.

Before the fans of the original Japanese soundtrack storm the cultural imperialism barricade, it is worth noting that the DVD release only had 2.0 tracks. Probably figuring that more people in Region B would want to watch the film with the English soundtrack they have decided to upgrade only that track to a surround sound experience. Having said that, apart from a little more ambience the tracks aren't all that much different. As with the visuals there is only so much that can be done to improve a track that, in the case of the Japanese version, dates back over 20 years.

Both tracks are the best that the film has sounded. The dialogue is clear on both and the music and sound effects are crisp, although there is not a great deal of power to the bass track. The invasion of the zeppelin at the beginning has a number of doors being smashed in which sound hollow and thin.

The two scores by Joe Hisaishi come over well. He was asked by Disney to come up with a lot of extra material for the English dub, using an orchestra rather than the synths of the original. It is a question of personal choice whether the expanded track is a little too busy or gives the film a more epic feel.

Audio Ratings Summary

Dialogue
Audio Sync
Clicks/Pops/Dropouts
Surround Channel Use
Subwoofer
Overall

PIP Storyboards

Watch the film with these picture-in-picture storyboards of the animation. An interesting comparison.

Promotional Video (12.38)

This old promotional video, shown in 1.33:1 is worth a watch for an insight into the process leading up to the film and also for interview footage with a much younger Miyazaki, far away from the grey haired, bearded, father figure we see in the other feature below.

Behind the Microphone (4.09)

The English voice cast - James Van Der Beek, Cloris Leachman, Mandy Patinkin and Mark Hamill chat about their characters and the process of putting together the English dub.

Behind the Studio

This consists of four short featurettes dealing with aspects of the production. In the first three Miyazaki talks about his inspiration for the film and the research he did in Wales looking at decaying mining villages. In the final section the producer talks explains his unusual process for getting an interview with the Master and working on productions with him. The sections are:

• The World of Laputa (2.18)
• Creating Castle in the Sky (3.40)
• Character Sketches (2.30)
• Producer’s Perspective: Meeting Miyazaki (3.14)

Textless Opening and Ending Credits

Both this feature and the Trailers below were included on the DVD release. The only improvement is that they now come in 1080p. One for the fans.

Original Japanese Trailers

A stack of short trailers.

Studio Ghibli Collection Trailers

As with the DVD edition there are a bundle of trailers included:

• Ponyo
• Howl's Moving Castle
• Nausicaa
• Spirited Away
• My Neighbours the Yamadas

The eternal question - when will the rest be released on Blu-ray?

  This is a Region B release.

A reader has pointed me to an All Region Blu-ray from Japan. Details on contents are sketchy as I cannot find a review. It is selling for $82.49 on Yes Asia and has a HD 2.0 Japanese soundtrack. I cannot see that there are any extras on it. The reader has referred to comments on-line about the picture quality being better than the Region B but I cannot find a reliable source of those comments.

 So the big question - worth the purchase? Ghibli die hards will have it already. For those completists who just want the movie, and already have it on DVD, the upgrade in sound and vision may not of itself be enough to tip the scales towards forking out the extra money. It probably depends upon the place of the film in your heart. Coming to Ghibli late, through Spirited Away,there are a few Ghibli titles which I would race to upgrade from existing DVD's. Despite being an enjoyable experience from start to finishLaputa probably isn't one of them. I give it 3.5 stars overall as an upgrade. For those who want to collect Ghibli and don't have it on DVD add an extra half star to make it a four star purchase.

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall

My Neighbor Totoro (Blu-ray) (1988)

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General		Extras
Category	Animation	Storyboards-(Picture in picture) Featurette-Creating My Neighbour Totoro Featurette-Creating the Characters Credits-Textless Opening And Closing Featurette-The Totoro Experience Featurette-Producer's Perspective: Creating Ghibli Featurette-The Locations of Totoro Featurette-Scoring Miyazaki Featurette-Behind the Microphone Theatrical Trailer-Original Japanese Trailers Trailer-Studio Ghibli Collection Trailers
Rating
Year Of Production	1988
Running Time	86:00
RSDL / Flipper	Dual Layered	Cast & Crew
Start Up	Menu
Region Coding	4	Directed By	Hayao Miyazaki
Studio Distributor	Madman Entertainment	Starring	Hitoshi Takagi Noriko Hidaka Chika Sakamoto Shigesato Itoi Sumi Shimamoto Toshiyuki Amagasa Tanie Kitabayashi Yûko Maruyama Masashi Hirose Machiko Washio
Case	Standard Blu-ray
RPI	?	Music	Jô Hisaishi Kazutoshi Satou Shigeharu Shiba

Video		Audio
Pan & Scan/Full Frame	None	English Linear PCM 48/24 2.0 Japanese Linear PCM 48/24 2.0
Widescreen Aspect Ratio	1.85:1
16x9 Enhancement
Video Format	1080p
Original Aspect Ratio	1.85:1	Miscellaneous
Jacket Pictures	No
Subtitles	English	Smoking	No
		Annoying Product Placement	No
		Action In or After Credits	No

My Neighbor Totoro is certainly not the most sophisticated or complex film from director Hayao Miyazaki nor animation house Studio Ghibli. It is a film with young children in the lead and a story without much conflict. The pacing is deliberate with little of the hectic action that dominates most animated films for children. And yet it is one of the most loved films from Studio Ghibli and the large and lovable totoro has become the emblem for the animation house.

what we have forgotten

what we don't notice

what we are convinced we have lost."

My Neighbor Totoro has appeared on DVD once in this region and was reviewed upon release in 2006. That was a bare bones release whereas this Blu-ray now enhances the experience with the addition of special features. These features appeared on a region 1 re-release of the film to coincide with the Blu-ray of Ponyo in 2010.

The plot of the film can be described very simply, for it is a simple story. In the 1950's two young girls, Satsuki and Mei, are moving to the country with their father to be closer to their mother who is living in a nearby hospital. The house in the country hasn't been occupied for a while and the girls find some odd creatures, soot sprites, hiding in the cracks. This is their first awakening to the creatures that reside around the house.

Venturing into the nearby woods four-year-old Mei discovers, like Alice in Wonderland, a rabbit hole of sorts and follows some fluffy creatures into a hole in a giant tree. Falling into the hole she lands on a giant fluffy and very sleepy creature who she calls Totoro. Sharing the secret with her sister they enjoy moonlight playtime with the spirits of the forest including the enigmatic cat bus.

When the girls are disappointed once again that their mother can't leave the hospital Mei takes off to visit her only to get lost. With the local villagers trying hard to find the young girl it may be up to Satsuki and the spirits to save the day.

Within this simple story lies a joyful and heartwarming experience. There is no doubt that the film is really for younger viewers and, as said, lacks the complexity of Princess Mononoke or Spirited Away. Yet I defy any sophisticated animation fan to watch my Neighbor Totoro without sporting a grin as big as the cat bus by the end!

Video

My Neighbor Totoro comes to Blu-ray almost 25 years after its initial release. It is, of course, displayed in the original 1.85:1 cinematic aspect ratio.

The film looks the best it has ever been on home video format in this Blu-ray release. Having said that, there is no comparison between the look of this film and the latest Studio Ghibli movies like Ponyo and Arriety.

The character animations are clear and crisp with strong lines. The colours are bright and vibrant.

The film's backgrounds are painted with a poets eye and can seem a little soft by comparison with Disney hand drawn animation. The look is one of lushness and pastels which is conveyed wonderfully in this Blu-ray transfer.

Those who have the 2006 DVD in their collection will want to rush out immediately and buy the Blu-ray release.

There are subtitles in English.

Video Ratings Summary

Sharpness
Shadow Detail
Colour
Grain/Pixelization
Film-To-Video Artefacts
Film Artefacts
Overall

Audio

My Neighbor Totoro features two soundtracks. Both are LPCM 2.0 tracks. One is the Japanese original language version and the second the English language dub version. Both of these versions were present on the 2006 DVD release. Whether you listen to one or the other is a matter of personal preference.

Both are rendered cleanly and clearly. Fans could perhaps want for a 5.1 surround track but the original soundtrack was in 2.0 and nothing is really lost by not adding surround effects. The soundtrack is a gentle one which relies upon the smallest of sounds, like the wind in the trees and Totoro playing the flute, for effect.

The soundtrack contains the iconic music of Joe Hisaishi as well as the bouncy songs Stroll (Hey Let's Go) and the Totoro song. Again Miyazaki achieved his aims with these songs. He wanted simple cheerful songs that children could sing along to.

There are no technical problems with the sound.

Audio Ratings Summary

Dialogue
Audio Sync
Clicks/Pops/Dropouts
Surround Channel Use
Subwoofer
Overall

Picture In Picture Storyboards

    The film with story boards for comparison.

Creating My Neighbor Totoro(2:58)

    In this short feature Miyazaki explains the origins of the film and talks about how through it he rediscovered the beauty of Japanese landscapes.

Creating The Characters (4:23)

    Miyazaki and producer Toshiro Suzuki talk about the process of creating the characters. Suzuki claims the credit for not introducing totoro until some distance into the film referring to Steven Spielberg's decision not to introduce ET until halfway through. In creating the character of totoro Miyazaki was careful to avoid making him look like a traditional Japanese folklore creature.

The Totoro Experience (1:59)

    Producer Suzuki claims how the film was not a great success upon first release and it wasn't until a TV showing a year later that a ground swell of support emerged. He tells how a fan of the film produced toys and a TV station invited viewers to send in a letter (this was before emails) asking for a toy. The letters came in by the truckload!

Producers Perspective: Creating Ghibli (1:23)

    Producer Suzuki explains how the name for Studio Ghibli came from a nickname for an Italian spy plane and also a wind in the desert.

The Locations Of Totoro (28:48)

    This lengthy feature is fascinating. It is an extract from a Japanese program called Scenes of Ghibli. We are taken through the various inspirational locations for the film. It is surprising and often stunning to see how closely the locations were rendered. These were locations from the youth of Miyazaki.

Scoring Miyazaki (7:18)

    In this feature Joe Hisaishi talks about his ideas for scoring the film including particular moments such as the appearance of totoro at the bus stop.

Behind The Microphone: Interviews with the English dub cast (5:40)

    The English-language cast of the film including the very cute Fanning sisters are interviewed about the film and the process of doing animation voice-overs.

Textless Opening (2:01)

    For those who like to hear the opening song and watch it without credits.

Textless Closing (2:01)

    The same but for the closing of the film.

2 Original Japanese Trailers (0:44)

Studio Ghibli collection trailers (4:10) 

This Blu-ray has not yet been released in Region A.

My Neighbor Totoro is a favourite for many fans of Studio Ghibli even those who would not otherwise watch a film made for younger children. Perhaps it is the iconic image of the lovable fluffy giant totoro himself or the genuine spirit of the film that entrances. Whatever the reason the film belongs in any collection of animation fans.

The Blu-ray is not reference quality compared to other more modern animation however it looks and sounds excellent and will be appreciated by fans of the film as a significant improvement over the DVD.

The extras perhaps should have been included on a release of the film in 2010 but they do not go astray here all our worth watching.

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall

Kiki's Delivery Service (Blu-ray) (1989)

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General		Extras
Category	Animation	Storyboards-Picture-in-Picture Featurette-Ursula's Painting Featurette-Creating Kiki's Delivery Service Featurette-Kiki & Jiji Featurette-Flying with Kiki & Beyond Featurette-Producers Perspective Featurette-The Locations of Kiki Featurette-Behind the Microphone Theatrical Trailer-Original Japanese Theatrical Trailers Trailer-Studio Ghibli Trailers
Rating
Year Of Production	1989
Running Time	103:00
RSDL / Flipper	Dual Layered	Cast & Crew
Start Up	Menu
Region Coding	2,4	Directed By	Hayao Miyazaki
Studio Distributor	Madman Entertainment	Starring	Minami Takayama Rei Sakuma Kappei Yamaguchi Keiko Toda Mieko Nobusawa Kôichi Miura Haruko Kato Hiroko Seki Yuriko Fuchizaki Kôichi Yamadera Kikuko Inoue Yûko Kobayashi Mika Doi
Case	Standard Blu-ray
RPI	?	Music	Joe Hisaishi

Video		Audio
Pan & Scan/Full Frame	None	Japanese Linear PCM 48/16 2.0 (1536Kb/s) English Linear PCM 48/16 2.0 (1536Kb/s)
Widescreen Aspect Ratio	1.85:1
16x9 Enhancement
Video Format	1080p
Original Aspect Ratio	1.85:1	Miscellaneous
Jacket Pictures	No
Subtitles	English	Smoking	No
		Annoying Product Placement	No
		Action In or After Credits	No

     Kiki's Delivery Service, the 1989 animated film from Studio Ghibli, was the first film by master Hayao Miyazaki to be a success at the box office. A sweet and gentle film it is the story of an adolescent girl learning how to make it in the big city.

     Kiki is a witch from a small town, coming from a long line of witches. Tradition requires that when a witch turns 13 she must leave her home for a year and travel to another town to develop her craft. Actually, 13 sounds a little young to me but who can argue with tradition! On a clear moonlit night Kiki says farewell to her parents and takes off on her broomstick, albeit somewhat haltingly, into the night with a mixture of elation and trepidation accompanied by her faithful familiar, a talking black cat called Jiji. After some adventures along the way she finds herself in a seaside town somewhat surprised that everybody isn't happy to see a witch arriving. She accidentally gets into trouble with the police, only escaping through the intervention of a young boy named Tombo. Finding him too forward Kiki brushes him off and sets about trying to find herself a place to stay.

     As it turns out that isn't so easy. She is unable to find accommodation until by chance she helps the owner of a local bakery return a dummy to her baby. The owner allows Kiki to stay and suggest that she might be able to make a business out of doing flying deliveries. After all, who can get a package to where it's going faster than a young girl riding a broomstick! Kiki finds challenges along the way, including being attacked by birds over a forest who mistake her for an egg thief. When returning to the forest at night to find a delivery she dropped Kiki meets a young painter named Ursula and the two become friends.

     Although there is some genuine danger presented at the end this is not a film with high stakes. Normally the greatest trouble facing Kiki is whether she will get her delivery to where it's going on time. This is a gentle and lovely film from Studio Ghibli bearing the unmistakable hand of writer/producer/director Hayao Miyazaki.

Video

     Kiki's Delivery Service comes to Blu-ray in a 1.85:1 aspect ratio consistent with the original cinematic presentation.

     The presentation of the film represents a significant upgrade from the last version to be released in these parts, in 2004. People still continue to argue whether traditional cel animation benefits as greatly from a high-definition upgrade as CGI however there is no doubt that this is the best that the film has ever looked and that it presents very well on Blu-ray.

     The delicate backgrounds and pastel colours are well rendered and the other colours, from the brightness of Kiki's bow to the black of Jiji, look excellent.

    There are no technical problems with the presentation.

    There are subtitles in English.

Video Ratings Summary

Sharpness
Shadow Detail
Colour
Grain/Pixelization
Film-To-Video Artefacts
Film Artefacts
Overall

Audio

     Kiki's Delivery Service comes with two LPCM soundtracks. There are no surprises. Both are 2.0 soundtracks reflecting the earlier DVD release.

     The Blu-ray contains, as with the previous DVD, the Japanese original dub and the English dub from 1997. Both are excellent renditions with the English featuring a young Kirsten Dunst as well as the last performance by Phil Hartman prior to his untimely death.

     Whilst a surround track could have been created for the film the presentation provided here is excellent with good stereo separation including clear dialogue and punchy sound effects.

     The music is by legend Joe Hisaishi which well suits the subject matter.

    There are no technical problems with the sound.

Audio Ratings Summary

Dialogue
Audio Sync
Clicks/Pops/Dropouts
Surround Channel Use
Subwoofer
Overall

     The Blu-ray contains numerous extras. Some were already included on the previous Region 4 release:

• Reversible Cover Slick
• Insert
• Featurette: Ursula's Painting
• Alternate Angle Storyboards

     Others were on the Region 1 Special Edition which came out in 2010. These include the following:

Creating Kiki's Delivery Service(2.26)

     A short feature about the creation of the script from the original novel and Miyazaki's decision to take over as director. Miyazaki wanted a world which was vaguely European and existed in a space of time approximating the 50s but as if the war had never happened.

Kiki and Jiji (3.26)

     The creation of a genuine adolescent girl is the focus here. Miyazaki also talks about the work that went into animating the lovable Jiji.

Flying with Kiki And Beyond (2.49)

     The concept of witch flight presented an animation problem - how could you show someone sitting on a broom without looking like they were uncomfortable?

Producer’s Perspective: Collaborating with Miyazaki (1.47)

     Producer Toshiro Suzuki talks about the problem facing Miyazaki, who came from a family of boys and has only male children, to create a story about adolescent girls.

The Locations of Kiki (29.13)

     Part of a long documentary on Ghibli locations this looks at the deliberately confusing European locations copied for the film.

Behind the Microphone (4.59)

     A featurette featuring a cute-as-a-button Kirsten Dunst, Phil Hartman, Janeane Garofalo and others talking about the process of making the dub.

Original Japanese theatrical trailers (7.44)

     Lots of trailers.

Studio Ghibli Collection Trailers (4.35)

     Lots more trailers.

     The only available version to date is the Japanese Region A which does not have the English dub. Buy local.

     Kiki's Delivery Service may not be the most powerful or moving Studio Ghibli film but it is much loved for its gentle themes and adorable characters.

    The Blu-ray release is very good in sound and vision terms and there are a decent number of extras included.

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall

Porco Rosso (Kurenai no buta) (Studio Ghibli Collection) (Blu-ray) (1992)

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General		Extras
Category	Animation	Main Menu Audio & Animation Theatrical Trailer Multiple Angles-Alternative Angle Storyboards Interviews-Crew-Toshio Suzuki (Studio Ghibli Producer) + Voice Cast Trailer-Studio Ghibli Trailers (3) Reversible Cover
Rating
Year Of Production	1992
Running Time	93:18
RSDL / Flipper	Dual Layered	Cast & Crew
Start Up	Menu
Region Coding	4	Directed By	Hayao Miyazaki
Studio Distributor	Madman Entertainment	Starring	Shûichirô Moriyama Tokiko Kato Sanshi Katsura Greg Ellis Tsunehiko Kamijô Akemi Okamura Akio Ôtsuka Hiroko Seki Carey Elwes Michael Keaton
Case	Amaray-Opaque-Secure Clip
RPI	$29.95	Music	Jô Hisaishi Tokiko Kato

Video		Audio
Pan & Scan/Full Frame	None	English Linear PCM 48/16 2.0 Japanese Linear PCM 48/16 2.0
Widescreen Aspect Ratio	1.85:1
16x9 Enhancement
Video Format	1080p
Original Aspect Ratio	1.85:1	Miscellaneous
Jacket Pictures	No
Subtitles	English	Smoking	No
		Annoying Product Placement	No
		Action In or After Credits	No

    Many years ago now in 2005, one of Hayao Miyazaki's wonderful animated films, Porco Rosso was released on DVD. You can find our review of that release here. Finally, this marvellous film has been released on Blu-ray and it is a huge step up from the DVD release which is an NTSC-PAL conversion resulting in some significant video artefacts.

    This is a wonderful film, with adventure, humour, romance and lots of marvellous flying machines. I thoroughly agree with Rob's asssessment of the film in his review and for fans of Studio Ghibli this is a must own title. In my vew, however, it is even better than the four stars Rob gave it as a film and for me at least is right up the top with My Neighbour Totoro & Ponyo in the Ghibli canon. One thing which really leaps out on this Blu-ray version is the beautiful score by Joe Hisashi, Miyazaki's regular collaborator.

    Just buy it already!

Video

    The feature is presented in a 1.85:1 aspect ratio which is the original aspect ratio. It is 1080p HD encoded using the AVC codec.

    The detail and clarity is excellent throughout showing off the spectacular animation.

    The colour is also excellent revealing the beauty of the ocean, sunsets and seascapes.

    There were no noticeable artefacts.

    There are subtitles available in English which translate the Japanese language version.

Video Ratings Summary

Sharpness
Shadow Detail
Colour
Grain/Pixelization
Film-To-Video Artefacts
Film Artefacts
Overall

Audio

    The audio quality is also excellent.

    This disc contains an English soundtrack in LPCM 48/16 2.0 and a Japanese soundtrack with the same technical configuration. Not having a surround soundtrack is consistent with a film of this vintage.

    Dialogue is clear and easy to understand throughout. The English dub is very good, however, my pick is the original Japanese version.

    The music by Joe Hisashi sounds fantastic on this Blu-ray following the highs and lows, action and adventure of the film.

    The surround speakers were not used.

    The subwoofer provided support to the music.

Audio Ratings Summary

Dialogue
Audio Sync
Clicks/Pops/Dropouts
Surround Channel Use
Subwoofer
Overall

Menu

    The menu includes music.

Theatrical Trailers (7:34)

    A series of very similar trailers for Porco Rosso are played back-to-back with English subtitles. All are presented in 1.85:1, but without 16x9 enhancement.

Multiple Angles-Alternative Angle Storyboards

    The entire film can be viewed in storyboard formas a picture-in-picture extra. A lot of the sketches are simple and some are roughly coloured, but they give an interesting insight into the early stages of this production.

Interview-Toshio Suzuki (Studio Ghibli Producer) (3:20)

    Toshio offers his thoughts on the director and what makes this film different to Miyazaki's earlier efforts. This interview was made for Nippon Television and is presented in 1.33:1 full frame.

Behind the Microphone (7:03)

    US voice cast interviews and the recording process including Michael Keaton, Cary Elwes & David Ogden Stiers. This extra does not appear on the DVD version.

    There is no Region A US release at this time and the Region 2 version is exactly the same.

    The video quality is excellent.

    The audio quality is excellent.

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall

Princess Mononoke (Mononoke-hime) (Blu-ray) (1997)

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General		Extras
Category	Animation	Main Menu Introduction Main Menu Audio Menu Animation & Audio Storyboards-Alternative Angle Storyboards Trailer-Other Ghibli Titles Theatrical Trailer-trailers and TV spots Reversible Cover Featurette-Behind The Scenes Trailer-Promotional Film
Rating
Year Of Production	1997
Running Time	133:22
RSDL / Flipper	Dual Layered	Cast & Crew
Start Up	Menu
Region Coding	4	Directed By	Hayao Miyazaki
Studio Distributor	Madman Entertainment	Starring	Yôji Matsuda Billy Crudup Yuriko Ishida Claire Danes Yûko Tanaka Minnie Driver Akihiro Miwa Gillian Anderson Kaoru Kobayashi Billy Bob Thornton Hisaya Morishige Keith David
Case	Standard Blu-ray
RPI	$34.95	Music	Joe Hisaishi

Video		Audio
Pan & Scan/Full Frame	None	English DTS HD Master Audio 5.1 Japanese DTS HD Master Audio 5.1
Widescreen Aspect Ratio	1.85:1
16x9 Enhancement
Video Format	1080p
Original Aspect Ratio	1.85:1	Miscellaneous
Jacket Pictures	No
Subtitles	English	Smoking	No
		Annoying Product Placement	No
		Action In or After Credits	No

     Princess Mononoke (Mononoke-hime) is the latest Studio Ghibli title to get a Blu-ray upgrade from Madman Entertainment. Our review of the original DVD release from 2004 can be found here. Tony gave a great explanation of the plot in that review and it is well worth reading.

     This film was directed by Hayao Miyazaki, the master animator behind Studio Ghibli and includes his usual themes of the environment and magical fantasy. This film is closer in style to Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind or Tales from Earthsea than it is to Ponyo or My Neighbour Totoro. In fact it is one of the few Ghibli films to get and earn an M rating with some quite graphic violence at times and some significant themes which would certainly concern my pre-teen boys. I would perceive this as a film for teenagers or adults. For the right audience, there is a lot to like about this film, although I cannot get as excited about it as Tony did in his review of the DVD. The story is certainly interesting, different and complex with many factions and few which are clearly good or bad. As you would expect the animation is a work of art, with magnificent scenery visuals and action and the music by regular Miyazaki collaborator, Joe Hisaishi is excellent. The voice acting is generally good and the disc includes both the original Japanese plus an English dub featuring Gillian Anderson, Claire Danes, Billy Crudup and Minnie Driver.

     The film can be a little hard to follow at times as little about the world is introduced before the story commences, however some things are picked up as you go along. Interestingly, one of the extras on the disc is a promotional film, obviously for English speaking audiences, which includes lots of exposition. This should be perceived not as a weakness but a challenge for the viewer forcing them to think and draw conclusions rather than being spoon fed.

     This is an epic fantasy adventure story combined with magnificent animation and wonderful music. Fans of Japanese Animation should definitely seek this film out, however if you want to give Studio Ghibli works a try with your kids try Ponyo or Porco Rosso first. The only question that remains is whether owners of the original DVD release should upgrade. The answer is a resounding 'Yes'. Read on for further detail...

Video

     The video quality is excellent, a huge step up on the DVD.

     The feature is presented in a 1.85:1 aspect ratio which is the original aspect ratio. It is 1080p encoded using AVC.

     The picture was very clear and sharp throughout. The original DVD was an NTSC-PAL conversion causing the usual interleaving and artefacts of that process. Obviously in this natively HD transfer this issue has been removed completely.

     The colour was wonderful and I am sure the best this film has looked, without being as vivid as the newest Ghibli films like Ponyo but considering its 1997 production this is to be expected.

     There were no artefacts to speak of.

     There are subtitles available in English. They are clear and easy to read, following the Japanese dialogue rather than the English version.

     There are no obvious layer changes during playback.

Video Ratings Summary

Sharpness
Shadow Detail
Colour
Grain/Pixelization
Film-To-Video Artefacts
Film Artefacts
Overall

Audio

     The audio quality is excellent considering the age of the material.

     This disc contains the original Japanese soundtrack in DTS HD-MA 5.1 and the English dub in DTS HD-MA 5.1. There does not seem to be a whole lot of difference between them from a quality perspective. The dialogue is quite different at times including renaming some characters such as the Deer God to the Forest Spirit. Supposedly, this was due to the possibility of American audiences thinking it was Dear, God! Both tracks have lots of surround ambiance and some directional effects without sounding like the latest blockbuster.

     Dialogue was clear and easy to hear and understand.

     The music by Joe Hisaishi is fantastic adding significantly to the film. It sounds marvellous on the Blu-ray.

     The surround speakers were used a lot throughout, with the action scenes, rain, gunfire and other effects coming from around the room.

     The subwoofer was used throughout as well, adding bass to action scenes, storms and the music.

Audio Ratings Summary

Dialogue
Audio Sync
Clicks/Pops/Dropouts
Surround Channel Use
Subwoofer
Overall

     There were only the storyboards and trailers on the DVD version so there are a couple of new extras here which fans will be interested in.

Menu

     The menu included sounds and pictures from the film.

Storyboards

     The full Hayao Miyazaki designed storyboard reel is available as a picture-in-picture extra as you watch the film. These appeared on the DVD version.

Princess Mononoke in the US (19:53) **NEW**

     This is a travelogue of a 1999 trip to the US & Canada by Hayao Miyazaki to promote the film. It includes festival appearances and interviews along with a visit to Disney. In Japanese and English. 1080i

Promotional Video (4:08) **NEW**

     An extended trailer with lots of exposition for English speaking audiences. Probably worth watching before the film unless you like the challenge of working out what is going on.

Japanese Trailers, Promos, TV Spots (2:18, 2:34, 1:44)

     Trailers repeated from the DVD.

French Theatrical Trailer (1:46) **NEW**

     Very soft picture.

English Theatrical Trailer (2:08) **NEW**

     English language trailer.

Other Trailers

Reversible Slick

Booklet

    This Blu-ray is available in the same format in the UK but has not been released in Region A yet. There is also a Japanese Blu-ray however the English dub is only in standard definition so for English speaking audiences I believe this version is better. Extras seem to be the same.

    The video quality is excellent.

    The audio quality is excellent.

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall

Spirited Away (Blu-ray) (2001)

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General		Extras
Category	Anime	Main Menu Audio & Animation Featurette-Making Of Storyboards-Alternate Angle Featurette-Behind The Scenes-Behind the Microphone Theatrical Trailer-Multiple TV Spots
Rating
Year Of Production	2001
Running Time	124:00
RSDL / Flipper	Dual Layered	Cast & Crew
Start Up	Menu
Region Coding	2,4	Directed By	Hayao Miyazaki
Studio Distributor	Madman Entertainment	Starring	Daveigh Chase Suzanne Pleshette Jason Marsden Susan Egan David Ogden Stiers Lauren Holly Michael Chiklis John Ratzenberger
Case	Standard Blu-ray
RPI	$39.95	Music	Joe Hisaishi

Video		Audio
Pan & Scan/Full Frame	None	English DTS HD Master Audio 5.1 Japanese DTS HD Master Audio 6.1 ES Discrete
Widescreen Aspect Ratio	1.85:1
16x9 Enhancement
Video Format	1080p
Original Aspect Ratio	1.85:1	Miscellaneous
Jacket Pictures	Yes
Subtitles	English	Smoking	No
		Annoying Product Placement	No
		Action In or After Credits	No

     After a wait that sometimes seemed interminable, Spirited Away, for many the most artistically successful film from director Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli, has finally arrived on Blu-ray. Its release coincides with the comprehensive box set of Miyazaki films which is an essential purchase for those with an underlying devotion to the Japanese director and a little money in their pocket.

     Perhaps Spirited Away has been left to last like an encore at a rock concert. Certainly it is probably the work which introduced the world to the beautiful, simple yet complex world of Miyazaki. Earlier titles had been successful in limited release but Spirited Away, aided by the support and admiration of John Lasseter of Pixar, captured the spirit of Westerners, both old and young, and earned the Academy award for Best Animated Feature in a year that featured popular titles like Ice Age and Lilo & Stitch. It would be the first of three nominations for Miyazaki but his only win. The 2000's were the era of Pixar with their films picking up most of the accolades.

     Spirited Away has been comprehensively reviewed on this site before and it is to those extensive and informative reviews (of the Standard Edition and Limited Edition) to which newcomers to the film should turn. Essentially it is a film about a young girl finding strength and maturity in herself when trapped in a sometimes frightening spirit world. There are indeed some scary moments for youngsters. This was the first Miyazaki film I saw at the cinema and it was an interrupted viewing, as I escorted disturbed youngsters out of the movie house for a short walk until they had steeled themselves to return. That is part of the power of Miyazaki films, to introduce kids to some difficult and frightening situations and moral choices to strengthen them for the world.

     Anyone who likes Miyazaki, or even just well told fantasy stories, but hasn't seen the film should buy it now.

Video

     Spirited Away comes to Blu-ray in the correct 1.85:1 aspect ratio.

     The film already looked pretty decent on DVD. Still, this is a mighty step up. The sharpness of the image makes familiar moments seem fresh and new.

     The colours are strong and bright and the hand painted animation is spectacular to look at. The lines are clear and crisp. At the same time, nothing in this film is done for pure dazzle factor - every scene has a touch of the painters’ eye.

     There are subtitles in English, and Descriptive Subtitles English for the Hearing Impaired.

Video Ratings Summary

Sharpness
Shadow Detail
Colour
Grain/Pixelization
Film-To-Video Artefacts
Film Artefacts
Overall

Audio

     Spirited Away contains two audio tracks. The original Japanese track is a 6.1 DTS HD Master Audio soundtrack. There is also an English DTS HD Master Audio track.

     Both have been extensively reviewed and analysed for their merits, comparing the original track to the English track.

     The DVD of Spirited Away was already strongly presented in terms of sound. This has been added to and expanded by the high-definition soundtracks. The dialogue is clear and crisp throughout. The surround track features a good deal of interesting facts and ambience, particularly in the noises of the bathhouse and the breezes that blow across the landscape.

     The sub-woofer is used to strong effect in some of the dramatic scenes particularly when the cursed Haku returns to the bathhouse in dragon form.

     The wonderful score from Joe Hisiashi is given the room to breathe.

    All in all a wonderful sonic experience.

Audio Ratings Summary

Dialogue
Audio Sync
Clicks/Pops/Dropouts
Surround Channel Use
Subwoofer
Overall

     As with the other entries in the Studio Ghibli transitions to Blu-ray the extras are limited.

     The Standard Edition DVD described above had no extras whereas the Limited Edition had the following:

• Featurette: Making of Spirited Away
• Storyboard Comparison
• Notes: Themes of Spirited Away
• Trailers and TV Spots
• Galleries — Images
• Easter Egg — Japanese advertising

     This release largely replicates the extras on the limited edition DVD. They are:

• The Making of Spirited Away
• Alternate Angle Storyboards
• Behind the Microphone
• Introduction by John Lasseter
• International Trailers and TV Spots

     The Making of featurette is the same as the DVD. I previously owned the Region 1 DVD of the film which was on two discs. The Behind the Microphone featurette was on that edition. It is fairly brief though worth a watch. For those who have already seen the Making of special it is quite lengthy and interesting. It is important to note that, as with previous Studio Ghibli releases on Blu-ray, the extras are by and large not in high-definition.

     This Blu-ray is yet to be released in Region A, though there is a Japanese version floating about. Buy local.

    Spirited Away is one of the great animated features. It can be watched time and again with more and more nuances emerging. The Blu-ray presentation is excellent and is an essential purchase for fans of the film or Miyazaki.

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall

Howl's Moving Castle (Hauru no ugoku shiro) (Blu-ray) (2004)

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General		Extras
Category	Animation	Featurette-Storyboards Featurette-Hello, Mr. Lasseter Interviews-Crew-Pete Docter (Director Of The English Dub) Interviews-Crew-Dianna Wynne-Jones Featurette-Behind The Scenes-Explanation of CG Featurette-Behind The Scenes-The Sounds of Howl's Moving Castle Featurette-Behind The Scenes-Behind the Microphone TV Spots Theatrical Trailer Trailer-Studio Ghibli Trailers
Rating
Year Of Production	2004
Running Time	119:00
RSDL / Flipper	Dual Layered	Cast & Crew
Start Up	Menu
Region Coding	4	Directed By	Hayao Miyazaki
Studio Distributor	Madman Entertainment	Starring	Chieko Baisho Takuya Kimura Akihiro Miwa Tatsuya Gashuin Ryunosuke Kamiki Mitsunori Isaki Yo Oizumi Akio Ôtsuka Daijiro Harada Haruko Kato
Case	Standard Blu-ray
RPI	$24.95	Music	Joe Hisaishi Youmi Kimura

Video		Audio
Pan & Scan/Full Frame	None	English DTS HD Master Audio 5.1 Japanese DTS HD Master Audio 5.1
Widescreen Aspect Ratio	1.85:1
16x9 Enhancement
Video Format	1080p
Original Aspect Ratio	1.85:1	Miscellaneous
Jacket Pictures	No
Subtitles	English for the Hearing Impaired English	Smoking	No
		Annoying Product Placement	No
		Action In or After Credits	No

     Howl's Moving Castle is the second most recent animated film from Japanese master Hayao Miyazaki. It has previously been released twice on DVD in an inexplicably identical Limited Edition and Special Edition, both appearing within the same 12 month period. Both Editions were reviewed by this site. The reviews can be found here:

• Limited Edition
• Special Edition

     It is a little difficult to understand the logic behind some of the Studio Ghibli high-definition releases. Whilst each one is greatly appreciated it is still not clear why arguably the most famous film, Spirited Away, the winner of the Best Animated Feature Oscar, does not have a release date. Other great films such as Princess Mononoke and the iconic My Neighbour Totoro are also strangely absent at the same time as slighter efforts such as Whisper of the Heart and My Neighbours the Yamadas have had Blu-ray releases. It is not a Region B gripe. All of the world has to complain as there are no decent Blu-ray releases of these films in any region.

     Howl's Moving Castle was also nominated for an Oscar but lost out to Wallace and Gromit. It is a marvellous film from beginning to end. While Studio Ghibli always represents quality in animation there is something special about the films of Miyazaki. They go deep into the soul of a young person and provide complex and rewarding experiences. With its blend of love, witchcraft and the horrors of war this is a film for those slightly older than Totoro or Spirited Away

     As said, Howl's Moving Castle has already had a decent DVD release. As with the release of other catalogue titles on Blu-ray the question is whether this is an essential purchase. Of course, for true Miyazaki fans there is no question. They will buy the film. For the other, more casual fans, the question has three parts will:

1. is the video transfer an improvement over the DVD;
2. is the sound transfer an improvement over the DVD;
3. are there sufficient new extras to improve the package?

    For the answers to these questions see below…

Video

     As with the previous releases Howl's Moving Castle comes to Blu-ray in the correct 1.85:1 aspect ratio.

     The previous DVD releases were already good-looking animated films. Could the Blu-ray be any better? The answer is - yes. This is a superb Blu-ray transfer that goes very quickly from the sublime to the exhilarating. The painted cells are gorgeous in their pastoral glory and the computer generated work, particularly the moving castle, is breathtaking.

     The detail level is excellent throughout with the animated lines clean and sharp.

     The colours are gorgeous to behold and there are no technical defects whatsoever. The mild aliasing and edge enhancement from the DVD editions is gone.

     Perhaps it is not as spectacular as Hollywood computer animation however each of these cells could be hung on a wall as a work of art.

    The subtitles are in English.

Video Ratings Summary

Sharpness
Shadow Detail
Colour
Grain/Pixelization
Film-To-Video Artefacts
Film Artefacts
Overall

Audio

     As with the DVD releases this film comes with two soundtracks. Both are identically appointed as DTS HD Master Audio 5.1 tracks. There is the original Japanese language version and the English dub. The Japanese track features the same actress playing Sophie as a young girl and a 90-year-old woman whereas in English dub that is split between Emily Mortimer and Jean Simmons. Otherwise both tracks are superb

     The greatest quality of the tracks is the aural soundscape created. It would have to be one of the best Blu-rays I have heard in creating a feeling of depth and clarity to the sounds. It really comes alive in the living room helped by the wonderful score of Joe Hasaishi. The surround effects are well placed and the sub-woofer gets a good workout from time to time.

Audio Ratings Summary

Dialogue
Audio Sync
Clicks/Pops/Dropouts
Surround Channel Use
Subwoofer
Overall

     The Blu-ray comes with a series of extras. However some fans will be disappointed to find that none of them are really new. Most of them are featured on the previous DVD release. Nevertheless for those who do not have that release they provide an interesting series of extras.

• Multiple Angles-Storyboards
• Interview Diana Wynne Jones
• Interviews-Pete Docter
• Featurette-Hello, Mr. Lasseter
• Featurette-Explanation of CG
• Theatrical Trailer
• TV Spots
• Trailers-Studio Ghibli Collection.

     There are two "new" items. I am unsure of their provenance as both emanate from the same era as the previous extras and are similarly appointed - 1.33:1 and 720P.

The Sounds of Howl’s Moving Castle (27;49)

     A lengthy and interesting look at the work that went into creating the soundscape for the film.

Behind the Microphone (9:00)

     Interviews and on-set footage of the English dub cast working away. The laugh out loud moment - seeing Josh Hutcherson way before his Hunger Games days.

   Region B is currently the only Region where this can be purchased. The Japanese release doesn't appear to be available and there is no Region A.

     After the brilliance of Spirited Away I was initially disappointed seeing Howl's Moving Castle in the cinema, feeling that it was a slight step down. Seeing it again has proved me wrong. It is an exceptional, moving piece of animated cinema. It belongs in any collection of animation.

     The Blu-ray quality is superb in sound and vision terms.

     There are heaps of extras but they are looking a bit long in the tooth.

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall

Ponyo (Gake no ue no Ponyo) (Studio Ghibli Collection) (Blu-ray) (2008)

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General		Extras
Category	Animation	Main Menu Audio & Animation Reversible Cover Storyboards-P-I-P Booklet-2 Interviews-Cast & Crew Featurette-Behind The Scenes-Lots Featurette-Making Of-Lots Introduction
Rating
Year Of Production	2008
Running Time	102:16
RSDL / Flipper	RSDL	Cast & Crew
Start Up	Version Select Then Menu
Region Coding	4	Directed By	Hayao Miyazaki
Studio Distributor	Madman Entertainment	Starring	Yuria Nara Hiroki Doi Jôji Tokoro Tomoko Yamaguchi Yûki Amami Kazushige Nagashima Akiko Yano Shinichi Hatori Tokie Hidari Eimi Hiraoka Rumi Hîragi Tomoko Naraoka Nozomi Ohashi
Case	Standard Blu-ray
RPI	$44.95	Music	Joe Hisaishi

     A few months ago, I reviewed the DVD edition of this magical film and so was very pleased to be able to make Ponyo one of my first few Blu-ray reviews for the site. I rated the DVD edition quite highly (compared to other SD releases) but I was utterly blown away by how much difference Blu-ray makes for this particular title. I came away thinking not only how marvellous Blu-ray is, but also how marvellous this specific release from Madman is and also how incredibly beautiful Miyazaki's film is. For me, this Blu-ray treatment reveals the true majesty and artistic prowess of this work, which was not as obvious on DVD.

     Gake no ue no Ponyo or literally Ponyo on the cliff (aka Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea or just Ponyo) is the latest animation masterpiece from renowned Japanese animation director Hayao Miyazaki and his Studio Ghibli animation studio. Personally, I came across Miyazaki’s work quite late only having been introduced via My Neighbour Totoro in the last couple of years. His animated films are the antithesis of loud, all action children’s films (like the recent G-Force) relying on beautiful hand-drawn animation, cute characters, fantasy and adventure to excite and enthral their audience.

     Ponyo is ‘inspired by’ the classic Hans Christian Anderson fairy tale of The Little Mermaid however takes it in a different direction with more fantastical elements and the beauty of its very artistic animation. The story is quite simple telling the tale of a young boy, Sosuke, who lives near the sea with his mother and often absent sea captain father. One morning he finds a goldfish (who he names Ponyo) near his house with its head stuck in a jam jar. He helps her and they soon grow to love one another. She has magical powers as her father is a sorcerer who lives under the ocean and her mother is a sea spirit. She decides that she wants to become a little girl and begins to transform herself accordingly. Her father disapproves of this as he hates humans for their polluting of the sea and tries to stop her. Her transformation causes a large storm and huge waves, resulting in the countryside being flooded for miles around Sosuke’s house. Now they must work out how to return the world to normal.

     This is a beautiful film, full of sweetness and magical animation combined with some exciting and possibly scary passages for young children during the storm. The opening couple of minutes are especially beautiful featuring wonderful underwater scenes and great sound design which really takes you into the underwater world. These first few minutes although wonderful on DVD are incredibly beautiful on Blu-ray, a beauty which I cannot convey in words. The plotting and character development is not as linear and obvious as western animated films but certainly the audience I watched it with did not let it bother them. They quickly fell in love with the characters and the beauty of the story.

     The film was written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki and the beautiful score was written by his regular collaborator Joe Hisaishi. The score is by turns poignant, beautiful and exciting adding significantly to the film’s atmosphere. The detail in the score and soundscape of the film are wonderfully realised on the stunning audio transfers available on this disc (See Below).

     The film is presented here with either the original Japanese soundtrack or an English dub put together by John Lasseter from Pixar. The English dub features Cate Blanchett as Ponyo’s mother, Matt Damon as Sosuke’s father and Liam Neeson as the sorcerer, Fujimoto. Sosuke is played by Frankie Jonas and Ponyo by Noah Cyrus. Purists will obviously prefer the original Japanese however the English dub is quite good and is obviously easier for the film’s core audience. Having both options is great.

     Highly recommended as an antidote to an overdose of G-Force or Alvin & the Chipmunks. This is a demo disc for Blu-ray aficionados to show how Blu-ray can do subtle and detailed just as well as loud and powerful. This is a must-own disc.

Video

     The video quality is stunning and beautifully detailed. The feature is presented in a 1.85:1 aspect ratio which is the original aspect ratio. It is encoded using the AVC codec.

     The picture was extremely clear and sharp throughout, with lots of intricate detail showing off the marvellous, hand-drawn, deeply artistic animation style. Although the level of detail is obviously limited by the skill of the artist's drawing and painting, the level of that skill is extremely high.

     The colour was stunningly beautiful, the depth and variation of the colours is a wonderful sight to behold. In the first few minutes of the film the colours are stunning especially the colour effects on the bubble around Fujimoto's ship. The colours leap off the screen when compared to the DVD version.

     There were no noticeable artefacts.

     There are subtitles in English which are clear and easy to read. They seem to be based on the Japanese dialogue rather than the English dub.

Video Ratings Summary

Sharpness
Shadow Detail
Colour
Grain/Pixelization
Film-To-Video Artefacts
Film Artefacts
Overall

Audio

     The audio quality is absolutely magnificent with many wonderful moments of sound design beautifully rendered on the various audio options. To me this is the biggest step up from the DVD version of the film and a marvellous way to show off how your home theatre can do subtlety instead of power.

     This Blu-ray contains four audio options; a Japanese DTS-HD MA 6.1 track, an English dubbed LPCM 5.1 48/16 track along with two Dolby Digital 2.0 tracks in Japanese and English. Obviously, if you have the capability the two HD tracks are miles ahead of the Dolby Digital options (which are still fine for what they are). The two main tracks are quite similar in quality, although as you might guess the original Japanese track is incredibly beautiful. The thing about these audio transfers which makes them so marvellous is the incredible detail in the sound design around the various speakers and the numerous minor sounds that leap out in this version compared to the DVD. Some examples include the popping and movement noises of the plankton during the opening sequence, the babbling of Ponyo's little sisters, the incredible sound design in the scene where Ponyo gets swept up by a rubbish net and gets her head caught in a glass jar and the almost human sounds of the waves as they try to get Ponyo back. These are merely examples as there are so many moments like these during the film (and I haven't even begin to go on and on about the music yet!).

     Dialogue was very clear and easy to understand at all times.

     The music by Joe Hisaishi is absolutely beautiful and wonderfully transferred here. Once again, the true beauty of this score really comes out on this marvellous disc with the various themes (such as the one for Ponyo) really catching the ear.

     The surround speakers are in constant use for parts of the music, detailed sound effects such as a passing squall of tiny fish jumping in the sea and lots of marvellous atmospherics. Simply Magnificent.

     The subwoofer is also in constant use adding bass to the music, depth to the sounds of the storm, waves, boats and various sea creatures.

Audio Ratings Summary

Dialogue
Audio Sync
Clicks/Pops/Dropouts
Surround Channel Use
Subwoofer
Overall

    A huge selection of high quality extras. Many are in Japanese but all have subtitles. They are nearly all 1080i or 1080p.

Menu

     The menu is a magnificent art work in itself. If you leave the menu onscreen it rolls slowly to the left revealing various scenes from the film including the storm with accompanying sound effects. It is beautiful and is quite enjoyable to watch unlike most menus which quickly become annoying.

Reversible Cover

Booklet

Storyboards PIP

    There is a picture-in-picture feature on the disc (assuming your player can support it) which allows you to have 480p storyboards playing in the bottom right hand corner of your screen while the movie plays at 1080p. A really nice feature which allows you to see how close Miyazaki's original sketches are to the final product. These were available on the DVD as an alternate angle.

Meet Ponyo (2:21) 

    Introduction to the film by US producers Kathleen Kennedy & Frank Marshall.

A Conversation with Hayao Miyazaki & John Lasseter (3:28)

    Short conversation about the Ponyo character and his approach to animation. Good Stuff.

Behind the Microphone - The Voices of Ponyo (6:00)

    Featurette about the US voice cast, how they became involved and their thoughts on the movie.

Creating Ponyo (3:56)

    Short featurette focused on an interview with Miyazaki. He talks about having five year olds in mind as the audience, our relationship with nature are other interesting topics.

Ponyo & Fujimoto (2:56)

    More Miyazaki this time focused on the two characters in the title, how they were created and named and why.

The Nursery (1:57)

    Another short piece about how the film was initially planned to be focused on the Nursery School and about how Studio Ghibli created a nursery school in real life.

Scoring Miyazaki (7:17)

    The Producer, Toshio Suzuki, and the composer, Joe Hisaishi, talk about the music used in Miyazaki films including Ponyo but also Totoro, Kiki & Laputa. Interesting.

The Producer's Perspective - Telling the Story (2:28)

    Toshio Suzuki discusses the development process, storyboards, agreeing on the story, animation and character development.

The Locations in Ponyo (9:43)

    Excerpt from a longer documentary from Japanese television called The Scenery in Ghibli which it would have been great to get all of. This section covers the location which inspired Ponyo, a town on the Japanese inland sea where Miyazaki spent two months on his own developing the story and characters. Includes interviews with locals and various shots of the scenery which is very reminiscent of the film. Good stuff.

The Five Geniuses who created Ponyo (48:57)

    The most extensive extra is again from Japanese television and is essentially a tour through the Ghibli office spending time with each of five leaders of areas within the studio including animation, art direction (backgrounds), colour, music and sound design. There are lots of interesting details here for animation buffs and you can see the incredible work being done using very hands on approaches. Shows that Miyazaki is a bit of a practical joker and also a perfectionist. The only problem with this extra is that the English subtitles are in yellow and are often placed over the top of Japanese on screen captions making them very hard to read at times. Excellent extra anyway.

Hayao Miyazaki Interview (14:50)

    An interview with Miyazaki for Japanese Television. Fascinating insights here into his creative process including what he was driving at with this film, meanings of names, the ideas behind some of the scenes and other information. Fans will enjoy this. Annoyingly, the early parts of the interview are punctuated by some idiot taking lots of flash photographs.

Toshio Suzuki Interview (29:40)

    Miyazaki's long-time producing partner talks quite openly about the studio, thoughts of closing it down as Miyazaki gets older, the film, why they decided to stick with hand drawn animation for this film, their influences and challenges in the animation. Made for Japanese Television and an excellent extra.

Dubbing Session and Interviews with Japanese Voice Cast (24:53)

    Miyazaki talks to each member of the Japanese voice cast about their character; there is some recording session footage for each one and then they talk about their character. Not bad but not as insightful as the previous three or four extras.

Theme Song Music Video (3:30)

    Very Japanese and quite bizarre this music video is about a real little girl with lots of middle aged men as servants (including the producer playing her chauffeur).

Theatrical Trailers (1:26, 1:46)

    Japanese Trailers.

TV Spot (0:15)

Tie-in Promotions (0:16 x 3)

     The Region A Blu-ray release of this movie includes a few extra items about other Miyazaki films however crucially does not include a HD audio track in the original Japanese language (only the English dub). To me this makes our local release the best Blu-ray available (which is exactly the same as the UK release; in fact, you get to choose the territory on start up and you get Madman logos one way and UK Optimum Releasing logos and trailers the other way). There are also Japanese, Taiwanese and Hong Kong Blu-ray editions of this film although I am having trouble getting any conclusive details about those. The US and UK releases are also packaged with a DVD version of the film whereas the local one is not. I would say our local release is tied for the best available for English speaking audiences with the UK release unless you want a DVD copy as well.

     A marvellous, beautiful and very sweet animated film from Japanese master, Hayao Miyazaki.

     The video quality is stunningly beautiful. The audio quality is incredibly detailed and excellent.

     A wonderful selection of extras are included which seem to be a combination of the best available from global releases.

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall

Wind Rises, The (Kaze Tachinu) (Blu-ray) (2013)

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General		Extras
Category	Animation	Storyboards Interviews-Cast & Crew Trailer
Rating
Year Of Production	2013
Running Time	126:24
RSDL / Flipper	Dual Layered	Cast & Crew
Start Up	Menu
Region Coding	4	Directed By	Hayao Miyazaki
Studio Distributor	Madman Entertainment	Starring	Hideaki Anno Joseph Gordon-Levitt John Krasinski Emily Blunt Martin Short Stanley Tucci William H Macy
Case	Standard Blu-ray
RPI	$39.95	Music	Joe Hisashi

Video		Audio
Pan & Scan/Full Frame	None	Japanese Linear PCM 48/16 2.0 mono English Linear PCM 48/16 1.0
Widescreen Aspect Ratio	1.85:1
16x9 Enhancement
Video Format	1080p
Original Aspect Ratio	1.85:1	Miscellaneous
Jacket Pictures	No
Subtitles	English English for the Hearing Impaired	Smoking	No
		Annoying Product Placement	No
		Action In or After Credits	No

'Airplanes are beautiful dreams' - Count Caproni

The Wind Rises (Kaze Tachinu) is supposedly the final film from great Japanese animation director Hayao Miyazaki. Personally, I am hoping this is a marketing technique only and he will continue to be involved in Studio Ghibli going forward, however I would guess he may not direct another film having now reached the age of 74. This film brings together some of Miyazaki's favourite things such as aeroplanes and magnificent animation with two people who the film pays tribute to, Jiro Hirokoshi, a Japanese aircraft engineer responsible for the Zero, and Japanese novelist and poet Tatsuo Hori. On the surface this film seems like the life story of Horikoshi, however a novel written by Tatsuo Hori, called The Wind has Risen, is intertwined with it as is the lead character of another Hori novel, Naoko. Miyazaki has combined all these influences together to come up with a fictionalised biography of Hirokoshi which is ultimately his tribute to Hirokoshi and Hori. It is a beautiful, bittersweet, poetic and dreamlike film.

     So, the film follows the life of Jiro from his early days as a young boy with eyesight problems who dreams of flying and flying machines. He reads magazines about aeroplanes and grows up wanting to design aircraft. He heads off to University in Tokyo (to study aircraft engineering of course) but along the way is involved in the great 1923 Tokyo earthquake. He helps a young girl, Naoko, and her nurse who gets an injury during the quake. She is later to become his wife. Once finishing University he joins Mitsubishi as an aircraft engineer and soon begins to impress his superiors. He travels to Germany and other places in the world to learn from other aircraft designer like Junkers in the lead up to World War II. He meets up with Naoko again and they fall in love despite her illness, TB. The rest of the film follows his work on the Zero and his romance with Naoko.

     This is a beautiful and poetic film which features wonderful animation. There is certainly a feeling of melancholy about the film especially between the sick wife and Jiro's concerns about what his planes will be used for. The film indicates the destruction that World War II caused without dwelling on it. The film is not one for kids with a slower than normal pace and a reasonably adult subject matter. It was nominated for Best Animated Feature at the Oscars in 2014, ludicrously missing out to Frozen!

     A lovely animated film which will be enjoyed by animation fans, however it is not really one for the kiddies, due to its length and subject matter.

Video

     This is a lovely video transfer; the animation looks marvellous and detailed, the colours are magnificent. The beauty of this film is shown off by this wonderful transfer. The only minor issue was a little bit of shimmer here and there but nothing to complain about really. It is 1080p high definition as you would expect in the original aspect ratio of 1.85:1. There is not much more to say about this transfer except that it is awesome.

     There are subtitles available in English which follow the Japanese dialogue, which is quite different to the English dub (which I will discuss more below). There are also English for the Hearing Impaired subtitles for the English version.

Video Ratings Summary

Sharpness
Shadow Detail
Colour
Grain/Pixelization
Film-To-Video Artefacts
Film Artefacts
Overall

Audio

     The audio on this Blu-ray includes two options both of which are surprisingly in mono but this seems to be an artistic choice rather than a restriction of this release. The choices are the original Japanese dialogue in PCM 48/16 2.0 mono or English PCM 48/16 1.0 mono. Despite the mono sound both soundtracks have significant presence and sound full and detailed although obviously without surround presence. The music by the wonderful composer Joe Hisaishi is delicate and beautiful and a Japanese theme song plays over the credits. The Japanese dialogue is preferable form my perspective, however, the English dub is also good featuring the vocal talents of Joseph Gordon-Levitt, John Krasinski, Emily Blunt, Martin Short, Stanley Tucci and William H Macy.

Audio Ratings Summary

Dialogue
Audio Sync
Clicks/Pops/Dropouts
Surround Channel Use
Subwoofer
Overall

     The extras are worthwhile without setting the world on fire.

Menu

     The menu included pictures from the film.

Storyboards

     The full Hayao Miyazaki designed storyboard reel is available as a picture-in-picture extra as you watch the film.

Film Completion Announcement (87:53)

     Despite the strange title this turns out to be a press conference at the studio featuring Miyazaki, the singer of the theme tune and the voice actor who plays Jiro in the Japanese version, Hideaki Anno. The producer, Toshio Suzuki also drops in and out of the conversation. There is lots of interesting discussion (and self-deprecation) here about the character, the use of Hori's novel as a source, the theme tune, the voice work and much more. A real insight especially when Hayao Miyazaki speaks.

Behind the Microphone (10:43)

     US featurette about the making of the English dub for the film hosted by the US voice director and including footage of many of the cast recording and being interviewed. More superficial than the Japanese feature.

Japanese Theatrical Trailers (4:48)

     A collection of previews and trailers.

Japanese TV Spots (2:37)

     A collection of short promos.

Reversible Cover

Booklet

    This Blu-ray is available in the same format in the UK and the US. Draw.

    The video quality is awesome.

    The audio quality is very good but mono.

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall

Collected Works of Hayao Miyazaki-Extras Disc (2015)

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General		Extras
Category	Anime	None
Rating
Year Of Production	2015
Running Time	?
RSDL / Flipper	No/No	Cast & Crew
Start Up	Menu
Region Coding	4	Directed By	Hayao Miyazaki
Studio Distributor	Madman Entertainment	Starring	None Given
Case	Custom Packaging
RPI	Box	Music	None Given

Video		Audio
Pan & Scan/Full Frame	Full Frame	Japanese Dolby Digital 2.0
Widescreen Aspect Ratio	Varies
16x9 Enhancement
Video Format	576i (PAL)
Original Aspect Ratio	1.78:1	Miscellaneous
Jacket Pictures	No
Subtitles	English	Smoking	No
		Annoying Product Placement	No
		Action In or After Credits	No

     This disc is contained within the Collected Works of Hayao Miyazaki box set as an extras disc only available within the box set. The original extras are included on each of the Blu-ray or DVD editions of the movies included and this disc is added on DVD only to either set. I will cover the contents of this disc in the extras section below and include other physical extras contained within the box.

Video

     The video quality on the extras is surprisingly good considering that they are in two of three cases episodes of 1970s television series. They are colourful and generally free from grain. There are some film artefacts to be seen. They are 1.78:1, 16x9 enhanced which I would expect is the original ratio. The third extra is the press conference for Miyazaki's retirement announcement which is shot in digital and is consistent with quality standard definition television.

     All extras are subtitled in English.

Video Ratings Summary

Sharpness
Shadow Detail
Colour
Grain/Pixelization
Film-To-Video Artefacts
Film Artefacts
Overall

Audio

Audio Ratings Summary

Dialogue
Audio Sync
Clicks/Pops/Dropouts
Surround Channel Use
Subwoofer
Overall

     An interesting bonus set of extras in additions to those included on the original Blu-rays.

Menu

     The menu is still.

Booklet

     The box includes a large booklet of 30+ pages including an essay on Miyazaki, notes on all his films, his official retirement press release and more.

Postcards

     11 postcards recreating the theatrical posters for the films.

Little Samurai - Three Episodes (23:34 each)

     Included are three episodes of a 1972 Japanese children's television entitled Akado Suzunosuke in Japanese. Hayao Miyazaki was one of the storyboard artists on this series and he was specifically in charge of storyboards for the three episodes included here, according to the included booklet. The series is fun and exciting. These three episodes are well worth a look for fans of Miyazaki.

Yuki's Sun (4:42)

     This short is Miyazaki's first go at solo directing from 1972. It is cute but feels like a big story trapped in a short's running time. Certainly interesting to see for fans of the director.

Hayao Miyazaki Retirement Press Conference (95:30)

     The full version of the press conference where his retirement was announced. He is joined on stage by the president of Studio Ghibli and his long-time producer, Toshio Suzuki. They mostly answer questions from the large group of assembled world media. Many of the questions are inane and Miyazaki's dry sense of humour comes out of often responding to long questions with one word, regularly 'No'. He is very erudite at times but gives no real detail of what he plans to work on except the Ghibli museum. Amusing and definitely interesting to watch.

    There does not seem to be an equivalent product in Region 1.

    The video quality is good.

    The audio quality is good.

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall