BREAKING NEWS: Hayao Miyazaki Studio Ghibli Announces the Opening of The Studio Ghibli Theme Park Near Nagoya in 2022 !

Fans of Hayao Miyazaki legendary Studio Ghibli, the Japanese animation studio will be overjoyed to learn that today April 25 was announced the Studio Ghibli theme park, scheduled to open in Nagoya, Japan, in 2022! The fantasy world of Oscar-winning animator Hayao Miyazaki will come to life as a theme park, set to open in central Japan in 2022, the regional government said Wednesday.

Hayao Miyazaki is the cofounder of Studio Ghibli, Japan’s premier animation studio, and is renowned internationally with huge followings in Japan and abroad for his Award winning animated films including “Princess Mononoke” and “Spirited Away”, beloved by millions of fans around the world. “Spirited Away” won the Oscar for best animated feature in 2003 — the first Japanese film to win one.




Studio Ghibli has released concept-arts for the park - that you can see above and below- which will be built by 2022 on a 200-hectare plot of land on which the 2005 World’s Fair was held near Nagoya, in Aichi Prefecture. The park construction cost and other details were yet to be decided, an Aichi official said.

The theme park will feature rides and forest trails based on the master animator’s popular fantasy films, including “My Neighbor Totoro,” “Kiki’s Delivery Service” and “Howl’s Moving Castle,”. The park will also be dotted with the European-themed brick towers that appear frequently in Miyazaki’s works, as well as giant installations of spider- and boar-shaped spirits in imaginary landscapes that evoke Japan’s mythical and idyllic past. The focus will be on bringing Studio Ghibli to life in a way that allows parkgoers to also enjoy nature.

The main gate should remind park goers of 19th-century structures out of Howl’s Moving Castle ( image on top ) as well as a recreation of Whisper of the Heart’s antique shop. Below, The Big Ghibli Warehouse, which is filled with all sorts of Ghibli themed play areas as well as exhibition areas and small cinemas. Apparently this are will be under a dome like Tokyo Disneyland World Bazaar.


The theme park will feature rides and forest trails based on Hayao Miyazaki films.



Princess Mononoke village will be recreated.


Above, Witch Valley, will feature attractions based on Miyazaki's Howl’s Moving Castle and Kiki’s Delivery Service.


Dondoko Forest will be Totoro themed. The area is already home to the house from My Neighbor Totoro, built for the 2005 World’s Fair.

This is extremely exciting news and Disney and more will follow the project and will let you know!

Pictures: copyright Studio Ghibli

Legendary Animation Director Hayao Miyazaki Will Create a Park

Legendary Animation Director Hayao Miyazaki has announced the creation of a Park ...but not the kind of park you're thinking about.

In 2013, Hayao Miyazaki saddened fans by announcing he was retiring from Studio Ghibli, the animation company he co-founded saying he would no longer make animated films.
So what is doing Miyazaki currently? It turns out, he’s making a park. But unlike Disney theme parks, his won’t be a corporate branded theme park and instead Miyazaki’s park will be "a serene nature preserve, created specifically to encourage children to explore and experience the natural world".

The park will open in 2018, and will be located on the remote island of Kume, reports Japan’s Kyodo News. The local town has donated ten thousand square meters of pristine forest, within which will be built accommodations for around thirty people. As we know, much of Miyazaki’s work deals with the interplay between humans (often children) and nature–either directly, as in Princess Mononoke, or indirectly, as in Spirited Away–the idea that the famed animator would put his considerable imagination and resources toward transferring that same dynamic into the real world is understandable.

Construction on the park will begin in Spring 2016 and Miyazaki has reportedly dedicated around $2.5 million dollars of his own money, and committed to using local resources and labor to make his dream a reality.

Gorgeous Animated Tribute To Japanese Master Hayao Miyazaki

Dono has posted on Vimeo a GORGEOUS 3D Animation tribute to Japanese Animation master and genius Hayao Miyazaki. If you love Miyazaki animated films - and i hope you do! - you'll love this!


Tribute to Hayao Miyazaki from dono on Vimeo.


Video: copyright Dono 2015

Watch Hayao Miyazaki Animate The Last Shot of His Final Film

Animation master Hayao Miyazaki announced months ago that the Wind Rises was his last film and today i have a wonderful clip for you - coming from a documentary called The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness - featuring Miyazaki at work, animating the last shot of his final film, The Wind Rises!

Great Hayao Miyazaki Interview

A short post about Hayao Miyazaki - who confirmed last week that he decided to stop animated movies - with this interesting long interview filmed when he came in the U.S to be honored with the Berkeley Japan Prize ( 2009 - 2010 ). The Berkeley Japan Prize is a lifetime achievement award from the Center for Japanese Studiesto an individual who has made significant contributions in furthering the understanding of Japan on the global stage. 

This interview - with plenty of humor from the master - will interest particularly Miyazaki fans. You have to know that Miyazaki don't speak english and there is no subtitles. So, an interpreter translate to Miyazaki the questions of Roland Kelts, then Miyazaki answer in Japanese and his answer is then translate in english by the interpreter, so the whole process depending of the length of Miyazaki answer sometime takes some time, but if you're ready to be patient, this 1H33 min interview is a great one!

News From Hayao Miyazaki Press Conference About His Retirement From Animated Movies

As you've read a few days ago Japanese animation master Hayao Miyazaki has announced that The Wind Rises will be his last movie. As expected a press conference happened this morning in Japan - picture below - and D&M have more explanations about his decision.

First, it was in fact Koji Hoshino, the director of production who announced it at Venise Film Festival as Miyazaki couldn't attend the event. But unfortunately this changes nothing as Miyazaki confirmed during the press conference that "this time it's true, i said it to the producer".

But, Miyazaki also said "I would like to work 10 more years but i think that doing long animated movies is not my work anymore".  Although Miyazaki said many times in the past that he was going to stop, mainly because of the huge work that request an animated movie, this time seems to be the good one even if he wants to continue to work freely during the next ten years: "I'm going to be free. That said, as long as i will be able to take my car to go working at Studio Ghibli, i will go, and what i want to do i will do it" without giving more details.

"Kaze Tachinu - The Wind Rises - took me five years to achieve.  If i was thinking doing a new movie it will take me six or seven years to do it. I will be soon 73 and and it means that i will be 80 at the end" added Miyazaki who consider that he has to dedicate these years of his life to something different.

So, here is the truth from the master's mouth. May be we will have the luck to see short animated movies from Miyazaki but don't count seeing a new long animated movie after the release of The Wind Rises, which will be distributed by Disney as Disney confirmed recently, without giving any specific dates.

Top picture : copyright Missinglink71

Breaking News : Genius Japanese Director Hayao Miyazaki Announces That He Will Not Direct Anymore Animated Movies

This is a major news, and unfortunately a very sad one: Hayao Miyazaki the genius Japanese director has announced today that "the Wind Rises" will be his last animated movie and that he will stop directing animated movies.

Hayao Miyazaki, acclaimed all over the world not only by his long time fans and audience but also by all animators from wherever they are including at Disney and Pixar, "God" of John Lasseter, 2003 best animated movie Academy Award winner is undeniably one of the greatest director of animated movies of all time.

His last movie "Kaze Tachinu" - "The Wind Rises" in english - is currently in competition at Venise Film Festival where the movie was acclaimed after the screening. Miyazaki, 72, couldn't attend Venise film festival but he announced that a press conference will be organized soon in Japan where "The Wind Rises" is already released and a huge success.

"The Wind Rises" told the story of a plane engineer who really existed - Jiro Horikoshi - who designed the famous war plane Mitsubishi "Zero" who was used by Japan air army during WW II. When he was a child Jiro dreamed to fly and to design planes inspired by those of italian plane engineer Italo Caproni. Because he couldn't be a pilot due to his myopia he ended in 1927 in the engineer division and became one of the most brilliant plane designer in the world. He then fall in love with Nahoko, a young woman whom he previously met when he saved her life when he was a teen.

Hayao Miyazaki who was inspired by a novel of Japanese writer Tatsuo Hori recall in the two hours movie a big part of 20th century Japan history: the 1923 earthquake at Kanto, the big depression era, the deadly tuberculosis epidemic and the entrance of Japan in World War II.

"The Wind Rises" will be released in Europe and in the U.S in 2014 and appears to be an epic animated movie. I may be wrong but i have the feeling that Miyazaki did here something close to David Lean's epic and romantic movies set in historic events like, for instance, "Doctor Zhivago". As a huge fan of Miyazaki myself i can't wait to see "The Wing Rises" and below you'll find the trailer.

If you've never watched any of Miyazaki animated movies you MUST see them. All of them are masterpieces and my favorites are "Spirited Away" - for which he received the Berlin Film Festival Golden Lion and the 2003 best animated movie Academy Award - or "Princess Mononoke" among many others of his animated features. To have a genius of this altitude announcing that he will not direct anymore is a great loss - it's just like if Stanley Kubrick was still alive and announces that he will not direct anymore.... Hopefully, his Studio Ghibli will probably continue to produce animated movies but no one can replace a genius director like Miyazaki was.




Pictures and video: copyright Studio Ghibli

Disney Pixar panel videos at Comicon 2009

A little review of the new videos put on line by Pixar on Dailymotion and Facebook, beginning by two videos of the Disney Pixar panel filmed at the Comicon. And Hayao Miyazaki was also there to talk about his new movie Ponyo released in the U.S on August 14th - don't miss it!

Disney Pixar Panel: Comic-Con 2009
envoyé par disneypixar. - Découvrez des webcam de personnalités du monde entier.

Disney Pixar Panel: Famous Grads of CalArts
envoyé par disneypixar. - Découvrez des webcam de personnalités du monde entier.

In this next short video, Director Lee Unkrich shares a big plot point from Toy Story 3.

Disney Pixar Panel: Toy Story 3 Plot Details
envoyé par disneypixar. - Découvrez des webcam de personnalités du monde entier.

Everyone know Lasseter's admiration for Hayao Miyazaki, and in this next video John, filmed at the El Capitan Ponyo screening, discusses his admiration for Miyazaki.

John Lasseter Ponyo Interview
envoyé par disneypixar. - Rencontrez plus de personnalités du web.

And talking about animation, John Lasseter give in this last video his best advices for any aspiring animation student.

John Lasseter Q&A Any advice for aspiring animation student?
envoyé par disneypixar. - Plus de vidéos de blogueurs.

New videos are posted regularly, so keep a look at Pixar's page on Facebook or Daily Motion. And enjoy!

Thanks to leave a comment or discuss this article on D&M english forum on Mice Chat


All videos: copyright Disney Pixar

Disney Animation Update: Princess and the Frog, Rapunzel, and......"Prep and Landing"

Today, a special Disney Animation update, and we will begin with some pictures of the Disney Animation Panel at San Diego's Comicon on July 24.



Legendary director Hayao Miyazaki was there too - his last movie "Ponyo" will be released soon in the U.S - and here he is with John Lasseter who consider Miyazaki as his "master".





On the next picture: Director Ron Clements, Director John Musker, Director Hayao Miyazaki, John Lasseter, Director Kirk Wise and Director Lee Unkrich at the Disney Animation Panel.



On this last one John Musker, John Lasseter and Ron Clements at the San Diego Convention Center.



And talking about John Musker and Ron Clements, the two directors of Princess and the Frog, here is a great "pencil test" video that was shown during the Comicon.




Also, a series of - for some of them new - pictures from this awaited movie.























Let's talk now about another 2D animated feature, Rapunzel, as new pictures were released recently, and all this looks pretty interesting as you will see. Here they are.









A good surprise may also come from another new Walt Disney Animation project called "Prep and Landing" directed by Kevin Deters and Stevie Wermers. Here is the pitch: "After working tirelessly on Prep and Landing for 227 years, an Elf named Wayne is upset when he doesn't receive an expected promotion to be the "director of naughty list intelligence".
Instead Magee the North Pole Christmas Eve command center coordinator partners Wayne with Lanny, an idealistic rookie who has an undying unthusiasm for Christmas. during their Christmas Eve mission, Wayne and Larry encounter unexpected challenges that push them to their limits.
Will the elves be able to guide Dasher, Dancer and the rest of the reindeer pulling Santa's sleigh through a raging snowstorm to ensure a Merry Christmas for all?"

Don't need to be a genius to guess that this new movie will be released more than probably on Christmas!

Here are some pictures of "Prep and Landing" and apparently this one seems to be done in 3D animation.







Okay, that's all for today, have all a great week-end!


Thanks to leave a comment or discuss this article on D&M english forum on Mice Chat


Hat Tip to Blue Sky Disney for the good links.

All pictures and video: copyright Disney - Getty images

Hayao Miyazaki's new animated movie " Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea " is a wonder !

"Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea" is the title of Hayao Miyazaki - the genius Japanese animated movie director - last movie. It was released last year in Japan where Miyazaki is almost a god, and as usual the movie had a tremendous success. "Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea" will be released in the U.S in August, but it was released this week in France! In two words - well, three, actually - it's a wonder, and let me tell you why.

"Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea" is somehow inspired by the story of the Little Mermaid. Yes, that's right, the same story that inspired Disney's classic animated. But Miyazaki transform all of it in a Japanese tale, so i think we can say that the Little Mermaid inspiration is not that obvious. Which is not the problem, as Miyazaki's tale is wonderful.



Please note that from now on, as i am going to tell you more about the story, there will be some spoilers. If you want to avoid them, just look at the pictures and the trailer at the end of the article.

"Ponyo" is a 2D animated movie, just like in the good old days of animation. The very beginning of the movie is a gorgeous scene showing life under sea.




"Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea" tells the story of a 5 years old boy - called Suzuke - living with his mother on a house located at the top of a cliff. One morning, as he goes down on the beach to play with his little boat...



...he find - stuck in a bottle - a fish, half fish-half human who will be called "Ponyo", who also have magical gifts.



Ponyo - in fact a girl - is the daughter of Fujimoto - a kind of "sorcerer" living in the deep ocean who left the world of humans, disgusted by how humans keep destroying the sea's ecological system.



Her mother is a kind of Goddess of the sea.



Ponyo also have dozens of "little" sisters...



...all excited to see Ponyo's transgression of the undersea world rules.



Suzuke, the young boy, will try to keep Ponyo, feeding her - she loves ham! or playing with her...





Suzuke's mother watch all this closely...



...but Fujimoto the sorcerer will try to get Ponyo back undersea...

This is only the first twenty minutes of the movie, and from that point lot of great scenes awaits you, like a stunning typhoon-tsunami sequence, an animation wonder, and many other scenes that transform the movie in a waking dream, sublimated by the gorgeous score of Joe Hisaishi, Miyazaki's regular composer.



The whole movie is full of poetry and at first sight it seems to be an animated film for young children. But as always with Miyazaki it's more complicated than that. The ecological message is obvious and grown-ups will be amazed by the inside beauty of the movie, precisely coming from its incredible childhood's purity.

In a recent interview, Miyazaki explained why Suzuke, the young boy, is 5 years old: "It's a personal theory, i think that at 5 years old a young child is still at the border between human and god. When a baby is born he's godlike and then become ordinary, mortal, but individual..."




Ce service vous est apporté par Filmtrailer.com


Hayao Miyazaki, now 68 years old, keep saying that Ponyo is his last movie, let's hope not. How could we live without a new Miyazaki's masterpiece?



All pictures and french trailer video: copyright Studio Ghibli