The meeting of two Animation Genius : Hayao Miyazaki and John Lasseter

What happen when two genius of animation movie meets? You will discover it on this two-part youtube video filmed some time ago when Japanese genius Hayao Miyazaki did a surprise visit to John Lasseter.........at Pixar Animation Studios!

This was a memorable day at PIxar, and for sure they will remember it forever. Oh, and guess what's the size of the gift that Miyazaki brings from Japan for John Lasseter?

Note: the first minute of the video below is in japanese language. Don't worry, after this first minute, both videos are in english.






Youtube video thanks to rachelcakes1985

Animation master Hayao Miyazaki's new movie " Ponyo On The Cliff By The Sea " opens in Japan today ! - Artwork and Movie Trailer

You probably know who Hayao Miyazaki is, but for those of you who don't, Hayao Miyazaki is not only a genius director of animated movie, but also a master acclaimed by all animated movie directors in the world, beginning by John Lasseter.
If you've seen Princess Mononoke, Porco Rosso, Spirited Away, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind and Howl's Moving Castle, then, not only you know his work, but also his genius. If you've never seen any of Miyazaki movies, i envy you! As you still have to discover them, and believe me, it's pure genius and poetry!

So, today in Japan is released the highly awaited Miyazaki animated movie: "Ponyo On The Cliff By The Sea" and not only it's the new one and a major event, but may be, too, his very last one, as Miyazaki is now 67 and his health is not very good - one more good reason to discover his movies while he is still alive.

And, guess what? "Ponyo On The Cliff By The Sea" is inspired by the classic story of "The Little Mermaid". Of course it's a new version of Hans Christian Andersen classic tale, re-written in a japanese way. " The story is now set in modern Japan and the christian elements of Andersen original story have been deleted " says Miyazaki. Miyazaki says also that this movie was done for very young children. The movie tell the story of Ponyo, a lovely aquatic creature with a human face, saved by a 5 years old boy, Sôsuke. Ponyo is forced to go back in the abyss of the ocean, and is dreaming to become human and live with Sôsuke who saved her life.



" I wanted to use the sea element since a long time, but doing animated waves is an incredible challenge " says Miyazaki. The 170000 cels of the movie are as always all hand painted - in the pure 2D animation tradition. As it is often the case in his previous movies, there is a subliminal ecological message - even if Miyazaki keep saying that " hidden messages don't interest him". But Fujimoto, Ponyo's father in the movie is living in the ocean's abyss since he left human beings because he could not stand any more their non-Environment respect...



The movie, released today in Japan, should be release in the U.S and Europe early 2009 and will be as usual distributed by Disney. In the meantime, here is some artwork and you can see more on the Studio Ghibli web site , to see them, find the four rectangles on the right of the home page, and click on the second one.
But most of all, below, here is Ponyo On The Cliff By The Sea japanese trailer!





Artwork and trailer: copyright Studio Ghibli