[rojgelf]

Originally Posted by PoochJD

"Laputa: Castle Of The Sky" has definitely gone out-of-print now, although Play.com still have some copies left for £12-99. (Ordered mine a few days ago.) I don't know why, and until I get mine, I can't confirm whether it comes with Limited Edition Deluxe Cardboard Packaging with extras, like "Ponyo" and "Arrietty" did.

"Whisper Of The Heart" is unlikely to go out-of-print anytime soon, as it is just a standard Blu-Ray/DVD Combo release, in a regular Blu-Ray Amaray case. It's not a Limited Edition release, like the first ones of "Arrietty" and "Ponyo", that came in special Deluxe Cardboard Packaging, with artcards for "Arrietty" and sticker sheets for "Ponyo".

Laputa I don't think got a ltd ed release, mine is just standard blu-ray. So not sure why that is OOP.

Do the ltd's get more extras or is it just a DVD? I've been avoiding because I prefer amaray over cardboard case.

[Indiana Jones]

So far it has only been new films (Ponyo/Arrietty) that have had Collector's Editions while catalogue releases have been in a normal case with DVD and a slipcase (except Nausicaa which is just a BD and no slip)

The only difference between the normal releases and Collector's Editions of Ponyo and Arrietty is the packaging and artcards, the discs are identical content wise.

[PoochJD]

Hi,

I also don't know why "Laputa" is now out of stock in most places. It may be because it was the first Ghibli Blu-Ray title to get released in the UK - 9th May 2011 - that was going to kick-start the entire Collection being released.

"Nausicaa" was released a year earlier, and the original intention was to release them all, in theatrical release order, just like with the DVD releases, and number them on their spines accordingly.

However, when "Ponyo" was a big UK theatrical hit, Optimum Home Releasing (now Studio Canal) decided to release them out of order, releasing new Ghibli movies at the cinema, then onto home viewing formats, alongside one older title, per year. The popularity of the films, though, ushered in a quick change of thinking.

As the copyright for a release of "Laputa" was almost at an end, they rush-released it, and then released "Ponyo", but came up with the idea of doing a Limited Edition release too for "Ponyo", to really push it to both adult animation/anime collectors, as well as pushing the entire Studio Ghibli UK Blu-Ray Collection too.

Now, it seems that Stuido Canal are mixing newer, more popular Ghibli works, alongside the older, lesser-known ones, and releasing them side-by-side. Thus, they recently released "Arrietty" alongside "Whisper Of The Heart".

I can only presume that their intention is to release three or four titles each year, older ones alongside newer ones, to try and get people to buy all of them, making the older ones a little more profitable for Studio Canal UK, but having to also work around the limited copyright they may get from Ghibli themselves - which is usually a 12-month window, before it reverts back to Ghibli, and has to be re-negotiated.

Originally Posted by Indiana Jones

The only difference between the normal releases and Collector's Editions of Ponyo and Arrietty is the packaging and artcards, the discs are identical content wise.

Not quite true, I'm afraid. The disc content IS identical. However, the differences between the standard Blu-Ray & DVD Combo Packs and the Limited Edition ones, include:

1) Different packaging (obviously), and these are limited to about 1000 copies, although they aren't numbered. The packaging is cardboard artwork, that unfolds, and houses two discs (one DVD and one Blu-Ray, plus has a panel for the artcards and/or stickers too).

AND

2) The actual disc artwork is different too, on both discs. The discs in the Limited Edition releases, have their artwork matching that of the background image that is printed onto the cardboard insides, and thus they look quite cool, in my view. The standard Blu-Ray/DVD Combo releases, have artwork that doesn't match the case they come in.

Lastly, I e-mailed Studio Canal today, and can now tell you some news, that you won't find anywhere else!

Their next two releases on Blu-Ray will be "Howl's Moving Castle" and "Tales From Earthsea", and both are being released as standard edition Blu-Ray & DVD Combo Packs!

Their anticipated release date is July/August 2012!


Pooch

[Indiana Jones]

When I said packaging I meant the case and discs, should have been more clear.

Content wise they are the exact same discs so unless you like fancy packaging there is no real benefit, just a shame Nausicaa never came with a slipcase as it looks out of place next to the others.

[rojgelf]

Originally Posted by PoochJD

Now, it seems that Stuido Canal are mixing newer, more popular Ghibli works, alongside the older, lesser-known ones, and releasing them side-by-side. Thus, they recently released "Arrietty" alongside "Whisper Of The Heart".

I can only presume that their intention is to release three or four titles each year, older ones alongside newer ones, to try and get people to buy all of them, making the older ones a little more profitable for Studio Canal UK, but having to also work around the limited copyright they may get from Ghibli themselves - which is usually a 12-month window, before it reverts back to Ghibli, and has to be re-negotiated.

....

Lastly, I e-mailed Studio Canal today, and can now tell you some news, that you won't find anywhere else!

[B]Their next two releases on Blu-Ray will be "Howl's Moving Castle" and "Tales From Earthsea", and both are being released as standard edition Blu-Ray & DVD Combo Packs!

I had come to same conclusion on their release schedule - ie new and old.

Pleased to see HMC, although one of ones I have seen (I've seen about half), I was hoping for something different. Earthsea is the poorest ghibli I've seen so far (not tried yamadas) too slow. Could have been so much better story wise - by what it was based on. I will probably give it another go though.

Still wish they had gone for production, not release order for numbering though, that would have made me buy more.

[guylikeu]

Originally Posted by PoochJD

Lastly, I e-mailed Studio Canal today, and can now tell you some news, that you won't find anywhere else!

Their next two releases on Blu-Ray will be "Howl's Moving Castle" and "Tales From Earthsea", and both are being released as standard edition Blu-Ray & DVD Combo Packs!

Their anticipated release date is July/August 2012!


Pooch

Pooch, thanks for the info! Howl is one of my top 3 Ghibli, and the only one where I actually prefer the English dub over the Japanese. Christian Bale is spot on as Howl, his voice is so much deeper and he brings so much sexiness to the role which doesn't exist at all on the Japense version. I find Sophie's voice quite grating too, but it's perfect on the English dub. Lauren Bacall is excellent as always as the Witch of the Waste, only Billy Crystal brings down the English cast; the Japanese actor is much better.
I haven't seen Tales from Earthsea yet , as I stopped buying DVD's as soon as I went Blu.


Can I justsay how much I enjoy discussing and reading viewpoints and opinions about Studio Ghibli with people who actually know what they are talking about? I don't know a single person who has even heard of Ghibli, so it's fantastic to come here and see that there are other fans out there!

[rojgelf]

Amazon.fr have a 2 for 3 offer on ghiblis, but no english audio / subs options listed. Be nice to have one here though:

L'univers de Hayao Miyazaki : 2 DVD achetés = le 3e offert*

French releases don't seem to have any numbers on their sleeves, I like the cover for Laputa though.

[PoochJD]

Hi,

Rojgelf - You said:

Originally Posted by rojgelf

Still wish they had gone for production, not release order for numbering though, that would have made me buy more.

I agree. I think most people would have preferred the original theatrical order, but then again, there may be method to the numbering madness,.. though I don't see that.

The French and American Blu-Ray Studio Ghibli releases, use the same artwork, as - for the most part - the French prefer their animations dubbed into their own language. As such, they use the Disney-endorsed dubbing scripts, and these are then locally translated into French, and dubbed by famous French names. It's in the UK, where we prefer to watch the Ghibli works in their proper form, with the original Japanese vocals, and properly-undertaken English subtitles, and where we also eschew the Disney-dubs.

Also, be aware that Ghibli tightly control the releases in all countries, so all DVD and Blu-ray releases are "Region Locked" to the relevant Coding (DVD 1-6, or Blu-Ray codes A, B or C), and are usually "localised": that is, they will only contain the original Japanese audio, with the appropriate local language subtitles, and/or a localised dubbing option. You won't get multiple audio options like you might on an average DVD or Blu-Ray film.

They do this, to minimise pirating and importing of titles by collector's, as well as making sure they maximise their profits. Understandable, especially when one of the first things Disney did when they wanted to release "Princess Mononoke" in the US, was "We love the film, but we want to cut out some of the violent content, to make it more child-friendly"!

The great retort to that, which not many people know, is that Miyazaki couriered a large, full-length, luxury Japanese katana sword, to the then head of Disney, with a short note written in English, that simply said "Absolutely no cuts!". It was a warning to Disney, that if you want to distribute Ghibli films, then you take them as-is, or not at all, and also, to warn Disney as a mega-corporation, not to with Miyazaki or Studio Ghibli as a whole!

I like that story, and it's 100% true too!


GuyLikeU said:

Originally Posted by guylikeu

Pooch, thanks for the info! Can I justsay how much I enjoy discussing and reading viewpoints and opinions about Studio Ghibli with people who actually know what they are talking about? I don't know a single person who has even heard of Ghibli, so it's fantastic to come here and see that there are other fans out there!

You're welcome, and yes, you'll find a fair few Ghibli fans amongst the AVForum-frequenters! That's generally, because most of us have decent taste in cinema. In all seriousness, though, the people talking and commenting in this thread, probably were fans of Ghibli before it became really, reallyfamous, when "Princess Mononoke" became a major international success in 1997.

I'd already owned and imported some of the Japanese Ghibli DVD releases, at almost £23 a time, because that was how eager and keen I was to get them. I then saw most of their works at various animation festivals around the UK, over the years.

But it was Disney's desire to do a deal to release Ghibli's films around the globe, (and of course, piggy-back off of their fame and success), and the release of "Princess Mononoke", that made Ghibli a household name to most people. It's just a shame, that Disney insist on putting their name above Studio Ghibli's on all the releases. That is they always announce them as "Walt Disney presents, a Studio Ghibli production", when Disney basically just bought the English-language rights to the release of the films, and did nothing to make Ghibli the success it is, in my view. (Disney do this with Pixar works now too. )

It also frustrates me, that the UK Blu-Rays still utilise the English-language prints of the films, which contain English-language credits, logos and writing on them, instead of the original Japanese versions. So, even if you watch the Japanese-language versions of the film, like with "Arrietty", you get the English language credits stating that the film is voiced by Saiorise Ronan, Mark Strong and Olivia Colman", and that the film is called "Arrietty" (with an English-language title appearing on-screen), when the subtitles claim the film is called "The Secret World Of Arrietty"!

But, seeing as the Japanese Blu-rays are about £55 each, (and as amazng as they look, and the packaging is very tasteful indeed), this is the only feasiable option for UK Ghibli fans, right now.


Pooch

[rojgelf]

Originally Posted by PoochJD

Also, be aware that Ghibli tightly control the releases in all countries, so all DVD and Blu-ray releases are "Region Locked" to the relevant Coding (DVD 1-6, or Blu-Ray codes A, B or C), and are usually "localised": that is, they will only contain the original Japanese audio, with the appropriate local language subtitles, and/or a localised dubbing option. You won't get multiple audio options like you might on an average DVD or Blu-Ray film.

Ponyo (US) is region free and according to axel nausicca is too, I think these are only ones released in US.

Originally Posted by PoochJD

You're welcome, and yes, you'll find a fair few Ghibli fans amongst the AVForum-frequenters! That's generally, because most of us have decent taste in cinema. In all seriousness, though, the people talking and commenting in this thread, probably were fans of Ghibli before it became really, reallyfamous, when "Princess Mononoke" became a major international success in 1997.

I confess my first ghibli was sprited away, I saw it at the cinema - at the suggestion of my gf (now wife). Then watched another 6 or 7 on DVD but now waiting for blu-ray releases before watching the rest.

[guylikeu]

My first Ghibli was also Spirited Away at the cinema, but I had heard of Mononoke before though. In my defence, I was only 12 when it came out! I also saw Howl in the cinema, but I've had to watch the rest at home.

Pooch,. I share your frustration with the English language prints. I don't think they do it for all of them though, just the new releases if memory serves. I just don't get it; we have the subtitles on anyway, so why do they think we can't handle some Japanese text?

[HeavenlyWarrior]

My first Ghibli film was Nausicaa. Was a big anime fan before that but preffered more adult anime like Cyber City Oedo, Blood the last Vampire, Sazan Eyes, Streetfighter etc. Nausicaa blew me apart then put me back together again. Best movie I'd seen all year, in any genre

[rojgelf]

Originally Posted by HeavenlyWarrior

My first Ghibli film was Nausicaa. Was a big anime fan before that but preffered more adult anime like Cyber City Oedo, Blood the last Vampire, Sazan Eyes, Streetfighter etc. Nausicaa blew me apart then put me back together again. Best movie I'd seen all year, in any genre

I watched nausicca for the first time when the blu-ray came out last year. I was amazed that this was a more than 20 year old film - apart from some of the soundtrack you would never guess it was so old.

[PoochJD]

Hi,

My first Ghibli film, was the awful cut-version of "Nausicaa" that was re-edited in the US, down to about 85 minutes, and released as "Warriors Of The Wind" by Vestron Video in the UK. It made little sense, but was extremely beautiful to watch. I then saw "My Neighbour Totoro" in the early-1990's, and since then have been a fan of Ghibli (and anime) ever since.

My first anime, though, was - if you discount TV shows like "The Mysterious Cities Of Gold", "Thunderbirds 2086", "Ulysses 31", etc - "Akira" in 1988, and I got to see it on the big-screen too! The excitement of seeing a subtitled animated movie, with a 12 certificate, on the big-screen, when I was just 14 years old, was one very memorable cinema trip!

It was then released on Manga Video in 1990, and I bought most of their early anime video releases too. Who can remember the joys of titles like (in approximate order of release):

Fist Of The North Star
Dominion Tank Police: Acts I/II
Dominion Tank Police: Acts III/IV
Project A-Ko
Cyber City Oedo 808 (Parts 1-3)
The Guyver (All 12 x 30-minute episodes)
Doomed Megalopolis (Parts 1-4)
Urotsukidoji: Legend Of The Overfiend (Cut version)
3 X 3 Eyes (Parts 1-4)
Crying Freeman - Volumes 1-6

Anime was such a new thing, that no matter what the title, I'd go to my local "Our Price Video" and buy each Manga Video release, every other month, not knowing anything about it, other than what was written on the back of the cover artwork. I even became a member of the Manga Video "Club", they ran, and still have a lot of the magazines, size A1 and A0 posters, booklets, and freebies they sent out to their members! They were heady days of joy indeed! I can still remember when buying titles like "Bubblegum Crisis" would cost you £26 on VHS, from Virgin Megastores, and you'd only get one episode per tape! (They were about 8 episodes, I think!)

Anime and manga have come a long way in the UK since the early-1990's, and I still think it's one of the greatest artforms ever, even now! If you ever get the chance, I urge everyone to see an anime movie on the big-screen at least once, as there's nothing like it!


Pooch

[Indiana Jones]

Amazon have finally agreed to send me a replacement Whisper of the Heart

[tele1962]

Slightly OT but watched the begining of Ponyo and when i select UK nothing happens just a blank screen but when i select Australia & New Zealend Region plays fine?

[randwill]

Does anyone know if the UK Blu-ray of Arrietty is region-locked? I'm in the US and would like to be able to play it on my American Blu-ray player if it's possible.

[guylikeu]

tele1962, I didn't have that problem with my Ponyo. Maybe you got a bad disc?

Originally Posted by randwill

Does anyone know if the UK Blu-ray of Arrietty is region-locked? I'm in the US and would like to be able to play it on my American Blu-ray player if it's possible.

Yes it's locked to Region B, sorry. Someone said earlier in the thread that Ghibli are very protective of their films in different regions

[Indiana Jones]

All the UK Studio Ghibli releases are locked.

[rojgelf]

Originally Posted by Indiana Jones

All the UK Studio Ghibli releases are locked.

and so far the US ones have been region free, do we have disney to thank for that?

[PoochJD]

Originally Posted by rojgelf

and so far the US ones have been region free, do we have disney to thank for that?

Possibly, but then I wouldn't exactly Thank Disney for (in my view) anything, seeing as they are the ones causing Ghibli films to be treated so badly in the Western world, and viewed as just another batch of "kiddie cartoons", rather than mature, sophisticated animated movies.

Also, don't forget that Disney are the morons responsible for banning the word "Laputa" from the film "Laputa: Castle In The Sky", and why only the UK and Japan release the film with its original title intact. (All other nations simply have the film released as "Castle In The Sky"!) The reason? Because Disney were worried that "Laputa" was too close to "la puta", which is Spanish for "bitch" or "whore". Only in Disney's eyes would that even occur.

So, if I'm honest, Disney can go back to its own inferior, kiddy-friendly cartoons, and leave the adults to savour the superb works of Studio Ghibli's animated masterpieces, unmolested, and untainted!


Pooch

[rojgelf]

Originally Posted by PoochJD

Also, don't forget that Disney are the morons responsible for banning the word "Laputa" from the film "Laputa: Castle In The Sky", and why only the UK and Japan release the film with its original title intact. (All other nations simply have the film released as "Castle In The Sky"!) The reason? Because Disney were worried that "Laputa" was too close to "la puta", which is Spanish for "bitch" or "whore". Only in Disney's eyes would that even occur.

My wife is a native portuguese speaker and thought it was funny when I said we were going to watch laputa.

[captainarchive]

Originally Posted by PoochJD

Also, don't forget that Disney are the morons responsible for banning the word "Laputa" from the film "Laputa: Castle In The Sky", and why only the UK and Japan release the film with its original title intact. (All other nations simply have the film released as "Castle In The Sky"!) The reason? Because Disney were worried that "Laputa" was too close to "la puta", which is Spanish for "bitch" or "whore". Only in Disney's eyes would that even occur.

I don't think that's unreasonable of Disney, I believe there are more people in the US who have spanish as their mother tongue than english. I don't think it's unreasonable for a family-friendly company such as Disney not to want to cause offence or be subject to ridcule.

[Indiana Jones]

Had my replacement copy of Whisper of the Heart arrive today

[PoochJD]

Hi,

Indiana - Hope you enjoy "Whisper Of The Heart", now you've got it in your hands. It's a really charming film, that I love dearly!


Captain Archive, you said:

Originally Posted by captainarchive

I don't think that's unreasonable of Disney, I believe there are more people in the US who have spanish as their mother tongue than english. I don't think it's unreasonable for a family-friendly company such as Disney not to want to cause offence or be subject to ridcule.

I certainly see where you are coming from, but seeing as Disney don't seem to care that "Castle In The Sky" is NOT the film's full and original title, I find it more offensive to Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli, that Disney are happy to drop part of the title, yet still piggy-back off of Miyazaki's/Ghibli's hardwork, and profit from it, by labelling all the films as "Walt Disney Presents...".

It also staggers me, that anyone - Spanish speaking or not - would be stupid enough to confuse the DVD/Blu-Ray of this animated film, (which clearly has no intent to offend in any manner), as likely to be something that would offend large swathes of the US Spanish-speaking population. Are Disney implying that all Spanish-speaking US natives are that dumb?

Anyway, Miyazaki has been on record, saying he took the name from the book "Gulliver's Travels", as that was the source-work that inspired him to make the film, so it's not as if the word was made-up to be provocative or offensive in the first place. Or are all US versions of "Gulliver's Travels" (book, film, or other), censored to remove the word too?

I still think it's childish of Disney to think that by dropping the main part of the title, that suddenly that'll stop any offense, when the same word crops-up in the film a few times. But hey, if Disney wants to act in that manner, so be it.

Now, to get back on track, I was disappointed to see that the excellent UK trailer for "Arrietty" isn't included on the Blu-ray or DVD release of the film. This is the trailer. Enjoy.

X

Pooch

[captainarchive]

Originally Posted by PoochJD

It also staggers me, that anyone - Spanish speaking or not - would be stupid enough to confuse the DVD/Blu-Ray of this animated film, (which clearly has no intent to offend in any manner), as likely to be something that would offend large swathes of the US Spanish-speaking population. Are Disney implying that all Spanish-speaking US natives are that dumb?

The vast majority of people in the spanish speaking world and the english speaking world for that matter are unaware of Miyazaki's and studio Ghibli, so most spanish speakers won't know about the context and will just see the word, some will be amused, some offended. Put it this way, if 'Laputa' meant 'whore' in english do you think retailers would be happy to display a DVD in the childrens section entitled 'Whore:Castle in the Sky' and if they did that no-one would complain?

[rojgelf]

Originally Posted by PoochJD

I still think it's childish of Disney to think that by dropping the main part of the title, that suddenly that'll stop any offense, when the same word crops-up in the film a few times. But hey, if Disney wants to act in that manner, so be it.

In the english audio soundtrack of the film the word 'laputa' is quite clearly pronounced in such a way that is does not sound like 'la puta'. I assuming this in intentional.

[Indiana Jones]

The girls name sounded quite a lot like a rude word to me, especially with that kid screaming it lol

[PoochJD]

Hi Captain,

Originally Posted by captainarchive

Put it this way, if 'Laputa' meant 'whore' in english do you think retailers would be happy to display a DVD in the childrens section entitled 'Whore:Castle in the Sky' and if they did that no-one would complain?

Except, that "Laputa: Castle In The Sky" is sold as a children's film in the UK, with the full title on display, and I've never heard of any UK Spanish-speaking citizens, nor Spanish tourists visiting the UK, seeing that film or its cover, and saying "That's disgusting and offensive"!

I just think it was silly, that Disney felt that if they didn't include the word in the title, but still include it in the film, and that that same word has been used and written in copies of "Gulliver's Travels" for over a hundred years in the US, without any kind of an outcry, that somehow no one would put two and two together!

The fact remains that "Laputa" does NOT mean "whore" or "bitch" or any other derrogatory term. "La puta", however, almost certainly does.

There's a distinct difference between the two terms, and in my view, I think Disney are being overly sensitive, when the context is clear to anyone - whether you know of Ghibli or Miyazaki, or not - that a single, cursory glance at the film's cover artwork, or poster, would quite easily show that the film is clearly not one about denigrating women with a nasty word, but a children's fantasy.

But, I know that Disney are paranoid about anything that might upset or offend anyone, so I guess it's par for the course.

And Rojgelf is right: in the Disney dub, they make sure that the characters pronounce the word as "La-pew-ter" (like "computer), rather than the correct manner of "la-poo-tah"), just to really cover their backsides from any kind of potential backlash from angry Spaniards.

I guess the irony is lost on both you, and Disney, when there are films called "Whore" available to buy in the US, (and I'm not talking ones of a pornographic nature either), and on open display in any half-decent DVD/Blu-Ray retailer? And what about classic literature like Joseph Conrad's "The Ni**er Of The Narcissus, and Other Stories", which will also be on open display in any half-decent US bookshop. That hasn't been banned or censored, as far as I'm aware, from being on open display, and it could be argued that that would be just as (potentially) offensive to some sections of the US ethnic community, no?

Whilst I accept that "Whore" (the Ken Russell film) and the recent adult drama starring Denise Roberts, Darryl Hannah, and Joaquim DeAlmeida (entitled "Yo Puta") aren't aimed at kids, they probably can be seen by Spanish-speaking US citizens, and I don't see those films being censored because the title may be offensive to Spanish people.

So why censor an animated film's title? It all seems incredibly childish to me - which is amusing in and of itself, seeing as this film is ideal for children, and is marketed as a children's fantasy, with strong moral values in the film, showing children choosing right from wrong, and being independant.

The House Of Mouse must be quaking in its boots, if it really believes that removing one word, is going to somehow make a real difference.


Pooch

[captainarchive]

Originally Posted by PoochJD

Hi Captain,
Except, that "Laputa: Castle In The Sky" is sold as a children's film in the UK, with the full title on display, and I've never heard of any UK Spanish-speaking citizens, nor Spanish tourists visiting the UK, seeing that film or its cover, and saying "That's disgusting and offensive"!

Do you work in tourism? I'd like to know how you can be so certain there haven't been any complaints or misunderstandings. All Disney are doing is anticipating people may be offended and there's nothing wrong with that.

Let me ask you a question; the punjabi word for 'sight' sounds very much like the 'N-word'. Do you think it prudent my siblings and myself anticipated our jamaican neighbours might have been offended by my parents using the word and asked them not to use it? Or do you think we would have been justifiably outraged our jamaican neighbours would have been offended by a word spoken throughout the punjab where it is not a term of racist abuse?

[mentasm]

Originally Posted by captainarchive

Let me ask you a question; the punjabi word for 'sight' sounds very much like the 'N-word'.

Nubian?