Studio Ghibli RPG Looking Good

Am I the only one who is annoyed? I can't stand Studio Ghibli, I hate their style of character design and all of the movies of their I've seen. Seriously, you can count me out.

@Iain Roberts: Except that this is Studio Ghibli. This thing will be sold out all over Japan, forever. And ever. And ever.

astronautcowboy

@shouryuuken: My point was: Disney started moving towards CGI a long time ago, and they don't regret it at all. After they made several movies that were complete shit, and Pixar made hit after hit, they announced a move to only making completely CGI-based films. Anyone over ten years old is probably aware of Disney once being the king of animated film, but it's pretty doubtful they're getting that title back anytime soon (even if they have bought out Pixar by now).

spannu

I am so psyched for this game! I've always been a fan of unusual RPG games, the DS and Miyazake. Now all three will merge and form the perfect game. Can't wait!

@Black-Dog-Howls:
Miyazaki is a feminist and he creates those female characters because they are the anti moe. It's better then watching chicks struggle to boil water for some guy without a personality of 13 episodes. Still he should have backed the animators union.

@TheLAG:
Yes because Miyazaki is so childish.. wait

And I really can't remember KH suffering, but I will admit it was a little weird with a serious scene going on and then having donald duck speak.

I'm sorry didn't read the article. Too busy looking at the amazing artwork.

@icepick314:

It's coming to another system too.

@Black-Dog-Howls:
Didn't know about that.
Not backin up Shirow... thats not cool, dood.

@Iain Roberts:
I wish I could suffer millions of dollars in my pockets and an audience of tweens and young adults.

@mcdufus: lmao just for that simile alone you get a heart.

Superlocke

@Iain Roberts: LOL. go watch a miyazaki film before commenting please.

And possibly check the sales of Kingdom Hearts 1 and 2, because I'm quite sure more than enough of us manned up to enjoy it and make it a successful franchise.

Superlocke

@Leanid: It's not about misusing words like "grimdark," it's showing everyone online that I do.

dirtface

The main reason that Studio Ghibli is "taking their sweet time providing the art and animation" is because unlike almost every other animation studio in the world, Ghibli still does a great deal of their work by hand. Looking forward to Ponyo when it comes out? It was completely hand animated.

Off topic, but related to Ponyo, why in the hell did Disney decide to cast a Cyrus and a Jonas in the lead roles? (Oh wait, I answered my own question.)

@tnmnsquare:

Well, I too would be concerned if I suddenly understood a language, with no efort or study.

No... actually, I'd find it awesome.

KenseiKitsune

@MDX: I would not.

-Xehanort

@Iain Roberts: I absolutely consider Kingdom Hearts to be the best game series ever made. Literally.

-Xehanort

PS3 please, how to squeeze all these into DS tiny screen and cartridge?

tingyu

Yeah, Ghibli is good, my favourite is still Totoro. But afterall it is a video game, nice anime can't compensate poor game play. BTW, I haven't touched my DS and Wii for several months, and there isn't any upcoming titles I am really looking forward to. My GC also suffered the same short lifespan, guess I am "too old" for Nintendo's consoles.

jellyfish

@Firelance: Did you not hear that Ninokuni has won the Guinness World Record for 'Most Expansive Open World'? The total environs reach a grand scale of 100,000 kilometres square, surpassing the most-ephemeral record held formerly by Codemasters.

It's a wonder that these titles are still so affordable, considering the work that goes into them. Why, back in my day I remember purchasing carts for $35 at KB Toys, and being darn-tootin' thankful.

Interim

@FarmboyinJapan: LOL actually yes, she was. I saw it in February.

I"m not much of a fanboy, so of course I respect your opinion. Considering the things I usually have to do in class, Ponyo was excellent. I thought it was a cute story. To be honest though, I haven't seen any other of Miyazaki's film's, so I don't really have anything to compare it to.

Everyone forgets about Castle in the Sky! It was made in '86 and was easily my personal favorite!

SuperSonik

@icepick314: This will not be a regular occurrence for Studio Ghibli. Hayao Miyazaki has an intense aversion to video games. It just so happens that he's not dumb enough to pass up the opportunity to work with level 5 when they've just finished a movie (Ponyo on the cliff by the sea) and they didn't have any work lined up just yet.

In other words, BUY THIS GAME (if it's any good) to appeal to Miyazaki's wallet, if not his heart.

SuperSonik

@spannu: thats like us comparing marvel vs capcom 2 to tekken.. and you mentioning the background stages in mvc 2. the meat and potatoes of that game are the sprites... just like the most important parts of those movies i mentioned were hand drawn.

@bfwings55: pixar isnt bad... im just sick of cg and cg only. i felt that way about video games for a while as well.. the stories of all those disney movies i mentioned werent necessarily the greatest stories.. but i just prefer hand drawn animation that much. wall e was cool and all.. and i liked ratatouille too.. but toy story was the only, truly, stand out pixar movie for me.

i think bolt would have been a much cooler movie if it was hand drawn.. they already have pixar.. so do we really need another cg flick that isnt by them or dreamworks?

@Iain Roberts:

There is a great difference between "childish" and the work of studio Ghibli. Would you call Princess Mononoke Childish? Howl's Moving Castle? Sprited Away? These are very mature films that can be taken for many meanings at many levels of comprehension from the imaginative kindergarten kid to the accomplished directors and storytellers of our time. Ghibli has a reputation and it will definitely sell if it's any good at all, especially in Japan, where Miyazaki's films are routinely box-office blockbusters.

And to say Kingdom Hearts "suffered" is just plain inaccurate. It sold millions of copies and is an extremely valuable IP to this very day, where millions upon millions are waiting for the next one in the series with baited breath and their hands on their wallets (or their parents' wallets, as the case may be).

SuperSonik

@Rhys: cue the james earl jones voice

@LoLAdrian: reminds me of that children's show caillou

@dgonchild: It did do surprisingly well, but thats because IT WAS DISNEY CHARACTERS.So kids bought that shit up, and the "hardcore" bought it up because review scores came in and surprise, it had some gameplay in there.
He is pointing out that the problem kingdom hearts faced is that a heap of people didn't buy it and wouldn't because of its very kiddy friendly approach.
Now, disney is much more marketable and recognisable then Studio Ghibli is to children.
It won't sell like kingdom hearts, and a lot of people will be turned off by its style.

(I never looked twice at kingdom hearts really, even with the review scores etc. I thought good on it, but not my kind of thing)

@Iain Roberts:

I think you mean suffer like Viva Pinata did.

Cybexx

@Rhys:
It's the Circle of Life,
and it moves us aaaaaalllllllll.
Through despair and hope,
through faith and love.
Till we find our place,
on the path unwinding.
In the Circle,
The Circle of Life!

TrjnRabbit

@bakagaijin:

How did you watch Ponyo in your Japanese class? The DVD doesn't come out over here until July. Was your teacher showing you a bootleg copy or something?

And I don't want to start a fanboy flamewar here...but Ponyo is without question the worst movie Miyazaki has ever been involved with. Even though he didn't direct it (produced it), I would rather watch Gedo Senki 5 times over before I would ever watch Ponyo again...

FarmboyinJapan

@Iain Roberts: ok that kind of reasoning is just silly. the game was intended to be a final fantasy and disney game right from the beginning. if the final fantasy cast was just tacked on later to drive sales then i get what you're saying. but as it was, what you're saying is similar to something like, "well that store wouldn't sell so many cheeseburgers if they just removed the hamburger."

mcdufus

@SketchyIndividual: Porco Rosso is pretty good too!

@D-K, owhoo... how unfortunate..: I didn't really mind Ponyo - though admittedly it did seem to cater more for the younger audience. The return to entirely hand drawn artwork is, in my opinion, quite charming, and reminded me of the earlier Ghibli movies (in a good way).

I'm liking the artwork for this game for exactly the same reasons.

2c-b

@D-K, owhoo... how unfortunate..: what did you think of ponyo? We actually had to watch it in one of my Japanese classes--and I'm glad we did (it's usually boring old news). I thought it was excellent. The way they animate emotion is top-tier--even better than Disney.

Speaking of Disney, I hear they are bringing this over to the States. Should be interesting to watch in English.

@Rhys: +10

DukeOfPwn

@Firelance: Everything the light touches.

@RicoTheSaboteur: I have to say I'm pretty meh on Ghibli films. Miyazaki is kind of a hack that needs to learn how to edit. He has a hard on for stoic female characters unless they're adapting someone's work.

He's also kind of a dick. "Don't call me anime." Didn't even support the Japanese animators union that Satoshi Kon was helping to set up along with folks like Shirow Masamune and studios like Production I.G., 4c, and Madhouse.

Black-Dog-Howls

@SketchyIndividual:
Hell, I'm well into my 20s, and I think Kiki's Delivery Service is awesome.

And why no mention of Porco Rosso? >:(

Kingdom Hearts was hard?

@Iain Roberts: I don't know much about this game but if it holds any merit next to Studio Ghibli's films, it is exactly opposite of your assumption. SG produces entertainment that most adult will think its childish on their first pass, but they can be enjoyed by a child all the way to adults for the perspectives those movies offer and the perception of the viewers.

PsycheE

@PlasmaGlory:

It's actually every person. Ever.

@Iain Roberts: ..which is technically irrelevant to your original post.

normalmode

@dirtface: I remember that movie. Oh wait, I don't.

@PlasmaGlory: Or is it second person?

@PlasmaGlory: Oh, wait. You were talking in the third person. I see.

@bfwings55: Was his mistake really that upsetting to you?

@wazzzup16: My thoughts exactly - just did not dare to say it to this 18 year old mature player ;)

elmorepow

@Iain Roberts: As far as I know KH has been one of the most succesfull RPG series Square-Enix has made. I am an adult and I love that series, there are mature themes behind those characters and the story.

elmorepow

@Iain Roberts: Kingdom Hearts suffered? Coulda fooled me.

Does this have a name yet?

EmeraldDragon

True, but you cant help but feel that if the final fantasy cast was not in it then the final sales figures would not have been that way. But 5 million on a final fantasy game would be considered average.

Iain Roberts

YES GOD YES!
Looks Lovely ^____^

@Jebusman:
Yes.

@Iain Roberts: people are equating sales with success which is not what you are getting at. I see your point but I think Ghibili works are a lot more enjoyable for adults than Disney is. Even if it is a kid story. In my opinion Ghibili has a much higher aesthetic quality than the Disney movies especially the ones made since My Little Mermaid. That being said I am not sure Ghibili and gaming make a good mix but I am definitely curious to find out.

TT

@Paddy Obrien: Given the pedigree of the two, the only thing I can safely say is that the game will be fantastic.

Are you saying that a company's trends and past accomplishments should mean nothing in trusting them to put out something of value?

I find THAT hilarious and saddening.

It's also disheartening to know that you can't understand that I'm speaking in generalities. The idea is that an unknown great game is still a great game, regardless of sales numbers.

Looks wonderful so far! I really can't wait for this. I really can't remember the last time I was this excited about an upcoming game. I watch Totoro and Howl's Moving Castle all of the time with my wife and kids and I can't wait to have the chance to interact with a world crafted by studio ghibli. Even cooler than the time that the nearby children's science museum brought in a bunch of exhibits from the Ghibli museum and I got to take pictures of my son looking out the windows of a catbus.

@Demonbird: I know. You could just feel the tension between Donald and Goofy.

XForce

@D-K, owhoo... how unfortunate..: As are Nausicaa, My Neighbor Totoro, The Cat Returns, and Laputa.

I'm also ashamed that I have fond nostalgic memories with Kiki's Delivery Service.

@infinitysend: Having never heard of the game I actually thought at first that this was maybe some PS360 title with amazing graphics, like the kind in the Naruto games but two steps up... then I saw the gameplay screens. It took me a few moments afterwards to put two and two together!

@Last Face:

I enjoy the abuse.

Damn.

gordiehowe5

@Iain Roberts: don't know about you, but as an adult i'm still going to be all over this game.

Oooh =o neat..

@Firelance: is it wrong that when I read that, I immediately looked at the first picture again?

I'd explore her enchanted forest.

Jebusman

@D-K, owhoo... how unfortunate..: its actually pretty good i just started it
Really like the series, and have play all since the first one on playstation. Only finished first three, thought 4 was weak, and in middle of playin 5 i moved and jus never got back to it.
the graphics are a lil wonky looks kinda like the ff remake on the ds
but so far im liking it

@Ueziel: I think Professor Layton is beautiful from an artistic standpoint and looks gorgeous in screenshots, but on the DS, it has a similar problem to what I expect from this. In my opinion, anyway.

Maybe I just hold my DS too close to my face, but it throws me off when the individual pixels are more noticeable than the whole picture. Then again, I might also be too picky.

@Iain Roberts:
I think the only thing kingdom hearts suffered from was male/male lust.

<3

@Fyrinn: Have you seen the cutscenes in Professor Layton? They look just fine.

@Ueziel:

I find it both hilarious and saddening that you are willing to call people ignorant for potentially not liking a game that isn't out yet and thus could potentially be bad, or will you be playing it with ignorance towards good game design or good gameplay (even if it's terrible) just because it says Ghibli and Level 5 on the box?

Paddy Obrien

@bfwings55: Wait, did you just call yourself stupid?

...what the hell?

@shouryuuken: Every Disney movie you just mentioned had tons of CG, but you didn't notice.

spannu

@RicoTheSaboteur: Needs more bitter..

D-K, owhoo... how unfortunate..

@Firelance:

I hope so....I love me some exploring!

@infinitysend: O yee of little faith, enforcing stereotypes.. Gameplay can shine in it's simplicity, i'll leave you with Layton to ponder on my words.

D-K, owhoo... how unfortunate..

@Ueziel: It doesn't exist yet, so it is not great. It just has the potential to be great.

Shame this is on the DS. The art looks like typical Ghibli awesomeness, but you just know it'll like like ass on the DS's low-res screen. It makes sense given the economics of it all, since anything that is both Ghibli and on DS is bound to sell like hotcakes in Japan, but it's disappointing all the same.

@Iain Roberts:

There are such huge differences between Ghibli and Disney. Most Ghibli movies are more mature in a lot of ways than many R-rated movies.

@dirtface: I consider myself a pretty sharp guy.. as well as an avid ghibli fan. I find your post confusing to the point where i'm trying to catagorize it. Sarcasm, Hating, Wit, Bashing, Reasonable, Insightful, Well-founded, Ridiculous are among the favored catagories but the concept of the message is utterly lost on me, as stated.

Would you mind elaborating?

D-K, owhoo... how unfortunate..

@Ramone Sanders: I agree, since I didn't like anything Disney did in the 90's except for Lilo and Stitch, and Tarzan. The Disney formula is getting tired at best.

Phester

Seeing that mountaintop pic makes me wanna dig out my Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind dvd. Yeah I've got them all apart from Tales from Earthsea, which I refuse to get as the amazing original trilogy of books is better.

Pudgie'sSmokerGivesAGoodTongueing

@Iain Roberts: Kingdom Hearts is for all ages, imo. Some people just think they are too mature to play it. Ironically that just means they are too immature to play it.

wazzzup16

This looks fun and neat. A normal child in a seemingly normal environment sends me all kinds of Earthbound signals.

@bfwings55:

There's only one Pixar, stupid.

You meant "every Pixar movie".

@RicoTheSaboteur: Ghibli, that is.

@BubbleF**kingBuddy: I'm guessing it'll play like Suikoden: Tierkries...
Does anyone even play that game? The graphic are good, the gameplay is well.. same ol' t-b rpg and yet i hear nothing about it.. ah well

D-K, owhoo... how unfortunate..

@Iain Roberts: Hi, I'm a 27 year old male. Married for 2 years now. I've enjoyed all the KH games so far, and am really looking forward to future installments of said game.

Then again, I'm a huge fan of Disney and Tetsuya Nomora, so it goes hand in hand, I suppose.

@bfwings55: Nope, better.

Ramone Sanders

@onidavin: Short compared too..?

When you estimate heights/sizes of objects, there's usually some form of measurement involved. Seeing as you are obviously referring to the mom in the single shot, you assume she is short. It's like saying someone has a big head on a photo that only shows their head.

Maybe i'm just too serious here...

D-K, owhoo... how unfortunate..

@Iain Roberts:

"...suffer like Kingdom hearts did..."

God, if only we could all suffer so brilliantly.

@gurfinki: I would buy one

MDX

It just doesn't get any better then gaming an studio Ghibli.. Ponyo wasn't that great but i'm sure anticipating their next film. Princess Mononoke, Spritited Away, Howl's Moving Castle... they're all good.

D-K, owhoo... how unfortunate..

@dirtface: Thanks for spoiling the ending, jackass.

Zorantor

@dirtface:

I'm laughing cause its true!!!

FarmboyinJapan

@LoLAdrian: Earthbound, you say?

*clicks link*

Zorantor

@dgonchild: hi im the opposite. it was an awesome game, but even though i enjoyed the movies when i was younger, i could not tolerate the disney side of the game enough to buy the sequels.

@Iain Roberts: I'm not so sure about that. Kingdom Hearts wasn't exactly a fiscal failure, and I think most hardcore gamers know enough to find out about the gameplay before writing off a game as "for kids."

Not all, certainly. But most.

Zorantor

@dirtface: Sorry if the game isn't grimdark enough for you.

Leanid

@Iain Roberts: If over 5 million in sales is your definition of suffering....I'd like to see how your Bizarro Dictionary defines success.

normalmode

@shouryuuken: I absolutely love every Pixar.

The in-house Disney movies? Not so much.

Looking at the screenshots over at Famitsu, it seems the upper screen will be used in a pretty original way: to give a sense of awe to the scenery.

If the finished product game lives up to the quality I'm seeing in these screens, I would have to finally break down and buy a DS. Impressive. Most impressive.

@bfwings55: man remember when disney movies were actually animated and not cg? all it is nowadays is pixar.. they ruled the 90s with aladdin, lion king, tarzan, hercules, mulan, a goofy movie, beauty and the beast, even the doug movie. im not some huge disney head, im just a huge fan of animation.. and now that they are taking more interest in video games.. id love for them to do this sort of thing with the old disney way of thinking.

@dgonchild: Yes, I, for example, hated the living crap of KH.

SuperZombieMonkey

@BubbleF**kingBuddy:
Someone here must not have seen many Gibli movies...

@infinitysend: both look great so what's your point again?

mcdufus

the game footage looks good too, classic old school RPG-esque. Studio Ghibli is world class, too bad Hayao Miyazaki isn't on-board. Even without him, might this game become a classic like Crono Trigger, or Final Fantasy 6? That would be nice.

Pylon

@dirtface: Jell-O jigglers??? If Bill Cosby is an unlockable character, then I'm sold!

The last picture after the link, the side by side of the actual art and the in-game assets, speaks VOLUMES.

THAT is exactly why I want this game on a system I can hook up to my TV, and not a handheld with two 3' screens.

FarmboyinJapan

@icepick314: No. Let them do what they want to do. You said it yourself. You, and way too many people, are completely spoiled. The artwork looks just fine and dandy and the game will play and look beautifully on the DS.

@This Thread: The only one that will be suffering is me when they feature Final Fantasy characters in a High School Musical environment.

dirtface

@infinitysend: Yes, and the GAME FOOTAGE was still awesome.

@dirtface:

But you miss the point of the imagery, the rainbow Bugbear clearly represents the dangers of our consumer culture run amok, while the face of Bea Arthur is clearly representative of man's inhumanity towards man, but the vomiting jellow over the orphanage is about the ability to redeem oneself thorugh their actions.

ROFL

Avinash_Tyagi

such a shame you can't see all those artwork in HD and have to watch it on small dual screen...i'm so spoiled by everything HD....

somone else PLEASE hire Ghibli to do artwork and animation for your next game on 360/PS3!!!!

@infinitysend: Yeah, and it's a DS game. Relax.

well I am glad to see that Japanese is still completely incomprehensible!

tnmnsquare

@infinitysend: Yeah, it looks fantastic.

@Iain Roberts: If this doesn't sell, it doesn't matter to anyone except the company putting it out. Those of us that play and love it will understand how great it is and all the rest can just continue on in ignorance.

did you guys see the actual GAME FOOTAGE and not the stupid cutscenes? Gimme a break.

infinitysend

@dgonchild: I believe he meant this game was going to cause as much suffering as Kingdom Hearts did to the general population due to its explosive sales and popularity.

I'm ashamed to say I forgot this game existed. It's Level 5 + Ghibli... Shame shame on me.

That there is some beautiful artwork. The game rendering (or whatever you call it in this case) of the Ghibli artwork seems similar enough to the concepts that I can couldn't tell they were in game if not for the dual screens. Hope this game does come out in 2009 in the West. I'm looking forward to it.

Looks fantastic in game too, very very nice

This is Ghibli, so the ending of the game will probably pertain to some sort of rainbow bugbear with the face of Bea Arthur vomiting JELL-O jigglers all over a burning orphanage.

And that's when I throw the game in the trash.

dirtface

ME. WANT. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWW...!!!!

@Iain Roberts:

I dont think Kingdom Hearts suffered though. It sold millions and reviewed well. And most RPG fans loved them as far as I know. I know I did.

dgonchild

Studio Ghibli is the new Disney.

This looks interesting. Reminds me of Earthbound.

LoLAdrian

So they're going to follow Disney into the RPG game, eh?

Maybe it'll be like Like Kingdom Hearts with a lower framerate?

Dohohohohohoho animation joke.

BubbleF**kingBuddy

The mom is really short in that one picture at the link. CREEPY.

Very very want :) I'm excited for this

widescreen DS confirmed!!! : O

***More news at E3***

gurfinki

This game is going to suffer like Kingdom hearts did. To childish of adults but to hard for children.

Iain Roberts

Wait, are you saying that I can EXPLORE EVERYTHING IN THAT PICTURE?!?!

Firelance

@Iain Roberts: Late to the party, but... Kingdom Hearts suffered? What planet are you from?

@Brmarlin: An internets for you. :)

Svend Joscelyne

@trunkenmath:
But he should support his fellow animators who usually make around what would translate into $11,600 a year in their 20's, $22,600 in their 30's and $31,000 in their 40's and 50s. Plus you have to take into account the cost of living in Japan. This is one industry that could really use a union and people would be likely to listen to miyazaki.

@-MasterDex-: *Production

-MasterDex-

@StubbsDK: They own the rights to publish the movies in America. They have no control over the content or porduction on any Ghibli movie whatsoever.

-MasterDex-

@spannu: Actually, thanks to John Lasseter (ex Pixar head and now head of animation at Disney) they are getting back in to the hand drawn game. The movie is titled The Prince and the Frog and it comes out this December.

[www.imdb.com]

He was smart enough to see that hand drawn animation is still a wonderful medium and that Disney was stupid to think that people weren't seeing Pixar movies because they were CGI, but because they were amazing.

Also, we have Lasseter to thank for convincing Disney to domesticate studio Ghibli's films.

@Byakko:

I disagree wholeheartedly.

While I can't say any one film is the DEFINITIVE Ghibli experience, Spirited Away certainly isn't one of them.

You can trace most of 'Post-Mononoke' Miyazaki's themes back to Kiki's Delivery Service. A girl being separated from her parents, having to find herself in an unfamiliar world, ends up saving the day, and emerges from the picture a stronger person.

The thing is, Spirited Away is just so crazy out there, that at times it makes little to no sense. I've never met a single Japanese person who knows, and or comprehends what is going on throughout that picture.

Even though the main character in Kiki's Delivery Service is a witch, the world is so believable and real. But in Spirited Away, everything becomes spectacle…and we end up caring less about the characters. When Kiki is embarrassed of her clothes in front of the rich girls, or when she is invited to a party, these are things we can identify with…but in Spirited Away, when she pulled the crap out of the spirit…that is nothing any human being on this earth could relate to, and it seemed to me that Miyazaki was more interested in the message of the movie rather than the characters.

Best Ghibli films; Kiki's Delivery Service, Porco Rosso, Laputa, Nausicaa

FarmboyinJapan

@-Xehanort: I might.

@francoamerica: you have to remember that disney owns the rights to a lot of ghibli's movies...

@Byakko: Unless you're old-school. Then see Laputa.

@onidavin: You know, when she stands up that kid's head is basically going to be at her crotch based on the reference. That should put her relatively normal height-wise.

@bakagaijin:

Spirited Away is the definitive Ghibli/Miyazaki experience. It's not cos it's the oldest film, but simply put, the most polished and well-rounded story of all his works. My Neighbour Totoro is the mascot setting movie and is very sweet, Princes Mononoke much more violent.

Though I heavily support Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli, not ALL his works are excellent. His story telling tends to break down at the end, such as in Howl's Moving Castle (granted he was adapting some British novel that is frankly, a messed up story) and also the recent Ponyo.

IMO, Spirited Away should definitely be on your must-watch list for Ghibli or anime. It's simply still the best example of his work.

@Vanilla_Ninja: No he shouldn't have. He obviously does well enough on his own, so what does he have to gain from joining some union? Look at the writers strike; most writers(aside from the top) were out of work and having a rough time of it. Meanwhile the guys at southpark were non union and still had paychecks coming.

trunkenmath

@2c-b: The artwork in Ponyo rocked and the story had that Ghibli feel so I kind of liked it since it reminded me of all the other great Ghibli work

@D-K, owhoo... how unfortunate..:
It really doesn't get much better than Ghibli+video games. I really can't wait to play this and I just hope that they don't wait 10 years or something to send it to the EU and american markets.

Spiderbait

@Black-Dog-Howls:
You read a little too much into what I wrote. I was just replying to Bubble's jab at japanese animation, a jab that is not very astute when directed at Ghibli. With all its flaws, the recent Ponyo is a good example as to why.

Its gonna be a great game.I trust Ghibli and Ninty.

@Cybexx: I think you mean "suffer the way G did".

anything that comes from studio Ghibli is an instant buy for me!

Maikel De Bakker

@bfwings55: Sounds about right. Heard somewhere that Totoro is like "Winnie the Pooh in the east".

I've bought most of Hayao Miyazaki's movies, so I'm keeping a close eye on this one.

Cavefish

@FarmboyinJapan: Whisper of the Heart is the definitive Ghibli experience. It needs nothing other than the typical style and characters to make it great. If you like this one movie you will like the others.

mzs

@Iain Roberts: If by "suffer" you meant "spawn a brainless fandom who partakes in disturbing cosplay and fanfiction on a regular basis" then I'd understand, and would certainly hope that's not the case. While I enjoy the Kingdom Hearts franchise, it's a good deal of its fan base that makes me hang my head in shame. I don't foresee similar problems occurring with this game; there aren't enough zippers to cause that worry.

Enkur

Just took my first gander at the trailer clip. Beautifully done. Looks kinda like what you'd get if you crossed Prof. Layton and Lost Magic (with the tracing symbol patterns to do things).

-- ignore this if you want --

Oh! Oh! Here's a new dream of mine. If Nintendo/Game Freak ever decide to do a NEW Pokemon game (Gold and Silver have already been and gone by now), but IF they ever do another new one, can you imagine a Pokemon game that looks like THAT? Especially since they apparently included with the new G/S the ability to have a pokemon follow around at times. If they do, I hope they try and get Studio Ghibli to do it.

PsiWren

@normalmode: The Jonas Brothers would like to have a word with you.

I can't wait to get my hands on this game! Just the fact that studio Ghibli is involved has me hook line and sinker.

sweetie55

@Theoutlet: yeah, the trailer for that looks pretty sweet.. and im glad they decided to give it another go.

I'm definitely looking forward to Princess and the Frog.

WOW.

That's all I can say for now >__>

NekuSakuraba

@dirtface: For the record: I would buy that game twice.

1Grand_Marquis

@bfwings55: Brilliant job trolling yourself, dude. :p

Theo - Lasseter isn't an ex-Pixar head. He's simply the head of both Pixar and Disney, because they're the same thing now. He also has creative control over anything done with the theme parks, with the ability to bypass all theme park executives if necessary. Also, he has greenlight power. Also, he's the de-facto executive producer for US releases of any Hayao Miyazaki films.

Basically, Lasseter is the King of Walt Disney studios in all but title.

1Grand_Marquis

@dd528: But what do you mean by 'support' even? Has he lambasted it? No. Just because he doesn't associate himself with anime, and therefore has not keen interesting in being involved with a union that identifies itself as such doesn't mean he's against it. That's ridiculous.

1Grand_Marquis

Last time I trusted Ghibli was when Daddy Miyazaki empowered his truckdriving son to do the direction of Earthsea, and we all know how badly that ended up.

I'LL PASS.

@Rctdaemon:

I refuse to watch dubs, so I wouldn't know. Although I heard the dub of Howl's Moving Castle was very good.

dd528

@SuperSonik: I don't forget it!

dd528

@Pudgie'sSmokerGivesAGoodTongueing...:
You ever read The Other Wind? I've had it sat on my shelf since it came out and still haven't started it.

dd528

@FarmboyinJapan:

I think Nausicaa is his best. I think you're wrong about the empathetic value of the characters in Spirited Away though. It is allegory, no doubt, but I found it to be effective allegory. And I took personal themes from it that related very strongly to memories of my own childhood.

dd528

this looks awesome.
my neighbor totoro can be a very appealing title
for younger audiences.

nkxjakfhda

@trunkenmath:

Do you understand the point of a union? Or a strike for that matter? Or what a scab is?

There is more to life than self-interest.

dd528

@D-K, owhoo... how unfortunate..:

I think it's cos in the one pic her head is oversized compared to her body. So she looks more child size.

dd528

@Theoutlet:

If you don't buy one, I will. If you do, I won't. It's important that balance be maintained anyway. Grasshopper.

dd528

Isn't this that game that was mistaken for MOTHER 4?

@1Grand_Marquis: Lasseter isn't an ex-Pixar head. He's simply the head of both Pixar and Disney, because they're the same thing now.

Well yeah since they got bought out that has been his role. It's pretty much saying the same thing, but I could see the confusion in what I said.

Basically, Lasseter is the King of Walt Disney studios in all but title.

Which is funny considering they fired him some twenty years ago.

Oh, and (because I have to tell somebody) I just saw UP a couple hours ago.

It was amazing.

top shelf? you mean pornographic?

studio ghiblie porn... hmm.... maybe kiki will really deliver this time.

typingfromwork