In Real Life

Miyazaki’s Films Reimagined As Dog-Eared Penguin Book Covers

Hayao Miyazaki’s films are marked by rich landscapes and innovative character designs, but these illustrations reduce those films to their most basic components, imagining them as minimalist Penguin book covers.


December 28, 2011
In Real Life

This Chinese Hotel Is An Odd Homage To Japan And Anime

Spend any time in Japan, and you’ll see them: Chinese tourists. While tensions do flare between the two countries, there are Chinese who are infatuated with Japanese popular culture.


November 25, 2011
Retro

Ni No Kuni Isn’t Miyazaki’s First Video Game Appearance

Much has been made, and rightly so, of the involvement of Hayao Miyazaki’s Studio Ghibli with Level-5′s PS3 RPG Ni No Kuni (out this week in Japan). It’s helped the game look amazing. While it’s a welcome partnership, though, it’s not the first time the animation legend, or his studio, have turned up in a video game.


July 20, 2011
In Real Life

Did Pokémon Beat Ghibli?

In its first weekend, anime Pocket Monsters Best Wishes! The Movie placed second at the Japanese box office, behind the new Harry Potter. Ghibli’s Kokurikozaka kara, co-written by Hayao Miyazaki and directed by his son, placed third. [Eiga.com via ANN]


June 21, 2011
In Real Life

Among Rumored Blacklists, Studio Ghibli Makes Its Voice Heard

Protests don’t get any more polite than this. Late last week, a banner appeared on a Studio Ghibli building outside Tokyo’s city centre. The banner read: “Studio Ghibli wants to make movies with electricity that’s not from nuclear power plants.”


February 11, 2011
In Real Life

Hayao Miyazaki Advocates Knives, Fire-Making And Other Stone Age Skills

Japan’s answer to Walt Disney does not like technology. Hayao Miyazaki is concerned that the virtual world of video games, television and even his own Ghibli Studio animated movies, is snatching away power from kids. Better teach them how to use knives!


January 13, 2011
In Real Life

Masked Avengers Doing Good In Japan

A 40-year-old manga starring a mask-wearing wrestler is inspiring Japan to do good. Only, they are dishing out presents instead of punches. Rwar.


November 5, 2010
In Real Life

Japan Overdoses On Young Maids, Wheels Out Old Maids

Step off the train at Tokyo’s geek and gaming mecca Akihabara, and you’ll see them: maids. Besides serving cake and coffee at maid cafes, maids pop up in video games, manga and anime. They’re typically young. Not these maids, though.


August 23, 2010
News

Ghibli Has A Dissolution Plan (Long Live Ni No Kuni!)

Studio Ghibli, currently at work on role-playing game Ni no Kuni with developer Level-5, is famous for its films created by Hayao Miyazaki. Not to be morbid, but Miyazaki won’t be making movies forever. What does that mean for Ghibli?


August 10, 2010
In Real Life

Beat Takeshi Hates Games, Computers, Email (What About Twitter?)

In 1986, Japanese comedian and actor Beat Takeshi designed a video game. A very hard video game.