'Howl's Moving Castle'

Fathom Events' Studio Ghibli Fest 2024. Photo by Brett Homenick.

"This is Operation: [Howl's Moving Castle]." -- Don Frye, Godzilla: Final Wars (2004)

I'm sure I've mentioned it here before, but I've never been a fan of Studio Ghibli. I suppose it would be a bit more accurate to say that I've never been into anime in general. It's just never been my thing, though I guess I can see why others would be into it. Under other circumstances, I might have become a fan myself.

To the best of my knowledge, the only Ghibli film I'd seen before tonight was My Neighbor Totoro (1988), which was shown on video in one of my classes back in the day. Honestly, I can't remember if we even finished the thing, but that (more or less) had been my only exposure to Ghibli.

While going to the movies a month or two ago, I noticed the above advertisement promoting something called Studio Ghibli Fest. One title in particular stood out to me -- Howl's Moving Castle (2004). Pretty much every Ghibli fan I've spoken to has essentially the same opinion: It's just not that good. So you may be wondering why that, of all the movies being screened, would catch my attention.

In early 2005, I read in a Godzilla fanzine that Godzilla: Final Wars (2004) got its clock cleaned at the Japanese box office by Howl's Moving Castle. I knew absolutely nothing about that film and hadn't even heard of it until then. But, in that moment, the two movies became inextricably intertwined in my mind.

Howl's movin' and groovin'. Photo by Brett Homenick.

So that brings me to tonight when I caught a screening of Howl's Moving Castle at the nearby multiplex. The version I saw was the English dub with Christian Bale as Howl, by the way.

What did I think? Well, not much, I'm afraid. I have to agree with the folks who've told me over the years that the movie isn't very good. There are no memorable characters, the story and set pieces are all off-the-rack, and the climax was downright dull. What am I saying? The whole movie was dull. I was bored to distraction throughout.

The image of the moving castle itself was pretty impressive, but that's the only positive thing I have to say about it. Otherwise, I was indifferent to the flick. If I'm being honest, I just don't think Ghibli's animation quality lives up to the hype. That's not to say that it's bad or even mediocre, just that it doesn't measure up to the endless praise I read online -- in my humble opinion, anyway.

Here's a quote for the poster: "Better than Howl's Moving Castle!"

It's rather interesting to read the drubbing that Francis Ford Coppola's latest opus, Megalopolis (2024), is receiving from critics and audiences. I saw the film last night and thought it was pretty good -- not great, but certainly not the unmitigated disaster some are trying to make it out to be. Watching the two films back to back, I can safely say that Megalopolis is much more satisfying. 

Suffice it to say, that itch has been scratched, and I can put Howl's Moving Castle away and (in all likelihood) never think about it again. It's too bad Japanese audiences went with the wrong film in late 2004, but it's not like we can do anything about that now.

Come to think of it, how about Don Frye as the voice of Howl? Now that's some inspired casting!

TOEI HISTORY! Oizumi-gakuen Station Honors the Japanese Studio's Heritage!

Oizumi-gakuen Station. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Today (Sunday, November 5), I stopped by Oizumi-gakuen Station in Nerima, Tokyo. Oizumi-gakuen Station is the home of Toei Movie Studios, as well as Toei Animation, so the area is replete is film and television history. Much of that history is on display at the train station itself, which not only salutes many of Toei Animation's famous characters but a number of Toei's live-action movies, too. For example, Oizumi Anime Gate features several bronze statues of Toei characters that is well worth checking out. From Astro Boy to Ken Takakura, Oizumi-gakuen Station has you covered!

Tokusatsu/Anime Singer Ichiro Mizuki Passes Away at Age 74

Legendary tokusatsu and anime singer Ichiro Mizuki passed away on December 6 due to lung cancer. I was fortunate enough to interview Mr. Mizuki in 2008 about his contributions to the genre, which you can read here. Rest in peace, Mr. Mizuki.

Gundam Towers over Odaiba!

It had been years since I'd last seen the huge Gundam statue in Odaiba, but since I was in the area today, I decided to stop by and photograph it. Enjoy!

Fuyumi Shiraishi: 1936-2019

In between Masaki Tsuji and Fuyumi Shiraishi in September 2018.

Anime voice actress Fuyumi Shiraishi passed away on March 28, 2019, at the age of 82. Born on October 14, 1936, in Beijing, China, Shiraishi-san grew up in Shizuoka Prefecture and would eventually go on to have a successful career as a voice actress, radio personality, and narrator. She even has some tokusatsu connections, having voice-acted in Ultraman Leo (1974-75) episode 40 and Super Robot Red Baron (1973-74) episode 17. 

Rest in peace, Shiraishi-san. 

GODMARS! Three Giants Guests, and the Greatest Evening on Earth!

Keisuke Fujikawa, Rumiko Ukai, yours truly, and Hajime Kamegaki. 

On Saturday evening, I attended a special event focusing on the anime TV series Six God Combination Godmars (1981-82), which I have admittedly never seen. But if the show is even half as good as the special guests were, I really ought to check it out!

Keisuke Fujikawa has written for numerous live-action TV programs, such as: Kaiju Booska (1966-67), Ultraman (1966-67), Ultra Seven (1967-68), Operation: Mystery! (1968-69), Fight! Mighty Jack (1968), Mirrorman (1971-72), Spectreman (1971-72), Thundermask (1972-73), Super Robot Red Baron (1973-74),  Himitsu Sentai Goranger (1975-77), Ultra Q: Dark Fantasy (2004), and Ultraman Max (2005-06). In terms of anime, Fujikawa-san has penned episodes of Mazinga Z (1972-73), Galaxy Express 999 (1978-81), Space Battleship Yamato (1974-75), Space Battleship Yamato II (1978-79), and Space Battleship Yamato III (1980-81), among many, many others.

Voice actress Rumiko Ukai voiced Rose on Godmars, but she is probably best known for her work in Mobile Suit Gundam (1979-80) as Fraw Bow (a.k.a. Fraw Kobayashi) and Letz Cofan (a.k.a. Letz Kobayashi). Ukai-san, of course, has an incredible resume in all sorts of animated projects.

Hajime Kamegaki has done just about everything there is to do in the world in animation. He is a director, animator, and mechanical designer who has worked on a variety of programs and movies. He was a mechanical designer on Godmars, but he has also directed TV shows like Sonic X (2003-04) and theatrical films like Lupin the 3rd vs. Detective Conan: The Movie (2013). Kamegaki-san has way too many credits to go into here, and I'm really not equipped to talk about his career at length. Suffice it to say, though, his body of work is truly impressive.

Rumiko Ukai holds the bouquet she was presented with. Photo by Brett Homenick.

The guests were very kind and approachable, but aside from Fujikawa-san, I have to admit that their work is beyond my area of knowledge. Anime just never has been my thing.

Keisuke Fujikawa. Photo by Brett Homenick.

And so another memorable evening comes to an end. The highlight for me was meeting Fujikawa-san, who helped shape the early Ultra-shows with his teleplays. 

100 YEARS OF JAPANESE ANIMATION! Classic Japanese Cartoons Now in English!

Doraemon is a little too new-school for Japanese Anime Film Classics. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Japanese animation (or anime) isn't really my bag, but here's a Web site that ought to appeal to connoisseurs of both Japanese history and pop culture. The National Film Center of the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo, has just launched an English-language site called Japanese Animated Film Classics on which you can watch some of the earliest cartoons from Japan.

The best part of the Web site? The cartoons are subtitled in English!

It's all part of the 100th anniversary of animation in Japan, which (near as historians can tell) likely began in 1917. 

Better hurry, though, as the site will likely cease operation by the end of the year. Don't miss your chance to check these rarely-seen classics out for yourself!

Gundam Front Tokyo

As big as the life-size, 18-meter Gundam statue in Odaiba is, it's dwarfed by the Fuji TV Building in the background.

Last month, Gundam Front Tokyo opened in Odaiba, allowing fans of the popular anime Mobile Suit Gundam to celebrate their fandom in style.  

From Gundam Front Tokyo's official English-language site:

At 「Gundam Front Tokyo」, you can experience the world of Gundam, from 1979's 「Mobile Suit Gundam」 into the uncharted future!

It's been three years since the 「Green Tokyo Gundam Project」, erected to mark the 30th anniversary of 「Mobile Suit Gundam」's broadcast, drew over four million visitors to Shiokaze Park in Odaiba in just 52 days. Now, a new way to experience Gundam in 「1/1」 「real」 scale opens, creating a landmark which will draw Gundam fans from Japan, all across Asia, and beyond!

I was in Odaiba last weekend, and while I'm not familiar at all with the world of Gundam, the statue was an impressive sight, and pictures had to be taken. Enjoy!

Anime legend Carl Macek passes on

The Anime News Networking is reporting that Carl Macek, a producer and script writer whose extensive credits include the American adaptations of such works as My Neighbor Totoro, Vampire Hunter D, Robotech, and the live-action sci-fi adventure Zeiram, passed away on April 17 of a heart attack.

Courtesy of voice dubber (and former Screech Boy) Tony Oliver, here's an article on Carl Macek filled with biographical information.

Anime in America will never sound the same again. Rest in peace, Mr. Macek.