May 14, 2008
Last month I picked up the import dvd for the slightly controversial Studio Ghibli film, Tales from Earthsea. Goro Miyazaki had much to live up to with the legacy already set by Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata. Despite receiving the disapproval from his own father, Goro completed the direction of Tales from Earthsea. Though the animation style is heavily reminiscent of his father’s, the strokes are more painterly and he succeeds in adding a touch of his own. The storyline is very sad—but the characters are compelling. I believe it deserves a space in the Studio Ghibli family. This doesn’t top any Ghibli film I’ve seen before, but it is a great success for a first time director.
Here is a Japanese trailer for the movie:
“Two years ago, Goro Miyazaki found himself in a terrifying position. Anime producers Studio Ghibli tapped him to direct his first feature film, Gedo Senki, based on the classic novel Tales from Earthsea by Ursula K. LeGuin. LeGuin had released the rights to Earthsea on the proviso that Goro’s father, Hayao Miyazaki (Spirited Away), direct the flick. Unfortunately, Hayao was unavailable so Ghibli brought in Goro, who had never worked in film before.” —from article by Dominic von Riedemann
Prior to directing Tales from Earthsea (Gedo Senki), Goro was involved with the design of the Ghibli Museum.
Tags: animation, film, japanese, studio ghibli
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