James Andrews

I’ve been a fan of Ghibli films for a long time. I have most of the ones released on DVD in my collection, and have enjoyed watching them over and over. The artwork is always incredible, the stories are always interesting, and this usually keeps me coming back for more.

“Karigurashi no Arrietti” is the story of a family of tiny people who live under a house somewhere in Japan, and a young boy who is staying in the house to recuperate from an illness he has just recovered from. The family survives by foraging around the house. Using secret passageways in the house, and taking what they can. A cube of sugar here, a tissue or two there. Arrietti the daughter of the family goes out with her father, their primary forager for the first time. He shows her around the house, and where to get stuff.

Their “borrowing” though hasn’t gone un-noticed. The boy see’s Arrietti in the garden when he first arrives at the house. The old woman who serves as the Maid at the house has thought to have seen them as well.

Visually the movie is stunning. The watercolor like backgrounds are beautiful to look at. The attention to the little details like the droplet of water that rolls down the leaf when Arrietti pushes the leaf aside is what sets Ghibli apart.
The sounds are made custom for the movie as I saw on a Japanese television show, which showed them being made, are awesome, and that is where it leaves off.

The thing that I have liked about Ghibli movies in the past is the sense of adventure. I felt in Ponyo that sense of adventure was missing, and the movie just kind of went nowhere. I get the same feeling with “Karigurashi no Arrietti”. There’s a lot of character build up, but the story just kind of dullens out. Where’s the epic chase? It’s non-existant.

If you watch Ghibli movies for the art, it’s great for the theater, but I think you’re better off renting the DVD if you want to see this movie.

Tonight I ventured over to Movie Stop and grabbed a disc I have been waiting to be released for months. It is the latest Hayao Miyazaki’s Chibli studios film “Ponyo”. A story inspired by “The little mermaid” (or so Disney has put on the outside box) of a little sea creature who is found by Sasuke a 5 year old boy who mistakes her for a gold fish, and takes her home. Ponyo however is the daughter of the sea goddess, and once she gets the taste of human food she uses her magic to transform herself into a human. With her transformation brings on strange events and their adventure begins.

Much like many of Miyazaki’s other films it is hard not to fall in love with the characters. Ponyo’s innocent playful manner. Sasuke’s serious undertaking of the job that he’s set out to do, along with the incredible character design and story makes for great family fun. Highly recommended.

Woke up later than planned and made my way to the Hynes for day two. Arrived and the place was packed. Registration was in great order from what I can tell. I think AB has fixed that problem. Yay!

I spent much time roaming the halls, talking to people I know. Stopped by the Funimation booth picked up Crayon Shinchan season 2 part 1. I’ll probably be watching that on Monday.

I didn’t go to any panels though. I guess I was just not enthusiastic about the selection. A lot of it is the same thing that you see year after year. Things like “How to make a plushy.” and “Lolliata Fashion” just don’t do anything for the male 36yr old demographic (ie me). Any of the panels that I would have been interested in seeing didn’t start until 8-9pm which kind of sucks for those who are in my age range who did pay for a badge (I did not, I was comped), that there may only be 2-3 panels a day that they may have any interest.

Now to be fair, most of the attendants are in a much different age group, and I am sure that the selection of panels suited them just fine. It just isn’t my can of Coke. (I don’t drink tea ).

I left early about 5:30pm, I didn’t feel like waiting around until 8:30pm for a panel that I might enjoy.

One last comment before I put Anime Boston 2009 behind me. This is more aimed at the Hyne’s covention center more than anything. The first year AB was in the HCC there was a cafeteria that had tables and chairs where people who bought food from the HCC vendors could sit and eat. Last year and this year, and probably back in 2007 as well the cafeteria has been gone. Instead they have set up vendors outside the area where the cafeteria was. There are no chairs and not tables, essentially no place for people to get off their feet and eat the meal they just paid $8+ for. It is absolutely ridiculous, these guys make a fortune off kids with ridiculous prices, and they won’t even set up a place for them to eat. NOT COOL!

With that I am done, enjoy the last day of the convention everyone, I have an attic to clean out.

Today was Day one of Anime Boston. I arrived close to 10am, and the halls were bustling with folk heading to registration, figuring out where and what things were. The usual day 1 activities. I walked around taking photos, lots of costumes I recognized, lots of others I didn’t Some were well crafted and others, well not so much, but you expect that from anime conventions.

Those of you who have not arrived at the con will be glad to hear that registration ran very smoothly. I peaked my head in there a couple times and saw little or no lines. The dealers room is gianormous, and artists alley is filled with a lot of neat items. I didn’t spend any money in the dealers room, and probably won’t but I spent money in artists alley, an may spend a little more tomorrow.

I made it to 2 panels. One was QA with “Laura Bailey” is the voice of a Shin Chan, one of my all time favorite anime characters. Very amusing woman, great sense of humor, and pretty much filled every request asked of her. During this panel the last person who went to ask her a question, said “I have a question, but it’s not for you.” He then turned and proposed to his girlfriend. How sweet!

Next I made my way to The Chibi Project panel. TCP takes destruction of toys to a new level. It all started around 10 years ago with a small PVC figure of the Sailor Moon character known as “Chibi Moon”. Since then TCP has been finding new and amusing ways to destroy toys. Tonight they even did a live experiment for the audience, but you’ll have to wait for the episode to air to find out what it was and if they succeeded.

So 1 day down 1 to go (for me anyway). I’ll report back tomorrow evening with more fun.

Last night I watched the 1st episode of the new FMA: Brotherhood series courtesy of Funimation. To continue on my future of television post. This is what I love about TV on the Internet. FMA Brotherhood Episode 1 was first shown in Japan 5 days ago. Funimation got it, had it translated and subtitled, in 4 days, and then had it online for the US anime audience.

It is located here in case you want to watch it.

The episode starts off with the same animation style that we say in the first FMA series. The general story telling seems very much the same as well. Ed gets all pissy about being called punnie, All the other members of the military seem to have the same mannerisms, not much different there. Within the first 5 minutes of the episode you can see that the continuity is off. Certain characters who you know should already be acquainted Major Hews his family, Ed and Al for example seem to meet for the first time here. When in the original series they had met before Ed became a state alchemist. In the original series Ed and Al even helped deliver Major Hews daughter who in the new series is already 2-4 years old. This really saddens me that they totally threw off the continuity. I am hoping there aren’t too many more similar issues.

So far it seems like it’ll be a fun series. We’ll see as they start introducing more characters.