More Ghibli titles Incoming!

I hope they keep them coming quickly. I want them all.

I'm holding out for the remastered version of Castle In The Sky that was originally released on DVD, so let's hope that is what we are getting instead of the lesser quality one that quietly replaced it.

Has Spirited Away ever been released on Blu-ray even in Japan?

I imported the Japanese version of CASTLE IN THE SKY several months back and the PQ is absolutely fantastic -- for a 80s anime. Very similar to the NAUSICAA PQ. I assume the US release will be using that same master.

The Japanese import of HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE looks literally perfect.

All of the (film based) Ghibli Blu-rays have completely new transfers compared to the DVDs. No idea whether they'll use the re-scored or re-edited dub though.

Ah. Thanks for the info. I had no idea (nor interest) because I only ever listen to the original Japanese.

Can't wait for Castle in the Sky!!

:: prepares to run screaming from the room during Mononoke's "worm" scenes ::

I've always preferred using the japanese audio. The dubs for the most recent film was ehhhe

I've heard a few minutes of a couple of the dubs, here and there (mainly by checking out some of the "making of" featurettes) and, while they appear to be technically well-produced and feature, largely, capable actors, the tone and characterization seem to be so different from the original audio that one almost may as well be watching another movie.

What I'm really hoping for is some sort of (North) American blu-ray boxed set to be released of all (or a great many) of the titles.

I can only assume that because the sub-discussion about dubs was initiated by a pretty clear troll post, a moderator cleaned up the whole resulting thread without regard for the fact that (I think) the resulting discussion contained useful information and no more personal attacks beyond the initial one.

Either that or they didn't know Porco Rosso was a Ghibli film and thought it had drifted offtopic...

Correct. There were also posts that talked about pirated videos. We have a zero tolerance on someone talking about owning or pirating CR material. One of those rules the ownership outlined in the rules everyone agreed to when they asked to be a member on AVS

I definitely would like to get spirited away in hd. I have the dvd and it still looks great

If Japan had Totoro, I would be spending the $80 and importing it...

To me it seems Totoro, Kiki, and Mononoke are their big US titles, and none of them are available anywhere on Blu. Porco may be coming soon due to the sequel. And by the way, while the original English dub of Porco was execrable, the French dub was proof that dubbed can occasionally be better than original language (or at least Porco's role was done perfectly).

It's art, not a competition. A dub cannot do better because the aim is fidelity to the original artistic statement. Something perceived to be "better" would simply be wrong. You, personally, may like it more, but that doesn't make it a superior soundtrack for the film; rather, it necessarily makes it an inferior one.

I don't think fidelity is really ever in the cards for dubbing. For the most simple example, it's not even the same language...

Still I see how you could see things your way. We'll have to agree to disagree. I think any fidelity arguments are, by definition, out the window when you're talking about dubs (if you want fidelity, why bother with a dub at all?), and any comparisons have to be 100% subjective by the same token. And even by that much more lax standard, most dubs still don't measure up to the original!

EDIT: Actually, re-reading your post I think we're in agreement. I just take it as a given that dubs are not faithful to the original, and so I didn't even mention it. So yes my preference for the French dub is subjective, absolutely. Incidentally I don't speak French--when I listen to it, I use subs!

Disney's approach to dubs is stated to translate the film for an american audience, so there is no question they intend to alter the film to some degree. They do the same thing with their theme park attractions. There are certainly members of the audience who prefer the original intent, but there is no question that rethinking some of the voice casting can broaden the audience.

Pixar has also done this in the voice casting for their films in their theatrical release, the character of Crush in Nemo being an example.

As long as whatever version you prefer is available, not sure why there would be any contention.

Well, Arrietty didn't get its U.S. theatrical run until February, so hardly surprising that Poppy Hill hasn't materialized here yet. I'm sure it'll get some sort of theatrical release eventually, but I'm also sure it'll be a lot more limited than what Arrietty and Ponyo got.

Are Disney dnr-ing these, like they do their own movies?