I’m a bit surprised by how much I enjoyed this movie, considering that I don’t have any particularly strong love for the first one (liked it, but don’t remember loving it). I really, really liked this one, thought it was a fun story, and pretty damn funny. I mean, it’s no Wall-E or Up, but definitely an example of Pixar being on top of its game.
I hadn’t heard of this show and just happened to come across a clip, and so decided to check it out. I’m really in love with the visuals – it’s animated in CG, but still has designs that aren’t that far off from the classic Bruce Timm look we’re used to seeing with animated Batman. I’ve only watched the first 2 episodes so far (there are 9 out), and I’m definitely interested in watching more.
A friend kept saying how good this was, so I decided to watch it, and yes, it is indeed one of the better DC animated films. It’s the storyline that sets up the reboot of the DC Universe from a couple of years ago, and although I had read the original comic series, it was nice seeing it again in a more condensed form – in fact, I found the story more interesting this time, probably because of the problem with big event series these days, in which the overwhelming number of spinoffs really dilute the main storyline (and the main series is often hard to follow if you don’t read some of those spinoffs). I’ve enjoyed quite a few of these DC animated films in the past, and my biggest gripe remains the same: I just wish the quality of animation was higher – it still comes off as barely above TV grade.
Porco Rosso is awesome through and through. Really love this film, and all of the dogfighting sequences are truly thrilling to watch. Even though it won’t be directed by Miyazaki, I’m still really excited that a sequel is coming our way soon. I want to experience this world again, with a new story.
Have a look at the beautiful opening sequence for “Pocko/Magma” — it’s for an animated film that accompanies a touring exhibition of customized Russian Matryoshka dolls — featuring the illustrative work of Chisato Shinya (Kinpro). I love the homage to the Dr. No opening at the start. Via Motionographer.
Studio Ghibli has announced that it will be releasing a new film next summer, to be directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi, an animator for the company (this will be his directorial debut). The film’s title is The Borrower Arrietty, and is based on the British story The Borrowers, “an enchanting story about miniature people living under the floorboards of a home.” Via Spoon & Tamago.
Simply amazing: the above short, “Fumiko’s Confession,” was completely animated by one person, a student known only as “Tete.” Please, studios, give this person some money to produce a series or a film. Via Japan Probe.
Update: The short was actually produced by a team of five — they are listed here (in French). “Tete,” or Hiroyasu Ishida is the director.