3 times in a row Miyazaki's new film has broken Japanese records!

Howl's Moving Castle

"November 22, 2004 "Howl" Breaks Japanese Weekend Box Office Record
From Kyodo Press Flash24:

Toho announced :
'Howl' earned 1,400 million yen (~$13.5 million USD) at the box office in the first day of release and its next day (Nov 20, 21). This is the highest new record at a Japanese movie.

Furthermore, Toho said, "This is a golden chance. We are going to aim at Spectator mobilization of 40 million people and The box office revenue of 50 billion yen."

Thanks to Akito T for posting the news to the MML"

Trailer:
http://www.tzone.org/~llin/clips/Howl_Trailer_20041121.mpg

Review:

http://www.japantimes.com/cgi-bin/getarticle.pl5?ff20041124a2.htm

Hollywood has buried 2-D feature animation, with the incredible success of Pixar's "The Incredibles" -- $70 million in its opening weekend -- putting a seal on the tomb, so to speak.

In Japan, however, Hayao Miyazaki and his Studio Ghibli animators are still loyal to the 2-D cause. Why not, given the equally incredible numbers for Miyazaki's 2-D "Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi (Spirited Away)," which grossed 30.8 billion yen in Japan alone in 2001 -- a box-office record for any film here, Hollywood or Japanese. Miyazaki and Ghibli had other reasons for celebration, including an Academy Award for best feature animation -- the first ever awarded.

They may well get a second for "Howl no Ugoku Shiro (Howl's Moving Castle)," Miyazaki's first shojo manga-esque love story, complete with a faux European setting, mousy-but-spunky teenage heroine and androgynously handsome hero, voiced by superstar Takuya Kimura.

Based on a novel of the same title by the British children's author Diana Wynne Jones, "Howl" is less Miyazaki's attempt to wow shojo manga fans (though wowed they will be) than further proof of why his status as the world's greatest living animator is still secure"

"Godzilla: Final Wars" is coming out. I'm not sure if it's this week, but it had its opening last night in CA. From the reviews that I've seen, it's going to break even "Howl" records. It's everything that a Godzilla fan could want in a film.

It's supposed to be the last Godzilla film for at least 10 years and there's at least 10 monster fights in it. Fans are going freaking crazy over it. It's a tough call, but if "Howl" hadn't been around for a few weeks I doubt it. But this is it's 4th week. Godzilla will get top spot because of that.

Now if they both opened in the same week...man, that would be a tough call. I'd have to have gone with "Howl" in that case.

that niche than the broad appeal of Miyazaki?

Godzilla is KING!

:)

I think he's the greatest living director. And I'm not generally an anime fan.

Ever

silly.

am I missing?

I meant he's not just the greatest living animator, he's the greatest director. Since an animator is the one who draws the stuff, and a director is responsible for the whole movie, the fact that he's the greatest animator is overshadowed by the fact that he's the greatest film director alive now.

It's a common, nay, cliche, construct, I thought it was obvious. Guess I'm clueless. Sorry for the afront.

saying "greatest living animator my ass" is strong enough to be misinterpreted in the nuance free world of the typed word. I figured its what you meant and you're right! :)

and not just keyframes either. He does tween work too.

He is the greatest living animator.

true to form he ended up staying till 2 in the morning every night doing the work

Spirited Away or My Friend Totoro.

If you get a chance see Ghost in the Shell 2:Innocence. I just saw it in the theater and it blew me away

Oh nevermind. No one understands me anymore. I'll just go eat some worms.

See post above labeled "sigh". Sorry I'm so obtuse. I used to explain myself better.

:bounce:

I didn't know Miyazaki had a new movie out. Spirited Away is one of my all-time favorites.

(And not a chance Godzilla will beat a new Miyazaki.)

Can't wait for this one...wonder how long it will be before it is released over here?