25th Anniversary Screening of PORCO ROSSO at Japan Society NY on Friday

Japan Society NY

Presents

Porco Rosso © 1992 Studio Ghibli—NN.

Porco Rosso / Kurenai no Buta

Directed by Hayao Miyazaki

Japan, 1992, 94 minutes

35mm, color, in Japanese with English subtitles

When: Friday, October 6, 2017 at 7:00 PM

Where: Japan Society NY

333 East 47th Street, NYC

Map

Tickets

An ace fighter pilot and ex-member of the Italian Air Force during WWI is mysteriously cursed with a pig's face. Disillusioned with humanity, he adopts the name Porco Rosso ("Crimson Pig") and spends his time near the Adriatic Sea, drinking at a local bar and fighting off air pirates for cash. Famous for his unsurpassable flying skills, Porco draws the envy and antagonism of an American pilot who plots to take him down with the help of the fascist Italian police. This sixth film by Hayao Miyazaki is among the master animator's most personal and underrated, highlighting his deep love for aviation and pacifist worldview within an action-adventure story perfect for adults and children alike. Screening in 35mm!

Part of Monthly Classics
Year-round screenings of beloved classics, hidden gems and recent discoveries of Japanese cinema. Only $5 for Japan society members!

Free screening of "Never-Ending Man: Hayao Miyazaki" at Japan Society NY on September 29th at 7:00 PM

Japan Society NY

Presents

Photo © NHK.

Never-Ending Man: Hayao Miyazaki

(Theatrical Version)

Directed by Kaku Arakawa

Japan, 2017, 70 minutes

DCP, color, in Japanese with English subtitles

When: Friday, September 29th at 7:00 PM

Where: Japan Society NY

333 East 47th Street, NYC

Map

Tickets - see below

Special Screening

East Coast Premiere

This intimate, revealing NHK documentary portrait of Hayao Miyazaki (My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away) follows the tireless animator from his announced semi-retirement in 2013 through his decision to develop Boro the Caterpillar, an animated short originally intended for the Ghibli Museum, into his final feature film. An enthusiastic talker full of self-deprecating witticisms and strong opinions about nearly everything, Miyazaki proves himself to be an endlessly fascinating subject, offering generous access to his creative process and life philosophy as he struggles to work out ideas while using CGI for the first time

This is a free screening.

PLEASE NOTE: Registration has reached full capacity. A wait list for standby entry will be offered at the Box Office starting one hour prior to the screening on a first-come, first-served basis. Entry is not guaranteed and will be determined by management.

This screening was organized with the cooperation of NHK WORLD.

Anime talk on Japanese animation Post-Miyazaki at Japan Society

Japan Society

Presents

The State of Japanese Animation in a Post-Miyazaki World

A talk by Dai Sato and Justin Leach

When: Wednesday, April 6, 2016 at 6:30 pm

Where: Japan Society, 333 East 47th Street, NYC

Map

Tickets

Anime Industry Veterans Ask: Who will Succeed Hayao Miyazaki?

When legendary director Hayao Miyazaki (Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro) announced his retirement from Studio Ghibli, the world of Japanese animation mourned. But many also saw an opportunity for new talent to take center stage in the vacuum left by the famed director.

In The State of Japanese Animation in a Post-Miyazaki World, scriptwriter Dai Sato and animator/producer Justin Leach discuss possibilities of Miyazaki's successor and the future of anime. Taking place next Wednesday, April 6th at 6:30 pm at Japan Society, the talk will be followed by a reception.

With nearly 50 years in the industry between them, Sato and Leach, both members of Japan Society’s Innovators Network, have worked closely with high-profile anime directors, including Shinichiro Watanabe (Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo) and Mamoru Oshii (Ghost in the Shell). Sato has written scripts for highly acclaimed television series and films including Samurai Champloo, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, and Cowboy Bebop. Leach's work in the animation industry includes CG creator on Innocence: Ghost in the Shell 2 and on the animation sequences in Kill Bill.

Though many names have been suggested as potential candidates for the title of “the next Miyazaki,” including Miyazaki’s son Goro Miyazaki, Ghibli director Hiromasa Yonebayashi, and Mamoru Hosoda, who directed The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, there is no clear successor.

"What needs to happen to evolve to the next step is to develop these collaborations with people from different countries that find a way to reach a global audience," Mr. Leach recently told The New York Times.

Dai Sato (born in 1969) started his career as a TV script writer/program planner and a lyricist at the age of 19, and later ventured into the video game and music industries. Today, he is first and foremost an animation scriptwriter, with side projects creating scripts and concepts for various media. In 2007 he created Storyriders Inc., Ltd. of which he is the president and CEO. More at http://www.storyriders.net/eng/profiles/.

Justin Leach has had many years of experience working in the animation and film industry in the United States and Japan. In 1997, Justin began his career as an animator at Blue Sky Studios having worked on several award winning commercials, shorts and films including the Academy Award winning short, Bunny. In 2001, Justin moved to Japan to work as a CG creator at Production I.G on Mamoru Oshii's Innocence: Ghost in the Shell 2 and Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill animation sequences. In 2005, Justin was part of the founding team hired to jump-start Lucasfilm's new 3D animated series: Star Wars: The Clone Wars. In 2007, Justin returned to work at Blue Sky to work on such films as, Ice Age 3: Dawn Of the Dinosaurs, Rio, Ice Age 4: Continental Drift, Epic, Rio 2, Ice Age 5: Collision Course (2016), Ferdinand (2017) and the Peanuts Movie. In December of 2012, Justin was the first person to successfully produce a Japanese anime using Kickstarter called Kick-Heart. The film was written and directed by Masaaki Yuasa and created at Production I.G. The award-winning film has gone on to participate in some of the top animation and film festivals around the world. Just has gone on to be Associate Producer on an episode of Adventure Time called “Food Chain” directed by Masaaki Yuasa for Cartoon Network and Under the Dog directed by Masahiro Ando, Kickstarter’s highest funded animation project to date. Justin is based in New York.

Japan Society’s Talks+ Program examines vital issues and themes in modern Japanese art, culture and design. Programming is designed to inform and to provide a gateway through which Americans can appreciate the powerful global influence of Japan’s culture and its many trend-defining artisans. Programs bring together experts and practitioners for provocative discussions on diverse topics including aesthetics, consumer culture and cuisine. More information may be found at www.japansociety.org/programs/talks.

VIZ announces two new publishing acquisitions at C2E2 Convention

Tenku no Shiro Laputa (Castle in the Sky)

Leading Manga Publisher Previews The Upcoming Release Of New

Art Books YOSHITAKA AMANO: ILLUSTRATIONS

And THE ART OF CASTLE IN THE SKY

VIZ Media excited fans this past weekend at Chicago’s premier pop culture and comics convention – C2E2 – as it announced a pair of notable new publishing acquisitions.

During the VIZ Media Industry Panel held this past Saturday, the company thrilled a packed audience as it previewed the upcoming Summer release of YOSHITAKA AMANO: ILLUSTRATIONS, a vivid new art book presenting a curated selection of works by one of Japan’s most famous illustrators and character designers.

VIZ Media also spotlighted the latest forthcoming addition to the Studio Ghibli Library – THE ART OF CASTLE IN THE SKY. This comprehensive book traces the animated film’s development from conception to final cut and will be the final Art Book edition to complete the Studio Ghibli feature film collection. THE ART OF CASTLE IN THE SKY’s publication in October also coincides with the 30th anniversary of the film’s original release.

New Summer & Fall 2016 Art Book Acquisitions:

YOSHITAKA AMANO: ILLUSTRATIONS • MSRP: $19.99 U.S. / $22.99 CAN •
Debuting Summer 2016
Since beginning his career at age fifteen with the legendary animation studio Tatsunoko Production, Yoshitaka Amano has become one of the most acclaimed artists and illustrators at work today. Displaying a rare range, his oeuvre encompasses everything from minutely observed still-life sketches to full-color paintings on an epic scale, from children’s storybooks to dark adult fantasy, from theatrical productions to video games to sculpture to commercial design. YOSHITAKA AMANO: ILLUSTRATIONS offers a concise survey of this remarkable artist’s career to date. It includes selected full-color pieces for series such as Final Fantasy, Vampire Hunter D and Gatchaman (Battle of the Planets), as well as for Amano’s own creations like Hero and N.Y. Salad. Packed with sketches, commentary, and interviews, this beautiful volume opens a window into the world of Amano.

THE ART OF CASTLE IN THE SKY • MSRP: $34.99 U.S. / $39.99 CAN •
Debuting Fall 2016
Hayao Miyazaki’s Castle in the Sky was the first feature film produced by the legendary Studio Ghibli. Sheeta, a girl who has the power to defy gravity, is on the run from pirates when she meets the young inventor Pazu. Together they explore the secrets of Laputa, a flying city constructed by a long-lost race of people. All of Miyazaki’s major themes – the power of flight, the bravery of young women, and a world wrecked by change – are captured with beautiful animation and joyous storytelling.

For additional information on art book and manga titles published by VIZ Media, visit www.VIZ.com.

PRINCESS MONONOKE: THE FIRST STORY is available now from VIZ

"MONONOKE HIME" (1980 nen Shoki Settei Ban)
By Hayao Miyazaki
© 1993 Nibariki
All rights reserved. 

VIZ MEDIA’S STUDIO GHIBLI LIBRARY IMPRINT RELEASES

HAYAO MIYAZAKI’S PRINCESS MONONOKE: THE FIRST STORY

Oversized Hardcover Storybook Contains Miyazaki’s

Watercolor Illustrations And The Original Fable That

Inspired The Groundbreaking Animated Feature Film

VIZ Media delivers a treat to readers and fans of famed director and pioneering creative visionary, Hayao Miyazaki, with the release of PRINCESS MONOKOKE: THE FIRST STORY, available now.

The oversized (11¾ x 11¾ inch) hardcover release is published under the Studio Ghibli Library imprint and carries an MSRP of $34.99 U.S. / $39.99 CAN. The beautifully illustrated storybook features Hayao Miyazaki’s original watercolor artwork, which complements his thoughtfully written fable about man’s need to maintain ecological balance with nature that became the origin for the 1997 feature film. An afterward written by Miyazaki lends further context and insights to the Mononoke story and its deep and lasting impact upon the director.

This is the original Princess Mononoke story, created by Hayao Miyazaki in 1980 while he was first conceptualizing the landmark animated film that would be released to universal acclaim seventeen years later. As an initial version of the tale, it offers a new and significantly different perspective from the final version presented in the film. After a long, exhausting war, a samurai lost in a forest encounters a giant wildcat – a mononoke. The beast saves his life, but at the price of his daughter's hand in marriage...

“Princess Mononoke was a historic release for Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli and propelled the animation auteur to an entirely new level of international fame,” says Masumi Washington, Senior Editorial Director. “But few know of THE FIRST STORY, the imaginative fable that was the genesis for his groundbreaking film. This premium storybook fittingly presents it for the very first time in English and prominently displays his expressive watercolor characters and landscapes. We look forward to readers discovering Princess Mononoke in a whole new way in this unique release!”

VIZ Media also invites fans to also explore the imaginatively conceived world of Princess Mononoke in THE ART OF PRINCESS MONOKOKE (MSRP: $34.99 U.S. / $39.99 CAN). The substantial hardcover edition from the Studio Ghibli Library imprint features an all new translation and contains a trove of insightful interviews, original concept sketches, character art and finished animation cels, and a look at the computer graphics technology used in the film’s production.

The Studio Ghibli Library imprint is exclusively devoted to the work of iconic Japanese film director Hayao Miyazaki and his famed animation studio. The imprint has collected a substantial catalog of full-color art books, film comics, children’s picture books and other releases celebrating Studio Ghibli films such as Princess Mononoke, The Wind Rises, Howl’s Moving Castle, The Secret World of Arriety, Ponyo, Spirited Away, Kiki’s Delivery Service, My Neighbor Totoro, Nausicaä Of The Valley Of The Wind, and Pocco Rosso.

Hayao Miyazaki is one of Japan's most beloved animation directors. In 2005 he was awarded the Venice International Film Festival's Golden Lion Award for Lifetime Achievement, and his Studio Ghibli received the festival's Osella Award for overall achievement in 2004. Miyazaki's films include Spirited Away, winner of the 2002 Academy Award® for Best Animated Feature Film, as well as The Wind Rises (nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film in 2014), Castle in the Sky, My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki's Delivery Service, Princess Mononoke, Howl's Moving Castle, and Ponyo, all of which have received tremendous acclaim in the U.S.

Miyazaki's achievements also include the highly regarded manga series, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, and a pair of memoirs, Starting Point: 1979-1996, a collection of essays, interviews, and remembrances chronicling his early career and the development of his theories of animation, along with Turning Point: 1997-2008, which details his rise to unprecedented international notoriety. All of these titles are published in English by VIZ Media.

For more information on VIZ Media’s Studio Ghibli imprint, or other published manga titles, visit www.VIZ.com.

THE ART OF PRINCESS MONONOKE will be available tomorrow, August 26th, 2014

 VIZ MEDIA RELEASES

THE ART OF PRINCESS MONONOKE

Studio Ghibli Library Imprint Celebrates Hayao Miyazaki

And His Groundbreaking Animated Film In A Gorgeous

Hardcover Art Book That Features A New Translation

VIZ Media captures the attention of anime fans and collectors with a special new edition of the acclaimed art book, THE ART OF PRINCESS MONONOKE, which features a new translation and beautiful hardcover presentation. The edition will debut tomorrow, Tuesday, August 26th.

VIZ Media’s Studio Ghibli Library imprint celebrates the work of iconic Japanese film director Hayao Miyazaki and his famed animation studio. The imprint has collected and released a substantial catalog of full-color art books, film comics, children’s picture books and other releases for Studio Ghibli films such as Princess Mononoke, Howl’s Moving Castle, Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, and The Wind Rises.

THE ART OF PRINCESS MONONOKE
MSRP: $34.99 U.S. / $39.99 CAN • Available August 26th
This new hardcover edition features insightful interviews, concept sketches, character art and finished animation cels from the critically acclaimed fantasy action film by Oscar-winning director Hayao Miyazaki. Released in 1997, Princess Mononoke was the first Hayao Miyazaki film to break into the American mainstream. The journey from initial idea to the big screen is captured here in stunning detail and also includes a look at Miyazaki’s original concept art and the use of computer graphics technology in the film’s production.

“We are very proud to expand our Studio Ghibli imprint with THE ART OF PRINCESS MONONOKE and invite devoted fans and serious collectors to savor the gorgeous artwork and updated translation it features,” says Masumi Washington, Senior Editorial Director. “PRINCESS MONONOKE was a groundbreaking achievement for Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli and became the film that firmly established him on the international stage. THE ART OF PRINCESS MONONOKE is a beautiful testament to this creative visionary and his unique film.”

For more information on Studio Ghibli Library titles, please visit: www.viz.com.

VIZ releasing THE ART OF THE WIND RISES on April 8th

Kaze Tachinu (The Wind Rises)
Copyright © 2013 Nibariki - GNDHDDTK
All rights reserved.
© 2013 Studio Ghibli

VIZ MEDIA’S STUDIO GHIBLI IMPRINT RELEASES

THE ART OF THE WIND RISES

New Hardcover Release Presents The Captivating Artwork

And Evolution Of Famed Director Hayao Miyazaki’s

Acclaimed Film That Celebrates The Wonder Of Flight

VIZ Media invites animation fans to savor the stunning artwork of The Wind Rises, Hayao Miyazaki’s widely acclaimed fictional biopic of Jiro Horikoshi, the designer of Japan’s Zero fighter plane, with the release of THE ART OF THE WIND RISES on April 8th. The brand new hardcover edition from the Studio Ghibli imprint will carry an MSRP of $34.99 U.S. / $39.99 CAN.

The Wind Rises is Miyazaki’s cinematic love letter to the power of flight and the imagination, an examination of the rise of Japan’s military might in the years leading up to the Second World War, and a call for worldwide peace and harmony in the face of destruction. The film has won numerous awards including Best Animated Film from The National Board of Review and The New York Film Critics Circle as well as Best Animated Feature from The Toronto Film Critics Association and The San Francisco Film Critics Circle, among others. THE ART OF THE WIND RISES captures the art of the film, from conception to production, and features in-depth interviews with the filmmakers.

“The Wind Rises is an epic story set during an important era in Japan’s history, and we very excited to complement Miyazaki’s landmark film with the release of this wonderfully illustrated new hardcover art book,” says Masumi Washington, Senior Editorial Director. “THE ART OF WIND RISES captures the evolution of the designs and characters that brought this captivating story to life. Join us to celebrate the work of one of the world’s most visionary animation directors with this new release from our Studio Ghibli imprint.”

THE ART OF THE WIND RISES is the newest title in VIZ Media’s acclaimed collection of full-color, hardcover Art Books based on Studio Ghibli films. Fans can also enjoy THE ART OF SPIRITED AWAY, THE ART OF HOWL’s MOVING CASTLE, THE ART OF MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO, THE ART OF NAUSICAÄ, THE ART OF PORCO ROSSO and more. VIZ Media also publishes two notable biographical memoirs of Hayao Miyazaki that feature an insightful collection of essays, interviews, memoirs, and illustrations from legendary animation director – STARTING POINT: 1979-1996, which charts Miyazaki’s early days, and TURNING POINT: 1997-2008, which examines the critical stage in the director’s career when his animated films such as Princess Mononoke, Howl’s Moving Castle, and Ponyo began to garner a significant international audience.

Hayao Miyazaki is one of Japan's most beloved animation directors. His first feature, The Castle of Cagliostro, was released in 1979. His film Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, based on his own manga (published domestically by VIZ Media, Rated ‘T’), was released in 1984. In 1985 Miyazaki cofounded Studio Ghibli, through which he directed the box-office smashes Princess Mononoke (1997) and Spirited Away (2001), which won the Golden Bear at the 2002 Berlin International Film Festival and the Academy Award® for Best Animated Feature Film in 2003. Howl's Moving Castle (2004) received the Osella Award for technical achievement at the 2004 Venice International Film Festival. In 2005 VIFF awarded Miyazaki the Golden Lion Award for Lifetime Achievement. His other acclaimed films include My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki's Delivery Service, and Ponyo. Miyazaki's essays, interviews, and memoirs have been collected in Starting Point: 1979-1996 and Turning Point: 1997-2008. His final film, The Wind Rises, was nominated for both a Golden Globe and Academy Award®.

For more information on Hayao Miyazaki titles published by VIZ Media, visit: www.VIZ.com.

Hardcover edition of Hayao Miyazaki memoir TURNING POINT: 1997-2008 coming April 8th from VIZ

© 1996 Nibariki

© 1996 Studio Ghibli

 VIZ MEDIA DEBUTS

TURNING POINT: 1997-2008

A NEW MEMOIR FROM LEGENDARY

FILMMAKER HAYAO MIYAZAKI

Collection Of Essays And Interviews Spotlights Critical

Stage Of Career And Complements A New Paperback

Edition Of STARTING POINT: 1979-1996

VIZ Media has announced the release of TURNING POINT: 1997-2008, an insightful collection of essays, interviews, memoirs, and illustrations from legendary animation director Hayao Miyazaki. The new title covers the critical stage in the legendary director’s career when his animated films such as Princess Mononoke, Howl’s Moving Castle, and Ponyo began to garner a significant international audience. TURNING POINT: 1997-2008 will debut as a hardcover edition on April 8th and will carry an MSRP of $29.99 U.S. / $34.99 CAN.

TURNING POINT: 1997-2008 is the companion second volume to the earlier Miyazaki chronicle, STARTING POINT: 1979-1996, which was originally published by VIZ Media in 2009. This volume examined the first part of Miyazaki’s career, during which he rose from humble beginnings to create the seminal animated features Nausicaä Of The Valley Of The Wind, Castle In The Sky, My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki’s Delivery Service, and Porco Rosso, as well as his launch of Studio Ghibli. A fitting introduction is offered by John Lasseter, the Chief Creative Officer at Pixar and Walt Disney. VIZ Media will release STARTING POINT: 1979-1996 in a new paperback edition on April 8th under the Studio Ghibli Library imprint with an MSRP of $16.99 U.S. / $19.99 CAN.

© 1996 Nibariki

© 1996 Studio Ghibli

TURNING POINT: 1997-2008 follows Hayao Miyazaki as his grand vision continued to mature, cinema-lovers worldwide discovered and embraced his creations, and prominent film critics such as Roger Ebert delivered tremendous acclaim for the director’s films. In his legendary career, these crucial years represent the turning point. In the mid-1990s, Miyazaki moved from success to success as his work found a fervent audience outside of Japan. His animated films of the era, including Princess Mononoke, Howl’s Moving Castle, and Ponyo, were internationally lauded, and Miyazaki won an Academy Award® in 2003 for his film, Spirited Away, which was a commercial and critical hit.

“These two memoirs focused on Hayao Miyazaki are extremely insightful and give tribute to the power of animation as an art form,” says Masumi Washington, Senior Editorial Director. “Both STARTING POINT and TURNING POINT offer collections of essays, interviews, and memoirs that go back to the roots of Miyazaki's childhood, the founding of Studio Ghibli and continues with essays and discussions focusing on some of his most popular films, including Princess Mononoke, and Spirited Away. A captivating must-read for any anime aficionado or fan of the entrepreneurial spirit, these new books are wonderful tributes to a true visionary’s unending dedication and skill as a master storyteller.”

Hayao Miyazaki is one of Japan's most beloved animation directors. His first feature, The Castle of Cagliostro, was released in 1979. His film Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, based on his own manga, was released in 1984. In 1985 Miyazaki cofounded Studio Ghibli, through which he directed the box-office smashes Princess Mononoke (1997) and Spirited Away (2001), which won the Golden Bear at the 2002 Berlin International Film Festival and the Academy Award® for Best Animated Feature Film in 2003. Howl's Moving Castle (2004) received the Osella Award for technical achievement at the 2004 Venice International Film Festival. In 2005 VIFF awarded Miyazaki the Golden Lion Award for Lifetime Achievement. His other acclaimed films include My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki's Delivery Service, and Ponyo. Miyazaki's essays, interviews, and memoirs have been collected in Starting Point: 1979-1996 and Turning Point: 1997-2008. His final film, The Wind Rises, was nominated for both a Golden Globe and Academy Award®.

VIZ Media will also be releasing a stunning full-color hardcover edition, THE ART OF THE WIND RISES, based on Hayao Miyazaki’s latest and final feature film, on April 8th.

For more information on a variety of Hayao Miyazaki titles published by VIZ Media, visit www.VIZ.com.

VIZ Media acquires two new Studio Ghibli Library deluxe editions

This Fall, Studio Ghibli Library Imprint Celebrates Hayao Miyazaki

And His Work On The Acclaimed PRINCESS MONONOKE

VIZ Media rounds out a bevy of recent acquisitions news with the latest announcement of a Studio Ghibli imprint expansion. The critically acclaimed imprint will debut a pair of gorgeously illustrated hardcover books relating to Academy Award-winning director Hayao Miyazaki’s celebrated animated film, Princess Mononoke.

The Studio Ghibli Library imprint is exclusively devoted to the work of iconic Japanese film director Hayao Miyazaki and his famed animation studio. The imprint has collected a substantial catalog of full-color art books, film comics, children’s picture books and other releases celebrating Studio Ghibli films such as Princess Mononoke, Howl’s Moving Castle, Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, Nausicaä Of The Valley Of The Wind, and Pocco Rosso.

THE ART OF PRINCESS MONONOKE • MSRP: $34.99 U.S. / $39.99 CAN • Hardcover Available August 2014
A rerelease of the popular Studio Ghibli art book, featuring an all new translation and presentation. The hardcover edition features insightful interviews, concept sketches, character art and finished animation cels from the critically acclaimed fantasy action film by Oscar-winning director Hayao Miyazaki. Released in 1997, Princess Mononoke was the first Hayao Miyazaki film to break into the American mainstream. The journey from initial idea to the big screen is captured here in stunning detail and also includes a look at Miyazaki’s original concept art and the use of computer graphics technology in the film’s production.

PRINCESS MONONOKE: THE FIRST STORY, by Hayao Miyazaki • MSRP: $34.99 U.S. / $39.99 CAN • Hardcover Available October 2014
An oversized, lavishly illustrated storybook featuring original watercolor art by legendary filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki, this is the original Princess Mononoke story created by Miyazaki in 1980 while he was first conceptualizing the landmark animated film that would later be released to universal acclaim seventeen years later. As an initial version of the tale, it offers a new and different perspective from the final version presented in the film. After a long, exhausting war, a samurai lost in a forest encounters a giant wildcat – a mononoke. The beast saves his life, but at the price of his daughter's hand in marriage...

“These beautiful hardcover editions from the Studio Ghibli imprint are guaranteed to delight serious fans and collectors of the work of Hayao Miyazaki,” says Masumi Washington, Senior Editorial Director. “PRINCESS MONONOKE: THE FIRST STORY is an especially noteworthy release as it details the film’s original origin story, interweaved with many of Miyazaki’s own philosophies on the delicate balance that civilization must maintain with nature. Together with the ART OF PRINCESS MONONOKE, these volumes will be a thrilling way to revisit the landmark film and dive into the amazing details and story behind it.”

For more information on Studio Ghibli Library titles, visit www.viz.com.

ACF 2048: MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO novel and new picture book coming October 1st from VIZ Media

Tonari no Totoro (My Neighbor Totoro) 

© 1988 Nibariki - G

 VIZ MEDIA’S STUDIO GHIBLI LIBRARY IMPRINT RELEASES NEW

MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO NOVEL AND FULL COLOR PICTURE BOOK

Commemorate The 25th Anniversary Of Hayao Miyazaki’s

Landmark Film With MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO: THE NOVEL

And An Updated Edition Of The Official Film Picture Book

Featuring A Special New Cover Design

VIZ Media marks the 25th Anniversary of famed director Hayao Miyazaki’s whimsical animated family fantasy, MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO, with the release on October 1st of MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO: THE NOVEL and a brand new edition of the MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO Picture Book.

Published under VIZ Media’s Studio Ghibli Library imprint, MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO: THE NOVEL carries an MSRP of $17.99 U.S. / $21.00 CAN, and the MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO Picture Book features an MSRP of $19.99 U.S. / $22.99 CAN.

In Hayao Miyazaki’s charming animated classic, eleven-year-old Satsuki and her sassy little sister Mei have moved to the country to be closer to their ailing mother. While their father is working, the girls explore their sprawling old house and the forest and fields that surround it. Soon, Satsuki and Mei discover Totoro, a magical forest spirit who takes them on fantastic adventures through the trees and the clouds – and teaches them a lesson about trusting one another.

MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO: THE NOVEL MSRP: $17.99 U.S. / $21.00 CAN • Available October 1st
 The superbly animated classic by legendary Studio Ghibli director Hayao Miyazaki is now retold in a novel written by Tsugiko Kubo. This prestigious hardcover edition also features original watercolor illustrations by Miyazaki himself, accompanying a story written by veteran children's book author Tsugiko Kubo. Sure to delight both existing fans and new readers!

MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO PICTURE BOOK New Edition • Rated “A” for All Ages • MSRP: $19.99 U.S. / $22.99 CAN • Available October 1st
This companion, full-color book to MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO features artwork taken directly from the movie. The updated edition also features new cover design and allows parents and children to relive Totoro's magical adventures with scene-by-scene illustrations and character dialogue.

“MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO is Hayao Miyazki’s timeless fairy tale for all ages and one of the most internationally acclaimed films to ever come out of Japan,” says Masumi Washington, Sr. Editorial Director. “MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO: THE NOVEL and the new edition of the MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO PICTURE BOOK capture the poignancy and emotion of the story of Satsuki, Mei and their loveable fuzzy forest friends and will be wonderful additions to any Miyazaki fan’s personal library.”

MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO was released in 1988 by Hayao Miyazaki’s Studio Ghibli, which also produced SPIRITED AWAY, PRINCESS MONONOKE, HOWL’S MOVING CASTLE and PONYO. TOTORO is an internationally popular property that has spawned a colorful array of adorable plush characters, toys, collectables and other memorabilia. Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment released the DVD/Blu-ray Edition of MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO earlier this year.

Hayao Miyazaki is one of Japan's most celebrated anime directors. His newest film, The Wind Rises (2013), recounts the early days of aviation and the formative years of Japan's famed World War II Zero fighter plane designer, Jiro Horikoshi. In 2005 Hayao Miyazaki was awarded the Venice International Film Festival's Golden Lion Award for Lifetime Achievement. Miyazaki’s other notable films include Spirited Away, which won the 2002 Academy Award® for Best Animated Feature Film, as well as Castle in the Sky, My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki's Delivery Service, Princess Mononoke, Howl's Moving Castle, and Ponyo, all of which have received great international acclaim. Miyazaki's other achievements include creating the highly regarded manga series Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind and Starting Point: 1979-1996, a collection of essays, interviews, and memoirs that chronicle his early career and the development of his theories of animation. Both are published in English by VIZ Media.

More information on VIZ Media’s Studio Ghibli titles is available at www.VIZ.com.

ACF 1835: FROM UP ON POPPY HILL opens tomorrow in New York

The New York International Children's Film Festival

presents

Studio Ghibli's

From Up on Poppy Hill

Directed by Goro Miyazaki

Written by Hayao Miyazaki

When: Opens Friday, March 15, 2013

Where: IFC Center, 323 Sixth Ave (at West Third)
Map for IFC

and

Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center, 144 West 65TH (Lincoln Center)
Map for Lincoln Center

As part of The New York International Children's Film Festival, GKIDS is proud to present From Up on Poppy Hill, the new film from legendary Studio Ghibli, creators of Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, Princess Mononoke, Kiki's Delivery Service, Howl's Moving Castle, Ponyo, and The Secret World of Arrietty.

The film opens New York on March 15, LA and Toronto on March 22, and expands to major North American markets on March 29.

To purchase tickets or for information about the New York International Children's Film Festival, click here.

ACF 1827: MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO's 25th anniversary celebrated by VIZ

VIZ MEDIA CELEBRATES THE 25th ANNIVERSARY OF

MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO 
WITH TWO NEW RELEASES
FROM THE STUDIO GHIBLI IMPRINT

Upcoming Releases For Fall Include
MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO: A NOVEL
And An Updated Edition Of The Official Film Picture Book
Featuring Special New Cover Design For The Anniversary

VIZ Media celebrates the 25th Anniversary of Hayao Miyazaki’s landmark film with the October 1st release of MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO: A NOVEL and a new edition of the MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO Picture Book.

Published under VIZ Media’s Studio Ghibli Library imprint, MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO: A NOVEL will carry an MSRP of $17.99 U.S. / $21.00 CAN, while the MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO Picture Book will carry an MSRP of $19.99 U.S. / $22.99 CAN.

In the charming animation classic MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO, eleven-year-old Satsuki and her sassy little sister Mei have moved to the country to be closer to their ailing mother. While their father is working, the girls explore their sprawling old house and the forest and fields that surround it. Soon, Satsuki and Mei discover Totoro, a magical forest spirit who takes them on fantastic adventures through the trees and the clouds – and teaches them a lesson about trusting one another.

MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO was created by famed director Hayao Miyazaki and released as a feature film in 1988 by his Studio Ghibli, which also produced Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, Howl’s Moving Castle and Ponyo later on. TOTORO’s popularity soon became an international phenomenon and has spawned a vast array of adorable plush characters, toys, collectables and other memorabilia.

MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO: A NOVEL

MSRP: $17.99 U.S. / $21.00 CAN · Available October 1st 2013

The superbly animated classic by legendary Studio Ghibli director Hayao Miyazaki is now retold in a novel written by Tsugiko Kubo. This prestigious hardcover edition also features original watercolor illustrations by Miyazaki himself, accompanying a story written by veteran children's book author Tsugiko Kubo. Sure to delight both existing fans and new readers! 

MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO picture Book New Edition · Rated “A” for All Ages · MSRP: $19.99 U.S. / $22.99 CAN · Available October 1st 2013

This companion, full-color book to MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO features artwork taken directly from the movie. The updated edition also features new cover design and allows parents and children to relive Totoro's magical adventures with scene-by-scene illustrations and character dialogue.

“MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO was one of the most beloved animated movies ever created by Studio Ghibli, and new and veteran fans alike will now be able to enjoy the adventures of this whimsical gentle forest spirit in a variety of fun ways throughout 2013,” says Masumi Washington, Sr. Editorial Director, Editorial Production. “The gorgeously illustrated MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO: A NOVEL brings Hayao Miyazaki’s classic story to life for readers, and the new edition of the picture book will be a perfect complement to the release later this year of the MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO 25th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray.”

Hayao Miyazaki is one of Japan's most celebrated animation directors. In 2005 he was awarded the Venice International Film Festival's Golden Lion Award for Lifetime Achievement, and his Studio Ghibli received the festival's Osella Award for overall achievement in 2004. Miyazaki's films include Spirited Away, winner of the 2002 Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film, as well as Castle in the Sky, My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki's Delivery Service, Princess Mononoke, Howl's Moving Castle, and Ponyo, all of which have received great acclaim in the U.S. Miyazaki's other achievements include creating the highly regarded manga series Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind and Starting Point: 1979-1996, a collection of essays, interviews, and memoirs that chronicle his early career and the development of his theories of animation. Both are published in English by VIZ Media.

More information on VIZ Media’s Studio Ghibli titles is available at www.VIZ.com.

ACF 1329: THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY film comics, art and picture books coming February 7th

Karigurashi no Arrietty (The Secret World of Arrietty) © 2010 GNDHDDTW
All rights reserved.

VIZ MEDIA BRINGS THE WONDROUS MINIATURE

ADVENTURES OF STUDIO GHIBLI’S

THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY 

TO READERS IN A NEW SERIES OF BOOKS

Releases Based On The New The Film

By Hayao Miyazaki’s Famed Animation Studio

Include Film Comics, Art And Picture Books

VIZ Media brings the miniaturized adventure of famed Studio Ghibli’s newest animated creation – THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY – to readers everywhere with a collection of ARRIETTY film comics, art and picture books set to debut on February 7th, 2012. THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY is scheduled for North American theatrical release on February 17th, 2012.

THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY is based on the celebrated novel, The Borrowers, by Mary Norton and was produced by Studio Ghibli, the famed animation company founded by Hayao Miyazaki, which also created Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, Howl’s Moving Castle and Ponyo. The new film, with planning/screenplay by Hayao Miyazaki and directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi, will feature the voice talents of Bridget Mendler, Amy Poehler, Carol Burnett and Will Arnett for its English language release.

Arrietty isn’t your ordinary fourteen-year-old girl – she is small enough to make her home under the floorboards of a typical house, “borrowing” what she and her family need from the giants in whose shadows they live. A young boy named Shawn befriends Arrietty, but when adults discover the Borrowers, Arrietty and Shawn must work together to save her family.

THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY PICTURE BOOK · Rated “A” for All Ages · MSRP: $19.99 U.S. / $22.99 CAN · Available February 7th, 2012

The colorful and easy-to-read THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY Picture Book is a full-color hardcover edition that will appeal to younger readers especially. The book uses the vividly colored animation cel art from the feature film combined with simplified text to retell the story of Arrietty and her adventures.

THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY FILM COMICS · Rated “A” for All Ages · MSRP: $16.99 U.S. each / $19.99 CAN each · Available February 7th, 2012

The official 2-volume film comic of THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY re-tells the film’s story with vivid full-color frames. 

THE ART OF THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY · Rated “A” for All Ages · MSRP: $34.99 U.S. / $39.99 CAN · Available February 7th, 2012

Co-founded by the legendary filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki, Studio Ghibli films enthrall and enchant audiences across the world. The Art of series gives fans the opportunity to follow their favorite film from initial concept to the silver screen, thanks to hundreds of sketches, concept drawings, and animation cels, plus in-depth interviews with the creators.

“Fans and readers of all ages won’t want to miss these new additions to VIZ Media’s Studio Ghibli Library of titles,” says Masumi Washington, Senior Director, Editorial. “Studio Ghibli has mastered the ability to tell poignant and engaging stories that captivate both children and adults, and their latest film, THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY, continues this tradition. Our forthcoming picture book and film comics are fun ways for young readers to visit the world of ARRIETTY while the gorgeous art book will be a must-have for the ardent Studio Ghibli fan or those who want to know more about the evolution of the film. Discover the adventures in-store for this band of ‘borrowers’ in these new releases scheduled for February!”

More information on VIZ Media’s Studio Ghibli titles is available at www.VIZ.com.

ACF 1278: STUDIO GHIBLI ANIMATION FESTIVAL begins tomorrow at IFC Center

Spirited Away

 STUDIO GHIBLI FESTIVAL

Week 1 Kicks Off Friday with 5 Miyazaki Masterpieces!

Multiple Daily Screenings Start Tomorrow

IFC Center, 323 6th Ave, NYC

NAUSICAÄ OF THE VALLEY OF THE WIND (1984)
Recommended ages 8 to adult

The debut film from Hayao Miyazaki, Nausicaä is considered by many to be his masterwork - and there are few films, animated or otherwise, of such sweeping scope and grandeur. Set in a devastated future world decimated by atmospheric poisons and swarming with gigantic insects, Nausicaä is the story of a young princess, both brave and innocent, whose love for all living things and passionate determination to understand the processes of nature lead her into terrible danger, sacrifice, and eventual triumph.
 

For show times and to purchase tickets, CLICK HERE, then scroll down to specific film.

MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO (1988) 
Recommended all ages

One of the most endearing and internationally renowned films of all time, a film that Roger Ebert called "one of the five best movies" ever made for children, My Neighbor Totoro is a deceptively simple tale of two girls, Satsuki and Mei, who move with their father to a new house in the countryside. They soon discover that the surrounding forests are home to a family of Totoros, gentle but powerful creatures who live in a huge and ancient camphor tree and are seen only by children. Based on Miyazaki's own childhood imaginings, Totoros look like oversized pandas with bunny ears and they take the girls on spinning-top rides through the treetops and introduce them to a furry, multi-pawed Catbus--a nod to Lewis Carroll's Cheshire Cat.

For show times and to purchase tickets, CLICK HERE, then scroll down to specific film.

KIKI'S DELIVERY SERVICE (1989)
Recommended all ages

From the legendary Hayao Miyazaki comes the beloved story of a resourceful young witch who uses her broom to create a delivery service, only to lose her gift of flight in a moment of self-doubt. It is tradition for all young witches to leave their families on the night of a full moon and set out into the wide world to learn their craft. When that night comes for Kiki, she embarks on her life journey with her chatty black cat, Jiji, landing the next morning in a seaside village, where a bakery owner hires her to make deliveries. Rarely has the animator's art been so brilliantly rendered as in this delightfully imaginative film - a beautiful and timeless story of a young girl finding her way in the world.

For show times and to purchase tickets, CLICK HERE, then scroll down to specific film. 

PRINCESS MONONOKE (1997)

Recommended ages 11 to adult

Princess Mononoke is a landmark of animation and a film of unsurpassed power and beauty. An epic story of conflict between humans, gods, and nature, the film has been universally acclaimed by critics and broke the box office record on its original release in Japan. While defending his village from a demonic boar-god, the young warrior Ashitaka becomes afflicted with a curse that grants him super-human power in battle but will eventually take his life. Traveling west to find a cure or meet his destiny, he journeys deep into sacred depths of the Great Forest where he meets San (Princess Mononoke), a girl raised by wolf-gods.

For show times and to purchase tickets, CLICK HERE, then scroll down to specific film. 

SPIRITED AWAY (2002)
Recommended ages 9 to adult

Hayao Miyazaki's Academy Award®-winning masterpiece Spirited Away was the biggest box office hit of all time in Japan and a film that helped redefine the possibilities of animation for American audiences and a generation of new filmmakers. Combining Japanese mythology with Through the Looking Glass-type whimsy, Spirited Away cemented Miyazaki's reputation as an icon of inspired animation and wondrous, lyrical storytelling.

For show times and to purchase tickets, CLICK HERE, then scroll down to specific film. 

ACF 347: VIZ to publish series of new releases based on Miyazaki's Ponyo

VIZ MEDIA WILL DAZZLE READERS WITH A TRIO OF NEW RELEASES BASED ON CELEBRATED NEW HAYAO MIYAZAKI FILM PONYO

New VIZ Media Titles Include 4-Volume
Official Film Comic, Picture Book And Art Book

VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media) has announced that it will publish a series of new releases based on Ponyo, the new animated film from Studio Ghibli and Academy Award®-winning director and world-renowned Japanese animation legend Hayao Miyazaki.

To support the release, VIZ Media will offer the official 4-volume full-color PONYO Film Comic, a PONYO Picture Book, and THE ART OF PONYO, which presents a comprehensive collection of original art, sketches, character designs and storyboards from the film. Walt Disney Studios will release PONYO throughout North America on August 14, 2009.

PONYO is a wondrously imaginative retelling of the timeless Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale “The Little Mermaid,” and offers the adventures of little fish-girl named Ponyo, whose father happens to be a great sorcerer of the seas. Trapped in a jar during one of her escapades, she washes ashore where five-year-old Sosuke releases her and renames her Ponyo. In an effort to stay close to her new friend, Ponyo tries to transform herself into a human, causing a great imbalance between their two worlds. A subtle message of the unfathomable threads that connect all forms of life is woven artfully throughout this enchanting film.

PONYO FILM COMIC, Vols. 1-2 · Rated ‘A’ for All Ages · MSRP: $9.99 U.S. / $11.50 CAN · Available August 4 · Vols. 3-4 · Available August 11, 2009

From the Academy Award®-winning director and world-renowned Japanese animation legend Hayao Miyazaki comes PONYO, a story inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale “The Little Mermaid.” Already a box-office success in Japan, the story of a young and overeager goldfish named Ponyo (voiced by NOAH CYRUS) and her quest to become human features an outstanding roster of voice talent including CATE BLANCHETT, MATT DAMON, TINA FEY, CLORIS LEACHMAN, LIAM NEESON, LILY TOMLIN, BETTY WHITE and FRANKIE JONAS as Sosuke, a young boy who befriends Ponyo. The official 4-volume film comic of PONYO re-tells the film’s story with vivid full-color frames.

PONYO PICTURE BOOK · Rated ‘A’ for All Ages · MSRP: $19.99 U.S. / $23.50 CAN · Available August 4

The colorful and easy-to-read PONYO on the Cliff by the Sea Picture Book is a fabulous hardcover edition that will appeal especially to younger readers. The book uses the vividly colored animation cel art from the feature film combined with simplified text to retell the story of Ponyo and her adventures in the human world.

The Art of PONYO · Rated ‘A’ for All Ages · MSRP: $34.99 U.S. / $39.99 CAN · Available August 11

A comprehensive soft cover edition that features striking watercolor and pastel concept sketches and layout pages from the film, as well as interviews with production principals and the complete screenplay to give an inside look at the entire creative process behind PONYO.

“Hayao Miyazaki is without question Japan’s most celebrated animation director, and we are privileged and extremely excited to announce the release of this new collection of titles in support of his newest film, PONYO,” says Gozalo Ferreyra, Vice President Sales & Marketing, VIZ Media. “The film garnered rave reviews and grossed more than $165 million during its initial theatrical run in Japan, making it that country’s highest grossing movie for 2008. In an age of computer graphics, Miyazaki made a very bold choice to animate this film by hand. As domestic audiences have come to know and love this creative visionary, we look forward to them discovering PONYO and this new collection of impressive releases from VIZ Media!”

Hayao Miyazaki is one of Japan's most beloved animation directors. In September 2005 he was awarded the Venice International Film Festival's prestigious Golden Lion Award for Lifetime Achievement and his animation company, Studio Ghibli, also received the Festival's Osella Award for overall achievement in 2004. Miyazaki's films include SPIRITED AWAY, winner of the 2002 Academy Award® for Best Animated Feature Film, as well as PRINCESS MONONOKE, MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO and HOWL’S MOVING CASTLE, all of which have received tremendous international acclaim. Miyazaki's other achievements include the highly regarded manga series NAUSICAÄ OF THE VALLEY OF THE WIND, which is also published in English by VIZ Media.

ACF 346: "Starting Point: 1979 ~ 1996" - writings and manga from Hayao Miyazaki

STARTING POINT: 1979-1996
TRACES THE FIRST HALF OF THE CAREER OF FAMED

ANIMATION DIRECTOR HAYAO MIYAZAKI

Comprehensive Edition Will Debut As Miyazaki’s Latest Animated Film

Hits Theatres In North America This Summer

VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media) has announced the publication of the first of a new collection of essays, interviews, memoirs and manga from legendary animation director, Hayao Miyazaki, titled STARTING POINT: 1979-1996. STARTING POINT: 1979-1996 has an estimated street date of August 4th and will carry an MSRP of $29.99 US and $34.99 Canada.

The book will cover the first-half of Miyazaki’s legendary career, during which he rose from humble beginnings to create some of the most seminal animated features ever made, including Nausicaä Of The Valley Of The Wind, Castle In The Sky, My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki’s Delivery Service and Porco Rosso, as well as his launch of Studio Ghibli. A fitting introduction is offered by John Lasseter, the Chief Creative Officer at Pixar and Walt Disney. Ponyo is Miyazaki’s newest feature film and will be released by Walt Disney in North America this August.

Hayao Miyazaki is one of the world’s most beloved animation directors. In September 2005 he was awarded the Venice International Film Festival's Golden Lion Award for Lifetime Achievement, and his Studio Ghibli received the Festival's Osella Award for overall achievement in 2004. His notable films include Spirited Away, winner of the 2002 Academy Award® for Best Animated Feature Film, as well as Princess Mononoke and Howl’s Moving Castle, all of which have received tremendous acclaim in the U.S.

Miyazaki’s other achievements include the highly regarded manga series NAUSICAä OF THE VALLEY OF THE WIND, which is also published domestically by VIZ Media (rated ‘T’ for Teens). VIZ Media also publishes many other Hayo Miyazaki books including the for CASTLE IN THE SKY, HOWL’S MOVING CASTLE, SPIRITED AWAY, PRINCESS MONONOKE and more. VIZ Media also publishes many of Hayo Miyazaki’s beautiful and engaging Art Books and Picture Books.

“Hayao Miyazaki is known and loved around the world for his imaginative films that continue to delight children and adults,” says Gonzalo Ferreyra, Vice President, Sales & Marketing for VIZ Media. “STARTING POINT presents, in Miyazaki’s own words, his philosophies towards life, his work, the animation industry both in Japan and abroad, and his creative inspirations and motivations. He also offers lots of stories, many of them quite humorous, which show the extent of his complete dedication to animated film and the people with whom he works. We invite fans to enjoy this chronicle of the life of a man whose own dreams have come true.”

In the first two decades of his career, filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki laid the groundwork for his legendary movies. STARTING POINT is a collection of essays, interviews, and memoirs that go back to the roots of Miyazaki's childhood, the formulation of his theories of animation, and the founding of Studio Ghibli.

Before directing such acclaimed films as Spirited Away, Miyazaki was just another salaried animator, but with a vision of his own. Follow him as he takes his first steps on the road to success, experience his frustrations with the manga and animation industries that often suffocate creativity, and realize the importance of bringing the childhood dreams of the world to life.

VIZ Media will also be releasing the PONYO PICTURE BOOK and THE ART OF PONYO, both due to release on August 4, 2009. Volumes 1 and 2 of THE PONYO FILM COMIC will be released on August 11th, with other volumes to follow.

For more information on any VIZ Media titles, please visit www.viz.com.