Tag: GKIDS

Is This Studio Ghibli Blu-ray/DVD Re-release Worth Waiting For?

GKIDS is rereleasing all Studio Ghibli’s films in all new packaging!

Studio Ghibli and GKIDS, with distribution by Shout! Factory, will soon have on shelves in North America several titles from the library of Studio Ghibli this fall on Blu-ray & DVD Combo Pack and on DVD. The former versions from Disney had tiny issues which made them far from perfect and those fans who complained of the “red tint” problem with Spirited Away may well consider this remastered version (if they have not bought the Japanese version).

This new release promises significant upgrades to one of the world’s most coveted animation collections. Part of Studio Ghibli’s catalog of films to get this re-release includes Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, Howl’s Moving Castle, Ponyo, Kiki’s Delivery Service and Princess Mononoke. These will arrive on October 17, 2017. Castle in the Sky and Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind will be released on October 31, and The Secret World of Arrietty and Porco Rosso will follow on November 21. There’s no word of other titles like Pom Poko will see a Region 1 side release also. Essentially, this particular set spotlights the works of Hayao Miyazaki.

Continue reading “Is This Studio Ghibli Blu-ray/DVD Re-release Worth Waiting For?”

[Victoria Film Festival 2017] Dreaming About My Life as a Zucchini & Upcoming Dates

ma_vie_de_courgetteBy Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

GKIDS USA release date:
February 24, 2017

Once in a while, a stop-motion animated film will amaze. My Life as a Zucchini (the English title of the Swiss-French Ma vie de Courgette) has a wonderful artistic design to it, reminiscent of Tim Burton’s wide-eyed look. This movie is based on the book by Gilles Paris and just like it, the story touches on the tough themes of how kids dealing with abandonment. At the same time, audiences get to learn about what establishing of a family, related or not, means. Icare (who prefers the nickname Zucchini – Courgette in French) is the protagonist, and after a quick look at his home life, his next day looks like a complete disaster. He may have or not have accidentally caused the death of his mother. She was drunk and aggressive towards her boy, so it’s tough to say if what happened was her fault or his. We never truly know when the titles roll.

Without any adults in his life, he now faces an uncertain future while living at an orphanage. He finds others like him and in some people’s eyes, they are damaged goods because of why they were placed here. Simon, the bully of this estate reveals all, but after an instance where Courgette shows he’s not afraid, becomes his friend (perhaps maybe too quickly) and as the two come to realize their existence is meaningless, just where this movie goes depends on how quick viewers are to notice the signs.

Continue reading “[Victoria Film Festival 2017] Dreaming About My Life as a Zucchini & Upcoming Dates”