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Miyazaki's Future w/ Disney

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the wonder-where-this-will-go dept.

An anonymous reader sent us an interesting little article about Miyazaki and Disney. Disney of course owns the rights to distribute his films (like to pick a gigantic example Princess Mononoke) to worldwide audiences. Apparently lackluster profits from Mononoke may jeopradize future Miyazaki titles release in the US, which would be terribly unfortunate considering that in the end, the DVD release of Mononoke was absolutely wonderful (although its a somewhat dark film for Mouse) This is all tied to Spirited Away, his latest film which is apparently doing great things at the Japanese Box Office.

9 of 170 comments (clear)

  1. What a shame... by Captain_Frisk · · Score: 5, Interesting

    What a shame it is that the big corporations have to market to the lowest common denominator. I too own the DVD of Princess Mononoke, and I love it. I think it really stinks that instead of getting quality movies released, Disney puts out crap like Atlantis, Spy Kids or most recently the Princess Diaries, because they know that people will pay for them.

    I read an article over at c|net yesterday discussing the idea of "critic proof" movies (they related it to Windows XP), movies that are commercially successful even though the critics hate them, like Tomb Raider, and most action movies. I dislike that they are willing to release movies like this. It seems like nearly everything released recently falls under this category. I haven't been to the movie theater in months.

    Captain_Frisk

    1. Re:What a shame... by JohnG · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Actually, I've taken quite the opposite view of yours alot. Not that current generation of movies are great, but that critics generally aren't worth a damn. If I wanted somebodies opinion of a movie, I'd ask my cousin, who has very similar taste in movies to me. Critics are paid to give an opinion on an almost entirely subjective matter. Everyone's likes and dislikes are different. Critics seem altogether pointless to me.

    2. Re:What a shame... by stang · · Score: 3, Funny

      movies that are commercially successful even though the critics hate them, like Tomb Raider

      What do you mean, critics hate them? All the ads *I* saw for Tomb Raider said things like:

      • "Wow! Blockbuster movie of the Year!"
      • "Angelina Jolie is incredible!"
      • "The Must-See Movie Event of the Summer!!!"
      • "If you only leave your house once, do it and go see Tomb Raider -- holy cow, it's just that good!!!!!!!!!!"
      • "It changed my life forever!!"

      Oh, sure, the critic in the paper hated it, but who reads those guys, buried in back of the weekly calendar section? I mean, really, man.

      --
      "200 Quatloos on the newcomer!" "300 Quatloos against!"
    3. Re:What a shame... by SuiteSisterMary · · Score: 4, Funny

      Yeah, but it's what you DIDN'T see in the quote. One thing I'll never say about Tomb Raider is Wow! Blockbuster movie of the Year! When I saw how horrid she was, I said Angelina Jolie is incredible! You don't see acting that bad every day! The Must-See Movie Event Of The Summer!!! Sado-masochists everywhere agree! The studios would like me to say If you only leave your house once, do it and go see Tomb Raider -- holy cow, it's just that good!!!!!!!!! but they didn't offer me NEARLY enough dough. It changed my life forever!! I can never love theater again! It's all in the editing.

      --
      Vintage computer games and RPG books available. Email me if you're interested.
  2. Advertizing? by ajs · · Score: 4, Funny

    I've never seen an ad for Mononoke (though, of course, I own the DVD). It's interesting that Disney's compaining about sales but has never really pushed the film....

    1. Re:Advertizing? by Robotech_Master · · Score: 4, Informative

      Disney didn't just make the decision on the spur of the moment. They apparently did test-market it in some cities in Minneapolis, going full out on advertising and stuff there. Unfortunately, even with the ad campaign, it bombed, and Disney must have decided to cut their losses and not "throw good money after bad" on advertising. Too bad, but these things happen.

      --
      Editor Emeritus and Senior Writer, TeleRead.org
  3. BTW... by Wakko+Warner · · Score: 3, Insightful

    ...if all you've seen is Mononoke, you'd do well to see Miyazaki's other films as well. I call them films because to call them simply anime or (even worse) "cartoons" is like spitting on a Picasso by calling it a "drawing".

    - A.P.

    --
    "Remember when the U.S. had a drug problem, and then we declared a War On Drugs, and now you can't buy drugs anymore?"
  4. Do you see why we want to pirate films? by Katravax · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I first saw a fansub of Nausicaa in the eighties at GenCon, and though already a fan of anime, had never seen something so beautiful. Like many others, I fell in love with it, and wanted more.

    Thus the problem. How do you get a copy of a film that no one will distribute here? I'd be thrilled to pay just about any amount of money if someone would just sell the thing. Instead, we're forced to sneak around just to enjoy the art. I wrote Disney a letter thanking them for releasing Mononoke and Kiki (charming movie, even with Phil Hartman's Gigi), and telling them I hoped they would do the same high-quality releases for Miyazaki's other films.

    But nothing. We still have their wonderful Mononoke DVD release, and the so-so pan and scan of Kiki, of which every copy I've seen is too bright. They also distributed a widescreen Japanese-language Kiki with English subtitles -- but on VHS only. When I want to see any other Miyazaki films, I have no choice but to view pirated versions.

    I know my complaints are old, but they're also current. I am going to watch the movies, even if it means breaking the law. Isn't that a hoot? Having to break the law to watch a family-friendly animated movie. Of course Disney would throw a fit, and Studio Ghibli sure doesn't like it either, but I'm ready, willing, and able to give them money -- even if they want to overcharge -- but they won't sell them!

    So is it any wonder that fans of these movies pirate them when there's no legal option for obtaining them? Even Miyazaki fan sites, like http://www.nausicaa.net denounce piracy. But it's sort of two-faced, because that's the only option THEY have for watching the films too. It's very frustrating.

  5. Weak theatrical release of Mononoke. by supabeast! · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Given the weak treatment Disney gave the theatrical release of Mononoke, I can see why Miyazaki would be concerned. Disney spent a ton of money doing one of the best anime dubs ever, and then released the movie to a handful of arty theatres, most of which were located in major cites. Most of the US population never even had a chance to go see the movie.

    On top of that, advertising was weak, with short commercials restricted to slimly targeted timeslots.

    I almost wonder if Disney did this with Mononoke because they did not realize until AFTER buying the rights that it would be competing with Disney's own animated films, which of late have been generally poor compared to older films, and also bear a heavy semblance to anime style. Perhaps Disney is pushing Miyazaki's work to the back burner to protect the films where they get exclusive profits.