Disney Aquires Sen to Chihiro, Lasseter to Dub
peter_gzowski writes "Disney
has finally announced that it will be bringing Miyazaki's anime masterpiece Sen
to Chihiro (Spirited Away) over to North American theaters. Sen to Chihiro is
the most successful non-U.S. produced movie in the world. It has grossed about 30 billion yen ($226 million U.S.), which is more than Titanic (the previous record holder). We can expect it to be here around July."
John Lasseter of Pixar fame is lined up to consult on the dub. No voices
yet confirmed, but John: I'm available and willing.
The article wasn't referring to worldwide gross, but to the gross in Japan. No, this wasn't made crystal clear, but I think that most otaku (the hardcore anime fans/nerds to whom the article was directed) probably surmised it.
:-)
Otaku would find this statistic significant without requiring further elaboration because they already know that Princess Mononoke, also a Miyazaki creation, was the biggest grossing film in Japanese history until being supplanted by the inferior Titanic. That Miyazaki is champion again is gratifying.
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"Otaku" does not mean hard-core anime fan. This is a mis-use common amongst American / western anime fans. Otaku is a word used to refer to someone who is REALLY into something, a fanatic, someone obsessed with something.
I have lived in Japan for the last 5 years. I have met people who take pictures of trains. They are otaku. My friend jokes that I was an origami otaku when I spent a few weeks making origami during all my free time at work. My (Japanese) wife says her boss is a computer otaku. This is a lighter joking way to use otaku, but it can be applied to any kind of hobby. The word in no way carries any connotations that are exclusive to manga or anime. An 'otaku' is someone who is a little strange.
Most of the perfectly normal Japanese kids I have known who enjoy reading manga and watching anime are NOT otaku. I have heard of a guy who had finished high school and hadn't looked for a job - he stayed in his room all day with the door closed reading manga, only leaving the house to buy more manga. That WOULD be a manga otaku.
Now about this story... I am really excited to hear that Sen to Chihiro will be available in English. I recal seeing the trailers for this movie for months while in the theatre to see other movies. It looked wierd but wonderful and the author is legendary.