BFI Studio Ghibli Feature Film Retrospective

The British Film Institute Southbank will be hosting a retrospective on Studio Ghibli's work over the last 30 years from April through May this year. Not only will they be showing all of their biggest films, but they will also be screening The Wind Rises before it even hits theatres on 9th May. Although the showing of The Wind Rises is set for 23rd April and is already sold out, there are still many films on the roster that are definitely worth taking a look particularly as these films are meant to be enjoyed on the big screen and not on a television set.

New UK Trailer and Release Date for The Wind Rises

The Wind Rises will finally show in the UK on 9th May! Thanks to The Telegraph, we also have a new trailer just for the occasion. Check it out:

The Art of The Wind Rises Book Coming Very Soon

Since it was announced that The Wind Rises would be Hayao Miyazaki's final film, I have been anticipating the release of the art book. Viz Media announced last week, via the Anime News Network, that they would be publishing The Art of The Wind Rises on 8th April - which is just days away - for the price of $34.00 USD/$39.99 CAN.

86th Annual Academy Awards Predictions

Oscar night is upon us once again, so it's time for me to start pretending I know what I'm talking about and venture my guesses as to what's going to take home tonight's big awards! The animation awards are listed first, then the rest of the categories below that.

4th Annual A113Animation Awards Results

It feels strangely surreal that our little animation blog has been going long enough to be at its 4th annual Awards, but here we are. 2012 was an incredibly strong year for animation, 2013 was less strong. There were some really good animated films released last year, but far fewer great ones than in previous years. As opposed to last year, then, there wasn't much of a spread of awards this year; one film dominated, and you'll never guess which one... So, check out the results below: the winners are in bold and there's a breakdown of who won what and why at the bottom.

Frozen Wins Big at the Annie Awards

Disney's hot streak with Frozen is continuing into awards season now. The icy musical, which has now made $864 million worldwide (making it the third highest-grossing film of 2013), had a strong showing at the 41st Annie Awards (animation's self-titled "highest honour") a couple of nights ago, taking home, amongst other awards, Best Animated Feature! Check out our full breakdown of the results after the jump.

Oscar Nominations Are In! Here's What's Competing This Year.

The Oscar nominations for the 86th annual Academy Awards are in! There's a lot of deserving films nominated; American Hustle and Gravity are leading the pack with 10 nominations each, with hotly-tipped 12 Years a Slave racking up 9. But there are some strange choices in the categories that concern animation...

Joseph Gordon-Levitt To Front English-Language Dub of Miyazaki's The Wind Rises

Hayao Miyazaki's ostensibly final film, The Wind Rises, is earning a lot of praise right now - just yesterday it was one of five animated films to get nominated for this year's Critics' Choice Award for Best Animated Feature. As such, the English-language dub of the film isn't far off. And while English dubs are often a bit of an irritant or distraction (Spirited Away, Ponyo, etc...), this one, fronted by Internet-favourite Joseph Gordon-Levitt, is really rather exciting.

2014 Critics' Choice Nominations Revealed

Awards season is starting to gear up now, and you'll be happy to hear, after the somewhat controversial Golden Globe nominations last week, that the nominations for the 2014 Critics' Choice Awards are a lot more in line with what we were expecting. That is to say, Pixar's Monsters University and Hayao Miyazaki's The Wind Rises, notable omissions from the Globes, are both included in the animation line-up. Check the full list of five nominees for Best Animated Feature below.

Charming New Poster for The Wind Rises

Today is the last day to catch The Wind Rises in select theatres if you live near LA or New York City. If you happened to miss the screenings, couldn't scrape enough money to fly out, or just had to do laundry, no worries! There will be another American limited release starting 21st February, 2014 before it is released wide on 28th February, although those release dates come with the American dub.

In the meantime, enjoy the new English poster for the film, or read about the sudden controversy it's received from American critics (mostly the MPAA, really), and read up on my review of the film, which I had the opportunity to watch at the New York Film Festival.

Via /Film

The Wind Rises's Upcoming U.S. Release Stirs Up More Controversy

The Wind Rises will be opening in LA and New York City this weekend from the 8th through the 14th of November for an Oscar qualifying run. Though my review of the film, along with others, from the New York Film Festival, was incredibly positive, there's been some apprehension popping up regarding its US release.

Frozen, The Wind Rises, Monsters U and 16 More Submitted for Oscar Consideration

AMPAS have announced the 19 animated film that are in contention for a nomination for Best Animated Feature at the upcoming 86th Academy Awards. Among the contenders are the likely big-name frontrunners: Disney's upcoming Frozen, Miyazaki's final film, The Wind Rises, and Pixar's latest, Monsters University; there are also smaller scale films, like French animated pic, Ernest & Celestine (which won the Best Animated Film gong at the César Awards, the French equivalent to the Oscars, back in February). Check out the full list of films submitted for consideration below, complete with their Rotten Tomatoes score (current at the time of writing), where there is one.

The Wind Rises Review [NYFF]

I had the immense privilege to attend the New York Film Festival on Saturday 28th of September, and watch a screening of The Wind Rises. Being Hayao Miyazaki's last film (as far as we know), and a Studio Ghibli creation, expectations were high. I, along with a vast audience of maybe 300 people, got to enjoy a wonderful story the way it should be enjoyed: on the big screen, with fellow enthusiasts and loved ones held close.

A Short Note to Hayao Miyazaki Upon his Retirement

Dearest Miyazaki,

I never thought I would have to write these words, as I ignored the fact that the day would come when we would hear that you were stepping out of our worlds, and receding into your own. But the time has finally arrived, and though I recognize your reasons as good, solid reasons, I still feel a bit empty at the news of your retirement. I, like many of your fans, have spent many a night cuddled in blankets holding a cat, a stuffed Totoro, or a loved one watching your wonderful fables imagining a cross between our worlds.

Hayao Miyazaki of Studio Ghibli on Retiring

Studio Ghibli's Hayao Miyazaki finally released a statement over the weekend about his retirement. Throughout the recording, Miyazaki is cheerful, respectful, and honourable, just as he's been throughout his entire duration at Studio Ghibli.

Studio Ghibli's Hayao Miyazaki to Retire (Again)

Studio Ghibli has shocked audiences and fans as co-studio head Hoshino Koji announced that Hayao Miyazaki will be retiring, making The Wind Rises the final film written and directed by Miyazaki. The announcement was made at the Venice Film Festival in Italy where The Wind Rises is currently competing. Though no further details were given, we can expect an official announcement from Miyazaki in the coming weeks.

Disney to Distribute The Wind Rises in North America

Though Studio Ghibli's latest, The Wind Rises, has opened to some controversy, Disney has decided to go ahead and handle the American distribution for the film. This was somewhat expected as Disney has handled much of Studio Ghibli's distribution in the past.

Hideaki Anno Wants Nausicaä Sequel, But What About Hayao Miyazaki?

When I saw the below Tweet, a rush of emotions flooded through me. First, surprise, then wonder, and finally nervousness. After some digging, I'm a little less on edge but I still have a lot of questions.

Miyazaki Happy For EVANGELION Creator To Direct NAUSICAA 2 http://t.co/YCBt6WZJQi
— TWITCH (@TwitchFilm) August 23, 2013

This Week on A113Animation (12th - 18th August, 2013)

This has been a pretty quiet week for animation news - particularly when compared to last week's D23-packed greatness. Nonetheless, we got a few interested titbits - the expected, almost weekly, Marvel casting rumours, some Disney Blu-ray news and more. Your usual features are here again, as is a new Ghibli, war and more-themed editorial by Mayra. Check out your recap of everything animation-related that went down this week on A113Animation, below.

Hayao Miyazaki, Studio Ghibli and War

If you are an avid Studio Ghibli watcher, you know that many of Hayao Miyazaki's films incorporate some of the toughest themes to be covered by animated films. Studio Ghibli doesn't just do coming-of-age stories (Kiki's Delivery Service, My Neighbor Totoro), or romance based stories (Only Yesterday, Whisper of the Heart) they also do fantastical moral stories (Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle). But the biggest theme Studio Ghibli covers is the theme of the morality of war and violence (or lack thereof). From Miyazaki's pre-Studio Ghibli days, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, to his most noted, Princess Mononoke, and even his most recent, The Wind Rises, Hayao Miyazaki chooses to highlight humanity in the midst of violent turmoil, and war. But the reasons the studio chooses to do so can be more striking than the films themselves.