Reactions to Earthsea

A blog I like, Mutant Frog, has some notes about the response in Japan regarding Earthsea, the new Ghibli film (that I really liked, by the way). It topped Japan's box office in its opening week, but some feel the animation by the team led by Goro Miyazaki was not up to the task.

There is also a link to the author Ursula K. Le Guin, who was initially disappointed by the film. I wish she would watch it again, and find that Ghibli's Earthsea is about a beautiful but barren world, far away in time, and that it is great art. I liked her comment at the end:

Though I think the dragons of my Earthsea are more beautiful, I admire the noble way Goro's dragons fold their wings. The animals of his imagination are seen with much tenderness — I liked the horse-llama's expressive ears. I very much liked the scenes of plowing, drawing water, stabling the animals, and so on, which give the film an earthy and practical calmness — a wise change of pace from constant conflict and "action". In them, at least, I recognised my Earthsea.

Hmm... As I read more how Ghibli negotiated with Ms. Le Guin, I can understand some of her sentiments. Why did they tell her that Hayao Miyazaki was going to retire, and never make another film? That was a lie!

Ghibli Tavern, an online discussion board about animation and Ghibli films.

Tales from Earthsea previous

(Images from Ghibli World)