TALES FROM
EARTHSEA is in the usual vein of Miyazaki films from Studio Ghibli. This film is directed by the son of Hayao
Miyazaki, Goro. The film has received mixed responses from fans of Miyazaki films and Ursula K Le Guin's Earthsea novels.
TALES FROM EARTHSEA was originally intended by Hayao to direct as a series of movies and he ended up making NAUSICAA
OF THE VALLEY OF THE WIND instead. Goro made the film when Ursula gave her blessing for an animated film to be
made by Hayao, but Hayao had to pass due to his work on HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE. The film didn't get a wide release as
other Ghibli films overseas.
TALES FROM EARTHSEA does play out like a lesser Studio Ghibli film with all of the elements
you expect from Ghibli. I have read the film took elements from several Earthsea books and it makes me wonder
if a different film could have been made if Goro focused on one book instead of patching elements from several novels
with the Studio Ghibli formula to tie it all together. TALES FROM EARTHSEA is an enjoyable anime
film and yet not a Ghibli film that demands re-watching like HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE and CASTLE IN THE SKY or
even PRINCESS MONONOKE.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
BEHIND THE STUDIO shows how the film came to be made- the origins of the film. It is
interesting and yet brief, I wish they had a featurette on the making of the film itself.
Also on the disc are an interactive map into the lands of STUDIO GHIBLI animated films in addition
to a trivia challenge.
FINAL ANALYSIS: TALES FROM EARTHSEA is an
enjoyable Studio Ghibli film and yet it isn't one of the classic Ghibli films.
this DVD review is (c)4-09-2011 David Blackwell and cannot be reprinted without permission. send
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