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Reviews
Hôhokekyo tonari no Yamada-kun (1999)
A departure for Studio Ghibli, but definitely worth seeing!
This film is a definite departure for Studio Ghibli. It's the first Ghibli film to be 100% digital, and there is no real continuing storyline to the movie. Computers were used to achieve the watercolor-style coloring used throughout the movie. It's a collection of short vignettes based on the 4-panel comic strips by Hisaichi ISHII which continues to run the the Asahi Shinbun (the title of the comic has been changed to "Nono-chan").
My personal favorite is the appearance of Gekko Kamen (The Masked Moonbeam), based on a Japanese TV series by the same name from the 1950s or 1960s (I forget the exact years).
Not everyone will enjoy the film, and because of the many cultural references it will be a hard-sell outside of Japan, but it's definitely worth seeing.
Mononoke-hime (1997)
An excellent climax to Miyazaki's career!
This is one of the most visually-stunning films I have ever seen. The story is paced well; the action is well done; I recommend this movie to anyone!
The story follows Ashitaka, a warrior who must find a cure to the curse he received at the hand of a dying god. His journey takes him to western Japan where he finds San, a human girl raised by the giant wolf-god, Moro. She is engaged in a deadly war with Eboshi, leader of a clan of iron-worker.
I don't want to spoil the movie for anyone who hasn't seen it. Suffice it to say that anyone, including those unfamiliar with Japanese animation, will find this to be a thrilling, action-filled adventure. The movie does contain scenes of graphic violence, so I suggest parental discretion.
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