Today is a great day for fans of anime master Hayao Miyazaki as two of his most popular movies arrive on DVD and Blu-ray in the U.S., thanks to Disney Home Entertainment. First up, there’s the new Blu-ray, high-def version of Howl’s Moving Castle (2004), which follows Sophie (voiced by Emily Mortimer), a hardworking teenage girl whose simple life changes when she meets a handsome but mysterious wizard named Howl (Christian Bale) and attracts the jealous anger of the Witch of the Wast (Lauren Bacall) who turns the girl into a 90-year-old woman (Jean Simmons). Blu-ray bonus features include original storyboards, Japanese TV spots and trailers, “Behind the Microphone,” interview with Pixar’s Pete Docter, and Hello Mr. Lasseter: Hayao Miyazaki Visits Pixar Animation Studios. (Official price: $39.99, $29.99 on amazon)
In My Neighbor Totoro (1988), two young sisters Satsuki (Dakota Fanning) and Mei (Elle Fanning) move with their father to a new house in the countryside, where they discover fantastic creatures and the giant but kindly forest spirit Totoro who leads them on an incredible journey. Blu-ray bonuses include original storyboards, Japanese trailer, “Behind the Microphone,” and a series of “Behind the Studio” featurettes: Creating My Neighbor Totoro, Creating the Characters, The Totoro Experience, Producer’s Perspective: Creating Ghibli, The Locations of Totoro and Scoring Miyazaki. ($39.99, $29.99 on amazon)
Visit www.animationmagazine.net/contest for a chance to win these titles.
This week’s other hot animated titles include:
The Aquabats! Super Show! Season One! (Shout! Factory, $19.93)
Best of Warner Bros.: 25 Cartoon Collection Hanna-Barbera (Warner Bros., $26.99)
Lego Batman: The Movie DC Super Heroes Unite (Warner Bros., Blu-ray: $24.98, DVD: $19.98)
Monsuno: Power (Shout! Factory, $14.97)
Pound Puppies: Mission Adoption (Shout! Factory, $9.99)
The Roman Holidays: The Complete Series (Warner Bros. $29.99)
