Lots going on at the house of Totoro this week – first off is an excellent and insightful interview with Ghibli animator and art director Kosaka Kitaro (Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honneamise, Akira, Spirited Away and Ponyo on a Cliff by the Sea among many, many others) over at Ghibli World. Here’s a tasty extract:

In fact, it is evident how Miyazaki’s films, notwithstanding their highly imaginative stories, tend to present characters which are deeply human in their behavior and sensibility…

I believe that the fantasy elements, which are so evident in the latest Ghibli productions, have a meaning which is deeper than what may superficially appear. That is to say, I do not think that Miyazaki’s stories have to be considered as simple flights from the real world of everyday problems. On the contrary, I think that Ghibli fantasies are a form of criticism of the human intellect. A criticism that works in the way of a negation. The contemporary society is something familiar to us, and we are used to its positive or frightening aspects. Ghibli films allow a critical separation from this context, because they show the world we passively live in from a whole new perspective. For example, we may have lost interest in blades of grass: however, I hope that someone, after having seen blades of grass in a Ghibli film, moving and transfigured by the detailed stylization of the drawings, will find a new pleasure in looking carefully when passing by a real meadow.

Also over at Ghibli World, news that VIZ Media is translating and releasing Miyazaki’s book Shuppatsu Ten 1979-1996 (Starting Point: 1979-1996) in the west. From the site:

Shuppatsu Ten includes about 90 essays, talks, lectures, movie plans and texts that were contributed to various newspapers, magazines and other publications from 1979 to 1996. During the last 13 years of those, his most active period, Miyazaki Hayao established Studio Ghibli and directed & produced 10 masterpiece films: Nausicaa, Laputa, Totoro, Kiki, Only Yesterday, Porco, Pompoko, Whisper and Mononoke. Miyazaki tells many episodes around these films and insider anecdotes on Japan’s animation industry. And… every one of them is interesting.

It’s out in June, to coincide with the Ponyo theatrical launch – GW has more details, along with an interview with VIZ editor Nick Mamatas.

And finally, following on from my recent review of the excellent Kazuo Oga Blu-ray, is news of a further documentary release: Ghibli no Fūkei: Miyazaki Sakuhin ga Kaita Nihon/Miyazaki Sakuhin to Deau Europa no Tabi (Ghibli’s Scenery: The Japan Depicted by Miyazaki’s Works/A Trip of the Europe Encountered in Miyazaki’s Works). According to Anime News Network, it features:

..two television documentaries about the real-life locales that inspired the movies of studio co-founder Hayao Miyazaki. In the 2008 Miyazaki Sakuhin ga Kaita Nihon documentary which ran on the BS NTV satellite channel, actress Mayu Tsuruta visited the Japanese sites of yesteryear that informed the artwork in My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away, and Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea.

In 2006′s Miyazaki Sakuhin to Deau Europa no Tabi documentary from the same channel and upcoming home video release, actress Yui Natsukawa (Gedo Senki, Onmyoji) visited Stockholm and Gotland, two locales in Sweden which served as the model for the fictional town of Koriko in Miyazaki’s Kiki’s Delivery Service film. In addition, actor Tetta Sugimoto (Higurashi no Naku Koro ni, Mei-chan no Shitsuji) travels to the French region of Alsace to “find” the hometown of the heroine Sophie from Howl’s Moving Castle.

Sounds like yet another essential – though probably expensive – purchase, judging by the quality of the Oga-san BR, and one I might see if I can pick up next time I’m over there. It’s good to see Ghibli taking the format seriously, though still no word on when we can expect releases of their actual back catalog…

Some of the coolest things I picked up in Tokyo were a trio of Katsuhiro Otomo art books – although sadly they weren’t for me, intended instead for my favourite Otomo-san obsessive Al T. Shame, as I would have liked to have spent some quality time with these beauties. Luckily though, I was able to grab a few shots before I let him get his grubby paws all over them.

First off is the hard to find Akira Animation Archive – tricky to get hold of in the UK, and pretty elusive in Tokyo too, it turns out. But on the big man’s request I hunted high and low from Shinjuku to Akihabara, finally bagging a second hand copy in Mandarake Shibuya.

It’s a nice looking book, packed with lots of images, storyboards, sketches and concept designs from the classic film.

Next up is a hefty tone – one I had to think twice before buying just as the weight of the thing threatened to crush my luggage restrictions. Steamboy – The Storyboard Book does exactly what it says on the cover, presenting the films entire board set in a stylish hardcover volume.

As you can see, the hand drawn storyboards – all by Otomo himself, apparently – look great in this format, and the book looks like one you’d want to spend hours with.

Finally I also grabbed him this Robot Carnival art book. I have never seen the movie, sadly, but seeing as it’s an anthology of different directors’ works, there’s obviously a lot of stuff in here that isn’t Otomo produced. From the quick flick I had, there’s a lot of interesting stuff, especially if you’re into that slightly retro looking ‘80s anime vibe.

Anyway, I won’t say anymore, I’ll just wait for the man himself to let you know what he thinks…

Look, I know what you come here for. Really. I mean, I’m sure you’ve been enjoying reading about the last few days exploring Tokyo’s ancient monuments and culture, but I know what you’re thinking.

Where the fuck is the anime and the toys, Tim?

Well, my friends, let me put you out of your misery.

Returning to Akihabara to make some essential purchases at Mandarake again, I stumbled across Super Modelers, hidden away on the fifth floor of a small pile of shops on the main street. A model-kit and supplies shop, the back end of it sells the usual Tamiya military and car kits, along with quite a lot of train set stuff. But the vast majority of the shop, and most importantly the display cabinets as you enter, are dedicated to one thing only: Mecha.

The away of kits on sale here is bewildering. Gundam, Voltoms, Armoured Core, Patlabor and Evangelon boxes of every size are stacked up on top of each other down every aisle, and combined with overpowering smell of paint and glue that fills the air it’s enough to spin you out. But the real treat here is the aforementioned display cabinets, showcasing some of the best model work I’ve had the privilege to see, highlighting the uniquely Japanese otaku art of taking a glossy, brightly coloured Gundam kit and painting and converting it into a moody, grimy, realistic looking piece of futuristic military hardware.

It’s awe-inspiring stuff, enough that I couldn’t leave the place without buying something, and wondering how I was going to get this huge Patlabor Ingrams Mk 1 box into my suitcase and home…

• Click here for more images of Super Modelers

Mandarake – a chain of otaku shops dotted around Tokyo and Japan – opened it’s Akihabara superstore earlier this year, and it’s clear why it’s become it’s flagship. Spanning eight levels, it’s the first place to go for any sci-fi, manga or anime fan needing a spot of retail therapy. We ploughed through six of the eight floors – sensibly skipping the shojo and hentai/doujinshi departments – and for most of the time it was just too much to take in, let alone process. I bought a couple of art books – Shirow’s Intron Depot (which I’m embarrassed to say i’d never got round to picking up before, but grabbed for a truly bargain price) and an unbelievable and unique Patlabor book which I can’t even start to describe to you right now. When I’m home and sane again I’ll post some pics and review it; believe me it’s worth the wait. Time permitting I’m going to head back there before I leave, but in the meantime here’s some photos. Apologies for the poor quality at times, this was a covert operation, for as the signs throughout the store tell you PHOTOGRAPHY IS NOT PERMITTED.

Regular readers will already know about my love for Voices of a Distant Star director Makoto Shinkai‘s work, so will understand why I’m pissed with Canadian anime fans right now. Not that the lucky bastards have done anything wrong, it’s just that if they can get to Ottawa this September, then they’ve got a chance of catching the premiere of his latest short Neko no Shūkai (Cat’s Gathering) at the city’s annual International Animation Festival. Like I’ve said before, so far Shinkai has proved he works best in the short film medium, so hopefully it’ll be something special. Check out a trailer I found below.

And while we’re talking about short, here’s a TV ad he made for his hometown’s newspaper. 15 exquisite seconds of pure Shinkai.

Fantastic.

A quick heads up for all you London based otaku – or even those of you with only a passing interest in anime – acclaimed auteur Makoto Shinkai will be presenting a screening of his latest film Five Centimeters a Second at 6.20pm this Friday (20/6/08) at the British Film Institute. He’s kicking off a whole weekend there of recent anime, and alongside his last movie (the beautiful but slightly dissapointing) The Place Promised in Our Early Days, it’ll be an excellent opportunity to catch some of the films I’ve been talking about here over the last few months including Vexille, Appleseed: Ex Machina, the brilliant Tekkonkinkreet and Satoshi Kon‘s mindfuck epic Paprika.

If you do make it down, I’ll be very jealous. I’ve been a huge fan of Shinkai’s ever since I saw his amazing one man production Voices of a Distant Star way back in 2002. Even though I felt his first full length production The Place… didn’t show his full potential, I’m excited by 5cm. I’ve got a copy but haven’t got round to watching it yet – it’s actually a collection of short films, marking a return to the short form that he mastered so elegantly in the heart wrenching Voices, so looks more promising. Either way, seeing his glorious imagery on the big screen is not an experience to pass up lightly.

If any of you do make it down there, drop me a line and let me know how you got on.

You lucky bastards.

All details, including film times and bookings, right here.

To cash in coincide with the release of the Speed Racer live action flick, publishers DMP have released a beautiful looking hardcover box set of the original 1960s manga. That I want. Badly. In the meantime, I’ll just have to make do with staring at the almost as lovely looking website they’ve put up to promote it.

And no, I haven’t seen the movie yet. Hopefully this week…will keep you posted.