In consequtive events that would do Tsutsuji Baba proud, Beez seems to be closing its doors in Europe, as Bandai Entertainment exits physical distribution in America. I say “seems” because it is unconfirmed sorta kinda. Both entities will be releasing Sorakake Girl to its completion.

The Girl Who Leapt Through Space, just what is it???

Joking aside, you wonder if the two moves are related to Bandai’s ultimate goals.

I probably shouldn’t have, but I skimmed the ANN forum threads (since Chris B’s forum is still not fully recovered and the old Mania forum just doesn’t have the same…capitalist intensity that the it used to have since the split) and it was pretty much the usual face-palm as you’d expect. But it was pretty amusing. So here I made a bingo chart. Click for full version (I think).

Call list:

1. releasing singles killed bandai
2. k-on killed bandai
3. hating on bandai visual
4. hating on japanese businessmen
5. suits keeping the common man down
6. whining about aniplex pricing
7. whining about lack of dubs
8. hating on bandai quitting
9. cheering on bandai quitting
10. sadface for fewer dub jobs
11. sadface for turn-a gundam
12. sadface for k-on
13. sadface for code geass manga
14. pointless semantics argument
15. pointless discussion about economics
16. whining about japanese paying more for video
17. thinking japanese people are suckers for paying more
18. propose to boycott someone
19. ironic statement about boycotting
20. sub versus dub argument
21. whining about BD audio problems
22. whining about moe
23. whining about otaku living in parents’ basements
24. fearmonger for cartoon network shows

I already am not trying to watch every Ghibli film at the GKIDS retrospective, so instead I might as well watch the ones I like more than once. I mean other than Yamada’s and Totoro, every single viewing of this thing is a reviewing for me. In a way I also feel bad–by buying a ticket I’m bumping some poor sod out of a seat. I think half of the showings I attended were sold out. That means potentially some guy who has never seen Whisper or Porco would have not had the chance! Oh well, their loss.

Ocean Waves (Umi wo Kikoeru) is the odd man out. Odd, in that it is Mochizuki’s only directorial contribution under Ghibli’s young animator program. Ocean Waves is also odd in that it was a TV special, not a proper theatrical film. So when seeing it in theaters, it means a DVD that is upscaled by whatever the IFC Center has on tap to play DVDs. I suspected as much going in–I would probably buy Ocean Waves on Blu-ray (among other Ghibli stuff), had I heard about it. What is sad is that the same DVD is like, 6 pounds on over Amazon UK, which after shipping and the pretty spiffy exchange rate, probably just a buck more than full-price admission ($13 for full price adults at the IFCC). I paid $14 for it God-knows-when ago.

Still, Ocean Waves is one of those semi-arthouse affair. It deals with some well-to-do kids from Kochi. The striking City Girl both getting her Inaka Fix and the Country Boys getting their panties in a knot. But that one pan! The only pan! The non-linear narrative! I am so stoked.

Well, it’s certainly not for kids. I don’t count teenage kids as kids. Or anyone old enough to appreciate a semi-candid reference to the mess of having your first period. And of course, the anti-Disney, anti-American reference to underage alcoholic beverage use.

But really, who cares? I don’t really think this film is made for kids. It may be made for the family, but it’s clearly the sort of show targeting an adult audience. It’s just capable of passing as wholesome entertainment.

And yes, I did rewatch Porco again. I will watch it again given the chance, too (unlikely at this point). It’s my favorite Miyazaki movie by a fairly long shot. This time I walked away with a subtle thing. The translated subs said “but a pig’s gotta fly” during his phone call with Gina. If my non-understanding of Japanese is anywhere close, he was saying something about how a pig that doesn’t fly is just a pig.

Nothing wrong with the translation. But would the non-showering of sea pirates make sense without knowing how close they are to pigs that they are? Or what makes Porco a pig is who he is, which is who everyone else is? Gina has it right: Curtis and Porco are both pigs, in their self-absorbed quest to look cool.

What separates men and pigs? Law and cleanliness I guess.

The final fight between the two subverts that coolness for laughs and entertainment. They’re not fighting a war. So they can get away with being stupid. So the movie can get away with being stupid. Let the lady who is all serious and all business take care of the Regia Aeronautica?

I guess this is kind of the macho-man message within Porco Rosso. Or maybe the proper term is “Hemmingway.” Only if he was half as funny!

The fifth and sixth (woo half way!) so-called challenges are a part of an end-of-year festivity among some anime bloggers. You can find out more about the Ghibli theatrical road show from GKIDS.