The Oscar-nominated HOWLS MOVING CASTLE from Hayao Miyazaki bows on DVD March 7, 2006, along with MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO and WHISPER OF THE HEART (Walt Disney Home Ent., $29.99). Based on the English novel by Diana Wynn Jones, HOWLS is a fascinating mixture of Eastern and Western sensibilities. Once again, the director follows the magical and spiritual adventures of a young heroine (in this case, Sophie, a hat maker) amid the tumult of war and sorcery. Stylistically, Miyazaki blends 3D environments much more significantly than in the past. As with previous releases from the Studio Ghibli catalog, Disney/Pixar offer both the original Japanese language version and a new English dub (featuring the voice talent of Lauren Bacall, Christian Bale, Emily Mortimer, Jean Simmons, Blythe Danner and Billy Crystal.
TOTORO (1988), the gentle story of two young sisters that meet magical forest creatures when they move to the country, is finally available in a widescreen version. The Disney/Pixar American dub offers the voice talent of Dakota and Elle Fanning.
WHISPER OF THE HEART (1995), the sensitive story of a young girl befriended and inspired by a young boy determined to become a violin maker and a magical cat figurine (a fixture in the previously released sequel, THE CAT RETURNS), was directed by the late Yoshifumi Kondo and scripted and storyboarded by Miyazaki. The Disney/Pixar American dub offers the voice talent of Brittany Snow and David Gallagher.
HOWLS bonus features include:* Behind the Microphone featurette about dubbing* Hello Mr. Miyazaki: Hayao Miyazaki Visits Pixar* Storyboard Presentation
Bill Desowitz, former editor of VFXWorld, is currently the Crafts Editor of IndieWire.
