The Wind Rises AKA Kaze Tachinu

The Wind Rises AKA Kaze Tachinu

Studio Ghibli

20 July 2013

Anime, Historical Drama

DVD
D+

Kind of boring.  Hayao Miyazaki wrote and directed, and this is the sixth of his films in this project.

When Marnie Was There

When Marnie Was There

Studio Ghibli

19 July 2014

Anime, Drama

DVD
B

A twelve-year-old falls in love with the ghost of her grandmother.  OK, not exactly, but there's an awful lot of blushing and secrets and declarations of love for your standard "kid meets a cool ghost" story.  Either way, this is the first Studio Ghibli anime I haven't rejected.  The scenery is gorgeous, the story is compelling, and the voicework is solid.  Yes, I would've liked a different ending, but the one they offer is still moving.

Director Hiromasa Yonebayashi co-adapted the novel by Joan G. Robinson.

Tales from Earthsea AKA Gedo Senki

Tales from Earthsea AKA Gedo Senki

Studio Ghibli

29 July 2006

Anime, Fantasy, Historical Drama, Action

DVD

C-

I mostly like the look of this, but I wasn't invested in the surprisingly bloody story.  Gorô Miyazaki co-adapted the Ursula Le Guin novel, with his father, Hayao.

The Red Turtle

The Red Turtle

Studio Ghibli

29 June 2016

Anime, Drama

DVD
C

I gave this twenty minutes because I liked the look of it, but all that time with no dialogue and little hope wore on me.  Michael Dudok de Wit directed and co-wrote.

Porco Rosso

Porco Rosso

Studio Ghibli

18 July 1992

Anime, Historical Comedy, Fantasy, Action

DVD
C-

Once again, I am baffled at what Studio G is trying to get at, but there was potential here.  Hayao Miyazaki wrote and directed.

Pom Poko

Pom Poko

Studio Ghibli

16 July 1994

Anime, Fantasy

DVD

C-

Muddled and meandering, but not charmless.  Isao Takahata directed and co-wrote.

Castle in the Sky

Castle in the Sky
Studio Ghibli
2 August 1986
Anime, Fantasy
DVD
C

Hayao Miyazaki wrote and directed this story of a girl who falls out of the sky and into the life of a young miner (or I guess, minor miner).  I didn't like the character design and found the characters' personalities only moderately interesting.  There are some nice visuals, especially of nature, but I definitely wasn't dazzled like I'm supposed to be.