The title roughly translates to "Full of Ghibli," and there is no more apt description. No other box contains every single theatrical feature that Miyazaki Hayao, Takahata Isao, or Studio Ghibli scripted, directed, and produced in its entirety for Tokuma Shoten. (True, several omitted works such as FAMOUS DETECTIVE HOLMES and LUPIN THE 3RD: THE CASTLE OF CAGLIOSTRIO were directed by them, but they either did not have overall creative control on these films or Tokuma Shoten did not own the distribution rights.) From NAUSICAA OF THE VALLEY OF THE WIND and LAPUTA, THE CASTLE OF THE SKY (which were created before Studio Ghibli itself was established) to last year's WHISPER OF THE HEART, the eleven-year feature film opus stands complete. Moreover, Mochizuki Tomomitsu's television special UMI GA KIKOERU is included, as well as the theatrical short ON YOUR MARK and other bonuses to round off the collection. (Note: The recently announced Tokuma Group/Walt Disney distribution agreement covered almost all Studio Ghibli and its founders' major works, but not UMI GA KIKOERU and ON YOUR MARK. GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES was already licensed to Central Park Media.) The reissued works gathered together in one satin-lined box are reason alone to purchase this collection, but the previously unreleased pieces will further weaken any budget-minded inhibitions.

The Reissues

Most of the box's hefty weight is devoted to reissues of the feature-length pieces on laser disc. No one reissue in the box justifies the cost of the entire box, but the new edition of LAPUTA, THE CASTLE OF THE SKY comes the closest. The original laser disc release featured a widescreen 1.66:1 apsect ratio, not the original theatrical 1.85:1 format. This box's version restores the original dimensions and the wonderful backgrounds that were summarily chopped off the screen in the earlier version. Overall, the video transfer on the various reissues seems warmer and more detailed, especially on the older works.
The audio transfer in general is crisp and faithful, limited mainly by the sound quality of the original material itself. NAUSICAA OF THE VALLEY OF THE WIND's original laser disk release was mono, this box's version is still mono, and this will always be the case unless an entirely new audio remix is created; the prints of the original theatrical release were monoaural. On the opposite end of the audio spectrum, WHISPER OF THE HEART's first LD release and this box's release are in AC-3 Dolby Surround Digital sound. Rain drizzling all around, bicycle chimes ringing from off the screen -- this wonderful drama demonstrates that AC-3 Dolby Digital can establish ambience and forward the story as effectively in a realistic slice-of-life work as in any Hollywood thriller.
For some English-speaking viewers, the reissues' main appeal is the billingual dubs for four films: LAPUTA, MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO, KIKI'S DELIVERY SERVICE, and PORCO ROSSO. What complaints may be raised here are few. The subtle differences between the Japanese dialogue and the English translation will be noted by a bilingual speaker, but most are not major and none alter the essential plot significantly. English-only audiophiles will be disappointed with the monoaural English dubbing, though. Both a Japanese stereo soundtrack and an English one could physically have been placed on the digital and analog channels respectively, but English was relegated to a single monoaural analog channel in compliance to Japanese billingual programming conventions.
[Note: Japanese televisions do not have what North Americans and some other countries call a second audio program (SAP). Instead, all sorts of billingual programming from news documentaries to Western blockbusters are aired with language A on the right channel and language B on a somewhat muted left channel. The billingual audio button on Japanese remotes is nothing more than a toggle switching between the right and left channels.]
Minor flaws aside, these reissues are compelling even when compared to the previous individual releases, thanks in part to the all-new original disc covers supervised by Miyazaki and Takahata and drawn by character designer / WHISPER director Kondoh Yoshifumi.

The Newly Issued

This reviewer won't deny it; the two bonus laserdiscs were the first discs to be played. ON YOUR MARK -- what superlative would suffice? It is simply the most exquisitely animated seven minutes ever created. What began as a music video for the Japanese pop duo Chage & Aska evolved into a "Studio Ghibli experimental film" that explored every technique from traditional cel drawing to digital compositing and computer graphics. Even after seeing this theatrical short twice in theaters with WHISPER OF THE HEART, this reviewer must have played it on laser disc almost a dozen times with friends to catch missed nuances. One will note the subtle influence of Miyazaki's nonconformist past and his allegorical concern for our future. There are also elements more often associated with Miyazaki's well-regarded peer, Oshii Mamoru. Indeed, the search for this film's meaning will ignite almost as many discussions and debates as any Oshii work. Most of all one will be taken away with abated breath, reminded of the sense of wonder so quintessential to Miyazaki's anime.
After ON YOUR MARK, watching the SKY-BLUE SEED (1992) and NANDAROU (1992) might seem anti-climactic. Studio Ghibli demonstrates its lighter side here by animating a famous Japanese artbook story and Nippon TV's 40th anniversary mascot (its name is a wordplay similar to Whazzit, the former name of the 1996 Atlanta Olympics mascot). Right after these television spots are the various promotionals and previews for every feature-length work, including the tantalizing short one for Mononoke Hime, Ghibli's upcoming 1997 release.
The final laser disc provides an almost perfect epilogue to this collection. The first side contains the television special walking the audience through the production of ONLY YESTERDAY from conception to animation and dialogue recording. This reviewer only wishes that "The Making of ..." specials for other works such as WHISPER OF THE HEART and and POMPOKO were also released.
The last side of this disc collection contains an actual chat by the fireplace between Kurosawa Akira and Miyazaki, argurably the two most renowned directors of Japan. As this was broadcasted as a television special promoting Kurosawa's 1993 work Maadadayo, the emphasis was on Kurosawa's works and Maadadayo in particular. Too often, the conversation seemed to be steered awkwardly towards Maadadayo, but Kurosawa also discussed other works, including Dreams and Ran, as well as the reasons why his films are predominantly sengoku jidai-geki (period dramas focusing on Japan's warring states). Kurosawa was also able to discuss with Miyazaki the broader themes such as the difficulties of realizing one's personal vision on film, finding an audience receptive to their works, and the differences between live-action and animation films.
You will contemplate hard and long if you decide to purchase this set; at the US equivalent of nine hundred dollars without shipping fees, no one should blame you. Nevertheless, this is one purchase that most anime enthusiasts (with enough liquidable assets) will not regret. If you ever do regret, don't worry. Just turn to the liner notes and comfort youself by reading the tributes by Shirai Yoshio, Kurosawa, Toy Story's John Lasseter, and Ohtomo Katsuhiro, and Anno Hideaki.

Ghibli ga Ippai

1. Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind
2. Laputa, the Castle in the Sky (2 discs)
3. My Neighbor Totoro
4. Grave of the Fireflies
5. Kiki's Delivery Service
6. Only Yesterday
7. Umi ga Kikoeru
8. Porco Rosso
9. Heisei Tanuki Gassen Pon-Poko
10. Whisper of the Heart
11. On Your Mark/The Sky-Blue Seed/Nandarou/Preview Collection
12. The Making of Only Yesterday/A Conversation: Kurosawa Akira vs. Miyazaki Hayao