This is not strictly Ghibli-related, but I feel it is worth mentioning.

I recently viewed a film directed by a former assistant director at Studio Ghibli, Sunao Katabuchi. The film is called "Mai Mai Shinko to Sennen no Mahou" (Mai Mai Shinko and the Thousand Year - Magic). They gave it the English title "Mai Mai Miracle".

This film has an immense amount of Ghibli-esque charm and in my opinion, comes quite close to My Neighbor Totoro in terms of evoking the nostalgic feelings of childhood. There are some obvious influences, and it is definitely worth seeing. It captures what I often praise Totoro for - the portrayal of both the imagination of children but also their fragility towards subjects like death or loss.

So, take a look, if you're interested. It does not seem to have gotten the attention it deserves in the English-speaking community compared to the works of other "upcoming" directors (for whom "the next Miyazaki" seems to be thrown around in every review " ).

EDIT : Tea Master Tall was kind enough to post the trailer, which I'll copy here. Watch it all the way through

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JS-l73ZJtpg

Thanks for the tip, Theowne.

I found a copy and ordered it after reading the info on the plot, etc...

I'll let you all know what I think of the movie after I get to see it...

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ill have to check that out, thankin you very much

I will definitely be checking this out. Thanks for sharing.

I'll give it a look, thanks.

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Hernán (Argentina)
My Ghibli guitar covers with tabs -My Ghibli page

Awesome! I'll have to check it out sometime. Gracias!

This looks pretty cool! Here's a trailer if anyone's interested: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JS-l73ZJtpg

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Check out my music:

Thanks for posting the trailer, Tall, not sure how I could forget that. I dare any Ghibli fan to watch the entire trailer and tell me you're not at least *slightly* interested

Glad to hear some affirmative responses. This film seems to get very little press online, and I'm trying to remedy that, because it's a very genuine and worthwhile effort by the director.

Looks better than what Goro's done so far, lol.

Oh, also at 1:02 in the trailer: Where could this be from???

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Check out my music:

If you mean the music, it is part of the film's original musical score.

It looks really good I will try and get a copy so I can watch it!!!

Thanks for making me aware that it was about!!

Isn't it obvious? Goldfish... Jar... Ponyo...????

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Oh...yea, maybe a reference homage to the director's former boss

Wow!! (I've just seen it)
Where did this little gem came from? How is it that is not more known?? I loved it!
More near Takahata than Miyazaki, though, I'd say. Perhaps one step or two below the two masters, but the story is nice, the characters are simple but convincing, and some moments (when the boys build the pond, specially) are touching in a Ghibli way Honestly, I have't feel this with any other thing outside Ghibli (and I find this much superior to Arrietty, not to speak of GedoSenki...)

Beware: though it starts with a Totoro feeling, later the plot gets more layered and with some adult themes; I don't think this movie is directed towards little kids...

Thanks for the recommendation.

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Hernán (Argentina)
My Ghibli guitar covers with tabs -My Ghibli page

Excellent, leonbloy. Welcome to the fanclub.

I had your same reaction (why is it not well known?), which is why the only thing I could think of doing to help spread the word is post on this forum, hoping that I could slowly bring more fans.

You're right that the story does become a little too serious for very young children to understand. This is a story for audiences to remember the emotions of childhood, both the positive and the negative, in a very nostalgic and touching way.

Spread the word when possible

I'm looking forward to watching the movie just from watching the trailer....

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Ooh I really liked the promo! Thanks for the heads-up.

And the guy who directed Black Lagoon is the one who directed Mai Mai Shinko. That'll be interesting. I really enjoyed Black Lagoon but Mai Mai seems to be a very different story.

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I've seen again (actually I've seen it many times, because I wrote down my own subtitles - spanish) and might add:

- the strongest point, for me, is the direction . I must pay attention to this Sunao Katabuchi. Some critics say that the plot is a little manipulative, with too many and cliched themes (the delicate city girl that comes to town and ends making friendship with her opposite type; the "magical fantasy" of children; the bitter end of infancy; the grandfather that tells stories about the past, the connection with our roots). It might be so (I'm not convinced), but the director's treatment was superb.
I wish this guy were in Ghibli to direct some script from Miyazaki...

- some critics also object that the "connection with the past" theme is weak or confusing; I don't get that. Once you understand it's just the girl's fantasy, over a real past background, it's consistent and effective.

- another strong point: the main character. Shinko is so alive and lovable as the best Miyazaki girls (Shizuku or Nausicaa)

- the adult themes: that was very risky (artistically and commercially), and it went (artistically) very well. The scene with the boys at the stairs of the California bar (Shinko shouting to the prostitute, as seen in the trailer) is impresive.

- thumbs up for backgrounds, camera positioning/moving and music

- a minor weak point: the voices are right, but the lip synchronization is poor.

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Hernán (Argentina)
My Ghibli guitar covers with tabs -My Ghibli page

Someone with a true talent for direction (storytelling, character-building, and all) is valuable and rare. As you said, it may be true that there are familiar elements in the film - but you would not know it while viewing it, as the director crafts the film in such a cohesive, natual manner that you are swept up in it effortlessly. That kind of gift is not common, and I would say Katabuchi comes closer than any of the new directors at Ghibli itself (Goro, Yonebayashi) to matching the two masters.

Mai Mai Shinko
OK, I have seen the movie and I LIKE IT!!! I will rewatch it again a couple of times to catch what I will have missed in the initial viewing. Offhand, I liked the overall storyline, the intermingling of past and present. I did see a lot (IMO) of similarities to Ghibli scenes, but that didn't offend me in any way. I enjoyed the artwork and the interactions of the characters. The gradual connection between the two girls, the realities of change in life as far as death and moving from place to place and the separations that it causes. The latter part especially, for me, as I moved a lot when I was a child.

A thumbs up from me!!!

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