Francine Stock discusses the growing reverence for Anime, the cinematic form of the Japanese comic book style manga. The Cambridge Film Festival will screen the British premiere of Howl's Moving Castle, the latest film by the legendary Anime director Hayao Miyazaki. It is an adaptation of Diana Wynne Jones' fantastical story about a girl who is turned into an old lady.
Francine Stock talks to film makers and fans, including Ollie Bader, of animation magazine Neo; David Sin, of the British Film Institute; Helen McCarthy, co-author of The Anime Encyclopaedia; film makers Michio Harada and Joji Koyama; critic Joe Cornish and author Stephen McGinty.
Howl's Moving Castle, certificate U,is showing at the 25th Cambridge Film Festival which is running 7-17 July 2005. It is due to be released in cinemas on 23 September 2005.
Castle in the Sky, Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away are available on DVD.
The National Film Theatre in London will be showing an Anime season in August.
The Anime Encyclopedia by Jonathan Clements and Helen McCarthy is published by Stone Bridge Press, ISBN: 1880656647
Hayao Miyazaki: Master of Japanese Animation: Films, Themes, Artistry by Helen McCarthy is published by Stone Bridge Press, ISBN: 1880656418
