totoro/spirited away/ghibli

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gundamxzero

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I know this has been asked before and someone said disney dvd club. But thats not something I want to go through. Anyone know where I can get the studio ghibli films for a reasonable price (under 16/18$) thanks.
 
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If you ever happen to find one in EB/GS (which should be a lot harder now due to fewer locations where you can trade DVDs in) they've been running for $12.99 apiece for quite a while. I was pretty happy when I snagged Pom Poko, Totoro, and Howl's Moving Castle, all complete two-discs sets in pristine condition, for barely $13 after Edge and tax.

That's probably going to be your best deal overall since, if I recall hearing Shawn Kleckner correctly way, way back when, the Disney DVDs tend to have very little profit margins on them so even marking them down to around $22 to $23 instead of selling at MSRP cuts quite a bit into anything made off of each sale.
 
You have 3 things going against you.

1. They are Disney releases
2. They are Ghibli films
3. They are anime


Really, your only chance to get them cheap is to find them used somewhere, and even that will be hard because people don't trade them in. However, if you do happen to find them, they are by far some of the best cared for used DVDs you will ever come across because people actually care about them.
 
Toys "R" Us believe it or not. I recall one of the films being sub-$10.

To be honest, it was more than a year ago and I can't recall which film. I just remember thinking "Ooooh, that's by the same guy that did Spirited Away."

Hope that helps.
 
My suggestion is to download some copies if you really want them and save up the money for the Japanese imports. My experience is with the first editions of the films where subtitles were either non-existent or horribly butchered. The dvds will end up costing you a little bit more (plus the expense of a region free dvd player if you don't have one) but it will be well worth the money.
 
I found My Neighbor Totoro at Wal Mart for $5.50, but this was quite a while back. They may still have some in that cheap bin if you dig long enough.
 
Yeah, I picked up four or five of these last winter when buy.com was running the $20 off $50 with Google Checkout. I mixed and matched 15-20 orders, but I figured I was paying around $13-15 each. It's kinda sad that you can't really find them for less, but honestly, they're all worth every penny.
 
[quote name='pkballr']I found My Neighbor Totoro at Wal Mart for $5.50, but this was quite a while back. They may still have some in that cheap bin if you dig long enough.[/QUOTE]

That was the old Fox/Troma dub version. While superior dub wise (The dub was widely considered better then the original Japanese), it lacked 5.1 sound, the original Japanese dub, and a widescreen transfer. It is LONG OOP. Thats why it was in the bin, the Disney version was coming out shortly there after.
 
[quote name='defiance_17']Yeah, I picked up four or five of these last winter when buy.com was running the $20 off $50 with Google Checkout. I mixed and matched 15-20 orders, but I figured I was paying around $13-15 each. It's kinda sad that you can't really find them for less, but honestly, they're all worth every penny.[/quote]

They really are, I was able to pick up howls at a local cd store that sells used. And they had an import of spirited away but it was still like 26$$ I have about 3-4 GS within 15 minutes driving and it seems I hardly find anime period at any of them anymore. But thanks all for the input it really seems patience and perserverance is the only way to get them. I have totoro on VHS but I dont even own a vcr anymore so I would love to find it on dvd.
 
I believe that last summer BestBuy ran a 2for$30 deal on Ghibli films. Maybe they'll repeat this year. Also there's the DDD 20% off sale in a few monts. I've got most of these films and you really can't go wrong with any of them. I think I've seen Princess Mononoke at a resonable price (16.xx at DDD) most places if that's one you're interested in.
 
[quote name='Snake2715']What movies did he do in all?

Howls, Spirited Away? What else? My wife loves those two.[/QUOTE]


Kiki's Delievry Service
My Neighbor Totoro
Nausicaa
Princess Mononoke
Castle in the Sky
Castle of Cagliostro
Porco Rosso
Whisper of the Heart (no US release yet?)

...and I'm probably missing a few.
 
[quote name='robdees']Kiki's Delievry Service
My Neighbor Totoro
Nausicaa
Princess Mononoke
Castle in the Sky
Castle of Cagliostro
Porco Rosso
Whisper of the Heart (no US release yet?)

...and I'm probably missing a few.[/QUOTE]

Thanks. I will keep my eyes open.
 
[quote name='robdees']Kiki's Delievry Service
My Neighbor Totoro
Nausicaa
Princess Mononoke
Castle in the Sky
Castle of Cagliostro
Porco Rosso
Whisper of the Heart (no US release yet?)

...and I'm probably missing a few.[/quote]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Studio_Ghibli

Films
He doesnt do all of them on there but I think he had a part in most. Everyone on that list I think are way awesome. Pom poko cracks me up.
 
Whisper of the Heart is not only released, but his best in my opinion! It is not a complete Miyazaki as he only did the writing, but it is as a whole the best Ghibli.

I'm going to be honest, you own and love Howl's Moving Castle...

one or two things will happen

After you watch all his other movies, you'll hate Howl's

Or if you sincerely liked Howl's, you might just hate all his other movies.

His best in my opinion

1. Kiki's Delivery Service
2. Whisper of the Heart
3. Castle in the Sky
4. Porco Rosso
5. Spirited Away

and then there's a huge gap in quality..about 100 gaps

6. Princess Mononoke
7. Nausicaa
8. Howl's Moving Castle
 
No offense. But you like the most chick-flick esqe movies that he does. As far as fantasy goes Howls spirited away and totoro take the cake by far.
 
[quote name='sarausagi']His best in my opinion

1. Kiki's Delivery Service
2. Whisper of the Heart
3. Castle in the Sky
4. Porco Rosso
5. Spirited Away

and then there's a huge gap in quality..about 100 gaps

6. Princess Mononoke
7. Nausicaa
8. Howl's Moving Castle[/QUOTE]

I seriously have no idea how you could leave My Neighbor Totoro off your list. It's without a doubt my favorite Miyazaki movie.
 
Wow, I agree with Sarusagi for once on something. Whispers of the Heart (even though it wasn't a Miyazaki film; it was directed by Yoshifumi Kondo, the guy who was supposed to take over Studio Ghibli but died after his one film) is great and Kiki's Delivery Service is my favorite.

Then again, you're insane though for saying there's a huge gap in quality between Nausicaa/Mononoke/Howl's and the others. There may be an issue of preference but to say that there's a quality gap between the films is simply idiodic.

On a different note, Tales from Earthsea is directed by Hayao Miyazaki's son, Gorō and apparently sucks something awful. If you like Hayao Miyazaki, be sure to track down Panda Go Panda as that's a fabulous pre-Ghibli Miyazaki film.
 
[quote name='sarausagi']
His best in my opinion

1. Kiki's Delivery Service
2. Whisper of the Heart
3. Castle in the Sky
4. Porco Rosso
5. Spirited Away

and then there's a huge gap in quality..about 100 gaps

6. Princess Mononoke
7. Nausicaa
8. Howl's Moving Castle[/QUOTE]

OMG I could not disagree more.
Nausicaa: The Valley of the Wind is one of my favorite films OF ALL TIME. Not just anime, but everything ever released that I have seen... its a wonderful movie. Princess Mononoke is very similiar in theme and tone, a spiritual sequel or remake of sorts of Nausicaa. Both films are brilliant in my opinion.

Castle in the Sky is also good, but Kiki has not held up well over time IMO. Its kind of slow and rambling, but a sweet film at heart. My Neighbor Totoro was not mentioned here, and its another good fantasy tinged film with a childlike perspective.

What about The Cat Returns? Its a Ghibli movie too. I loved it, very fairytale like.
 
i picked up a collection on ebay for $30 it had 13 of his movies plus some of his short films. im not sure if its legit or not, but it cured my ghilbi craving
 
[quote name='Sarge']i picked up a collection on ebay for $30 it had 13 of his movies plus some of his short films. im not sure if its legit or not, but it cured my ghilbi craving[/QUOTE]

If you have to ask and it's anime, it's bootleg. Chinese subtitles or anything that puts two different films on one disc usually indicates a bootleg.
 
[quote name='darkcrawlspace']I seriously have no idea how you could leave My Neighbor Totoro off your list. It's without a doubt my favorite Miyazaki movie.[/QUOTE]

When an English dub is the better version of the movie, and the movie had to be shown along side Grave of the Fireflies, you know even the original creators don't think as highly of it as some of the fans do.

However, I must add that Yoshifumo Kondo's work in BOTH [Grave and Totoro] is excellent. Totoro is a good piece of animation, but it's not a serious film as are all of Miyazaki's movies. Light on the plot, heavy on the conservation message, and almost like an OVA. I like it but I feel wrong saying it's on the same level as say, Kiki, or Castle in the Sky.
 
[quote name='furyk']Wow, I agree with Sarusagi for once on something. Whispers of the Heart (even though it wasn't a Miyazaki film; it was directed by Yoshifumi Kondo, the guy who was supposed to take over Studio Ghibli but died after his one film) is great and Kiki's Delivery Service is my favorite.

Then again, you're insane though for saying there's a huge gap in quality between Nausicaa/Mononoke/Howl's and the others. There may be an issue of preference but to say that there's a quality gap between the films is simply idiodic.

On a different note, Tales from Earthsea is directed by Hayao Miyazaki's son, Gorō and apparently sucks something awful. If you like Hayao Miyazaki, be sure to track down Panda Go Panda as that's a fabulous pre-Ghibli Miyazaki film.[/QUOTE]

Well, maybe not with Howl and Mononoke, technically they are on par or superior to the other movies. But Nausicaa? Yes, it's rough, very rough, and I think there's about a tenfold increase in quality between Nausicaa and actual Studio Ghibli productions. There is an issue of preference involved. However, Castle in the Sky does not look dated at all, while Nausicaa looks like genuine 80's animation.

Howl is a beautiful piece of technical animation, an absolutely dazzling piece, I wish the story, character, and overworld could match its artistic level.
 
[quote name='kittycatgirl2k']OMG I could not disagree more.
Nausicaa: The Valley of the Wind is one of my favorite films OF ALL TIME. Not just anime, but everything ever released that I have seen... its a wonderful movie. Princess Mononoke is very similiar in theme and tone, a spiritual sequel or remake of sorts of Nausicaa. Both films are brilliant in my opinion.

Castle in the Sky is also good, but Kiki has not held up well over time IMO. Its kind of slow and rambling, but a sweet film at heart. My Neighbor Totoro was not mentioned here, and its another good fantasy tinged film with a childlike perspective.

What about The Cat Returns? Its a Ghibli movie too. I loved it, very fairytale like.[/QUOTE]


Kiki not held up overtime? It's a masterpiece, in terms of animation it is perhaps the most elaborately animated Ghibli, plus the story is so charming and just so refreshing. Even in its cut up dub form, it is absolutely breath taking.
 
[quote name='gundamxzero']No offense. But you like the most chick-flick esqe movies that he does. As far as fantasy goes Howls spirited away and totoro take the cake by far.[/QUOTE]

"Chick flick esque?"

I think someone needs to watch Porco Rosso and Whisper of the Heart again, if you can't notice the amazing background detail, the clarity of every single line, and the quality of the coloring, then you must be blind. Not only that, in terms of story telling and writing, Porco Rosso and Whisper of the Heart are definitely the most serious, thought provoking Miyazaki films. Also, in theme, they differ quite a bit, while I have nothing against Miyazaki's conservation/environmental themes, the unique modern flair of these two films is quite a change and is pulled off rather well.

Watch "Only Yesterday" if you want bad, chick flique esque, Studio Ghibli.
 
[quote name='sarausagi']Kiki not held up overtime? It's a masterpiece, in terms of animation it is perhaps the most elaborately animated Ghibli, plus the story is so charming and just so refreshing. Even in its cut up dub form, it is absolutely breath taking.[/QUOTE]

The animation is quite well done. It is a beautiful film in those regards. The storyline just seems to have more holes than some of the others and the resolution not quite as tightly wrapped as I would like in a movie.
The few sticklers now that bug me are: the fact that Kiki leaves home at 13. Thats kind of young, and a bit weird.
The fact that witches seem to get a "wow" response but no background is given as to why they are special and rare yet recieve such a passive acceptable response from the community.
The last half of the movie, after Kiki sets off on her own and such, is light on plot and takes it in another direction. I would like to have seen more trials and tribulations of trying to be a witch in the world, but everything seems to go easy for Kiki.

These are just little complaints. Overall it is a good film. A sweet film, but doesn't hold my interest like the intensity of Nausicaa or Mononoke does. That's why I said it didn't hold up well over time. When I was younger (on its first US release) I absolutely loved it. Now that I have seen boatloads of anime and even more works from Ghibli, it is still charming but lacks substance.
 
[quote name='sarausagi']When an English dub is the better version of the movie, and the movie had to be shown along side Grave of the Fireflies, you know even the original creators don't think as highly of it as some of the fans do.

However, I must add that Yoshifumo Kondo's work in BOTH [Grave and Totoro] is excellent. Totoro is a good piece of animation, but it's not a serious film as are all of Miyazaki's movies. Light on the plot, heavy on the conservation message, and almost like an OVA. I like it but I feel wrong saying it's on the same level as say, Kiki, or Castle in the Sky.[/QUOTE]
Go to hell. If you knew *anything* about Ghibli films at all, you'd be aware of the fact that Tonari no Totoro is probably the most beloved Ghibli film in all of Japan.
 
With all the bitchfights in here, this thread hardly touches on "DVD Deals."

I'd like to see some deals on these movies instead of ignorant "YOUR OPINION IS WRONG" statements.
 
Well, when in doubt.... blame Disney for almost never putting these on sale. It'd be nice to have a pleasant talk about how to get these films for cheap but $20 is the lowest I've seen.
 
Damn I liked Howls Moving castle a lot I should start a new thread to find out what else to watch after reading this last page of suggestions..

I will hve to keep my eyes out.
 
[quote name='Kirin Lemon']Go to hell. If you knew *anything* about Ghibli films at all, you'd be aware of the fact that Tonari no Totoro is probably the most beloved Ghibli film in all of Japan.[/QUOTE]

Did I say Japan didn't love it?

No, I'm practically aware Japan is fucking nuts over "Tonari no Totoro"

However, before anyone knew a thing about it, they billed it along with [ooh, namedrop!] "Hotaru no Haka" , to see one you had to see both and whether you think it was to "lighten the air" around Grave of the Fireflies or because the movie was to fluffy to stand on its own, fact is the movie came out along side another [VASTLY SUPERIOR] film

and the second fact is, critics [all the way across the globe] noticed Grave of the Fireflies the second it came out, it was one of the FIRST Japanese animated films to get any credit in the United States, perhaps Roger Ebert's first exposure to anime, and prompted an immediate response in the licensing and serious consideration of animation as a whole. We wouldn't be here with 2 disc sets with full Japanese audio tracks and no edits if it wasn't for Grave of the Fireflies.
 
You're seriously overestimating the importance of Grave of the Fireflies in the United States. Ebert may have had a hard on for Grave of the Fireflies, but the dub of Totoro remained one of the top five best selling VHS children movie's throughout the 1990s. Also, it's Miyazaki we know, not Isao Takahata. Furthermore, the excellent but incredibly similar films Barefoot Gen 1 and 2 are almost unknown in the United States despite being consider to be in the same class as Grave of the Fireflies. The way that the two films were released was to try and get people to see GotF, and you know what, they both flopped in Japan.

You're deluding yourself. The Miyazaki name sold everyone on Studio Ghibli films and My Neighbor Totoro is the most important film for Studio Ghibli in Japan. In the United States, it's Spirited Away and before that it was Totoro (and to a smaller extent, Kiki's Delivery Service). Even then it wasn't until Princess Mononoke and the violent fan reaction at Miramax saying "no subs" that we saw anything Miyazaki directed with the original audio intact. Grave of the Fireflies was good for proving to the art house crew that anime wasn't just violent porn, but it's ultimately a footnote in anime history.
 
[quote name='Blade']With all the bitchfights in here, this thread hardly touches on "DVD Deals."

I'd like to see some deals on these movies instead of ignorant "YOUR OPINION IS WRONG" statements.[/quote]That's what happens whenever sarausugi posts. ;)
 
[quote name='furyk']You're seriously overestimating the importance of Grave of the Fireflies in the United States. Ebert may have had a hard on for Grave of the Fireflies, but the dub of Totoro remained one of the top five best selling VHS children movie's throughout the 1990s. Also, it's Miyazaki we know, not Isao Takahata. Furthermore, the excellent but incredibly similar films Barefoot Gen 1 and 2 are almost unknown in the United States despite being consider to be in the same class as Grave of the Fireflies. The way that the two films were released was to try and get people to see GotF, and you know what, both flopped in Japan.

You're deluding yourself. The Miyazaki name sold everyone on Studio Ghibli films and My Neighbor Totoro is the most important film for Studio Ghibli in Japan. In the United States, it's Spirited Away and before that it was Totoro (and to a smaller extent, Kiki's Delivery Service). Even then it wasn't until Princess Monokoe and the violent fan reaction at Miramax saying "no subs" that we saw anything Miyazaki directed with the original audio intact. Grave of the Fireflies was good for proving to the art house crew that anime wasn't just violent porn, but it's ultimately a footnote in anime history.[/QUOTE]
Took the words right out of my mouth. Thank you!
 
[quote name='modium']That's what happens whenever sarausugi posts. ;)[/QUOTE]


Well, no, I don't try to start bitch fights = ) but it seems whenever I have something to say, someone has to get on my case about it, whether it be home audio, anime, or gaming.

At this point I really don't care, I love CAG no matter what kind of reactions I may get sometimes. but I will say one thing, I've never really cared what the majority opinion is on anything, so I will remain by my opinions concerning Totoro: it's one of those movies I just don't get why the whole world over is crazy about. It's just quite possibly completely lacking in anything but the animation department. I'm not saying it's not funny, or charming, or well made, but I honestly believe it's the least impressive entry in his filmography.

And Barefoot Gen got little to no press at all, the only time I remember it being mentioned is a early 90's issue of GAME PLAYERS magazine. I have watched the first one both dubbed and subtitled. I think it's a good movie, doesn't have the heart Grave of the Fireflies has though. Barefoot Gen is a very good animated film though.
 
And here's an interesting transcript from nausicaa.net

SISKEL (who will get progressively more defensive and look on-the-spot,
from here on): No no, I thought it was a GOOD LOOKING film . . . and in
just the way you said . . .

EBERT: Yeah . . . uh-huh.

SISKEL: . . . but it bored me right off the top with the stuff which you
didn't show, because we didn't have clips of it (oops, Troma, shame shame
shame! --BCW), and that is the WHOLE THING about the little DUST BALLS
. . . er (makes a cute gesture indicating the Susuwatari, for
description) . . .

EBERT: Mmm-hhm, mm-hmm.

SISKEL: . . . that they see in their house, and I was so uninterested in
that, and thought that it was so . . . and that took about a half an hour
out of this picture . . .

EBERT: Oh, but that wasn't . . . (pauses)

SISKEL: I wa . . . (stops as Ebert finishes, shakes head)

EBERT: . . . that was just a very MINOR part of the first half of
the . . .

SISKEL: Well, I tell ya, it really bored me. That was . . . that was one
thing, and I . . . I do like a couple of the things that you mentioned
(begins gesturing more); I like the bus at the end, the "CAT . . . BUS",
and the idea that a cat as a bus (EBERT, grim, nods in agreement) is a
really cute thing. And I DO like that it's quiet, and you do make good
comments about the difference between this animated film, a more GENTLE
animated film than the kind of (gestures) "roustabout-kind of pictures we
get, and I . . . (cut off)

EBERT: Well I found . . .

SISKEL (continuing): I . . . I just didn't . . . I was (quietly) bored.

EBERT (over SISKEL): I found it fascinating, and I think looking at it,
if I could, through the eyes of a kid, or remembering what I was like as
a kid . . .

SISKEL: Yeah.

EBERT: . . . the fact that these two people, and their dad, are going to
go live in this house, and it's a new house, and it might be HAUNTED, and
it's next to the big WOODS, it's stuff like that (which) 'is (sic) really
FASCINATING to me if it's handled intelligently, and another thing I like
is that the characters in the movie LOOK REAL, I mean when the, the (sic)
little girls shout, their mouths get real big (does wide hand imitating
gesture that reminds me of when Mei was trying to describe Totoro's grin
--BCW), and it's not like the little kind of (makes hand gesture a la a
hand puppet such as Kermit the Frog--I wish Jim Henson could have lived
to see this film, sniff --BCW) "Barbie doll characters" that you get in a
lot of animation films that . . .

SISKEL (over EBERT): Yeah! Well, you know . . .

EBERT: . . . don't have any individuality, you know . . .

SISKEL: You know, saying that it's BETTER than Saturday morning T.V. is
EASY, but . . . (cut off)

EBERT: Oh, but IT'S MUCH BETTER than THAT . . .

SISKEL: Well, I KNOW that, I KNOW, but . . .

EBERT: This is a REAL treasure!

SISKEL: Well, I didn't think it was that special, we have, well you know,
films about girls--we have LITTLE MERMAID, and Belle in Beauty and the
Beast, I don't think that it's that unusual to be about little girls.
 
[quote name='sarausagi']Words 'n stuff[/QUOTE]
And this is exactly why I had Siskel killed.

Your main argument seems to change with every post, by the way. Might want to stick with one idea and go from there.
 
[quote name='Kirin Lemon']And this is exactly why I had Siskel killed.

Your main argument seems to change with every post, by the way. Might want to stick with one idea and go from there.[/QUOTE]

You killed him? I got a little sad when he died! I pretty much stopped watching S/E when S died.

Well, arguments are variable, they change as they are written..I am not..a pro debating champion...so I can't stick to one idea forever. In retrospective, things change as well.

Breaking the topic, what did you think of "Final Fantasy Spirits Within" and did you ever see "Final Fantasy Legends of the Crystals" back in the day?
 
THIS WEBSITE IS FOR DEALS DAMNIT.

Quit your petty banter, arguing over cartoons, at least on this site. I love anime as much as the next guy but for Christ sake, I just wasted my time reading through this thread looking for a deal.

If the DVDs are on sale somewhere, then post something. Otherwise, well, don't.
 
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