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    Studio Ghibli`s TALES FROM EARTHSEA Now in Limited US Theatrical Release

    The Studio Ghibli animated film TALES FROM EARTHSEA is now playing in American theaters. Photo courtesy of Walt Disney Studios. ©2006 Nibariki - GNDHDDT

    Images and Production Notes from Walt Disney Studios Source: Walt Disney Studios Official Movie Site: disneypictures/earthsea (US)

    US promotional art, courtesy of Walt Disney Studios. ©2006 Nibariki - GNDHDDT

    On August 13th, Studio Ghibli`s TALES FROM EARTHSEA (Gedo Senki, 2006) began a limited theatrical run in the United States through Walt Disney Studios Distribution. Disney has released most of Ghibli`s films in the US, but TALES FROM EARTHSEA was delayed for several years since author Ursula Le Guin`s Earthsea novels had previously been optioned for film and television by Hallmark Entertainment. The film was directed by Goro Miyazaki, son of Studio Ghibli co-founder and legend Hayao Miyazaki. While the works of the elder Miyazaki are revered worldwide, reviews for Goro`s directorial debut have been much less enthusiastic. The following production notes are courtesy of Walt Disney Studios...

    TALES FROM EARTHSEA

    Running Time: 105 minutes Release Date: August 13th, 2010 (limited) MPAA Rating: PG-13 From Walt Disney Studios and Studio Ghibli comes the epic animated adventure TALES FROM EARTHSEA, directed by Goro Miyazaki and featuring the voices of Timothy Dalton, Willem Dafoe, Cheech Marin and Mariska Hargitay. Based on the classic Earthsea fantasy book series by Ursula Le Guin, TALES FROM EARTHSEA is set in a mythical world filled with magic and bewitchment. A tale of redemption and self-discovery, the story follows the journey of Lord Archmage Sparrowhawk, the master wizard, as he searches for the force behind a mysterious disturbance that has caused an imbalance in the land of Earthsea—suddenly crops and livestock are dwindling, dragons have reappeared and humanity is giving way to chaos. Along the way he rescues Arren, a troubled young prince who has fled his home and is being pursued by an enigmatic shadow. Arren joins Sparrowhawk on the quest and, moving closer to their intertwined destinies, they cross paths with Tenar a former priestess, and her disfigured adopted daughter Therru. With Sparrowhawk’s magical powers dissipating, all of them must band together to defeat the evil Cob and his henchman Hare before Cob’s mania to find immortality destroys Earthsea.

    Photo courtesy of Walt Disney Studios. ©2006 Nibariki - GNDHDDT

    EARTHSEA AND THE MIYAZAKI LEGACY In the six-book series, author Ursula Le Guin created the magical land of Earthsea—a world of islands and water where wizardry is a science that allows one to control the elements, heal illness, calm earthquakes, make the wind blow in the sails of boats, and much more. In this world, Sparrowhawk, whose secret name is Ged, was chosen when he was a young and proud shepherd to learn magic. The books follow him on his heroic journey of self-discovery and redemption through the Darkness and back again.

    The wizard Sparrowhawk looks after the runaway prince Arren. Photo courtesy of Walt Disney Studios. ©2006 Nibariki - GNDHDDT

    First-time director Goro Miyazaki discovered the Earthsea book series over 20 years ago when he was still in high school and was drawn to the compelling stories, which resonated with him in a very personal way. As he explains: “I profoundly identified with the setbacks suffered by the proud Sparrowhawk. It came close to my personal experience.” Goro Miyazaki’s father, famed animator and filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki, co-founder of Studio Ghibli, dreamed of making a film from Tales from Earthsea for more than 20 years. Early on in his career he contacted the author to request the right to make the animated film, but Ursula Le Guin refused: Miyazaki was just beginning as a director of feature films and she was not familiar with his work. Hayao Miyazaki continued to be inspired by the book series, which shows in much of his work, including his 1983 comic book Shuna’s Journey, as well as key films NAUSICAA OF THE VALLEY OF THE WIND, CASTLE IN THE SKY and PRINCESS MONONOKE. Finally after many years, the film project TALES FROM EARTHSEA came to fruition and Goro Miyazaki was tapped to direct. Working with the talented animation team at Studio Ghibli, Goro Miyazaki was able to add his own sensitivity to the film. He directed the film with a synthesis of different aesthetics, adding his own imprint to the family heritage.

    An example of the beautiful background paintings created for TALES FROM EARTHSEA. Photo courtesy of Walt Disney Studios. ©2006 Nibariki - GNDHDDT

    In keeping with the Miyazakis’ vision, Hayao Miyazaki’s Shuna’s Journey is credited with inspiring the look of the film, which includes hand-drawn animation and a watercolor palette. Goro Miyazaki hopes the viewing public connects with the film and goes on a personal journey with Sparrowhawk and the characters in EARTHSEA. “How can we live correctly?” asks the director. “It is the question I asked myself, to which I have returned again and again while listening to the voices of the characters as the film progresses. I have the strange feeling that Sparrowhawk, Arren and I have traveled and spoken a long time together.” THEMES IN TALES FROM EARTHSEA The main theme of the film centers around the imbalance of the world and its need for equilibrium, achieved both through man’s harmony with nature and harmony within himself. In the film, the land of Earthsea is prey to man’s folly—the attempts at all costs to control nature, earth and space, regardless of the balance of the world. To find stability and peace again each person must accept and embrace his own dark side, but also admit that man is only an ephemeral element within nature. Goro Miyazaki has compared the world we live in today to the mythical capital city of Hort Town in TALES FROM EARTHSEA where everyone is overwhelmed and frenetically busy without purpose and meaning. He further explains: “We stray from the path that we must follow. With the overdevelopment of civilization and our cities sprawling more and more, we think that we are capable of predicting and controlling everything that surrounds us. But for me, only the realization that man has no power against the forces of nature, and acceptance of this fact, could allow us to live with satisfaction.” “When we began preparing TALES FROM EARTHSEA, I was deeply pondering how one should lead his life. The disturbance of the balance of the world finds its very origin inside a man. Once you arrive at this conclusion, you can serenely face the question of life and death. And in this resides the most important of themes.”— Goro Miyazaki

    Photo courtesy of Walt Disney Studios. ©2006 Nibariki - GNDHDDT

    ABOUT THE ENGLISH-LANGUAGE VOICE CAST TIMOTHY DALTON (Sparrowhawk) trained at The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. He was a member of Britain’s National Youth Theatre and has worked extensively in both classical and modern theatre throughout Britain, including seasons with the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Prospect Theatre Company and the National Theatre. His many roles have included Romeo, Prince Hal, Hotspur, Henry V, Petruchio and Mark Antony. He played Cornelius Melody in the highly acclaimed London West End production of Eugene O’Neill’s “A Touch of The Poet” and most recently played Lord Asriel in the National Theatre’s “His Dark Materials.”

    Former 007 Timothy Dalton is the English voice of Sparrowhawk. Photo courtesy of Walt Disney Studios. ©2006 Nibariki - GNDHDDT

    On television his work has encompassed material ranging from the BBC’s classic production of "Jane Eyre" to the award-winning documentary on wolves “In the Wild,” which took him to within a few hundred miles of the North Pole. He has played in major British and U.S. network TV miniseries and dramas. His work for Showtime and HBO includes the movies “The Informant,” “Possessed” and “Made Men.” Dalton began his film career playing alongside Peter O’Toole and Katherine Hepburn in the Oscar®-winning film “The Lion in Winter.” He has subsequently starred in films including, “Mary, Queen of Scots,” “Cromwell,” “Wuthering Heights,” “Agatha,” “Flash Gordon,” “Hawks,” “The King’s Whore,” “The Rocketeer,” “The Beautician and the Beast,” “Timeshare,” “American Outlaws,” “Looney Tunes” and “Hot Fuzz.” From 1987 to 1989 Dalton was the screen’s James Bond, playing the world’s best-known secret agent in “The Living Daylights” and “License to Kill.” In 1979, WILLEM DAFOE (COB) was given a small role in Michael Cimino’s “Heaven`s Gate,” from which he was fired. His first feature role came shortly after in Kathryn Bigelow’s “The Loveless.” From there he went on to perform in over 60 films, including such films as, in Hollywood, “Spiderman,” “The English Patient,” “Finding Nemo,” “Once Upon a Time in Mexico,” “Clear and Present Danger,” “White Sands,” “Mississippi Burning,” “Streets of Fire”; in independent cinema in the U.S., “The Clearing,” “Animal Factory,” “Basquiat,” “The Boondock Saints,” “American Psycho”; and abroad, Lars von Trier’s “Manderlay,” Yim Ho’s “Pavilion of Women,” Yurek Bogayevicz’s “Edges of the Lord,” Wim Wenders’ “Far Away So Close,” and Brian Gilbert’s “Tom & Viv.”

    Oscar nominee Willem Dafoe plays Cob. Photo courtesy of Walt Disney Studios. ©2006 Nibariki - GNDHDDT

    Dafoe has chosen projects for diversity of roles and opportunities to work with strong directors. He has worked in the films of Wes Anderson (“The Life Aquatic”), Martin Scorsese (“The Aviator,” “The Last Temptation of Christ”), Paul Schrader (“Auto Focus,” “Affliction,” “Light Sleeper,” “The Walker”), David Cronenberg (“Existenz”), Abel Ferrara (“New Rose Hotel”), David Lynch (“Wild at Heart”), William Friedkin (“To Live and Die in LA”), and Oliver Stone (“Born on the Fourth of July,” “Platoon”). He was nominated twice for the Academy Award (“Platoon” and “Shadow of the Vampire”) and once for the Golden Globe. Among other nominations and awards, he received an LA Film Critics Award and an Independent Spirit Award. Recent projects include Lars Von Trier’s “Antichrist,” Wes Anderson’s “The Fantastic Mr. Fox,” Werner Herzog’s “My Son, My Son,” the Lionsgate film “Daybreakers,” co-starring with Ethan Hawke, Paul Weitz’s “Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire`s Assistant,” “Anamorph,” “Mr. Bean`s Holiday,” Paul Schrader’s “Adam Resurrected,” Spike Lee`s “Inside Man,” Paul Weitz`s “American Dreamz,” the Nobuhiro Suwa segment of “Paris, Je t’aime” and Giada Colagrande`s “Before It Had a Name” (which was co written by Dafoe). Upcoming films include Andrew Stanton’s “John Carter of Mars” for Disney; “Fireflies in the Garden,” opposite Julia Roberts; Julian Schnabel’s “Miral”; Christian Carion’s “Farewell”; Giada Colagrande’s “A Woman”; Theo Angelopoulos’ “The Dust of Time”; and Abel Ferrara’s “Go Go Tales.” Dafoe is one of the founding members of The Wooster Group, the New York–based experimental theatre collective. He has created and performed in the group’s work from 1977 thru 2005, both in the U.S. and internationally. CHEECH MARIN (Hare) is familiar to many as one?half of the hilarious duo Cheech and Chong; together, they made eight feature films. He has since appeared in more than 20 films, including “Spy Kids,” “Tin Cup,” and “Once Upon a Time in Mexico.” His television credits include co?starring with Don Johnson in the popular CBS drama, “Nash Bridges,” a recurring role on the hit series “Lost,” and a guest appearance on “Grey’s Anatomy.” His latest films include “The Perfect Game” (Lionsgate Entertainment) and the Cheech and Chong concert film “Hey Watch This” (Weinstein Co.). The long-standing comedy duo is currently on their 2010 national comedy tour, the Get It Legal Tour, and will release an animated film later this year.

    The popular Cheech Marin is Hare. Photo courtesy of Walt Disney Studios. ©2006 Nibariki - GNDHDDT

    In addition, in 2005, Cheech also directed the Broadway production of “Latinologues,” a collection of comedic and poignant monologues revealing the Latino experience in America. Although primarily known as an actor, director, and performer, Marin has also developed the finest private collection of Chicano art in the United States. Much of it formed the core of his traveling exhibition “Chicano Visions: American Painters on the Verge,” which broke attendance records during its groundbreaking 15?city tour from 2001?2007 to major art museums across the United States. He states, “Chicano art is American art. My goal is to bring the term ‘Chicano’ to the forefront of the art world.” This focus is what led to his touring exhibitions, “The Chicano Collection/La Colección Chicana: Fine Art Prints by Modern Multiples” and “Papel Chicano: Works on Paper from the Collection of Cheech Marin.” He has also produced exhibitions for LACMA (“Angelenos/Chicano Painters of L.A.” – June 15 through November 2, 2008) and the Art Museum of South Texas in Corpus Christi (“Menudo: Chicano Art from the Cheech Marin Collection” – September 17, 2009 to January 3, 2010). His latest exhibition, “Chicanitas: Small Paintings from the Cheech Marin Collection,” is in production and is expected to begin touring in 2010. A third?generation Mexican American, Cheech has received numerous awards for his work on behalf of Latinos, including the 2000 Creative Achievement Award from the Imagen Foundation and the 1999 ALMA Community Service Award from the National Council of La Raza and Kraft Foods. In 2007, he received an honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts for his contributions to the creative arts from Otis College of Art & Design in Los Angeles, and received the inaugural Legacy Award for Arts Advocacy from the Smithsonian Latino Center. He serves on the boards of the Smithsonian Latino Center and the Hispanic Scholarship Fund. Emmy Award–winner MARISKA HARGITAY (Tenar) stars as Olivia Benson, the committed and emotionally driven detective on Wolf Films/Universal Media Studio’s “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” now in its twelfth season. The role has earned Hargitay seven consecutive Emmy nominations for Outstanding Actress in a Drama, with a win in 2006. She also received the 2005 Golden Globe Award® and Golden Globe nomination in 2009, five SAG Award® nominations and two Gracie Allen Awards for American Women in Radio and Television.

    Tenar is voiced by actress Mariska Hargitay. Photo courtesy of Walt Disney Studios. ©2006 Nibariki - GNDHDDT

    “It’s gratifying to play such a complex character. Olivia is not only an accomplished, street-smart cop, she’s also an empathetic woman who can respond emotionally to victims of terrible crimes without compromising her professionalism,” says Hargitay. Hargitay is also known to NBC viewers for her recurring role on “ER” as Dr. Greene’s (Anthony Edwards) girlfriend Cynthia Hooper in the 1997-98 season of the top-rated show. She gained notice as a cast regular in the sitcom “Can’t Hurry Love” with Nancy McKeon. She also starred in the NBC drama, “Prince Street.” Other television credits include guest roles on NBC’s “Seinfeld,” “Ellen” and “Thirtysomething.” Hargitay also appeared in the telefilms “The Advocate’s Devil” and “Night Sins,” as well as the Lifetime movie “Plain Truth.” Her film credits include the thriller “Lake Placid” written by David E. Kelley and starring Bridget Fonda; the critically acclaimed “Leaving Las Vegas”; David Lynch’s “Hotel Room”; Bob Fosse’s “Star 80”; Michael Rymer’s “Perfume”; and an appearance in Mike Myers’ “The Love Guru.” Inspired by her role on “Law & Order: SVU,” Hargitay created the Joyful Heart Foundation, whose mission is to heal, educate and empower survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse, and to shed light into the darkness surrounding these issues. With offices in New York, Los Angeles and Hawaii, JHF offers healing, wellness and empowerment programs for survivors of abuse and the professionals who care for them. “Joyful Heart is about the courage to heal, and all of our programming is dedicated to honoring that brave decision,” says Hargitay. Through Joyful Heart, Hargitay has used her voice to bring attention, funding and new legislation to critical issues facing sexual and family violence survivors, working with the medical community, the criminal justice system and law enforcement. Most recently, she testified before Congress to urge lawmakers to address the backlog of untested rape kits in the US. Hargitay has also lent her time and voice to other organizations such as Lee National Denim Day (one of the largest single-day fundraisers for breast cancer), for which she was the 2007 Ambassador, Autism Speaks, The Norma F. Pfriem Breast Care Center, The Santa Monica Rape Crisis Center, The Girl Scouts of America, Project ALS, The James Redford Institute for Transplant Awareness (JRI), Safe Horizon, and the Venice Family Clinic, the nation’s largest free health clinic. She has also appeared in national campaigns for NBC’s “The More You Know” and Got Milk. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Hargitay is the youngest daughter of screen legend Jayne Mansfield and Mickey Hargitay. Hargitay is married to actor Peter Hermann, who most recently appeared in “Edge of Darkness” and has a recurring role on SVU as attorney Trevor Langan. The couple has one son. ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS

    Photo courtesy of Walt Disney Studios. ©2006 Nibariki - GNDHDDT

    GORO MIYAZAKI (Director, Co-writer) was born on January 21, 1967, in Tokyo. After graduating from Shinshu University’s School of Agriculture in Forest Science, he worked as a construction consultant, taking part in landscape planning/design of parks and urban forestry projects. In 1998, Goro Miyazaki undertook the overall design of Ghibli Museum, Mitaka, and acted as the museum’s managing director from 2001 to June 2005. In 2004, he was awarded the Minister of Education’s Art Encouragement Prize for New Artists in the field of art promotion. “Tales from Earthsea” is his directorial debut. TOSHIO SUZUKI (Producer) was born in Nagoya in 1948. He graduated from Keio University`s Faculty of Letters in 1972 and immediately joined Tokuma Shoten Co., Ltd. After working for the weekly magazine Asahi Geino, Suzuki was on the founding staff of the monthly animation magazine Gekkan Animage. While working as an associate-editor and later the chief editor of the magazine, Suzuki took part in the production of films by Isao Takahata and Hayao Miyazaki, including “Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind” (1984), “Castle in the Sky” (1986), “Grave of the Fireflies” (1988), “My Neighbor Totoro” (1988) and “Kiki’s Delivery Service” (1989). He was one of the founders of Studio Ghibli in 1985 and has worked full-time at the studio since 1989. Suzuki has served as the producer for “Only Yesterday” (1991), “Porco Rosso” (1992), “Pom Poko” (1994), “Whisper of the Heart” (1995), “Princess Mononoke” (1997), “My Neighbors the Yamadas” (1999), “Spirited Away” (2001), “The Cat Returns” (2002), “the GHIBLIES episode 2” (2002), “Howl’s Moving Castle” (2004), “Tales from Earthsea” (2006), “Ponyo” (2008), and “Karigurashi no Arrietty” (2010). Suzuki has also served as the producer for films including Hideaki Anno’s live action film “Ritual” (2000) and as a co-producer for Mamoru Oshii’s animated feature “Innocence” (2004), and he has even appeared as an actor in Oshii`s live-action film “Amazing Lives of the Fast Food Grifters” (2006). Suzuki is the host of a popular and influential weekly talk radio program airing on Radio Tokyo FM. He is one of the founders of the Ghibli Museum, Mitaka, (which opened in Tokyo`s Inokashira Park in 2001), was the president of Studio Ghibli until 2008, and currently serves as Studio Ghibli`s chairman. TAMIYA TERASHIMA (Music Composer/Arranger) began his career in Music as a trumpet player in his high school’s brass band, where he composed ensemble arrangements for the band. After graduation, he joined a rock band as its keyboard player. Using a synthesizer, his musical arrangements evolved from jazz fusion to classical-based compositions. He won rave reviews for his unique orchestration and his talents were exhibited in music composed for various television programs and films. In 1994, he released his first original soundtrack album for the television drama “Minami’s Sweetheart.” Since that time he has concentrated on scores for television dramas, including “The Daughter of Iguana”, “Flowers for Algernon” and the remake of “Rondo of the Wind” which became hits one after another. Recently, his work has expanded to musicals, stage productions and Japanese period drama.

    Singer Aoi Teshima is the vocalist for the hit “Therru’s Song”. Photo courtesy of Walt Disney Studios. ©2006 Nibariki - GNDHDDT

    Terashima is one of the directors of the Japan Composers & Arrangers Association (JCAA) and a member of the Japanese Society for Rights of Authors, Composers and Publishers (JASRAC). In 2004, Terashima was awarded the Outstanding Achievement in Music Prize from the Nippon Academy-Sho Association for his musical composition for the motion picture “Han-ochi.” In 2005, Terashima composed pieces for the television drama “So-Koku,” written by critically acclaimed director Youji Yamada, to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II. AOI TESHIMA (Singer) sings both the original closing number “The Song of Time” and the hit main theme song “Therru’s Song” for “Tales from Earthsea,” as well as providing the voice of Therru in the Japanese-language film. In 2003 and 2004, in Fukuoka where she was born, her voice captured the audience at the Diva event hosted by the Teens’ Music Festival. In March 2005, her performance at the “Japan and Korea World of Slow Music” received rave reviews. It was then that her cover of “The Rose” reached the ears of producer Toshio Suzuki and director Goro Miyazaki, paving the way for her film debut in 2006. The following year, she released her second album “Songs of Spring” and the main theme song “A Star of Miracle” for the U.S. documentary film “Arctic Tale” (2007). Teshima released two English cover albums of classic western movie theme songs, “The Rose – I Love Cinema” and “La Vie en Rose” – I Love Cinema” in March 2008 and October 2009, respectively. Besides feature animation and documentaries, her reach extended to include the theme song “Rainbow,” in the dramatic feature film “The Witch of the West Is Dead” (2008), based on the best-selling novel by Kaho Nashiki.


    For more information on TALES FROM EARTHSEA please see the earlier coverage here on SciFi Japan:


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