Rating: 
Summary: Good intro for new-comers, good reference for fans
Review: This book provides a detailed look at the theatrical films made by Hayao Miyazaki (in Ms. McCarthy's assessment, the "Kurosawa of animation", director of such masterpieces as _Nausicaa of the valley of the wind_, _Laputa: the castle in the sky_, _My neighbor Totoro_, _Kiki's delivery service_, _Porco Rosso_, and _Princess Mononoke_). After an introductory chapter giving a brief biography of Hayao Miyazaki and an overview of how animation is done, the book devotes a chapter to each of Miyazaki's films (those listed above, plus his _Lupin III: the castle of Cagliostro_). Each chapter describes the context in which the film was made, and has sections describing the major characters, giving a detailed summary of the plot, and concluding with a critical assessment, placing the work in the context of Miyazaki's other films. A concluding chapter talks about merchandising. The book includes an extensive bibliography and filmography listing Miyazaki's written, drawn, and animated works. Along the way, one learns about aspects of Japanese culture that shed new light on scenes in Miyazaki's works (e.g., in Japanese culture, cutting one's hair is a statement that one is committed to a path that may end in one's death --- which illuminates scenes in _Mononoke_, _Laputa_, and the Nausicaa manga; lost little Mei in _Totoro_ is sitting by idols dedicated to a god who protects small children, sending a subliminal message to _Totoro_'s Japanese viewers). Fans of Miyazaki's manga works will be a bit disappointed that they are given short shrift in this book (the title says *animation*, after all). Fans will also find a thing here and there to quibble about, but nothing really significant. There are many illustrations. The book opens with a section of color plates --- one or two images from each of the movies discussed, and each chapter includes several illustrations. The color plates are reproduced very well, the gray-scale images are okay.
Rating:
Summary: Good intro for new-comers, good reference for fans
Review: This book provides a detailed look at the theatrical films made by Hayao Miyazaki (in Ms. McCarthy's assessment, the "Kurosawa of animation", director of such masterpieces as _Nausicaa of the valley of the wind_, _Laputa: the castle in the sky_, _My neighbor Totoro_, _Kiki's delivery service_, _Porco Rosso_, and _Princess Mononoke_). After an introductory chapter giving a brief biography of Hayao Miyazaki and an overview of how animation is done, the book devotes a chapter to each of Miyazaki's films (those listed above, plus his _Lupin III: the castle of Cagliostro_). Each chapter describes the context in which the film was made, and has sections describing the major characters, giving a detailed summary of the plot, and concluding with a critical assessment, placing the work in the context of Miyazaki's other films. A concluding chapter talks about merchandising. The book includes an extensive bibliography and filmography listing Miyazaki's written, drawn, and animated works. Along the way, one learns about aspects of Japanese culture that shed new light on scenes in Miyazaki's works (e.g., in Japanese culture, cutting one's hair is a statement that one is committed to a path that may end in one's death --- which illuminates scenes in _Mononoke_, _Laputa_, and the Nausicaa manga; lost little Mei in _Totoro_ is sitting by idols dedicated to a god who protects small children, sending a subliminal message to _Totoro_'s Japanese viewers). Fans of Miyazaki's manga works will be a bit disappointed that they are given short shrift in this book (the title says *animation*, after all). Fans will also find a thing here and there to quibble about, but nothing really significant. There are many illustrations. The book opens with a section of color plates --- one or two images from each of the movies discussed, and each chapter includes several illustrations. The color plates are reproduced very well, the gray-scale images are okay.
Rating: 
Summary: Awesome book...see her new anime Encyclopedia, too!
Review: This is a gorgeous book, and an absolute must for anyone (otaku extraordinaires or beginning-level anime fans)who wants to learn about one of the greatest anime artists/directors in the genre. With chapters on each of Miyazaki's films, detailed discussions of style, plot, symbolism, and artistic evolution, Helen McCarthy's HAYAO MIYAZAKI is the perfect reference on his films. And the color plates at the beginning of the book are beautiful! Oh, and I just heard through the 'Pike that Helen is coming out with a **BRAND-NEW BOOK** which sounds awesome... It's the Anime Encyclopedia, which traces Japanese animation from its beginnings in the early C20 until the present. It lists over 2,000 anime films, with all the trivia, details, and specs that are dear to otaku everywhere!! It's coming out in Fall 2001, I think.
Rating:
Summary: Awesome book...see her new anime Encyclopedia, too!
Review: This is a gorgeous book, and an absolute must for anyone (otaku extraordinaires or beginning-level anime fans)who wants to learn about one of the greatest anime artists/directors in the genre. With chapters on each of Miyazaki's films, detailed discussions of style, plot, symbolism, and artistic evolution, Helen McCarthy's HAYAO MIYAZAKI is the perfect reference on his films. And the color plates at the beginning of the book are beautiful! Oh, and I just heard through the 'Pike that Helen is coming out with a **BRAND-NEW BOOK** which sounds awesome... It's the Anime Encyclopedia, which traces Japanese animation from its beginnings in the early C20 until the present. It lists over 2,000 anime films, with all the trivia, details, and specs that are dear to otaku everywhere!! It's coming out in Fall 2001, I think.
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