STUDIO GHIBLI AND LUCASFILM TEAM UP TO SURPRISE DISNEY+ FANS WITH SHORT “ZEN - GROGU AND DUST BUNNIES”

 

Disney+ shared a special surprise today for fans of Lucasfilm’s “The Mandalorian.” A new, original short, “Zen - Grogu and Dust Bunnies,” from famed Japanese animation house Studio Ghibli, will premiere on November 12, exclusively on Disney+ in celebration of the third anniversary of the streaming service and the debut of popular Star Wars series “The Mandalorian.” The hand-drawn, animated short is directed by Katsuya Kondo with music by Ludwig Göransson.

Giveaway: $100 BoxLunch Gift Card for Great Gifts That Give Back!

As many of you know BoxLunch is my favorite store! First, they carry an amazing selection of all of my favorite licensed and non-licensed items including apparel, accessories, home goods, collectibles and much, much more! Second, for every $10 spent in their stores or on their website helps provide a meal to a person in need. And by shopping at your local BoxLunch store, you help your community because that store helps provide meals to food banks close to your home! In fact BoxLunch just donated their 1 millionth meal! How awesome is that?

Take a look at some of the amazing items that BoxLunch carries! This is all part of an amazing gift box they sent to me!

To learn more check out the links below:

BoxLunch website: http://boxlun.ch/UTvCMA

BoxLunch giving page: http://boxlun.ch/jFyCy6  

Disney Products: http://boxlun.ch/K6r2bp 

Star Wars Products: http://boxlun.ch/5u6j5T

Marvel Products: http://boxlun.ch/sRznOR

So now BoxLunch has reached out to Sasaki Time to not only spread the word on the amazing things they do, but also the amazing items they carry. So, to help you out, BoxLunch and I are giving you a chance to win a $100 gift card to shop in their store or online!

Enter below!

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The Collected Works Of Hayao Miyazaki Available on Blu-ray Exclusively from Amazon.com on November 17

For the First Time Ever in North America, Academy Award®-Winning Director Hayao Miyazaki’s Films Come Together in a Single Collection

THE COLLECTED WORKS OF

HAYAO MIYAZAKI

Available on Blu-ray™ Exclusively via Amazon.com on November 17, 2015

The Collection includes a 1972 TV Pilot Directed by Miyazaki, Three Episodes from the

 Hit Anime Series “Little Samurai” and a Commemorative Booklet

About: Experience the majestic works of one of the most celebrated filmmakers in the history of animated cinema. Hayao Miyazaki weaves his unique style of artistry and epic adventure into astonishing tales of triumph, bursting with imagination and wonder.  For the first time, enjoy all 11 of Miyazaki’s feature-length masterpieces in one spectacular 12-disc collection, complete with hours of captivating bonus features and the Academy Award^®-winning Spirited Away(2002, Best Animated Feature Film).

Films:                         Lupin the Third: The Castle of Cagliostro (1979)

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984)

Castle in the Sky (1986)

My Neighbor Totoro (1988)

Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989)

Porco Rosso (1992)

Princess Mononoke (1997)

Spirited Away (2001)

Howl’s Moving Castle (2004)

Ponyo (2008/2009)

The Wind Rises (2013)

Bonus Features:  “Yuki no Taiyo” (Yuki’s Sun) - A 1972 TV pilot based on an original manga by Tetsuya Chiba, directed by Hayao Miyazaki who was also in charge of storyboards and key animation.

“Akado Suzunosuke”(Little Samurai) - Three episodes (Episode 26, 27 & 41) of the hit 1972 anime series with storyboarding and more by Hayao Miyazaki.

Director Hayao Miyazaki Retirement Press Conference, Uncut Version

Booklet: A collector’s edition book featuring “The Great Dichotomy: Looking at the Works of Hayao Miyazaki” by Tomohiro Machiyama, which explores the themes and techniques of this revered Japanese filmmaker, and selected text from Hayao Miyazaki’s initial notes and creative proposals for the production of each film

Release Date:            November 17, 2015

ABOUT STUDIO GHIBLI:

Studio Ghibli was founded in 1985 by animated film directors Isao Takahata and Hayao Miyazaki, and has produced twenty-one feature-length films. Most Studio Ghibli films have ranked number one at the box office in Japan in the year in which they were released. SPIRITED AWAY, directed by Hayao Miyazaki and released in 2001, is the all-time highest grossing film in Japan, earning over 30 billion yen at the box office. The studio’s SPIRITED AWAY (2001) and HOWL’S MOVING CASTLE (2004) are among Japan’s top 5 highest grossing films. Studio Ghibli films have garnered numerous awards and critical acclaim from critics and animation specialists around the world. SPIRITED AWAY was awarded the Golden Bear for Best Feature Film at the 2002 Berlin International Film Festival and won the Oscar® for Best Animated Feature at the 2003 U.S. Academy Awards®. In October 2001, Studio Ghibli, in conjunction with The Tokuma Memorial Cultural Foundation for Animation, founded the Ghibli Museum, Mitaka, designed by Hayao Miyazaki. Studio Ghibli’s film, THE WIND RISES, written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, was released in Japan on July 20, 2013, and was nominated for the Oscar® for Best Animated Feature.  In 2014 Hayao Miyazaki was presented with an Lifetime Achievement Award “Oscar” award by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.  THE TALE OF THE PRINCESS KAGUYA, directed by Isao Takahata, opened in Japan on November 23, 2013, and was nominated for the Oscar® for Best Animated Feature.  WHEN MARNIE WAS THERE, directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi (director of ARRIETTY), opened in Japan in July 2014.

ABOUT THE WALT DISNEY STUDIOS:

For over 90 years, The Walt Disney Studios has been the foundation on which The Walt Disney Company was built. Today, the Studio brings quality movies, music and stage plays to consumers throughout the world. Feature films are released under the following banners: Disney, including Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios; Disneynature; Marvel Studios; Lucasfilm; and Touchstone Pictures, the banner under which live-action films from DreamWorks Studios are distributed. The Disney Music Group encompasses the Walt Disney Records and Hollywood Records labels, as well as Disney Music Publishing. The Disney Theatrical Group produces and licenses live events, including Disney on Broadway, Disney On Ice and Disney Live!

Movie Review: The Wind Rises

Outside of The Walt Disney Studios, my other favorite studio is Studio Ghibli led by master animator Hayao Miyazaki. When Miyazaki announced his retirement and that The Wind Rises would be his last film, I had high expectations for his swan song. He not only soars here on his final mark on animation but he exceeded my expectations.

The Wind Rises follows the journey of Jiro Hirokoshi, who has a passion for flying. We see him flying in his dreams with his hero, the Italian airplane designer Caproni. In his dream Jiro watches a plane crash and in real life his dreams of becoming a pilot crash as he doesn't have the proper eyesight to become a pilot. So, with the help of Caproni in his dream, Jiro decides to focus on becoming an airplane builder.

Jiro then dreams of his designs soaring through the skies. His dreams and eventually real life help him solve a design problem. But Jiro lives in the 1930s and Japan is gearing up for war. His design leads to a warplane that causes thousands of deaths. But Jiro isn't concerned about the war, he wants to create the perfect plane. His focus on perfectionism is much like Miyazaki. Miyazaki created a film that doesn't use his typical magical fairies or animals and instead uses people from history with great strengths and flaws. Jiro's relationship with his boss for instance seems very confrontational at first, but when the two finally see eye-to-eye a very unlikely friendship begins that plays out in an unexpected and surprising way.

In the end, I think the relationships are the entire point of the film. That despite the odds that we should strive to do better, to do more. In the event of the massive earthquake sequence where Jiro meets his future wife, we see him acting selflessly trying to save others. Perhaps this is Miyazaki's message, to do our best even in the worst of times. To be able to stand up triumphantly despite the number of times we have fallen.

The Wind Rises in theatres now.

The Wind Rises "Creating Planes" Clip

The Wind Rises arrives in limited US theaters Friday and expands nationwide February 28, 2014.

Find out more about upcoming screenings:http://thewindrisesawards.com

Like The Wind Rises on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/TheWindRises...

Follow The Wind Rises on Twitter:http://www.twitter.com/WindRisesFilm

Official Site: http://www.thewindrisesmovie.com 

In "The Wind Rises," Jiro dreams of flying and designing beautiful airplanes, inspired by the famous Italian aeronautical designer Caproni. Nearsighted from a young age and unable to be a pilot, Jiro joins a major Japanese engineering company in 1927 and becomes one of the world's most innovative and accomplished airplane designers. The film chronicles much of his life, depicting key historical events, including the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, the Great Depression, the tuberculosis epidemic and Japan's plunge into war. Jiro meets and falls in love with Nahoko, and grows and cherishes his friendship with his colleague Honjo. Writer and director Hayao Miyazaki pays tribute to engineer Jiro Horikoshi and author Tatsuo Hori in this epic tale of love, perseverance, and the challenges of living and making choices in a turbulent world. 

From Studio Ghibli, "The Wind Rises" is slated for limited release in North American theaters on Feb. 21, 2014, and expanded release on Feb. 28, 2014, under the Touchstone Pictures banner. The film will also open for Academy Award® qualification engagements in New York and Los Angeles Nov. 8-14, 2013, showcasing the original film in Japanese with English subtitles.

ENGLISH-LANGUAGE VOICE CAST REVEALED FOR STUDIO GHIBLI'S "THE WIND RISES"

Joseph Gordon-Levitt, John Krasinski, Emily Blunt, Martin Short, Stanley Tucci, Mandy Patinkin, Werner Herzog, William H. Macy, Plus a Host of Others Lend their Voices for English-Language Version of Director Hayao Miyazaki’s Spectacular Final Feature

BURBANK, Calif. (December 17, 2013) – An A-list roster of voice talent has been assembled for the English-language version of Studio Ghibli’s “The Wind Rises,” which opens in select North American theaters on Feb. 21, 2014, expanding wide on Feb. 28, 2014. The film marks director Hayao Miyazaki’s final feature, as the legendary animation veteran announced his retirement in September 2013.

In “The Wind Rises,” Jiro dreams of flying and designing beautiful airplanes, inspired by the famous Italian aeronautical designer Caproni. Nearsighted and unable to be a pilot, he becomes one of the world’s most accomplished airplane designers, experiencing key historical events in an epic tale of love, perseverance and the challenges of living and making choices in a turbulent world. The voice cast of the English-language version follows.

·         JOSEPH GORDON-LEVITT (“Don Jon,” “Sin City: A Dame to Kill For”) lends his voice to Jiro Horikoshi, who harbors strong ambitions to create his own beautiful airplane. A bubbling mix of wild excitement, extreme focus, individualism, pride, realism and idealism, Jiro also has a cool and brilliant mind and is recognized for his talent.

·         JOHN KRASINSKI (“The Office,” “Promised Land”) provides the voice of Honjo, Jiro’s college friend and fellow aviation engineer.

·         EMILY BLUNT (“The Young Victoria,” “Edge of Tomorrow,” “Into the Woods”) voices Nahoko Satomi, a beautiful and cheerful girl who is a passenger on the same train as Jiro on the day of a natural disaster. Ten years later, they reunite.

·         MARTIN SHORT (“Father of the Bride,” “Saturday Night Live”) was tapped to portray Kurokawa, Jiro’s grumpy boss.

·         STANLEY TUCCI (“Julie & Julia,” “The Hunger Games” films, “The Devil Wears Prada”) provides the voice of Caproni, an airplane creator known worldwide from the dawn of Italian aviation through the 1930s, who appears in Jiro’s dreams to stir up, advise and voice Jiro’s thoughts and emotions.

·         MANDY PATINKIN (“Homeland,” “The Princess Bride”) lends his voice to Hattori, the senior designer at Mitsubishi.

·         WERNER HERZOG (“Jack Reacher,” filmmaker “Grizzly Man”) voices Castorp, a mysterious visitor to Japan who encounters Jiro at a mountain resort.

·         WILLIAM H. MACY (“Shameless,” “Fargo”) steps into the role of Satomi, Nahoko’s father.

·         MAE WHITMAN (“Parenthood,” “The Perks of Being a Wallflower”) was called on to voice Kayo Horikoshi, Jiro’s younger sister, who adores him. Whitman also voices Kinu, Nahoko’s caretaker.

·         JENNIFER GREY (“Dirty Dancing,” “The Cotton Club,” “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”) provides the voice of Mrs. Kurokawa.

·         DARREN CRISS (“Girl Most Likely,” “Glee”) lends his voice to Katayama, a jovial junior engineering colleague of Jiro.

·         ELIJAH WOOD (“Wilfred,” “Grand Piano,” “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy) voices Sone, a studious engineering colleague of Jiro.

·         RONAN FARROW (“From Up on Poppy Hill”) is the voice of the Mitsubishi Employee.

Also featured in the English-language version of “The Wind Rises” are Zach Callison (“Sofia the First,” “Mr. Peabody and Sherman,” “Steven Universe”), who voices young Jiro; Eva Bella (“Frozen,” “Despicable Me 2,” “Almost Heroes 3D”), who lends her voice to young Kayo; and Madeleine Rose Yen (Broadway’s “War Horse,” “Irving Berlin’s White Christmas”), who provides the voice of young Nahoko. Rounding out the English-language voice cast are Edie Mirman (“Epic,” “Howl’s Moving Castle” English-language version) as the voice of Jiro’s mother, and David Cowgill (“Madagascar”) as the voice of the flight engineer.

The English-language voice cast of “The Wind Rises” is directed by Gary Rydstrom, a seven-time Academy Award®-winning sound designer (“Saving Private Ryan,” “Titanic”) who worked on “Wreck-It Ralph” and “Brave.” Rydstrom also directed the English-language versions of “The Secret World of Arrietty” and “From Up on Poppy Hill.” The English-language version of the film is produced by Studio Ghibli and executive produced by Frank Marshall, who produced dozens of landmark films, including the “Indiana Jones” series, “The Bourne Legacy” and “War Horse,” and executive produced the English-language versions of Studio Ghibli films “PONYO,” “The Secret World of Arrietty” and “From Up on Poppy Hill.” Mike Jones (“In the Event of a Moon Disaster”) is credited with the English-language screenplay adaptation for “The Wind Rises.”

“The Wind Rises” was released in Japan in July 2013, topping the Japanese box office and the $120 million mark. The film opened for Academy Award® qualification engagements in New York and Los Angeles Nov. 8-14, 2013, showcasing the original film in Japanese with English subtitles.

ABOUT THE MOVIE:

In “The Wind Rises,” Jiro dreams of flying and designing beautiful airplanes, inspired by the famous Italian aeronautical designer Caproni. Nearsighted from a young age and unable to be a pilot, Jiro joins a major Japanese engineering company in 1927 and becomes one of the world’s most innovative and accomplished airplane designers. The film chronicles much of his life, depicting key historical events, including the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, the Great Depression, the tuberculosis epidemic and Japan’s plunge into war. Jiro meets and falls in love with Nahoko, and grows and cherishes his friendship with his colleague Honjo. Writer and director Hayao Miyazaki pays tribute to engineer Jiro Horikoshi and author Tatsuo Hori in this epic tale of love, perseverance, and the challenges of living and making choices in a turbulent world.

From Studio Ghibli, “The Wind Rises” is slated for limited release in North American theaters on Feb. 21, 2014, and expanded release on Feb. 28, 2014, under the Touchstone Pictures banner.

Visit the Website: http://www.thewindrisesmovie.com

Like The Wind Rises on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewindrisesmovie

Follow The Wind Rises on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WindRisesFilm

Subscribe to The Wind Rises on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thewindrisesmovie

THE WIND RISES / Trailer

Like The Wind Rises on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewindrisesmovie

Follow The Wind Rises on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WindRisesFilm

Subscribe to The Wind Rises on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thewindrisesmovie

 The Wind Rises arrives in limited US theaters February 21, 2014 and expands on February 28, 2014.

Poster for The Wind Rises! Miyazaki's Final Film!

NOTES:

*   “The Wind Rises” was released in Japan in July 2013, topping the Japanese box office and the $100 million mark.
*   Hayao Miyazaki is one of the most influential and admired filmmakers and a major figure in the Japanese cinematic landscape. His films have inspired moviegoers and colleagues around the world, from Pixar's John Lasseter to fantasist Guillermo del Toro to Chinese director Tsui Hark, and consistently top the box office in his native Japan.
*   Studio Ghibli was founded in 1985 by Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata.
*   Hayao Miyazaki has directed eight feature films, including the Oscar®-winning “Spirited Away” (2001), as well as “My Neighbor Totoro” (1988), “Howl’s Moving Castle” (2004) and “Ponyo” (2008), among others. “The Wind Rises” marks his last film as his retirement plans were announced in 2013.
*   The title “The Wind Rises” comes from a novel of the same name by Tatsuo Hori, who took a line from Paul Valery’s poem, “Le vent se Leve, il faut tenter de vivre” – The wind is rising. We must try to live.

OFFICIAL BOILERPLATE:

In “The Wind Rises,” Jiro dreams of flying and designing beautiful airplanes, inspired by the famous Italian aeronautical designer Caproni. Nearsighted from a young age and unable to be a pilot, Jiro joins a major Japanese engineering company in 1927 and becomes one of the world’s most innovative and accomplished airplane designers. The film chronicles much of his life, depicting key historical events, including the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, the Great Depression, the tuberculosis epidemic and Japan’s plunge into war. Jiro meets and falls in love with Nahoko, and grows and cherishes his friendship with his colleague Honjo. Writer/director Hayao Miyazaki pays tribute to engineer Jiro Horikoshi and author Tatsuo Hori in this epic tale of love, perseverance, and the challenges of living and making choices in a turbulent world. From Studio Ghibli, “The Wind Rises” is slated for limited release in North American theaters on Feb. 21, 2014, and expanded release on Feb. 28, 2014, under the Touchstone Pictures banner. The film will also open for Academy Award® qualification engagements in New York and Los Angeles Nov. 8-14, 2013, showcasing the original film in Japanese with English subtitles.

Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch (PS3) for $19.99 (33% off) + eligible for Free Shipping!

Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch

by Namco

Platform: PlayStation 3 | Rated: Everyone 10+

4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (380 customer reviews)

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All-Star Production - LEVEL-5's mastery of the RPG genre is combined with Studio Ghibli's world-class animation and music composed by the renowned Joe Hisaishi

Another World - Stunning visuals, made possible by utilizing the full capabilities of the hardware, create the world of Ni no Kuni and immerses players into Oliver's journey within this vibrant, animated world

Captivating Story - A charming and tragic tale unfolds including animation storyboarded and created by Studio Ghibli with English and Japanese voice overs

 Role Playing Mastery - New and traditional RPG elements expertly crafted and designed featuring dozens of locations to explore, hundreds of creatures to battle and a wealth of quests and secrets to uncover throughout the sweeping journey

Dynamic Fights - Freely switch control of characters and familiars in an exciting battle system that combines real-time and turn-based tactical elements

Kiki's Delivery Service (1989) on DVD for $13.99 (53% off) + eligible for Free Shipping!

Kiki's Delivery Service (1989)

Kirsten Dunst (Actor), Minami Takayama (Actor), Hayao Miyazaki (Director) | Rated: G | Format: DVD

4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (391 customer reviews) | Like (359)

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Spirited Away (2002) on DVD for $15.49 (48% off) + eligible for Free Shipping!

Spirited Away (2002)

Hayao Miyazaki (Director) | Rated: Unrated | Format: DVD

4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (877 customer reviews) | Like (666)

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My Neighbor Totoro (2010) on DVD for $13.49 (55% off) + eligible for Free Shipping!

My Neighbor Totoro (2010)

Hayao Miyazaki (Director) | Rated: G | Format: DVD

4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (739 customer reviews) | Like (485)

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Studio Ghibli made a video game? It's coming to the US late this year?

Namco Bandai will be releasing Level-5/Studio Ghibli collaboration Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch in North America sometime late this year in the US.
Here is a look at the trailer and the game play is in real-time! I can't wait to get it!

Amy Poehler, Bridgit Mendler and Carol Burnett promoting The Secret World of Arrietty

THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY opens in theaters this Friday, February 17^th

Cast Members: Amy Poehler, Bridgit Mendler and Carol Burnett in Los Angeles to promote the film.

Review of The Secret World of Arrietty

I was able to watch The Secret World of Arrietty at The Walt Disney Studios a few Fridays ago and I loved it! First of all, I am a huge Studio Ghibli fan and I always look forward to their next movie! 

The Secret World of Arrietty is the 17th film from Studio Ghibli that has brought us such films as "My Neighbor Totoro,"  "Kiki's Delivery Service," "Spirited Away," and "Ponyo." It is based on the popular children's novel "The Borrowers" by Mary Norton. If you are familiar with the television show "The Littles" then you get the idea.

Take a look at the film's trailer.


As you can see from the trailer above, the story centers around a young girl named Arrietty who lives with her parents, underneath a home located out in the country. Arrietty and her parents are little people who survive by "borrowing" the things they need from human beings. On a "borrowing" outing, Arrietty meets a human boy named Shawn who has come to the house to rest. The two become friends even though they know that they are not suppose to be. This friendships threatens the balance between the little people and humans.

The clip below is called "Proud."


An underlying theme in pretty much all Studio Ghibli films is about underdogs and an undercurrent of environmentalism. Arrietty and her family represent nature and the little things that most people never notice. Her family has learned to survive on only what they need. But the film is also about forgiveness. I don't want to give away too much of the story so I will leave it as that. 

The next clip is called "What are borrowers?"


One of my favorite scenes is the clip above. The animation is just stunning. The details just feel lifelike.The score by Cecile Corbel is hauntingly beautiful. There is the addition of a song by Bridgit Mendler, who voices Arrietty in the U.S. version.

Here is the music video from Bridgit Mendler.


A beautifully drawn film, with a wonderful story, that will be sure to charm you and convince you anyone can be brave.

The Secret World of Arrietty hits US theaters February 17

Become a fan on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SecretWorldofArrietty

From Studio Ghibli and Walt Disney Studios: THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY -- Official Trailer, One-Sheet and 3 Images!

Hey there Sasaki Time fans! Here is the first look at the latest film from Studio Ghibli! I love films from this Studio as much as I love films from Disney! I cannot wait to see this one!

Watch the trailer:



Check out three images from the film! Simply stunning!

Here is the press release of The Secret World of Arrietty!

THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY

DISNEY

Disney.com/Arrietty

Genre:                                      Animation/Adventure
Rating:                                      TBD

Release Date:                           February 17, 2012

Voice Cast:                               Bridgit Mendler, Amy Poehler, Carol Burnett, Will Arnett, David Henrie, Moises Arias

Director:                                   Hiromasa Yonebayashi

Producer:                                  Toshio Suzuki

Screenplay by :                         Hayao Miyazaki and Keiko Niwa

Based on “The Borrowers” by:    Mary Norton

Director – English Language

Version:                                    Gary Rydstrom

Executive Producers –

English Language Version:        Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall

English Language Screenplay by:      Karey Kirkpatrick

Residing quietly beneath the floorboards are little people who live undetected in a secret world to be discovered, where the smallest may stand tallest of all.  From the legendary Studio Ghibli (“Spirited Away,” “Ponyo”) comes “The Secret World of Arrietty,” an animated adventure based on Mary Norton’s acclaimed children’s book series “The Borrowers.”

Arrietty (voice of Bridgit Mendler), a tiny, but tenacious 14-year-old, lives with her parents (voices of Will Arnett and Amy Poehler) in the recesses of a suburban garden home, unbeknownst to the homeowner and her housekeeper (voice of Carol Burnett). Like all little people, Arrietty (AIR-ee-ett-ee) remains hidden from view, except during occasional covert ventures beyond the floorboards to “borrow” scrap supplies like sugar cubes from her human hosts. But when 12-year-old Shawn (voice of David Henrie), a human boy who comes to stay in the home, discovers his mysterious housemate one evening, a secret friendship blossoms. If discovered, their relationship could drive Arrietty’s family from the home and straight into danger. The English language version of “The Secret World of Arrietty” was executive produced by Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall, and directed by Gary Rydstrom. The film hits theaters Feb. 17, 2012.

Notes:

• Hayao Miyazaki is one of the most influential and admired filmmakers working in animation today and is a major figure in the Japanese cinematic landscape. His films have inspired moviegoers and colleagues around the world, from Pixar's John Lasseter to fantasist Guillermo del Toro to Chinese director Tsui Hark, and consistently top the box office in his native Japan.
• Director Hiromasa Yonebayashi, a top animator at Studio Ghibli, was responsible for the animation in a signature scene in “Ponyo,” in which Ponyo runs atop ocean waves.
• English language voice talent director Gary Rydstrom is a seven-time Academy Award^Ò winning sound designer/mixer (“Terminator 2: Judgment Day”). He joined Pixar Animation Studios as an animation film director in 2003.  His directorial debut for the studio was the Academy Award^®-nominated short film “Lifted,” and he directed the short film “Hawaiian Vacation,” which was released with “Cars 2” in June 2011.
• Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall are highly successful producing partners whose films, separately and together, include “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” “E.T.,” “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?,” the Indiana Jones films and the Jurassic Park films. In total, Kennedy and Marshall have earned 11 Oscar® nominations.
• English language screenplay writer Karey Kilpatrick’s credits include “Spiderwick Chronicles” and “Over the Hedge,” which he also directed (with Tim Johnson).