Bodysuit 23 #811 (Patreon)

Hayao Miyazaki's newest film was the #1 film in the US! Neat! I haven't gone to see it yet as I'll more than likely be buying the bluray when it comes out, and the novelty of seeing anime in theaters has worn off for me. Plus the cost of a movie ticket will be about the same how much the bluray will cost, so hey!

Been hearing from people that I follow on twitter that the movie isn't very good, with Miyazaki's style of "coming up with the story as I do the storyboards" didn't work well this time. In my personal opinion, every Miyazaki film since his post Princess Mononoke retirement has left me wanting. I don't care for Spirited Away, think Howl's Moving Castle isn't that good and a bit of a mess, actively do not like Ponyo, and thought the Wind Rises was okay? So honestly I'm not going in expecting Nausicaa/Future Boy Conan/Cagliostro level Miyazaki storytelling. I'm sure it'll be pretty, but his recent films have not been as good as his older works.

Comparatively, Isao Takahata's final films were absolute bangers, but he also took his sweet ass time with those films to the point of driving everyone up the wall around him, including Miyazaki. But man oh MAN! Princess Kaguya? What a fucking film to end a career on.

Miyazaki's lost his touch decades ago, but he's contributed so much to the anime world that I don't care if I don't enjoy his later films as much. I'm just happy he's able to make whatever the fuck he wants in his twilight years. He's earned it.