Author: Hayao Miyazaki
Series: The Wind Rises
Hardcover: 224 pages
Publisher: VIZ Media
Release Date: April 8, 2014
Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars
I have been a fan of Studio Ghibli since the early 90’s and have seen and cherished every one of the films, especially those directed by Hayao Miyzaki. Sad news is that “The Wind Rises” is actually the last film he will be directing. Good news it that it is one of his best. Viz Media has been behind all of Studio Ghibli’s “Art of” books and they are considered gold on my bookshelves. I love reading them over and over and this one is already no different. I am very glad that they switched back to the hardcover format as well after slipping to softcover with “The Secret World of Arriety”. If you are a Studio Ghibli fan, I cannot recommend this anymore, it is a must own!
Official Premise: The latest in the perennially popular line of Studio Ghibli artbooks, which includes interviews, concept sketches, and finished animation cels from classics such as Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro. The Wind Rises is Miyazaki’s love letter to the power of flight and the imagination, an examination of the rise of Japan’s military might in the years leading up to the Second World War, and a call for worldwide peace and harmony in the face of destruction. This book captures the art of the film, from conception to production, and features in-depth interviews with the filmmakers.
I have seen this film about five times now, so I practically know it inside and out. I am just amazed by every single scene in the film. The colors, the animation, the design is just absolutely mind-blowing to me. Well, it is even more mind-blowing once you get inside this book. I literally combed it page by page inch by inch soaking up every single bit of information and detail that I could. It is packed with great concept drawings, interviews and animation cels from the film. It is so beautiful and has the power to generate a tear due to this being such a powerful film and also Miyzaki’s last.
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