STACK NZ May Issue #62

DVD & BD

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ANIME ROUND-UP

Miyazaki Characters

To celebrate such a great month for Ghibli releases, it seems only natural to pick our top 5 characters. The best/hardest part is that there’s no right nor wrong answer. 5 Ponyo – It’s impossible to stay grumpy when faced with such a light-hearted, joyous soul such as Ponyo’s. Sure, I’m still not sure if she’s a little girl, a fish or some weird chicken/ fish hybrid, but she’s still cute as a button. 4 San – The ultimate animalistic warrior, San stands up for those who can’t stand up for themselves and displays bravery and conviction like no other. A true, grade-A bad arse. 3 Totoro – Totoro is everything you think about when the name Studio Ghibli is mentioned. Warm-hearted and immensely hugable, this is one big, grey, hairy beast that we’d all love to have in our lives. 2 Kiki – The complete encapsulation of innocence, Kiki is the least witchiest witch you’re likely to see on screen, and perhaps that’s why she’s so delightful. She really knows how to rock a smock, too! 1 Porco Rosso – Although not necessarily the best known of Miyazaki’s characters, Porco shows the most character growth when he finally reveals that he’s not so much a pig as a warm hearted gentleman of the skies.

Lupin III:The Castle of Cagliostro

T he CollectedWorks of Hayao

antics. Draw your chopsticks and do battle over the most sacred of cuisines: half-price convenience store bento boxes. Dog & Scissors Series Collection doesn’t really diverge from its title, wherein our two main characters are a dog and a sicko with scissors. Lifelong book nerd Harumi gets killed, comes back as a dog, and finds himself being tortured with scissors by his favourite author. [WTF? - Ed.] I guess having a crush on a zombie would be undying love in the literal sense. Or should it be, the loving dead? Sankarea – Undying Love gets the collected treatment, so you can knock back episode after episode of blood- soaked horror and cringe-worthy, ultra-awkward romance. In Kill La Kill Volume 4 , the penultimate foray into this insane series, Satsuki takes up arms to take control of the final outstanding location: Osaka. Ryuko, of course, has other plans and somehow things wind up on a nudist beach. Yep. That’s Kill La Kill for ya. Continuing the fantastical digital drama of Shiroe and co., Log Horizon Part

Miyazaki Box Set is about to drop over 1200 minutes of wonderful straight into

your soul. This set includes eleven glorious films: Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, Laputa: Castle in the Sky, My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki's Delivery Service, Porco Rosso, Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle, Ponyo, and The Wind Rises . This must-have set comes complete with a deluxe collector’s box, 32-page booklet, a bonus disc with Miyazaki’s earlier work, an English translated video of Miyazaki’s retirement press conference, and all of the special features from the included films. Based on the classic story ‘Tale of the Bamboo Cutter’ and directed by Studio Ghibli co- founder Isa Takahata, TheTale of the Princess Kaguya is a beautiful film and the culmination and embodiment of decades of work and dedication. Just when you thought that the soot sprites must have whisked away the film forever, Spirited Away gets a Blu-ray release and it is totally worth the wait. One of Miyazaki’s most adored films, Spirited Away is as beautiful to the eyes as it is to the ears and heart. An absolute masterpiece. On a lighter note, Ben-To Series Collection introduces us to Sato, a member of the Half- Priced Food Lovers Club and his over-the-top

2 arrives and wraps up this potential Sword Art Online Slayer. With the Goblin

army gathered and ready for battle, Shiroe and his band of misfits turn to royalty for inspiration.

Dog & Scissors

MAY 2015 JB Hi-Fi www.jbhifi.co.nz

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