Japanese Animation Series
October 7, 13, & 21,
2004
All screenings at the Wang Center
Theatre. Co-sponsored with The Japan Center; organized by Etsuko Maruoka-Ng,
emaruoka@notes.cc.sunysb.edu. Admission is free.
October 7: Spirited Away
The
2002 Academy Award winner for the Best Animated Film. Spirited Away is
a wondrous fantasy about a young girl, Chihiro, trapped in a strange
new world of spirits. When her parents are mysteriously transformed
into pigs, she must call upon her courage to free
herself and return her family to the outside world.
(Hayao Miyazaki 2001)
Thursday, Oct. 7, 7:00 p.m.
October 13: Princess Mononoke
A tale
of civilization versus nature set in medieval Japan, directed by anime
master Hayao Miyazaki. While protecting his village from a rampaging
boar-god,
the warrior Ashitaka is cursed with a rapidly spreading scar that threatens
to end
his life. Seeking a cure and a reason for the animal-god's attack, he
journeys into the sacred depths of the Great Forest Spirit's realm.
Soon Ashitaka's quest to solve the beast's fatal curse brings him into
the midst of human political intrigues as well as the more crucial battle
between man and nature. (Hayao Miyazaki 1997)
Wednesday, Oct. 13, 7:00 p.m.
October 21: Millennium Actress
After
nearly 30 years of living in strict seclusion, the aged film star Chiyoko
grants an interview to journalist Genya. As their conversation unfolds, Chiyoko’s
memories of her youth flash back. Chiyoko shelters and falls in love with
an anti-government activist as a young girl. The activist disappears, leaving
her with only a key to "the most important thing in the world." She
spends the rest of her life chasing after him, becoming an actress in the
meantime. The chase is beautifully illustrated through scenes from her past
movies, which represent 1000 years of Japan's history (from samurai to the
world wars to the space age) and 100 years of Japan's film history. (Satoshi
Kon 2001)
Thursday, Oct. 21, 7:00 p.m.
October 27: Ramayana: The Legend
of Prince Rama
Groundbreaking
collaboration between Hindu epic storytelling and Japanese animation
genius. The virtuous Rama rescues his beautiful wife Sita from the ten-headed
demon Ravana with the help of the brawny Monkey King Hanuman. Animation
by Kobayashi, narrated by James Earl Jones, and directed by Ram Mohan
and Yugo Sako. (Ram Wednesday, Oct. 27, 7:00 p.m.
