The Wind Rises - Japanese animated aviation film
 

A Japanese animated film only shown in "art house" type cinemas would not normally feature in the recommendations on this thread but perhaps an exception should be made for this fictionalised biography of the designer of the Mitsubishi "Zero".

First class simulations include a range of inter-war designs from Mitsubishi, Junkers and Caproni with an in-flight sequence of the Junkers G-38 possibly the highlight.

But you wont find it at your standard multiplex, it might take some searching.

Here is what the Telegraph thought about it, although the critic rambles on about other stuff before getting to the point


The Wind Rises, review: 'magnificent' - Telegraph

I saw this yesterday at the rather odd time of 1300 at the Cineworld cinema in Stevenage. If you go to the Cineworld website it shows a list of which of their cinemas is showing it. I was half expecting to be alone in the cinema but in fact there was quite a large audience. I thoroughly enjoyed it and the graphics in the whole film are really excellent. I would say it's worth making the effort to find it.

The UK release was a bit later than the rest of the planet: Japan in mid-2013 (where it was the highest-grossing film of the year), US for a week in November 2013 so it could qualify for the Academy Awards followed by a general release in early 2014. The English dub includes Werner Hertzog and Elijah Wood but the Japanese original with subtitles is still the best way of viewing the movie.

Another movie with the same director, producer, screenwriter and composer is Porco Ross.

bushfiva you just pipped me.

I was going to mention a fabulous cartoon.
it is called Porco Rosso, a pig's got to fly.

the name translates as red pig.
it comes from studio ghibli
the version I have was bought in the Manpong store in the MBK centre in Bangkok. it runs 89 minutes.
it is a japanese cartoon available in japanese and in thai.
the aircraft in the cartoon are savoia-marchetti flying boats.

it is a truly beautifully executed cartoon full of the romance of flying.

the blurb on the cd cover....
"in the early 1030's era Italy air pirates, bounty hunters and high flyers of all sorts rule the skies.
The most cunning and skilled of all these pilots is Porco Rosso. A former ace, he now makes a living flying contract jobs, such as rescuing those kidnaped by air pirates.
Donald Curtis, Porco's rival in the air and in catching the affections of women, provides a constant challenge to the hero, culminating in a hilarious, action packed finale."

I was after an aviation themed cartoon for the grandkids. I was blown away by the artistic quality of the cartoon. It's a gem.
....the grandkids still haven't seen it.

I entirely agree with dubbleyew eight's comments about Porco Rosso. I got my copy from a well known firm that shares its name with a South American river. Unfortunately the DVD of The Wind Rises has yet to be released in the UK but is expected to be available later this year.
Multiplex? Art House? Not in my neck of the woods. The last time I visited a cinema was to see the then newly released 'Jaws'!

Another vote from me on Porco Russo - in fact any of the Studio Ghibli films are worth seeing for their stunning artistry and the not-Disney kind of stories. Frequently they are on Film4. My kids at a young age, got me into them.

I think Porco was originally done for an Italian airline as part of the in-flight entertainment.

Concur with the comments about any Studio Ghibli film ... recently watched "My Neighbours The Yamadas", which has an animation style atypical of the studio, but is very funny. It seems that families around the world are not so very different...

Been a fan of Studio Ghibli Director Miyazaki Hayao's works for many a long year. Porco Rosso was great, using genuine contemporary engines for the sound track.

The character in the The Wind Rises is said to be loosely based on the Spitfire designer, RJ Mitchell. My daughter and her friends went to see it in Brixton last week and loved it.

Sadly many of Miyazaki's animations have been dubbed with American accents, mispronouncing the Japanese names etc., so if you can get the subtitled versions you will get a purer and less filtered experience.

If you have not seen any, you will probably enjoy Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, and Laputa, Castle in the Sky. The family will especially enjoy My neighbo(u)r Totoro, and Kiki's Delivery Service.

Another giant hit by the same director was the Lupin III series, brilliant stuff. See the Castle of Cagliostro, etc.

He seems to take special delight in portraying flying machines, airships, etc.

Shurely shome mishtake? It's Jiro Horikoshi, a Mitsubishi designer of aircraft including the A5M and A6M. The clue's in the lead's name :}