The Rotoscopers jump into the world of Japanese animation by reviewing their first ever anime: Studio Ghibli’s fantasy-adventure film Spirited Away. Mason also introduces a new super duper anime trivia game and tries to stump Morgan and Chelsea. So join the Rotoscopers for all the news and laughs in the (Japanese) animated world!
Highlights:
- The Rotoscopers: The Band!
- News: Epic trailer is epic, DreamWorks theme park, Penguins of Madagascar movie, Kung Fu Panda 3; get more news at our website and hypable.com
- Mason discusses anime music and theme songs
- New Game! ‘Super Awesome Fun Time Anime Synopsis Game Deluxe Bean Burrito Game!’ Mason reads a description of an anime and Morgan and Chelsea have to guess if it’s a real show or made up
- Main discussion: Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away
- Animes are like awkward conversations: you just can’t jump into them
- Spirited Away is awesome because it stands out visually from other traditional animes
- Characteristics of animes that deter Western viewers
- Thoughts on grotesque character design: Yubabba’s big head, Chihiro’s dull design
- Chihiro: her transformation throughout the film, “what’s up with that guy?”
- Shifts away from traditional Western story telling: lowest point at the beginning
- Story: static characters help move the forward; characters don’t grow up, but discover inner strength inside of them; Chihiro can’t go back, just forward
- Standout scenes: the beginning is very typical of a scary movie, abandoned amusement parks
- Mason’s theory alert: Chihiro & her parents died on the car ride & are entering the afterlife
- Unanswered question: were the parents under a spell when they were eating the food?
- What’s with the roasted newt?
- Similarities with Alice in Wonderland and Pinocchio; Crow Yubabba is similar to Maleficent’s crow Diabolo
- Chihiro’s defining moment, slow character evolvution
- Susan Egan as Lin; Jason Mardsen as Haku aka a ‘voice acting hero’
- Voice actor tangent: are some voices too recognizable and distracting?
- No Face: unresolved character, Mason discusses fan theories about who No Face is
- Morgan’s had a No Face in her life
- Yubabba: great enjoyable character, stays nasty till the end, motivated by only money and her baby
- Conundrum: how did Chihiro know that none of the pigs were her parents?
- Themes: generosity vs. greed, love vs. infatuation
- Rich with symbolism, lots of moments for reflection
- Last lines of the film (added for English dub): “I think I can handle it.”
- What both our listeners and The Rotoscopers rate it! ★★★★★
- A big ol’ mail in the mail bag!
- Plug to listen to past episodes!
Runtime: 1:19:53, 38.5 MB
Where to Find Us:
- Find us on the web: Rotoscopers.com, Twitt
er, Facebook, YouTube, Tumblr, Hypable & Animated Views. - Mason Smith: This Animated Life Blog, Twitter
- Chelsea Robson: Facebook, Twitter
- Morgan Stradling: Twitter, Instagram
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