I think it's pretty much safe to say that any fan of animated films probably has a little bit of Miyazaki in his or her collection. Or, if you're anything like me, you may have an obsessive collection of everything Studio Ghibli has ever made. Disney has done a fine service in bringing their films to a US audience, and this latest series of releases is no exception.
We had the pleasure of sitting down with the Special Edition of Kiki's Delivery Service recently, a 2 disc set which comes packed with a Collectible Litho and features interactive media as well as a documentary called World of Ghibli. Is it worth replacing your old copy of Kiki with, though? Hit the jump to find out.
As you may already be aware, of the four films released (My Neighbor Totoro, Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, Ponyo and this), Ponyo was the only one to get the Blu-Ray treatment. I admit I was a little disappointed as I am a Blu-Ray fanatic, but I did like the nice new packaging and the extra features, so I was still interested in giving the Special Edition a spin.
Fancy. Well, let's a get a look at what the inside looks like, since that's part of the whole Special Edition thing and all.
The lithograph is about the size of the DVD case itself and is very nice. Definitely suitable for framing! it adds a nice touch to this edition, and while it's not quite as awesome as my giant Totoro wallscroll, it ought to put a smile on any fan's face.
So, how is the film itself? Well, it looks clean and the remastered sound is definitely a plus. It also looks great on widescreen TVs now, which is another plus. The extra features are pretty good as well -- The World og Ghibli contains interviews with key crew members as well as Miyazaki himself (who seems like a wingnut in the nicest possible way). You also get to see Kirsten Dunst working in the studio (who looks insanely young) alongside Phil Hartman as they record their voice roles, which I thought was really cool.
This edition also includes an interactive menu which allows you to click different Ghibli locales made famous from the films and "visit" them by clicking the characters. I don't see this function appealing to adults too muc, but I have a feeling kids wiill enjoy playing with it.
If you're a Ghibli fan, this new edition definitely packs enough bonuses to be worth a buy. At $19.99, it's pretty reasonably priced too, and it'll give you an excuse to watch Kiki's wonderful adventures all over again. Not that you needed one, I know ... but hey, take the chance while you've got it anyway!
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