Mcm comic con

http://www.mcmcomiccon.com/london/


MCM comic convention is on the 25th - 27th October at the Royal Docks in London. I really wanted to go this year but I cant afford it. To me, the real fun of the mcm is cosplay. Pretty much everyone is dressed up which creates such an amazing atmosphere.
Special guests include James Cosmo ( Jeor Mormont - Game of thrones) Miltos Yerolemou ( Syrio Forel - GOT)  and Troy Baker, if you don't know who he is then you don't play enough games, he's the reason I want to go this year. He voiced Booker DeWitt - Bioshock Infinite, The Joker - Batman Origins, Joel - The Last of us, DOA- Hayabusa, Pain and Yamato - american dubbed Naruto and many other voices in games and TV.  There are a lot more guests that you can see on their website, but they're the only ones I really care about this year.
They also have many different sections within the convention like Japan EX, comic village and Vidfest UK.
If you can go I would definitely recommend it! And I will be incredibly jealous!

Early Entry: enter from 9:00

Tickets: £16.50 if bought in advance
On day: £20
Weekend: £29.50

General Entry: enter from 11:00

on the day adult (15+) - £10
Child (11-14) - £6
10 and under goes free.

If you are an aspiring artist you can rent tables to display your work as well.

Princess Mononoke

'Princess Mononoke' (1997)



I think the word 'long' is suitable for this movie but also 'beautiful'. This movie is so amazing, it's got the 'Spirited Away' feel with all the spirits and fantasy style but is also nothing like it.
When Ashitaka, a young man from a small village, is attacked by a demon possessed creature he becomes infected himself. With only a matter of time, he sets out to find himself a cure. But on his journey he comes across a mining village, run by a very strong lady, Lady Eboshi. This colony is at war with the forest and while staying there Ashitaka meets San who has come to infiltrate the village and kill Eboshi in anger of her chopping down the forest to create the town.
The town is full of social outcasts and houses former brothel workers and lepers who she uses to create firearms to defend against the gods. Ashitaka tries to go after San but in the battle she becomes conscience. As a result of this, Ashitaka carries her out and away from the town, and as he leaves he gets shot.
San is a hostile princess of wolves so is not so welcoming or polite towards Ashitaka but he bares with her non the less. He thinks she may know a way to save him.....but will she tell him?

Definitely one to watch. It is long but if you enjoy it enough, you shouldn't really notice.

PomPoko

'Pompoko' (1994)

Pompoko is about shape shifting raccoons whose home is being threatened. To prevent this catastrophe from occurring, they all team up to fight the humans and put a stop to the construction.
There isn't much else to say about this movie without revealing the whole plot really. I remember thinking that I found this film boring but, yet again, maybe I'll watch it again. The actual plot and from all the things I remember about it, it would be the kind of thing I would now find funny. Having the raccoons as shape-shifters is a really good idea, makes it that much more interesting and quirky and a lot of fun, especially the carnival thing they do that reminds me of 'Paprika'. So I have now talked myself into wanting to re-watch it. Its now on my 'to buy' list.

The Cat Returns

'The cat returns' (2002)



Yeah. I wasn't really a fan of this one. I want to watch it again, just to double check my feelings. I remember it freaking me out a bit with the cat king - I guess it was a while ago now when I watched it last.
Haru (voiced by Anne Hathaway) saves a cat she is rewarded by the cat prince which of course means, she's engaged to him. The only way to regain her freedom lies in the help of The Baron and Muta (Moon).

There's this bit at the (above) where she has to go into the 'Cat World' which slowly morphs her into a cat herself, but it also reminds me of 'Labyrinth'.

My Neighbour Totoro

'My neighbour Totoro' (1988)

Omg. If you haven't seen this film then you should. I think pretty much everyone who has seen only one Ghibli has seen this one.
My neighbour Totoro pulls on the heart strings just because its so. cute. and there are some sad bits in and because I watched it consistently I am therefore unable to watch it any more. The slightest sign of sad or cute makes me burst into uncontrollable tears, so basically from start to finish. This can get one rather soggy, so I've banned myself for a while.
The movie follows two young girls, Satsuki (voiced by Dakota Fanning) and Mei (voiced by Elle Fanning) which in itself is adorable as they're sisters anyway and the video clip of them doing the lines in the studio together is great.
I need to stop getting sidetracked - So the girls move with their dad into the country while their mums in hospital. The house is old and is practically falling down but they still love it and spend a lot of time playing outside. When Satsuki goes to school, Mei plays by herself. She see's a small creature and follows it (like Alice down the rabbit hole) and ends up .....well, falling, down a hole by a giant tree and lands on Totoro.s belly. Totoro looks like a bear, raccoon? with slight bunny ears. He's asleep and not really phased by her sudden appearance so goes back to snoozing and so does she. When she awakes she's in the middle of the forest all alone. Satsuki finds her and brings her home where Mei tries explaining to them what's happened and her dad says he must have been a tree spirit. From this point, Totoro makes more appearances, but only the girls can see him and he takes care of them through some tough times.
Watch - I insist! For bits like the famous rain scene, you'll never walk in the rain the same again.

Whisper of the Heart

This movie is one of my favourite Ghibli's ever! It's just...so nice.
It's the first instalment with 'The Cat returns' being the second.
The story follows a young girl Shiziku (voiced by Brittany Snow) who wants to be a writer, spending more time reading than studying. Every book she borrows from the library has already been checked out previously by the same guy. She begins to think they are soul mates and tries to track him down. She later meets a young boy (voiced by David Gallagher) called Seiji, who is a bit cruel to her so she automatically holds a grudge for quite a while, but, as expected, they get to know each other better and all is not so bad, all thanks to Moon, a cat that rides the train with Shiziku and through her curiosity, she follows him and he leads her to an antique shop which just happens to be owned by Seiji's Grandfather.
Through this their relationship unfolds and it all ends well, which is what we like to hear. It's such an easy watch. Brilliant.

Tales from Earthsea

Tales from Earthsea (Gedo Senki) was directed by Goro Miyazaki but is still created with the same amazing Ghibli look and feel of his father. I have to admit, I saw this awhile ago now so the memory of it is slightly hazy. I was going to put it on and remind myself but then realized ...I don't have it. This made me sad, but I guess I have to get over it.
Arren is a young boy with some emotional difficulties, he has a dark side which can make him uncontrollable and lack any kind of mercy. The world is going through some tough times and people are changing as a result and when you add dragons into the equation, things start to loose control.
Ged (voiced by Willem Defoe) is a wandering wizard who later meets Arren and they wander together meeting villain's and facing dangers as a team, although there are those who threaten the comradery - will they succeed in helping the world?

This isn't one of my favourite Ghibli's but I did like it - definitely worth a watch.

Only Yesterday

'Only yesterday' (1991)

Only yesterday is a movie of reminiscence. Taeko is an office worker who travels back to the countryside for work. While there she reflects on her childhood in Tokyo and where she has ended up. 

In my opinion, the flashbacks are more interesting than the current day events and it has not been dubbed, so if that's going to bother you than I wouldn't recommend it. 

I have to admit that I was slightly disappointed, I found it a bit boring and I normally love calm, slice of life style anime. Maybe I need to watch it again but compared to its predecessors, it lacks the character allure and storytelling. 

My neighbours the yamadas

'My Neighbours the Yamadas' (1999)

This Ghibli movie was their first completely digital film. Directed by Isao Takahata and inspired by the yonkoma manga 'Nono chan', this movie has taken a completely different approach to the style and adopted a very 'storyboard' look which, personally as an illustrator, I love and really appreciate.
The movie follows a 'normal' family and shows just how many quirky things happen just in regular life. You can really relate to the characters and situations and become amerced in their lives.
Full of fun, and good sense of humour, this charming movie is one of my favourite Ghibli's of all.

Kiki's delivery service

'Kiki's Delivery service' (1989)

In a world which seems very normal are those select few who are very different, those who do spells and ride brooms still have to take part in 'work experience'. Witches, when they reach a certain age, must go to another town/city to live amongst normal people and train.
Kiki and her furry sidekick, JiJi, set out to a new town. She soon meets a young boy who takes an immediate interest in her but her feelings for him are far from mutual. She ends up living with a pregnant lady and her husband who own a bakery and sets up a delivery business. And from here, her adventure begins.
With young Kirsten Dunst voicing Kiki, this is a very nice, easy to watch ghibli and as it was released on the year of my birth, I class it as a very successful anime.

Howl' moving castle

'Howl's Moving Castle' (2004)

Howl's moving castle is about a rogue wizard called Howl voiced by Christian Bale (Bruce Wayne, Batman) who travels in a castle controlled by a demon called Calcifer voiced by Billy Crystal (Mike, Monster's inc.). In a time of war, wizards are expected to join with their cities to help in the defence along with the military but Howl is known in all areas as a different wizard so has split loyalty. During this time, a young girl named Sophie is saved by Howl and is noticed by the witch of the waste who curses her out of jealousy and damns her to old age. With her new found curse, Sophie takes an adventure to the wastes to find a way to break the spell and stubbles across Howls Moving Castle and therein lies the name of the film.
It amazing, full of fantasy and adventure, a big hit Ghibli!

Laputa

'Laputa' (1986)

Laputa is the first Ghibli movie I saw and probably my main influence into anime.
The story is about a young girl called Sheeta, voiced by Anna Paquin (Rogue, Xmen, Sookie Stackhouse, True Blood) who falls from the sky but is saved by her magic crystal that she wears round her neck. Pazu, voiced by James Van Der Beek (Dawson, Dawson's Creek), a young boy who lives by himself see's her falling and catches her. Sheeta is being chased by pirates and the military for her necklace so she and Pazu run away together but are taken and with this the true nature of the crystal is revealed.

Movies:

Well. if you are already a fan of anime you will know that the most famous anime film maker is Hayao Miyazaki. You will probably as well know that he is retiring and are, like me, heart broken. 

So, as you can guess the first part of this page will be dedicated to Studio Ghibli. I haven't seen them all, but will be adding as I go so don't despair, I am aware I haven't included them all.

Hmmm, where to start? Well, I guess I will go for the most recent one I saw,

'From up on Poppy Hill' (2011)

I loved this film. Initially I preferred the more fantasy style to the Ghibli films but now I am loving the 'slice of life' styles more and more. I watched this one online in Japanese and have yet to see it in English but they usually do an amazing job of the Ghibli's. The two main characters are voiced by Sarah Bolger (Mary, The Tudors) and Anton Yelchin (Chekov, Star Trek) so I have high hopes.
The story surrounds a young girl (of course, they usually do) called Umi who lives in a boarding house with a host of other including her gandmother, 2 younger siblings, a college student and a doctor in training. Umi runs the house and every morning cooks the breakfast and raises a flag in honour of her father. The house is based on a hill overlooking the port where she watches the boats and someone seems to watch her too as it seems as when she arrives at school, in the paper, there is a poem about her, again. And from this, the relationship between her and the writer begins to develop and become more complicated.

It's such a nice film and yes, I cried at the end, it's one of those.