The collection works of Hayao Miyazaki [Blu-ray]

DVD Wholesale Quick Overview:

The Collected Works of Hayao Miyazaki is a new Blu-ray box set that contains all 11 of the famed Studio Ghibli director’s films. It also includes four TV episodes that he directed. This collection is the most hyped anime release of the holidays and is available exclusively on Amazon.

This collection is the best thing I have ever purchased. It is why money exists, why it is a medium of exchange that permits us to gather up some hours on the factory floor or in an office or in the field and trade them for a man’s life work. Because that’s what this is. Hayao Miyazaki is rightly legend for his masterful animation and directorial skills combined with his deeply insightful approach to human nature and relationships. But it is not until you see his movies together as a whole that you even begin to grasp the depths of his talent. These films are like chapters in a man’s life, each one building on earlier themes, re-examining them, and then propelling those lessons forward to the next chapter. And yet each is wonderful and accessible in its own way, often featuring protagonists and narratives that resonate with children and adults at the same time. Castle in the Sky overlaps with Nausicaa overlaps with Spirited Away overlaps with My Neighbor Totoro in ways that can only really be appreciated if you watch them in close proximity, and it is incredible how doing so with people younger and older than yourself will cause different generations to see different things and give you a deeper understanding of both the films and each other. When I watch Ponyo with my daughters, we enjoy it from a youthful perspective of exploration, testing boundaries, and young love. When I watch Ponyo with my parents, we enjoy it from their perspective similar to the retired old ladies in the film as an older, watchful generation that sees change as a force to be appreciated as much as feared. This is a gift. That his films can simultaneously resonate with people three generations apart is impossible to the point of seeming like a magic trick, yet occurs as naturally as breathing. All I can ask is that you trust me on this and buy it. This is what it is to be human.-Yossarian

Why do I love Amazon? They get me my merch early. I’ll get to the point: This is a great set. I like the packaging, it feels good and while I’m normally against the cardboard sleeve style, the discs smoothly slide in and out with no issue. The booklet contains Miyazaki’s proposal and intentions for each film project, which is fascinating for fans and gives insight to the way a genius director operates.

To those concerned about the “dubtitles” issue from previous Disney/Ghibli releases, the options for Castle in the Sky, Kiki, and Mononoke(and every other disc I checked) include two separate English options: English(the direct translation) and English For The Hearing Impaired(transcript of the dub). I tested Kiki, Mononoke and Castle with English audio and English subs. They’re different scripts. So, if this was a sticking point for anyone, don’t let it be.

On the other hand, the reason I can’t give 5 stars is that there are ZERO special features for any of the films, and no they’re not all on the special bonus disc. For the price it would have been nice to have a truly complete set, but who am I kidding I wasn’t going to watch any of that. Still, for those who are you are going to need the individual releases.

tl;dr – 1)good packaging 2)sweet booklet 3)true English subs 4)no special features 5)very satisfied!
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-Jaime Williams

DVD Wholesale Main Features:

Format: Blu-ray
Language: Japanese
Subtitles: English
Region: Region A/1
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Studio: Walt Disney Studios
DVD Release Date: November 17, 2015
Numbers of disc: 12
ASIN: B0117V8BX8