Pom Poko

Castles in the Sky: Miyazaki, Takahata, and the masters of Studio Ghibli In this brilliant and often overlooked Studio Ghibli classic, the forests are filled with groups of magical tanuki. Mischievous raccoon-like animals from Japanese folklore, tanuki are shape-shifters capable of taking the form of practically any being or object. The tanuki spend their days playing idly in the hillsides and squabbling over food-until the construction of a huge new Tokyo suburb clears the nearby forest and threatens their way of life. In an effort to defend their home, the tanuki learn to transform into humans and start playing tricks to make the workers think the construction site is haunted. The climax is a spectacular night-time spirit parade, with thousands of ghosts, dragons, and other magical creatures descending on the city-an abundance of fantastical characters that would not be matched on screen by Studio Ghibli until Spirited Away. (119 mins., 35mm, rated PG for violence, scary images, and thematic elements, English-language version) Studio Ghibli founder Hayao Miyazaki insisted that this North American retrospective be presented on beautiful 35mm film, so don't miss this rare opportunity to immerse yourself in a modern classic on the big screen and on film. So that it can be easily enjoyed by younger viewers, this Studio Ghibli feature is presented in a skillfully produced English-language version. (Film fans take note: many of the Studio Ghibli dubbed versions were overseen by Pixar's John Lasseter.) Arrive early-at 6 PM-for a speedy, family-friendly tour of the Annie Leibovitz exhibition. Admission to the galleries is free with your same-day film ticket. Copresented by Ohio State's East Asian Studies Center....more