EVERY son knows that living up to a father’s legacy is rarely an easy task.
And when your father is the founder of a legendary animation studio, that assertion has never held so much weight.
Dubbed by westerners as the ‘Walt Disney of Japan’, Studio Ghibli has created a string of enduring films that have cut through the mainstream in to critical viewing, such as Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke.
Tales From Earthsea is the first feature film directed by Goro Miyazaki – the son of Ghibli genius Hiyao Miyazaki.
Many feared the new director would be crushed under the pressure of expectation, especially since his previous vocational experience was more involved with landscaping than animation.
But it was pleasing to discover that Goro Miyazaki has made a worthy debut based on books by Ursula Le Guin.
Tales From Earthsea is the story of a deteriorating kingdom in which a young and distraught boy called Arren loses his will to live.
After being saved by Sparrowhawk, an Archmage investigating evil sorcery at the root of the problem, Arren slowly starts to realise his destiny to restore balance to Earthsea.
Although the movie avoids the usual eccentricities that usually dance across the screen in Hiyao Miyazaki pictures, it is a really solid and enjoyable story with central themes like life and death and the balance between all living things handled excellently.
For Studio Ghibli fans or for those who want a first taste of Japanese cinema, this is not to be missed.
