Thought this might be of interest to Anime fans everywhere.  This marks the
first actual anime to hit the American silver screen in a big way.

- Rena/Maigrey

OF INTEREST TO ANIME FANS....

>From Animation World magazine <via Scott Frazier>
   Miramax to Release Mononoke.
   Hayao Miyazaki's top-grossing animated feature Princess Mononoke
(Mononoke Hime) will be released theatrically in the U.S. this summer

by

Miramax Films, a Disney company. The film earned it's spot as the

all-time

highest grossing film in Japan, bringing in sell-out crowds, long lines

at

theaters and over $150 million at the box  office in Japan in 1997.
Although the film is known to contain graphic violence, neither the

visuals

or the music will be edited by Miramax, per strict distribution

agreement

with the film's producers, Studio Ghibli. Miramax president Harvey
Weinstein said, "With great regard for Mr. Miyazaki, our plan is to
maintain the film's unique creative integrity." However, new voice

tracks

will be recorded for a dubbed English version, and Disney is in talks

with

several actors for the parts (it has been unofficially reported that
Leonardo DiCaprio is being considered for the role of Ashitaka). With

this

announcement, Miramax joins the alliance formed in July 1996 between

Buena

Vista Home Entertainment and Tokuma Shoten Publishing Company, which

brings

selected Japanese films from
Tokuma's Studio Ghibli and Daiei Studios (Shall We Dance?) to audiences
outside of Asia, theatrically and on video. No official dates for

"Mononoke

Hime's" release in Europe have been announced, but the film will be
screened at the Berlin International Film Festival on February 11.

Disney Sets Dates For Miyazaki And DTV Titles.
    Buena Vista Home Entertainment (BVHE) will release Hayao

Miyazaki's

animated feature film
Kiki's Delivery Service on home video, on June 22, 1998. Disney

acquired

U.S. distribution rights to eight animated films by the Japanese

director,

but Kiki will be the first release. The film, about a young witch

seeking

her place in the world, will be dubbed in English with voices by

Kirsten

Dunst, Phil Hartman, Debbie Reynolds, Janeane Garofalo and Mathew

Lawrence.

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COLLEGE BOARDS, WHEREVER THERE MAY BE ANIME FANS!