GRAVE
OF THE FIREFLIES
NEW YORK, NY - CENTRAL PARK MEDIA
PROUDLY PRESENTS A SPECIAL COMMEMORATIVE DVD EDITION OF
THE POIGNANT AND UNIVERSALLY ACCLAIMED GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES
AVAILABLE TO COLLECT ON OCTOBER 8th
Akira. Princess Mononoke. Metropolis.
These critically-acclaimed and highly successful anime
releases stand among the finest examples of their genre
ever created. Add to that list an extremely powerful and
moving film which transcends the genre and has been called
“one of the most beautiful films I’ve seen,
anime or live-action!.” That film is GRAVE OF
THE FIREFLIES, a touching, universally acclaimed anti-war
film directed by Isao Takahata and produced by the prolific
Studio Ghibli, which he co-founded with anime legend Hayao
Miyazaki (Princess Mononoke, My Neighbor Totoro).
On October 8th, Central Park Media proudly unveils a very
special commemorative 2-disc DVD edition of this tale
of two orphans struggling to survive in wartime Japan.
GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES has
been completely restored and features digital audio and
video remastering, guaranteeing the most optimal viewing
experience yet. The DVD is also loaded with bonus programming
created exclusively for the release, including an incredibly
unique and industry-first feature -- Alternate Angle Storyboards,
which allows the viewer to watch the entire film through
over 2700 original, Takahata-penned storyboards! The narra
tion and soundtrack have been synced to these storyboards,
giving fans the incredible opportunity to view an animated
project in its entirety from its earliest stages, allowing
a rare, behind-the-scenes glance at a process to which
they’re not normally privy. The Alternate Angle feature
also includes bonus scenes that were included in the original
storyboards, but not represented in the finished film.
Over nine scenes and several single shots that have never
before been seen have been reconstructed and timed to
fit into the finished Alternate Angle program.
Additional extras include: interviews
with film critic Roger Ebert, director Isao Takahata,
the entire creative team from Studio Ghibli; alternate
storyboard angles; a fascinating historical perspective,
layering wartime footage and locations over the film itself;
and biographical information on both Takahata and Nosaka
Akiyuki, the author of “Hotaru no Haka,” the
semi-autobiographical novel on which the film is based.
GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES is
set in the waning days of WWII and follows siblings --
teenage Seita and his little sister, Setsuko -- who are
orphaned when their mother is killed in the firebombing
of Kobe. With their city in tatters, they are left to
fend for themselves in what remains of suburban Japan.
Eventually, the pair sets up housekeeping in a countryside
cave, but with meager resources, day-to-day survival becomes
a constant struggle. Battling hunger, prejudice, pride
and loneliness, they await their ultimate fates in this
film called “a humanist masterpiece.”
A visually-beautiful, genre-transcending
masterwork in every way, don’t miss this restored,
special edition GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES, which film
analyst Ernest Rister calls “…the most profoundly
human animated film I’ve ever seen.”
For high resolution, downloadable artwork and additional
information,
check out our electronic press kit at
http://www.centralparkmedia.com/cpmdb/cfpresskit.cfm?Cat=CPMD2206
