The sky is the limit
Keeping Shinkai in the Macs he is accustomed to.
WHILE I’VE NOT been posting much here recently, I’ve still been an avid consumer of all of the things that I’ve blogged about in the past, and by consumer I do mean actually spending money…
The latest manifestation of my desire to do myself out of a decent pension when I retire is my splashing out on Sora no Kikou (Memories of the Sky), a collection of Makoto Shinkai’s paintings. This includes 427 examples of background art taken from Voices of a Distant Star, The Place Promised in Our Early Days, 5 Centimeters Per Second and his other work. Published by Comix Wave Films, it is released at the end of April. The cover(s) are pictured above.
While it seems pretty good value at 2800円 (£14.00), the cost of shipping books from Japan can be horrendous (it’s the weight). In an effort to make it seem a little more worthwhile, I also chucked in the novelisation of 5cm, another big book, natch. Normally, I wouldn’t purchase Japanese novels, mainly because my Japanese reading comprehension is beyond pitiful, but Xcomp’s Yuuenchi’s blog has done such a cracking job of selling this book to me that he should be getting a commission.
Fans of Shinkai’s movies will already be acquainted with the outstanding imagery that the artbook will contain. I’ve been struggling to piece together my thoughts on the almost ‘hyper-real’ or ‘more than real’ aspect of the art style in the films. By that I don’t mean photo realism, I’m talking about every frame leaping off the screen and assaulting your senses, whether through gorgeous sunsets, beautifully dappled cloud formations, or the most stunningly evocative lighting. Real life very rarely looks this good.
Fortunately the 5cm DVD extras come to the rescue. Included is a half-hour interview with Makoto Shinkai which explains the whys and wherefores. Go watch it, it is a fascinating 30 minutes.
While on the subject of 5cm, I very nearly bought the Blu-Ray release of the film while the credit card was still warm. The only things that put me off was the cost, around £30, and the fact that I can’t play Blu-Ray. Nothing major then.
Thus, I go back to waiting for an official announcement for a UK R2 release for 5cm from the publicity shy ADV. I keep thinking that I must have missed something. It seems strange that the American release was over a month ago, yet still nothing on the UK front. Gah.
Anyway, for my final purchase, just to make the package properly worthwhile you understand, I picked up the first tankobon of the official Touhou serial Silent Sinner in Blue illustrated by artist Aki Eda. Like the 5cm novel mentioned above, I can’t read this stuff, but as I have enjoyed the fan scanlated versions released up until now, it only seems fair that I actually send some cash in Touhou creator’s Zun’s direction. It’s not like this is ever going to be released in the UK.
Ordering from outside of the UK and Europe is still a risky business. Just buy one item and you get hammered for shipping. Spend too much and you get nailed to the wall for import duty and its nasty friend ‘administration’ costs. Hopefully, I’ve walked that fine line and optimised my goodies to extortionate shipping cost ratio perfectly.
So how about that then, a proper blog post.
Good to see you’re still around! I’m also tempted by importing the blu-ray but I’ve tempted fate in the past (admittedly merely by importing hard-to-find OSTs and Jrock albums) but it’s only a matter of time and probability before customs clobbers me.
As for the UK edition, the agonising wait at least gives me time to save up for that small issue of, yeah, the player and HD set that will give it the rendering it deserves. *sigh*
I’m not a big collector of coffee-table artbooks (I don’t even have a coffee table at present!) but my hardback edition of the SE: Lain artwork collection is pretty special. Right now I’d rather have a Shinkai wallscroll instead to brighten my living room up a bit though, since those prints are stunning.
concretebadger
April 14, 2008 at 9:25 pm
I will buy three copies of that Shinkai book. One to burn out of jealousy, one to cream all over, and one to actually look at and not destroy utterly in one way or another.
Good to see a blog post more than 150 words. Keep it up!!
wildarmsheero
April 15, 2008 at 4:39 am
My anime club recently tried to get permission to show 5cm. Usually it’s no trouble at all to get permission from ADV. But they wrote back saying they couldn’t give us permission.
I’m hoping a semi-major studio is bidding for theatrical-release rights, but I’m worried that ADV is having more license troubles with respect to the film.
Silent Sinner in Blue appears to come with a CD of music, too.
dm
April 15, 2008 at 5:54 pm
I guess its hard work all this licensing mumbo-jumbo behind the scenes, especially when you consider the stereotype of how Japanese businesses work. All grist to the mill for lawyers and accountants, bad news for the rest of us.
Thing is with the UK R2 release, ADV has already announced that it has acquired the rights, so why no news? Your theory of a possible theatrical release for the movie might explain the delay if this was the US, but I can’t imagine for a second that this would be considered over here.
Still, I have a subtitle file timed for the DVD release now, so I can buy the Japan R2 if I get desperate.
Oh, and Martin, I’ve never been stung for import duty on CDs bought from Japan either, no matter the cost, but it has been a while since I bought anything. I have, however, purchased quite a few items of varying value from the US and have been hit every time. It seems the Royal Mail has introduced an evil new system in the last six months that is full of hate and bile for humanity.
Also, I recently bought myself a large coffee table. It wasn’t specifically to display Shinkai’s book, but it is a happy coincidence! Maybe I should buy a TV now (and find out what I need to play Blu-Ray discs even) so I can actually watch the movie at a decent size…
lastarial
April 15, 2008 at 6:15 pm
I didn’t even know this book existed, but it’s just the sort of thing I’ve been waiting to see released, so I’m tempted to import it. I might have to buy two: one to keep, and one to pull pages from for framing and hanging on the wall. From where did you order your copy, Gareth?
Jeff Lawson
April 15, 2008 at 6:46 pm
I purchased it from HMV’s Japanese online subsidiary hmv.co.jp. I’ve bought a few things from them in the past without any problems.
I did spend half an hour or so Googling for the book, copypasted kanji and all, without that much success. So, as HMV had this, the novel and the Touhou tankobon, and promised shipping under £10, it didn’t seem like a bad deal.
The link is here:
http://www.hmv.co.jp/product/detail/2702539
I never thought that I might want to put some of this stuff on the wall. Now there is an idea…
lastarial
April 15, 2008 at 7:04 pm
Dammit sir… now I shall have to order a copy of Memories of the Sky ^_^
Hmmmm… maybe two copies, as my walls are desperately bare.
And yeah… I’ve been anxiously awaiting news of a UK DVD release of 5cm, though a theatrical release (however limited) would be to die for…. just thinking about those gorgeously stunning scenes on a big screen sends shivers down my spine :D
cloggydog
April 18, 2008 at 1:17 am
Well I’m always up for seeing if I can pick up another copy or copies for people when I visit Japan later this year so don’t be too worried about having to get two straight away.
lastarial
April 18, 2008 at 8:25 am