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Studio Ghibli has delighted fans for generations, producing such iconic films such as Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle and Kiki’s Delivery Service, yet many viewers only think of Hayao Miyazaki when they think of Studio Ghibli. However, the studio owes much of its depth, artistry and emotional resonances — and indeed, even the studio’s origins — to its co-founder, Isao Takahata.

Often overshadowed by his more commercially prolific and well-known counterpart, Takahata was a master storyteller and artistic visionary in his own right. His contributions to Studio Ghibli, his impact on the world of animation and his legacy continue to live on in an immeasurable manner. And while not often mentioned in the same breath as Studio Ghibli — like Hayao Miyazaki tends to be — Isao Takahata defined Studio Ghibli as we know it today just as much as Miyazaki did.

Takahata’s Path Merged with Hayao Miyazaki’s at Toei Animation...

Lucasfilm is one of the most well-known production companies in the world with filmmaker George Lucas producing most of the Star Wars movies under the banner before selling it to Disney. Similarly, Hayao Miyazaki established Studio Ghibli, which is a powerhouse in terms of animation with the filmmaker, winning an Oscar for his most recent work.

George Lucas is the visionary filmmaker behind Lucasfilm (Credit: HBO).

The two powerhouses almost collaborated in the 1980s, when Lucas and Miyazaki were both arguably at the peak of their prowess. The two filmmakers almost worked on the now cult classic animated movie Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland, which faced several issues in production. Here is what you need to know about their involvement with the film.

Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland Almost Brought George Lucas and Hayao Miyazaki Together

Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland is a 1989 animated musical fantasy film based on Winsor McCay...

If you’re looking for some dark synthwave to add to your Halloween playlist this year, video game composer and producer Megan McDuffee has released second album Crimson Legacy.

After working in the film and gaming industries for over 15 years on titles such as the River City Girls games, Apex Legends Mobile, RetroRealms’ Ash Vs. Evil Dead & Halloween, all 9 Atari Recharged games, and winning multiple awards for her scores, McDuffee’s new album draws inspiration from a wide range of artists including Puscifer, Massive Attack, Nine Inch Nails, Deftones, The Cure, Iamx, Infected Mushroom, and Zeromancer.

The press release previews, “With that diverse list of influences alone, audiences will know that Crimson Legacy will have a lot of component parts, but, in McDuffee’s own tradition, they will be expertly blended into something entirely different and wholly her own. With her trademark heavy retro synths, McDuffee incorporates a number of...

In a recent interview with Full Frontal, Koji Takeuchi shared his thoughts on the current state of anime events and the declining importance of animation creators within the context of prominent anime events such as AnimeJapan.

Expressing his reservations about Anime Japan, Takeuchi acknowledged its appeal to certain audience, but underscored the event’s primary focus on merchandising and crowd engagement, which often overshadowing the contributions of animators and directors.

“While Anime Japan serves its purpose for those who are looking forward to it, it primarily revolves around selling merchandise and attracting crowds for commercial purposes. The focus is on gathering voice actors to draw in audiences rather than directly benefiting the animation creators themselves.“

Takeuchi then addressed the diminishing presence of anime creators in such events, attributing it to a lack of platforms for meaningful discussions.

Reflecting on the past, he reminisced about the pivotal role of magazines like...

Both Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland and Slumberland have a strong narrative centered around dreams and adventure. Slumberland, Netflix's modern retelling of a classic comic, differs significantly from the anime Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland. Despite the differences, both versions are recommended for fans of Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki's work.

Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki are both well-recognized names for fans of anime and film buffs in general. They are responsible for a large amount of beloved original movies and adaptations of popular fables, including Howl's Moving Castle, Spirited Away, and Princess Mononoke. Before Miyazaki was part of Studio Ghibli, he worked for an animation company that made a film called Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland. The film could have been a Studio Ghibli release, had the studio not passed on the opportunity.

Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland is now considered a cult classic and was originally...

Studio Ghibli is known for its stunning movies, often for a young audience, that center on fantastical and historical worlds. Some of the studio's common themes are environmentalism, violence, healing, and family. Critics and fans alike laud the characters as they are incredibly nuanced, with strong female leads and compassionate male characters.

Many classic anime films have become synonymous with Studio Ghibli by now, like My Neighbor Totoro and Howl's Moving Castle. What some fans may not know is that there are also movies that Studio Ghibli has had a hand in producing that fans of the studio may be pleasantly surprised by. There are also several films outside of Studio Ghibli that were instrumental in the formation of the eventual iconic animation team.

10 Best Anime Movies From '00s Everyone Forgot Existed

Studio Ghibli Had A Hand in Producing A Dream World In Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland

IMDb...

Nothing looms larger in The Who’s artistic mythology than Pete Townshend’s unfinished “Lifehouse” project, a science fiction rock opera motion picture guaranteed to rock the world. Granted, we wouldn’t have Who’s Next (1971) if he completed it, but we can only imagine what the final product might have been on the big screen. Fortunately, there will soon be a way to see for ourselves in a new format.

Image Comics will publish Life House as a graphic novel on Dec. 6, and a vinyl-shaped hardcover will be part of its musical accompaniment: the Who’s Next/Life House box sets, dropping on Sept. 15. The cumulative story is not just for Who fans. The sci-fi community may have a future classic on their hands.

The graphic novel Life House by James Harvey, David Hine, Mick Gray, and Max Prentis is an adaptation of the original scripts Townshend wrote for...

Nowadays, shojo is primarily dominated by women creators, including light novel authors and mangaka. This makes a lot of sense because shojo anime and manga are created for a primarily female audience. The story lines focus on love, friendship, and personal journeys. Even the popular shojo genre, magical girl anime, still focus on these kinds of stories amid magical battles and star-crossed destinies.

Related: The 10 Biggest Mistakes In Shojo Anime, Ranked

Shojo publications started in the 1930s and grew in popularity around the '40s and '70s. Early shojo authors were mostly men, and they wrote some classics and hidden gems which are still worth revisiting today. Audiences will recognize early concepts of many shojo trends and conventions that male authors have added to, built off of, and even improved on.

Akane-chan (1968) Creator: Tetsuya Chiba

Akane-chan is a late '60s Toei anime series based on a work by Tetsuya Chiba,...

While the number of truly great video game adaptations is tragically small, the fact of the matter is that there’s still a bit of a gold rush for familiar properties. As such, it seems that every studio and streaming service in the world is looking to adapt one video game or another.

Seriously, the number of video game adaptations currently in some stage of development is insane. You may occasionally hear about some video game adaptation popping up here and there, but it’s hard to fully grasp the extent of this movement until you see every adaptation listed in one place. As such, that’s what we’re here to do.

Before we dive into the list, though, please note that there is a truly ridiculous number of video game adaptations possibly in development at this time. That being the case, we will not only be updating this article as needed,...

Netflix’s recently released Jason Momoa-starring family movie, Slumberland, is based on an early 1900s comic strip from Winsor McCay. What many might not know is that it isn’t the only adaptation of that comic strip that has been done. In 1989 an animated film was released titled Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland. Directed by Masami Hata and William Hurtz, the film has a small cult following these days but is mostly forgotten due to its dramatic production process and box office failure at the time of release. If you are looking for a more developed visit to the land of dreams, it is worth checking out the animated movie, especially if Netflix’s take left more to be desired.

“Slumberland” is here.

But instead of putting you to sleep, “Slumberland” will thrill you with its tale of a young girl named Nemo (Marlow Barkley), who, after suffering the tragic loss of her father (Kyle Chandler), starts slipping into a fantasy realm when she dreams. That’s where she teams up with the impish Flip (Jason Momoa) and together they go on a series of daring adventures across various dream realms (including one where everyone is made up of flowers). Based, in part, on the “Little Nemo” comic by Winsor McCay, “Slumberland” is an imaginative and fun-filled romp.

Bringing all of this whimsy to life is director Francis Lawrence, who fully admits that his filmography is mostly full of dystopian stories like “I Am Legend,” three “Hunger Games” movies and Jennifer Lawrence’s very R-rated spy thriller “Red Sparrow.”

TheWrap talked to the filmmaker about bringing these imagined worlds to life,...

Jason Momoa gallivanting through one's dreams sounds like a – wait for it – dream come true. Fortunately for kids everywhere, the actor's latest film, Slumberland, is a family-friendly fantasy adventure featuring Momoa as a sharp-toothed wily, horned creature. His character is the perfect sidekick for any kid who dares to venture into the dream world. While director Francis Lawrence’s Slumberland takes inspiration from the comic, it fails to capture the whimsy and delight of its origins.

Adapted from the comic strip Little Nemo in Slumberland from Winsor McCay, Slumberland follows Nemo (Marlow Barkely), a young girl who travels through the dreamworld with a satyr-like outlaw (Momoa). After her father’s death, she is sent to live with her boring uncle, and soon after, she is awakened to a world beyond slumber. In the comic strip, a boy dreams himself into extraordinary situations; often, the dreams start simple, then become stranger as the comic continues.

If you look at it from a certain angle, dreams are the fixations of all artists in any medium. Probably since the first time a restless soul etched markings in a cave somewhere, we’ve had dreamers attempting to convey how they see the world when their eyes are closed.

This idea has only grown more pronounced after the advent of cinema, with directors often likening their films to “dreams”—visions that need to be told whether by way of surrealist set designs or spinning hotel corridors. And director Francis Lawrence of Constantine and Hunger Games fame can be added to that list with this weekend’s Slumberland, a new family film that co-opts the dreams conjured by another medium a hundred years ago… and then adds Jason Momoa with fangs.

Indeed, Slumberland is a loose adaptation of a now relatively obscure comic strip from the turn of the 20th century.

A new advenute awaits! Slumberland is a fantasy film based on the original 1920s comic strip Little Nemo by Windsor McKay. The live-action movie is directed by Francis Lawrence (Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 & 2) and co-written by David Guion and Michael Handelman. The film premieres on Netflix on November 18, 2022, with a limited theatrical release already having been launched on November 11 and we at Collider are hosting a free early screening of the film on November 17.

(from left)) Jason Momoa as Flip and Marlow Barkley as Nemo in Slumberland. Photo: Netflix Director Francis Lawrence embraces his inner Barry Sonnenfeld with the highly stylized spectacle of Slumberland. Yet there’s a surprising reluctance to latch onto the expanse of emotion lying beneath his picture’s sense of wonder.

Director Francis Lawrence and Jason Momoa team up once again to explore a fantastical new world in the upcoming Netflix movie Slumberland. Based on the comic series Little Nemo Slumberland follows the wild adventures of Nemo, a young girl whose world completely changed after the loss of her father, and her companion in the dream world, an outlaw named Flip. Slumberland brings the world of dreams to life through excitement and color, as well as the darkness and terror of nightmares.

Lawrence is no stranger to bringing a unique world to life with See, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 & Part 2, and I Am Legend. Slumberland is a step away from the post-apocalyptic and into the bright and whimsical. In Slumberland, Lawrence balances the fantastical dream world with the very real struggles of grief and loss.

Related: Why Netflix & Disney Both Made Pinocchio Movies In 2022

Screen Rant spoke with Francis...

Slumberland is the latest children’s fantasy story to join the slate for 2022 Netflix original releases. Based on the 1905 comic strip, Little Nemo In Slumberland, by Winsor McKay, this live-action adaptation will be coming to Netflix in November. This movie will be the second full-length feature adaptation of the original comics, with the first being the 1989 Japanese animated film Little Nemo: Adventures In Slumberland. Slumberland was originally announced in early 2020, with Francis Lawrence (I Am Legend) at the directorial helm. Lawrence also directed The Hunger Games: Catching Fire as well as The Hunger Games: Mockingjay and is currently filming the prequel film, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.

(Welcome to ...And More, our no-frills, zero B.S. guide to when and where you can watch upcoming movies and shows, and everything else you could possibly stand to know.)

It seems like Jason Momoa has grown weary of spending all his free time under the sea as Aquaman, because he's decided to embody a new mythological creature with a look that I promise you could never anticipate. Momoa is set to become a nine-foot-tall half-man, half-beast creature with shaggy fur and long tusks. What kind of horrifying tale could require such a monster, you ask? Just the story of Little Nemo — not the fish, but an adorable little girl who embarks on a fantastical journey through dreams to find her father. All of this takes place in Netflix's upcoming film "Slumberland," and if it sounds familiar, then you might be recalling the Winsor McCay comic strip that inspired the movie's story.

Jason Momoa is all over the place these days. In addition to preparing for the release of the next "Aquaman" movie and playing the villain in the tenth installment of the "Fast and Furious" franchise, he's also set to star in the live-action "Minecraft" adaptation, an action-comedy called "Shots! Shots! Shots!," the fantasy murder mystery "The Executioner," a Hawaiian historical drama "Chief of War," and much more. Since the statuesque beefcake of an actor is someone that many consider the man of their dreams, I don't think too many people will be complaining.

In fact, the former "Game of Thrones" star has also taken a starring role in the World of Dreams. Based on the acclaimed comic strip "Little Nemo In Slumberland" by Winsor McCay, he will appear in the upcoming Netflix movie "Slumberland." Ahead of the film's fall premiere, the streamer has released the first teaser that gives off...

The teaser trailer for Netflix’s Slumberland is here! The children’s fantasy film comes from director Francis Lawrence, who has helmed such projects as I am Legend, Constantine, and the Hunger Games movies. The film looks to entertain families around Thanksgiving time of this year and sports a cast that includes Jason Momoa, Marlow Barkley, Chris O’Dowd, Kyle Chandler, Weruche Opia, India de Beaufort, and Humberly González.

Slumberland takes audiences to a magical new place, a dreamworld where precocious Nemo (Marlow Barkley) and her eccentric companion Flip (Jason Momoa) embark on the adventure of a lifetime. After her father, Peter (Kyle Chandler), is unexpectedly lost at sea, young Nemo’s idyllic Pacific Northwest existence is completely upended when she is sent to live in the city with her well-meaning but deeply awkward uncle Phillip (Chris O’Dowd). Her new school and new routine are challenging by day, but at night,...

In the 35+ years since the Nes changed the video game industry, we’ve celebrated pretty much every aspect of the revolutionary console (including that strange time when we all thought blowing air into an Nes cartridge could fix them). However, it’s truly remarkable to look back at the Nes’ incredible library of all-time great titles and realize that so many of them haven’t gotten a proper sequel.

While it’s amazing to think that the video game industry has refrained from making sequels to some of these games given the sequel/reboot/remake culture that we live in, the fact of the matter is that there’s just something about each of the games on this list that make them tough sells for a revival. Some were too weird, some are stuck in licensing hell, and some have simply fallen through the cracks of history despite being exceptional.

When most of us hear the word “animation,” we think of cuddly imagery from Bugs Bunny and Mickey Mouse cartoons. We generally don’t think about sexual assault, racism and violence.

But the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures’ core exhibition, “Stories of Cinema,” showcases a more problematic side of animation history. A three-gallery experience titled “Inventing Worlds and Characters” looks back at questionable imagery and tropes. Through these galleries, they are exploring animation, effects and encounters. It both exists as its own genre and encompasses every other genre such as westerns, noir, documentaries, and more. It’s also a craft that encompasses all the other crafts such as production and costume design, editing, etc.

“When you have a completely unlimited craft by the laws of physics, you can have wondrous examples of pure imagination,” says assistant curator Dara Jaffe. “Still, you also get these extremely grotesque depictions that reflect the racism of the current time.

A handful of new images from Netflix's upcoming Jason Momoa-led revenge thriller, Sweet Girl, have now been unveiled, along with confirmation of the movie's release date. It has now been confirmed that Sweet Girl will premiere on the streaming service on August 20, 2021 meaning that audiences do not have to wait too much longer to see the Aquaman star exact his vengeance.

Avenge the one you lost. Protect the one you love. Sweet Girl is coming to Netflix August 20, 2021. #GeekedWeekpic.twitter.com/8ekSDXxnOo

— Netflix Geeked (@NetflixGeeked) June 7, 2021

The new images show hulking actor Jason Momoa running around while looking deeply concerned, and likely out of his depth, as he attempts payback. Seeing the usually intimidating Momoa thrown into a situation that he can't handle should prove to be a nice change of pace for both the actor and audiences, making Sweet Girl one to look out for.

An August...

Exclusive: Hunger Games franchise director Francis Lawrence and his about: blank production company have signed a first-look feature pic deal with New Republic Pictures. about:blank is run by Lawrence and producer Cameron MacConomy.

“We are thrilled to be aligning with Brian, Brad and New Republic Pictures. They have proven themselves to be champions of filmmakers and willing to make bold bets. We couldn’t ask for better partners and look forward to creating great projects with them,” said Lawrence and MacConomy.

“We could not be more excited to begin this partnership with Francis, Cam and about:blank. At New Republic, we align ourselves with ambitious storytellers who aspire to create transportive and groundbreaking content, and that is what they do best. In addition to being huge fans of Francis’, he is also a longtime friend, and we look forward to starting this next chapter together,” said New Republic president Bradley Fischer and founder Brian Oliver.

Exclusive: Kyle Chandler is set to join the cast of the Netflix pic Slumberland with Francis Lawrence directing. Chernin Entertainment is producing with Jason Momoa, Chris O’Dowd and Marlow Barkley also on board to star.

While the film is taking influences from Winsor McCay’s Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland, plot details are being kept under wraps.

Netflix declined comment.

Chandler soon will be seen starring in Netflix’s The Midnight Skywas , directed by George Clooney. He most recently seen in Legendary’s Godzilla: King of the Monsters and the Hulu miniseries Catch-22, which Clooney co-directed and appears in.

He is repped by Brillstein Entertainment Partners and Gersh.

Grégoire Melin’s Paris-based Kinology will sell Sacrebleu’s upcoming animated feature “Sirocco and the Kingdom of the Winds,” set to host Was an Annecy Works in Progress panel at the upcoming digital version of the world’s largest animation festival and market.

At March’s Cartoon Movie in the French port city of Bordeaux, the films singular visuals and family-friendly story caught the eye of many in attendance, and makes it one of the most anticipated productions set to participate at this year’s Annecy.

Kinology has a strong reputation in dealing with independent arthouse animated features, including the critically acclaimed 2014 Annecy main competition player “Mune: Guardian of the Moon.”

“We’re thrilled to partner with Ron and Benoit on such a unique, poetic and emotional journey; it has everything to become a true future kids’ classic in the line of ‘The King and the Mockingbird’ and ‘Kirikou,’” Kinology CEO Grégoire Melin told Variety.

Moana’s head of animation, Hyrum Osmond, is teaming up with On Animation Studios for an animated feature based on Winsor McCay’s fantasy-adventure comic series, titled Little Nemo in Slumberland.

Osmond will take the helm on the project which On Animations’ Aton Soumache described as a cross between Alice in Wonderland and Hook, and said “it was ideal for present-day animation. The strip is truly an unlimited source for astonishing adventures”.

Also in the news – Dora the Explorer live-action movie scheduled for a Summer 2019 release

The $70 Million dollar budget film centres on a young boy who journeys through the land of dreams. The project will be produced by Aton Soumache and Dimitri Rassam, plus Alexis Vonarb and Emmanuel Jacomet, between Paris and Montreal, where the company has offices.

The comic series, Little Nemo in Slumberland ran in the New York Herald from October 15, 1905, until July 23, 1911. The full-page weekly strip...

We’re not saying they all should be, but they could.

This week, Disney releases another live-action remake of one of their animated classics. And they have many more planned for the future. But they aren’t the only ones attempting to adapt animated works into flesh and blood. The Ghost in the Shell joins Beauty and the Beast in theaters later this month, and other anime remakes, such as Akira, are in development.

It is surprising that more studios aren’t trying to copy Disney with the idea, though. Is it because so few non-Disney features involve human characters or because those that do aren’t that interesting? Below I’ve selected some that could work just fine. Some of them maybe should be done. If you have any other ideas, be our guest and share them in a response.

Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland (1989)

As I’m not a fan of redundant literal adaptations, I...

Hemdale became one of the largest indie studios of the 80s with films like The Terminator and Platoon. Ryan charts its turbulent history...

When Platoon won four Oscars in 1987, it marked not only a new chapter in Oliver Stone's career as a filmmaker, but also the end of a decade-long battle. Since the 1970s, Stone had been struggling to make his harrowing account of the horrors he'd seen firsthand as a soldier in the Vietnam conflict, but was famously turned down by every major studio in Hollywood.

Platoon, and Stone, finally found sanctuary at a small independent studio with a grand-sounding name: the Hemdale Film Corporation. It was Hemdale, and its co-founder John Daly, that had taken a chance on Stone, and when Platoon came out in 1986, the gamble proved to be a shrewd one: its $6m investment was covered by the first month's ticket sales, and the film...

Moviefone's New Release Pick of the Week "The Amazing Spider-Man" (Available for DVD, Blu-ray and VOD on Friday, November 9. Check cable system for OnDemand availability) What's It About? Andrew Garfield does whatever a spider can. See It Because: It's not a flawless movie and it is not different enough from the still-fresh-in-our-minds Sam Raimi trilogy starring Tobey Maguire. But the parts of the movie that are unique -- the budding teen angsty romance between Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone -- are fresh, funny and energetic. (Also Available on Amazon Instant Video | Netflix | Redbox Blu-ray & DVD) Moviefone's Blu-ray Pick of the Week "The Muppet Christmas Carol" (It's Not Easy Being Scrooge Special Edition) What's It About? The Muppets team up with Michael Caine to tell a faithful (and slapstick) adaptation of Charles Dickens' classic. See It Because: Halloween may have just ended (or never happened thanks to Hurricane Sandy), but...

French comic book artist internationally known by his pen names Moebius and Gir

The artist Jean Giraud was principally known for his work on comic books under two pen names. As Gir, the co-creator of Blueberry, one of France's most popular strips, his brushwork was detailed and realistic; as Moebius, he used intricate, visually arresting penwork to explore the subconscious in his creations Arzach, Le Garage Hermétique (The Airtight Garage) and L'Incal (The Incal). But Giraud, who has died of cancer aged 73, had an impact on the visual arts that went beyond comics. He was seen as a figurehead linking bandes dessinées with modernism and nouveau réalisme. As the co-creator of Métal Hurlant magazine, he took comics to an older, more literate audience. In cinema, his fans ranged from Federico Fellini to Hayao Miyazaki and his style influenced dozens of others, including Ridley Scott, George Lucas, James Cameron and Luc Besson.

Many of us have seen, or at least have heard of, the 1989 animated film Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland (seen above). Based on the groundbreaking comic strip by Winsor McCay, it centers on a young boy and the wild adventures he has in his dreams. Long before its release, the film went through years of development hell and, at one point, was actually being developed by Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli. Ultimately, Miyazaki and his team left the project and it became something very different, but a clip has now surfaced that gives us an idea of what Little Nemo in Dreamland, the Ghibli version of the film, might have been. Part Peter Pan, part E.T., part Ponyo and part Top Gun, this clip will make you wish this film existed. Check it out after the jump. Thanks to Comics Alliance [1] (via io9 [2]) for the heads up. Here's the clip...