|
Topcraft
Topcraft Co., Ltd. (株式会社トップクラフト ''Kabushiki-gaisha Toppukurafuto'', also written as "Top Craft") was an animation studio established in 1972, by former Toei Animation producer Toru Hara, and located in Tokyo, Japan. It was famous for the production of '' Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind'' (1984), Hayao Miyazaki's theatrical anime film adaptation of his 1982–94 manga series. Topcraft is well known for its collaboration for hand-drawn animation titles by Rankin/Bass Productions (New York City, US). Together, they produced several well-known animated television specials and feature films, including '' The Hobbit'' (1977) and ''The Return of the King'' (1980). History The studio was founded on February 1, 1972, by former Toei Animation staff, including Toru Hara. In its early years, Topcraft served as the primary animation studio for Rankin/Bass's hand-drawn animated productions. Notable works include ''The Hobbit'' (1977), ''The Return of the King'' (1 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rankin/Bass Productions
Rankin/Bass Animated Entertainment (founded and formerly known as Videocraft International, Ltd. and Rankin/Bass Productions, Inc.) was an American production company located in New York City. It was known for its seasonal television specials, usually done in stop motion animation. Rankin/Bass's stop-motion productions are recognizable by their visual style of doll-like characters with spheroid body parts and ubiquitous powdery snow using an animation technique called Animagic. Nearly all of the studio's animation was outsourcing, outsourced to Japanese animation companies such as Toei Animation, MOM Production, Mushi Productions and Topcraft. Rankin/Bass was one of the first western studios to outsource their low-budget animated television and film productions to animation studios in foreign countries; the others that already practiced outsourcing of animation, animation outsourcing include Total Television and King Features Syndicate, King Features Syndicate TV in New York Cit ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hayao Miyazaki
is a Japanese animator, filmmaker, and manga artist. He co-founded Studio Ghibli and serves as honorary chairman. Throughout his career, Miyazaki has attained international acclaim as a masterful storyteller and creator of Anime, Japanese animated feature films, and is widely regarded as one of the most accomplished filmmakers in the history of animation. Born in Tokyo City, Miyazaki expressed interest in manga and animation from an early age. He joined Toei Animation in 1963, working as an inbetween artist and key animator on films like ''Gulliver's Travels Beyond the Moon'' (1965), ''Puss in Boots (1969 film), Puss in Boots'' (1969), and ''Animal Treasure Island'' (1971), before moving to Shin-Ei Animation, A-Pro in 1971, where he co-directed ''Lupin the Third Part I'' (1971–1972) alongside Isao Takahata. After moving to Zuiyo, Zuiyō Eizō (later Nippon Animation) in 1973, Miyazaki worked as an animator on ''World Masterpiece Theater'' and directed the television series ' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Hobbit (1977 Film)
''The Hobbit'' is a 1977 American animated musical television special created by Rankin/Bass and animated by Topcraft. The film is an adaptation of the 1937 book of the same name by J. R. R. Tolkien; it was first broadcast on NBC in the United States on Sunday, November 27, 1977. The teleplay won a Peabody Award; the film received a Christopher Award. ''The New York Times'' found the film "curiously eclectic", but felt that whatever its failings, it warranted attention. The Tolkien scholar Douglas A. Anderson called the adaptation "execrable"; the author Baird Searles called it an "abomination" and an attempt that had "failed miserably", regretting the quality of the animation and of the soundtrack, and the omission of key plot points. Plot A hobbit named Bilbo Baggins lives in his hobbit-hole. The wizard Gandalf informs him he is looking for someone to share an adventure, and introduces thirteen dwarves led by Thorin Oakenshield. They invite themselves in, eat dinner, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Return Of The King (1980 Film)
''The Return of the King'' (also known as ''The Return of the King: A Story of the Hobbits'') is a 1980 American-Japanese animated musical fantasy television film created by Rankin/Bass and Topcraft. It is an adaptation of part of J. R. R. Tolkien's 1955 high fantasy novel ''The Lord of the Rings''. It takes its name from ''The Return of the King'', the third and final volume of the novel, and is a sequel to the 1977 film ''The Hobbit''. The first two parts of Tolkien's story, ''The Fellowship of the Ring'' and ''The Two Towers'', are not covered in this release and are only briefly summarized at the beginning of the movie (the also animated ''The Lord of the Rings'' film by Ralph Bakshi from 1978 is an unrelated project, although the two were later marketed together by Warner Bros.). The special aired on ABC on Sunday, May 11, 1980 after a legal challenge filed by the Tolkien Estate and Fantasy Films was settled. Both critics and fans gave ''The Return of the King'' a lukewar ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Wizard Of Oz (1982 Film)
is a 1982 anime feature film directed by Fumihiko Takayama, from a screenplay by Akira Miyazaki, which is based on the 1900 children's novel by L. Frank Baum, with Yoshimitsu Banno and Katsumi Ueno as executive producers for Toho. Plot A little girl named Dorothy Gale lives with her Aunt Em, Uncle Henry and dog Toto on their farm in Kansas. One day when Aunt Em and Uncle Henry are away, a tornado throws their house into the air. Dorothy and Toto end up in the magical Land of Oz, where they are welcomed by the Good Witch of the North and the Munchkins. The Witch explains to her that her house fell upon the Wicked Witch of the East, freeing the Munchkins from her tyranny. She gives Dorothy the ruby red slippers of the Wicked Witch, but the girl just wants to go home. After consulting her magic blackboard, the Witch tells Dorothy to go to the great Wizard of Oz in the Emerald City, hoping that he can grant her wish. Before leaving her, she advises her to never leave th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Studio Ghibli
is a Japanese animation studio based in Koganei, Tokyo."Studio Ghibli Collection - Madman Entertainment". ''Studio Ghibli Collection - Madman Entertainment''. Retrieved 2020-12-14. It has a strong presence in the animation industry and has expanded its portfolio to include various media such as short subjects, television commercials and two television films. Their work has been well received by both critics and audiences and recognized with numerous awards. Their mascot and most recognizable symbol, the character Totoro from the 1988 film ''My Neighbor Totoro'', is a giant Kami, spirit inspired by Japanese raccoon dog, raccoon dogs (''tanuki'') and cats (''neko''). Among the studio's highest-grossing films are ''Princess Mononoke'' (1997), ''Spirited Away'' (2001), ''Howl's Moving Castle (film), Howl's Moving Castle'' (2004), ''Ponyo'' (2008), and ''The Boy and the Heron'' (2023). Studio Ghibli was founded on June 15, 1985, by the directors Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata and p ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
