Tales from Earthsea

Theatrical Release Date: 2010 08 13 (USA - Limited)

UPC: 786936809824

Studio: Walt Disney

MPAA Rating: PG13   Contains:[Violence, Adult Situations, Excellent For Children]

Summary: Animator Goro Miyazaki, son of the famous Hayao Miyazaki ("The Walt Disney of Japan"), makes his directorial debut with the animated feature Tales from Earthsea (aka Gedo Senki). Miyazaki loosely adapted the work from the third and fourth volumes in best-selling sci-fi author Ursula K. Le Guin's infamous series of cult novels -- all set in Earthsea, a Tolkien-esque fantasy realm. Gedo Senki opens at a point when Earthsea is deteriorating rapidly, and the power of magic is waning -- tendencies signaled by the sudden, frightening reappearance of dragons in the land of humankind. Ged Sparrowhawk was once a lowly goat herder but is now known as Lord Archmage, the most powerful of all wizards. He soon meets Prince Arren of Enlad -- a teenage boy chased by a "shadow," the force that is tipping the world out of balance and driving innumerable people to the point of insanity. The men team up and journey to Hort Town, the Earthsea capital city, where they find the entire community turned upside down -- craftsmen have abandoned their trades, slavery runs rampant, addicts clamor in the streets. They ultimately find refuge in the priestess Tenar's palace, also occupied by the scarred orphan girl Therru. While the latter initially avoids Arren in fear of his "dark side," Arren bides his time in the nearby fields, being mentored by Ged on the balance of creation. Therru eventually opens up to Arren, but he grows increasingly disturbed by nightmares about being chased by the shadow, and his daytime fear of it grows absolutely overwhelming. Ged then discovers that the cause of the kingdom-wide "imbalance" is actually his old arch nemesis, the wizard Cob, who has opened up the gateway between the living and the dead, and hopes to attain eternal life, meanwhile plotting to murder Ged in vengeance for an act he committed long ago. In fear of his evil self, Arren absconds from Tenar's palace -- actively fleeing from the shadow -- but ultimately faints and turns up at the castle of Cob. The latter's minions give their guest "hazia," which causes him to lose his bearings and tell Cob his real name. Arren thus becomes enslaved to the wizard. Meanwhile, Ged and Therru turn up, and bring Arren back to full awareness. With their assistance, he is able to surmount the temptation of eternal life; he then does an about face, and, with the assistance of an enchanted sword, prepares to do battle with Cob. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi

Category: Fantasy

Awards: Film Presented – Venice International Film Festival

Features: The World of Ghibli - Visit earthsea in this enchanted interactive experience!
Behind the studio - Discover the film's fantastic origins!
Enter the Lands - Explore the many worlds of studio Ghibli through this interactive map!
Studio Ghibli trivia challenge - Test your knowledge!

Tales from Earthsea

Format: Digital Video Disc (DVD)

Release Date: 03/08/2011

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Theatre Wide-Screen

Audio: DD2 Dolby Digital Stereo

Runtime: 115 Minutes

Sides: 1

Number of Discs: 1

Language(s) English

Region: USA & territories, Canada

Chapters: Disc #1 -- Tales from Earthsea
1. Opening Credits / Dragons Among Men
2. The Death of a King
3. Sparrowhawk, Arren and the Wolves
4. Sparrowhawk and Arren Meet
5. Arrival at Hortown
6. Therru Is Rescued
7. Among the Slaves
8. The Comforts of Tenar
9. Hare's Explanation
10. Life on the Farm
11. The Sword Merchant
12. Therru's Song
13. To Cob's Castle
14. Cob's Manipulation
15. Into the Strongholds
16. Sparrowhawk's Capture
17. I Give You My True Name
18. Breaking Cob's Control
19. The Rescue
20. The Face of Death
21. Cob's Demise
22. Therru the Dragon
23. Arren Says Goodbye / End Credits

Cast and Crew: Toshio Suzuki  Producer 
Goro Miyazaki  Director 
Goro Miyazaki  Screenwriter 
Keiko Niwa  Screenwriter 
Tamiya Terashima  Composer (Music Score) 
Bunta Sugawara  Actor 
Timothy Dalton  Actor 
Junichi Okada  Actor 
Matt Levin  Actor 
Blaire Restaneo  Actor 
Aoi Teshima  Actor 
Teruyuki Kagawa  Actor 
Cheech Marin  Actor 
Yuko Tanaka  Actor 
Willem Dafoe  Actor 
Jun Fubuki  Actor 
Mariska Hargitay  Actor 
Kaoru Kobayashi  Actor 
Mitsuko Baisho  Actor 
Takashi Naito  Actor 
Yui Natsukawa  Actor 

Country: Japan