Studio Ghibli Video Game!?

Thanks to the people over at Studio LX for posting this video onto my Facebook wall!

While watching the video posted above, I noticed that the animation style and musical influences reminded me of both Studio Ghibli [Ponyo, Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away] and Joe Hisaishi [composer of soundtracks for the aforementioned titles].  Lo and behold!  This game is being made and both entities are involved!!!

I don't know why it never crossed my mind. The idea that Studio Ghibli should work on a video game is a great one!  If you've ever watched any of their films [especially the ones [and honestly I don't know if there are any more] that are made in collaboration with Hayao Miyazaki] then you know what I mean when I say that the animation is top notch.  Their style captures the imagination much unlike any other production studio I've ever seen [including Disney [with whom I believe they collaborate...]].

Add to that the over talented Joe Hisaishi, and you have a title that I will anticipate and research for days on end.  Hisaishi's music is unrivaled, not only in the realm of Japanese anime, but on the scope of film music in general.  He has been called "The John Williams of Anime" to which I can partially agree.  While he is ever so famous for his work on film scores, his crafting ability is in a totally different field in that he is able to capture the child-like mystery, haunting nature, and down right fun that is portrayed in the films that he works on.

In my research of this game [Ni No Kuni], I found that a nintendo DS version was released some time last year and that a PS3 version would be coming out sometime this year.  Only problem?  The soon-to-come PS3 version has not been confirmed for US release.  No English translation for such an amazing looking [and sounding] game!!!

I'll definitely be watching this one, and hoping, and praying that it does make it over to us!
I don't even have a PS3... and I'd buy one for this!!

SUPER HAPPY JOY

blasian