Available on Digital, Blu-ray, and DVD
Welcome back to GKIDS Unboxed! Today, we’ll be taking a look at Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki’s soaring masterpiece, The Wind Rises, on Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack.
Initially announced as Hayao Miyazaki’s final film, before once again coming out of retirement in 2017, the film received nominations for the Academy AwardⓇ for Best Animated Feature, the Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film, and won the Japan Academy Prize for Animation of the Year. The Wind Rises brings the animation master’s trademark themes of determination and destiny together into a moving narrative following the famed aeronautics engineer, Jiro Horikoshi.
In the years following the First World War, Jiro Horikoshi yearns to become a pilot, but is held back by his poor eyesight. In his dreams, he is visited by the famous engineer Giovanni Caproni, who shows him that even if he can’t fly airplanes, he can design them himself. Jiro resolves to build the greatest aircraft the world has ever seen, but when the love of his life falls ill and his inventions are used for horrific purposes, he struggles to find meaning in his life’s work.
Like the rest of the Studio Ghibli Collection from GKIDS, first run editions feature a sleek protective slipcover, highlighting the iconic poster. Inside the box is the film on Blu-ray and DVD, with both disks and the inner packaging adorned with art taken straight from the film. On both discs, language options include both the original Japanese and the English dub, with English, English SDH and French subtitles available as options.
For fans who want a more in depth look at the thoughts of the main creators behind the master work, the Blu-ray DVD combo pack comes with an exclusive booklet containing statements from Hayao Miyazaki and producer Toshio Suzuki on the film’s themes and real-life subjects.
The on-disc bonus features feature even further behind-the-scenes content on The Wind Rises. On both discs, viewers can find an 80-minute press conference with Hayao Miyazaki, joined by Hideaki Anno – the Japanese language voice of Jiro, and creator of the highly influential Neon Genesis Evangelion, as well as Yumi Matsutoya, who lent her song “Vapor Trail” to the film’s soundtrack.
On the note of voice casts, the English voice cast is also full of notable names, with Joseph Gordon-Levitt, John Krasinski, Emily Blunt, and Werner Herzog all lending their voices to the film. In the “Behind the Microphone” featurette, viewers can learn about the English Dub translation and recording process through interviews with the English voice director Gary Rydstrom and the celebrity cast.
Exclusive to the Blu-ray are even more behind the scenes add-ons. Feature-length storyboards sketching out the entire film highlight how Studio Ghibli brought The Wind Rises from concept to completion. A full episode of the documentary series 10 Years With Hayao Miyazaki offers a rare glimpse into the mind of Miyazaki as he brought one of his most grounded and thoughtful films to life.
Still curious about The Wind Rises? For an even closer look, check out our full unboxing below!
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The Wind Rises is now available on Digital, Blu-ray + DVD combo pack and as a standalone DVD.
Bonus Features:
Exclusive Booklet
**Feature-Length Storyboards
**10 Years with Hayao Miyazaki Documentary Episode
Behind the Microphone
Film Completion Press Conference
Original Theatrical Trailers
TV Spots
**Indicates items exclusive to the Blu-ray release
AVAILABLE NOW
BLU-RAY/DVD
DIGITAL
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