Lost in the shuffle of new DVD releases last Tuesday was Manga Entertainment's Castle of Cagliostro Special Edition, which provides viewers with a superb anamorphic transfer of the classic animated adventure film by Hayao Miyazaki. This Special Edition (MSRP $24.95) comes with a second disk of extras including storyboards for the entire movie and a fascinating interview with Yasuo Ohtsuka, the film's animation director.
The only flaw in the presentation is the replacement of the opening theme sequence and the original Japanese credits. This is a serious omission, but it doesn't preclude enjoyment of what Steven Spielberg has rightly referred to as 'one of the greatest adventure films of all time,' and for those who think that Miyazaki has become too serious (and/or too preachy) in his more recent films, here's a chance to see his formidable talents focused completely on entertaining the audience. Retailers who carry the Buena Vista Miyazaki films such as Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, Howl's Moving Castle, My Neighbor Totoro, Castle in the Sky, and Nausicca shouldn't hesitate to carry and recommend this anime gem, which is certainly an important part of the
