The illustration is from Howl's Moving Castle by Hayao Miyazaki.
This is a brilliant film. Miyazaki rewrites and opens up the story (by Dianna Wynn Jones) that inspired him. He was already celebrated and successful and wanted to make an anti-war film. Born in 1941, he had lived through World War2 and its aftermath in Japan and was passionately opposed to more war. Howl's Moving Castle was Miyazaki's response to the invasion of Iraq.
The story is wonderful, engaging, and filled with surprises. The animation is extraordinary. And the spectre of war and tyranny pervades in the magical world of Howl. The illustration on the left is of Sophie, a remarkable young woman, on the tram. She has finished working in the family hat shop for the day and is on the way to see her sister at her work. Strange events and danger begin to occur. Before the afternoon is over, she will be rescued by Howl, experience preparations for war, and be transformed by the Witch of the Waste into an old woman.
Miyazaki balances the cruelty of war with inventive moments of surprise, from the magic scarecrow to Howl's sharing childhood joys with Sophie. How does an artist in any medium introduce war to children? Miyazaki does this in three ways. He creates rather surreal sequences of Howl, in the form of a large, streamlined raptor in soaring scenes where he fights with stylized flying warships and demons. Below, there is chaotic burning and destruction. The war will continue, and, in his wizard way, Howl will always keep trying to end it.
Secondly, he creates compelling scenes where Sophie, Marki (Howl's young apprentice), and innocent people are directly involved in the war. For example: one sequence begins on a beautiful morning in a charming small seaport town. Sophie and Marki leave Howl's house (houses move when the castle moves) to buy food in the open air marketplace. "It's lovely shopping in the morning," says Sophie as they emerge from the house on a bright sunny street and begin walking.
Their food shopping is interrupted by a commotion of running, shouting people, rushing to the waterfront to see a battleship, returning from the war. Hurrying to the waterfront area, Sophie and Marki are awed by the return of a battered and burning battle ship, filling the air with with billowing smoke. As horrified spectators look on, the big ship begins to sink as hundred of sailors jump into the turbulent water. Sophie and Marki rush from the scene as bombs drop in the water and a huge plane opens and releases a torrent of leaflets. They arrive home safe but drained.
Thirdly, as the war continues, Miyazaki includes a major sequence revealing the callous indifference of the ruling elite to the suffering of innocent people. Howl is invited to the palace by the King. Fearing the power of Suliman, the King's powerful sorceress, Howl convinces Sophie to go in his stead, posing as his mother. Howl was once a brilliant student of Suliman's and she wants him to join the King in making war. There are ordeals, magic, transformations, dogs and more in this sequence. There are also issues of loyalty, courage, and morality.
There is hope but there are no easy answers in this wonderful film.
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“There are some themes, some subjects, too large for adult fiction; they can only be dealt with adequately in a children’s book.” (Or a movie)
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Fairy Tales and Truth
" We ward off fairy tales and pretend that they are intended mainly for children because they tell more truth than we want to know, and we absorb fairy tales because they tell us more truth than we want to know . . . They stamp our minds and perhaps our soul" Jack Zipes, The Oxford University Press Blog
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The fairy tale genre does not possess a precisely generated form . . . but is as fluid as a conversation taking place over the centuries. -- Marina Warner, Once Upon a Time
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Treat Yourself to A Celebration of Wonders by Miyazaki
Creator: Dono, Music: Joe Hisaishi
Link A tribute to Hayao Miyazaki Time: 3.24
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Not so long ago . . .
In the 80's and 90's, the world of fairy tales/wonder tales and fantasy achieved growing momentum, characterized by more book sales (including crossover YA), more wonderful writers, and big Disney films. And J.K. Rowling's success with Harry Potter added still more media attention and audience to the momentum.
An important contribution to the mainstream of those years were the anthologies edited by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling. (Terri, creator of Myth and Moor fame, is also a prize winning author).
"These six volumes present stories by contemporary writers inspired by classic fairy tales. The series has been cited as a pioneering work in the modern revival of Adult Fairy Tale Literature -- which began with the publication of Angela Carter's The Bloody Chamber in 1979, picked up steam through the 1980s and '90s, and is still going strong in the 21st century."-- Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling
The original illustrations for all the books in the series were by Thomas Canty.
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Excerpt from The New York Times Book Review of Datlow and Windling Anthologies: In this “no holds barred . . . nightmarish . . . provocative” collection, bestselling and award-winning fantasy masters put a dark, disturbing, and erotic spin on your favorite bedtime stories—and give you something entirely new to trouble your dreams.
The illustration of Little Red Riding Hood is by Edmund Dore
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Retold Classics
I have been reading one of those anthologies by Datlow and Windling, BlackThorn, White Rose, which offers classic fairy tales, reimagined and retold by excellent writers. Here are my reactions to three of these retold classics:
Ellen Steiber brings new life to Little Red Riding Hood in a sensual poem, Silver and Gold. I read it aloud and found myself immersed in the writing . . .
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Sometimes, I explain,
it's hard to tell the difference
between the ones who love you
and the ones who will eat you alive."
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Nancy Kress in Words Like Pale Stones adds compelling dimension to the story of Rumpelstiltskin. The well known Grimm's version of the story is extended in unexpected, logical, and disturbing ways. This is an ancient tale, estimated by Durham University scholars to be 4,000 years old.
The crush of royal arrogance and its outcomes permeates all of Kress's retelling; and the central figure, the young maiden, courageously overcomes nightmare events remaking this into an original and gripping story.
This illustration, by Henry J. King, was created for the Grimm's version
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Swans have long been celebrated in wonder tales. They can be found in literature, mythology, poetry, music, dance and films. Their beauty and the fact that they mate for life has long fascinated humans.
Susan Wade continues this tradition with The Black Swan. She has written an engaging story about the painful aspects of female beauty, the destructive outcomes of royal prejudice, and an outsider -- a vibrant, big, handsome young woman, but unconventional by court standards.
The characters are well drawn, the writing is first class, and a gradual metamorphosis takes place, leading to a surprising and extremely powerful ending.
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Magical Stories
"Though now we think of fairy tales as stories intended for very young children, this is a relatively modern idea. In the oral tradition, magical stories were enjoyed by listeners young and old alike, while literary fairy tales (including most of the tales that are best known today) were published primarily for adult readers until the 19th century.”
Terri Windling -- Black Thorn, White Rose
The illustration of Bother and Sister is by Terri Windling,
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Jack Zipes -- Concerns for the Downtrodden
Jack Zipes has always written about and discussed fairy tales as a manifestation of the human struggle. Oral tales 
were stories that used analogy and metaphor to deal with injustice, chaos, brutal royalty, and fear. Often, fairy tales gave hope.
I first encountered Jack Zipes on a 2007 YouTube video when he headed a fascinating roundtable discussion, How Fairy Tales Cast Their Spell. The discussion, which included Maria Tatar, was fascinating and dealt with questions about fairy tales like: why do they endure; and why do they have power.
My most recent viewing of Jack Zipes (also You Tube) was very recently, wherein he revealed his continued concerns for the injustice and cruelty of humanity through two books: his new translation of the original Bambi by Felix Salten (Princeton University Press); and Tistou of the Green Thumbs, by Maurice Druon (published by Little Mole and Honey Bear).
Druon was a WW2 French Resistance hero and a successful author of adult books. His abhorrence of war and it's brutality motivated him to write this delightful book of wonder about an innocent, but compassionate boy who finds he can do extraordinary things to help people with his ability to grow things.
Hitler banned Bambi. Zipes sees the book as a metaphor for Felix Salten's life as a Jewish author who narrowly escaped the holocaust. Salten's Bambi is totally unlike the saccharine Disney version. Zipes recounts a moving, multidimensional story of Salten and the book in this video. The video was sponsored by Magers and Quinn, Booksellers, Minneapolis, MN.
Link to Jack Zipes talk about the Original Bambi and Tistou
The illustration from Bambi is by Alenka Sottler.
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Exceptional Independent Animation
Room
Stylized, sophisticated, exploring the concept of a room.
Created by Paulina Ziotkowska.
Sound: Anthony Abbatangelo.
Music: In The Morning by John Leafcutter.
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La Jeune Fille et les Nuages (2000, extrait)
The young girl and the clouds (translation).
Fantasy images, dreaming, surprises.
Created by Georges Schwizgebel.
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Farewell/Slovo
Nostalgia, memories, human moments
Created by Leon Vidmar
Animator: Jaka Krambarjet, Camera: Milos Srdic
Music: Tomaz Gram, Puppets: Zigar Lebar, Leon Vidmar
Producer: Kolj Saksida, Production House: ZVVIKS, Slovenia
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Poupelle of Chimney Town
Poupelle of Chimney Town is, apparently, a flawed wonder. I haven't seen it. However, I have watched the trailers. And, I read several reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. I like this one by Ard Vin, EDITOR, EUROPE; ROTTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS (@ARDVARK23): "Hirota Yuusuke's debut is a lightweight on story, but a heavyweight on world and design, and beautifully animated."
Directed by Yusuke Hirota
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Here Is The Midwestern Book Review of Why Am I . . . ?
"Why Am I? is a great family conversation starter about accepting ourselves and others just as we are, and provides a soothing bedtime read with the kids. For ages 4 and up with an adult's help, or 6 and up for beginning readers, "Why Am I?" is extraordinary, entertaining, thought-provoking, and original, making it an ideal and unreservedly recommended addition to family, daycare center, preschool, elementary school, and community library picture book collections."
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HI, WE'RE SARA AND BRITTANY!"
"We’re folklorists, teachers, and writers, and together we're the founders of The Carterhaugh School of Folklore and the Fantastic! We teach online courses that celebrate traditional tales and everyday magic. Our goal is to re-enchant daily life, one story at a time. . . Myths, legends, and especially fairy tales are our passion."
These two women are passionate in their love of myth, wonder tales, and folklore. They have brought their broad knowledge (they both have PhD's) to the Internet and are teaching and sharing with award-winning, interactive, original courses on the Internet. Here is a link to information about these women, the courses, and their remarkable Carterhaugh School -
Here is a link to their recent very informative email on Myth.
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Angela Carter's The Bloody Chamber -- Ten Turning Point Stories
Most would agree with Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling when they wrote that, "The modern revival of Adult Fairy Tale Literature . . . began with the publication of Angela Carter's The Bloody Chamber in 1979"
This got me thinking again about the incredible Angela Carter and looking at her YouTube interviews. I'm now rereading my notes from earlier blogs, and once more immersing myself in her remarkable Bloody Chamber. I hope you will join me next month when I humbly return to Angela Carter.
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UnValentine's Day Invitation.
The Lewis Carrol Society of North America is presenting a virtual Unvalentine Party on the internet --
Please join us next Saturday February 12, 2022!2:00 PM Eastern time, 11:00 AM PacificUn-Valentine's Day with the LCSNAJoin the Webinar on February 12: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81078930485
Join your fellow members and friends as we fete the Feast of Saint Valentine a few days early, with an emphasis on all things Carrollian (of course!). We’ve got scads of seasonal surprises in store. Dayna Nuhn will display her collection of vintage Valentines, and Brianna Beehler and Davis Vigneault will present their Wonderland Award-winning song “Red Kings.” No traffic, no crowds and no reservations are required for this virtual Valentine’s Day extravaganza! -- The photo is of Alice Liddell Learn more about our presenters and this event
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Just Us Books Celebrates 30 Pioneering Years
Three decades ago Wade and Cheryl Hudson were parents on a desperate search for children's books that reflected the diversity of Black history, heritage and experiences. Disappointed by the limited number and their unreliable availability, the couple embarked upon a mission: to produce the kind of positive, vibrant Black-interest books that they wanted for their own two children. Combining their professional experience in marketing and graphic design, Wade and Cheryl developed a number of manuscripts including the AFRO-BETSR ABC Book, which taught the alphabet using Afrocentric themes and images. They began presenting their ideas to various publishing houses. Although most editors liked the concepts, the Hudsons received rejection after rejection. "There's no market for Black children's books," one editor said.
The Hudson's published and marketed the book themselves (Afro- BETSR ABC Book). It was a hit! Not only in sales -- over 5,000 copies in the first three months -- but also in the heartfelt reactions of children and their parents. The Hudson's were so nspired, in fact, that when they published their second title, the AFRO-BETSR 123 Book a year later, they launched along with it their own publishing company. Here is a link to their website where you will find more of this inspiring story. And excellent books.
The cover is by Blair Culverson-
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The Worlds Largest Refugee Camp Is in Bangladesh --
Myshara, is a beautiful young Rohingan girl,who hopes to some day be a teacher. She is quite wonderful -- an affirmation of the human spirit. Visit Myshara for 2 minutes 21 seconds. She lives with her family in Kutupalong camp – the largest of 34 camps in Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar district. The area is home to more than 860,000 Rohingya refugees, almost 55 per cent of whom are children. Most fled their homes in Myanmar in 2017. Violence, atrocities and persecution drove them out.
United Nations Refugee Agency UNHCR supports the camp. Myshara is writing in the center of the photo.
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World Read Aloud Day
World read aloud day is Feb2 2022 Now in its 13th year, and celebrated in 173 countries, World Read Aloud Day (founded by LitWorld in 2010) continues to call attention to the power and importance of sharing stories.
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Planet of the Dogs -- Can the Dogs Stop The Stone City Warriors?
The Stone City Warriors will attack Green Valley in the morning when they emerge from the Dark Woods road. The farmers will resist, but alone they will have no chance to stop the invaders. It is up to Daisy and Bean, a sister and brother, and the dogs to stop them. Dogs are new on Planet Earth and only one warrior has seen a dog.
"Meanwhile, the woods became quiet again, and the horses were once again calm. The invaders could not hear Edgar and hundreds of big dogs moving silently through the woods on both sides of the road. . .
The dogs went into hiding places where they could see the road, but they could not be seen. They would smell the approaching army and hear the noise of the many men, horses, and supply wagons long before the warriors reached them."
Excerpted from Planet Of The Dogs Here is a link to read sample chapters of Planet Of The Dogs, Castle In the Mist, Snow Valley Heroes -- All the books in the Series.
The illustration from Planet Of The Dogs is by Stella Mustanoja McCarty
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"A dog teaches a boy fidelity, perseverance, and to turn around three times before lying down.” Robert Benchley
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