In May, Walt Disney Home Entertainment will bring the Studio Ghibli animated features Castle in the Sky, Whisper of the Heart, and The Secret World of Arrietty to Blu-ray. Available for the first time on Region A Blu-rays, these highly imaginative fantasies span more than twenty years in the Studio Ghibli team's creative development.
From Disney's official synopses:
Castle in the Sky (1986) -
"Pazu, an engineer's apprentice, finds a young girl, Sheeta, floating down from the sky, and discovers they are both searching for a legendary floating castle, Laputa. Together, they embark on a daring quest and encounter greedy pirates, secret agents, and astounding obstacles that keep them from the truth - and from each other."
Whisper of the Heart (1995) -
"A chance encounter with a mysterious cat sends Shizuku, a quiet schoolgirl, on a quest for her true talent. Challenged by Seiji, a boy determined to follow his dreams, and enchanted by The Baron, a magical cat figurine who helps her listen to the whispers of her heart, Shizuku embarks on curious adventures beyond the boundaries of her imagination."
The Secret World of Arrietty (2010) -
"Based on the acclaimed children's book series The Borrowers, by Mary Norton, The Secret World of Arrietty is an imaginative tale of 'little people' living furtively among us, and the unlikely friendship that forms when their hidden world is discovered."
Disney is offering the three pictures in two-disc Blu-ray/DVD combo packs. While the discs' exact technical and supplementary specifications are still unknown, Disney promises "new digital master[s]...[and] the original Japanese score[s]" for each film.
In addition, The Secret World of Arrietty will carry the following supplements:
English language track directed by Academy Award®-winner Gary Rydstrom (Best Sound: Titanic)
Storyboard version of the film
Original Japanese trailers and TV commercials
Two music videos:
- "Summertime" by Bridgit Mendler
- "Arrietty's Song" by French singer/songwriter Cécile Corbe