Like the Clouds, Like the Wind
Encyclopedia
is a made-for-TV anime
movie produced by Studio Pierrot
for NTV
and based on the novel by Ken'ichi Sakemi. It is often incorrectly thought to be produced by Studio Ghibli
due to the character designs by Katsuya Kondō
(who has worked on many Ghibli films), partially due to an error in its first fan translation that attributed the screenplay to Hayao Miyazaki
instead of Akira Miyazaki, and the higher quality of the animation for a TV movie. However, Studio Ghibli had no involvement in the film.
. When she learns of an opportunity to become a concubine of the young new Emperor, with the possibility of becoming his head wife in charge of all of the other wives, Ginga convinces her father to let her go. Once there, she meets all of the other potential head wives, each of whom have various reasons for being there. All of them must learn to read and write, learn the history of their country, and learn the proper mannerisms for being in the royal court.
Ginga's enthusiasm tends to get her in trouble more often than not, but it works to her advantage when they learn that the former emperor's head wife, who is not the mother of the current emperor, is plotting treachery against the new emperor, and that a rebellion is headed toward the capital.
in 1989, and then received sponsorship to become a film from Mitsui Real Estate. The novel has been released in both hardcover
and bunkobon
format.
national holiday, and was shown in an unprecedented no-commercials presentation. The movie was released on Region 2
DVD in 2002. There is no commercial English language
release.
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
movie produced by Studio Pierrot
Studio Pierrot
is a Japanese animation/animation studio, founded in 1979 by former employees of Tatsunoko Production. Its headquarters is located in Mitaka, Tokyo.The company has a simple logo of the face of a clown...
for NTV
Nippon Television
is a television network based in the Shiodome area of Minato, Tokyo, Japan and is controlled by the Yomiuri Shimbun publishing company. Broadcasting terrestrially across Japan, the network is commonly known as , contracted to , and abbreviated as "NTV" or "AX".-Offices:*The Headquarters : 6-1,...
and based on the novel by Ken'ichi Sakemi. It is often incorrectly thought to be produced by Studio Ghibli
Studio Ghibli
is a Japanese animation and film studio founded in June 1985. The company's logo features the character Totoro from Hayao Miyazaki's film My Neighbor Totoro...
due to the character designs by Katsuya Kondō
Katsuya Kondo
is a Japanese manga artist, character designer, animator and animation director. He is best known for his character design work on the Studio Ghibli films Kiki's Delivery Service and Ocean Waves, as well as the PlayStation game Jade Cocoon...
(who has worked on many Ghibli films), partially due to an error in its first fan translation that attributed the screenplay to Hayao Miyazaki
Hayao Miyazaki
is a Japanese manga artist and prominent film director and animator of many popular anime feature films. Through a career that has spanned nearly fifty years, Miyazaki has attained international acclaim as a maker of animated feature films and, along with Isao Takahata, co-founded Studio Ghibli,...
instead of Akira Miyazaki, and the higher quality of the animation for a TV movie. However, Studio Ghibli had no involvement in the film.
Story
Ginga is a simple—yet energetic—country girl, living with her father far from the capital city of the empire in ancient ChinaChina
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. When she learns of an opportunity to become a concubine of the young new Emperor, with the possibility of becoming his head wife in charge of all of the other wives, Ginga convinces her father to let her go. Once there, she meets all of the other potential head wives, each of whom have various reasons for being there. All of them must learn to read and write, learn the history of their country, and learn the proper mannerisms for being in the royal court.
Ginga's enthusiasm tends to get her in trouble more often than not, but it works to her advantage when they learn that the former emperor's head wife, who is not the mother of the current emperor, is plotting treachery against the new emperor, and that a rebellion is headed toward the capital.
Novel
The novel, , won the first Japan Fantasy Novel AwardJapan Fantasy Novel Award
The is an annual award which began in 1989 and is sponsored by the Yomiuri Shimbun and Shimizu Corporation with the backing of publisher Shinchōsha. The winner gets a contract to have their unpublished work published by Shinchōsha and receives ¥5 million. The contest is open to anyone, whether an...
in 1989, and then received sponsorship to become a film from Mitsui Real Estate. The novel has been released in both hardcover
Hardcover
A hardcover, hardback or hardbound is a book bound with rigid protective covers...
and bunkobon
Bunkobon
In Japan, bunkobon are small-format paperback books, designed to be affordable and portable.The great majority of bunkobon are A6 in size...
format.
- Hardcover, ISBN 4-10-375101-0, ShinchoshaShinchoshais a publisher founded in 1896 in Japan and headquartered in Yaraichō, Shinjuku, Tokyo. Shinchosha is one of the sponsors of the Japan Fantasy Novel Award.-Monthly:* ENGINE* Foresight* nicola*Shinchō-External links:*...
, March 5, 1989, ¥1200 - Bunkobon, ISBN 4-10-128111-4, Shinchosha, April 25, 1993, ¥480
Anime
Kumo Kaze, as it is sometimes called, had its premier broadcast on March 21, 1990 during the vernal equinoxEquinox
An equinox occurs twice a year, when the tilt of the Earth's axis is inclined neither away from nor towards the Sun, the center of the Sun being in the same plane as the Earth's equator...
national holiday, and was shown in an unprecedented no-commercials presentation. The movie was released on Region 2
DVD region code
DVD region codes are a digital-rights management technique designed to allow film distributors to control aspects of a release, including content, release date, and price, according to the region...
DVD in 2002. There is no commercial English language
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
release.
Cast
- Ginga: Ryōko Sano
- Koryūn: Emiya Ichikawa
- Kōyō: Yō Inoue
- Seshaamin: Yōko AsagamiYoko Asagami' is a veteran seiyū who is represented by Aksent. Her married name is '.She is most known for the roles of Yuki Mori and Saeko Nogami ....
- Tamyūn: Atsuko TakahataAtsuko Takahatais a Japanese voice actress.-Live-action:* Space Witch Gilza in Juspion* Maribaron in Kamen Rider Black RX* Calra/Miyuki Fukano in Tokkei Winspector * Hidemi Takeuchi in Tokusou Exceedraft...
- Kakuto: Kinto TamuraKinto Tamura' is a Japanese actor and seiyū from Tokyo Prefecture affiliated with Gekidan Bunkaza.-Television animation:*Flanders no Inu *Kamui the Ninja *Kimba the White Lion...
- Kikkyō: Yūji MitsuyaYuji Mitsuyais a Japanese actor, voice actor, and sound supervisor from Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture who is affiliated with Bring Up. He graduated from Meiji University....
- Iryūda (Heishō): Nobuaki Fukuda
- Konton: Akiji KobayashiAkiji Kobayashi, sometimes credited as Shōji Kobayashi or Issei Mori, was a Japanese actor. He is best known in the West for portraying the role of Captain Mura in the 1966-1967 television series, Ultraman. Another notable television role was Tōbei Tachibana in the 1971 series, Kamen Rider...
- Empress Kin: Ikuko TaniIkuko Taniis a Japanese actress, seiyū and narrator from Tōkyō attached to Mausu Promotion. She is best known for her roles in Tanoshii Moomin Ikka , SpongeBob SquarePants and the Japanese dubs of the Harry Potter films .-Television animation:*Cowboy Bebop *Ghost Hound *Ginga...
- Taruto-baba: Hisako KyōdaHisako Kyodais a Japanese voice actor from Tokyo who, among other roles, voiced Slappy Squirrel in the Japanese dub of Animaniacs. She is most known for the roles of Genkai , Omusubiman , and Yukari Godai...
- Mano: Kōichi KitamuraKoichi Kitamura, real name was a Japanese voice actor born in Osaka, Japan. Kitamura was employed by the talent management agency Mausu Promotion. He died on October 2, 2007 of pneumonia.-TV:*April to Sandman *Dragon Ball GT *Esper Mami...
- Ino: Yōsuke AkimotoYosuke Akimotois a Japanese actor and voice actor from Tokyo. He is currently attached to Mausu Promotion. He is a graduate of the Hosei University business school.-Television animation:*Agatha Christie's Great Detectives Poirot and Marple *Angel Heart...
- Narrator: Tadashi NakamuraTadashi Nakamurais the founder of Seidō juku karatedo.-Early years:Tadashi Nakamura was born on the February 22, 1942 in the town of Maoka on the island of Karafuto. Nakamura trained in various martial arts including Goju-Ryu, Kendo, and Kyokushin...
- Atsushi IiAtsushi Iiis a Japanese seiyū from Tokyo. He was formerly attached to Mausu Promotion and Production★A Gumi before settling at Arts Vision.-Television animation:*GeGeGe no Kitarō *GeGeGe no Kitarō...
- Tomie Kataoka
- Eken MineEken Minewas a Japanese voice actor from Nagasaki, Japan.-Anime:*3000 Leagues in Search of Mother *Alps no Shōjo Heidi *Anime Sanjushi *Candy Candy *DNA² *Doraemon...
- Tetsuo MizutoriTetsuo Mizutoriwas a Japanese voice actor from Tokyo who was attached to Arts Vision at the time of his death. His family name and his first name are often misprinted as "Mizushima" and "Tetsuya" by numerous journals...
- Midori Nakazawa
- Akemi Shinohara
- Masaaki TsukadaMasaaki Tsukadais a Japanese voice actor working for Mouse Promotion. His wife, Masako Nozawa, is also a voice actress.-Voice roles:Major roles are in bold.* Black Lagoon as Chief Watsup* Bleach as Shikeguni Yamamoto-Genryūsai* Crusher Joe as Barney...
- Akiko YajimaAkiko Yajima, born May 4, 1967, is a Japanese voice actress from Kashiwazaki, Niigata Prefecture.-Anime:*Battle Athletes Victory *Berserk *The Big O *Blood+...
Staff
- Original story: Ken'ichi Sakemi
- Director: Hisayuki ToriumiHisayuki Toriumi, sometimes credited as Eiko Toriumi, was a Japanese director best known for having directed the television program Science Ninja Team Gatchaman...
- Producer: Harumi Tamano
- Production: Yomiuri Advertising, Studio PierrotStudio Pierrotis a Japanese animation/animation studio, founded in 1979 by former employees of Tatsunoko Production. Its headquarters is located in Mitaka, Tokyo.The company has a simple logo of the face of a clown...
- Screenplay: Akira Miyazaki
- Executive Producers:
- Tōru Horikoshi (NTV)
- Makoto Ōno (Yomiuri Advertising)
- Noritaki Suzuki (Studio Pierrot)
- Planning: Takeo Mutai (NTV), Kazuo Shimamura (Yomiuri Advertising)
- Character Design: Katsuya KondōKatsuya Kondois a Japanese manga artist, character designer, animator and animation director. He is best known for his character design work on the Studio Ghibli films Kiki's Delivery Service and Ocean Waves, as well as the PlayStation game Jade Cocoon...
- Animation director: Katsuya Kondō
- Director of Photography: Nobuo Koyama
- Art Director: Yūji Ikeda (Studio YS)
- Editing: Takeshi SeyamaTakeshi Seyamais a Japanese film editor from Tokyo.He is the editor of many anime series and movies from Studio Ghibli, Katsuhiro Otomo, or Satoshi Kon, including hits such as like Princess Mononoke, Steamboy, and Paprika. In 1992, Seyama founded the "Seyama Editing Room," which specializes in editing...
- Sound Director: Kan Mizumoto
- Music: Haruhiko Maruya
- Production: Yūji Nunokawa
Theme song
Kumo no yō ni Kaze no yō ni- Lyrics: Anju Mana
- Composed by: Tetsurō Kugizaki
- Arranged by: Etsuko Yamakawa
- Vocals: Ryōko Sano