Cel Shaded Jason Yadao

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Art Academy showcases classic anime

HAYAO MIYAZAKI is one of those names that anime fans either know already or ought to know to even consider themselves to be anime fans in the first place. His films with Studio Ghibli have earned widespread praise for the vivid fantasy worlds and characters that are often depicted.

Those of you who read the column last week know that there's a Miyazaki film festival, "Four Classic Films by Hayao Miyazaki," playing at the Honolulu Academy of Arts' Doris Duke Theatre. "My Neighbor Totoro" screened over the weekend; here are the remaining three:

» "Porco Rosso": A World War I pilot cursed with the head of a pig becomes a helper for hire. Today at 7:30 p.m. and tomorrow at 1 and 7:30 p.m.

» "Spirited Away": Chihiro, trapped in a bathhouse for the spirit world, must fend for herself while trying to rescue her parents, who have been turned into pigs. Winner of the Academy Award for best animated feature in 2003. Wednesday and Thursday at 1 and 7:30 p.m.

» "Howl's Moving Castle": A witch has cursed young Sophie with an old body. Now, with the help of an insecure young wizard and his companions, Sophie hopes to break the spell. Friday at 1 and 7:30 p.m.

Cost is $7 for general admission; $6 for senior citizens, students and the military; $5 for Art Academy members; and $3 for children under 12. Tickets are available 30 minutes before show times. For more information, visit tinyurl.com/6aed5z ...

Collectible fandom

Taking place Friday and Saturday at the Blaisdell Exhibition Hall is the Hawaii All-Collectors Show. This year, with the help of Oahu Anime Explorer and Anime United, anime will have a presence at the show, as well. Oahu Anime Explorer is the local anime club covered here regularly, while Anime United is the new alliance of anime clubs organized by high school senior Maria Harr.

Cosplay, that wonderful tradition of people dressing up as their favorite anime and manga characters, will be in full force at the booth. Oahu Anime Explorer will be screening episodes of "Moyashimon," and various anime-related collectibles will be on display. (Just don't try buying any of it, since it's all coming from personal collections.) Members will also be on hand to chat about anything you might've wanted to learn about anime but might've been too shy to ask about until now.

The show runs from 3 to 9 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. Cost is $4 for general admission and $2 for ages 7 to 11. For more information, visit tinyurl.com/6ab8xf ...

Pups on the road

For the past few weeks, Audra Furuichi and Scott Yoshinaga, co-creators of the online comic "nemu*nemu," visited libraries as part of the state library system's Teen Summer Reading Program.

All good things must come to an end, though. The last chance to see their 45-minute presentation on the process of creating and posting comics online will be at Kaneohe Library, Sunday at 2:30 p.m.