The art, story and presentation of Studio Ghibli’s offerings are always satisfying, but a weak voice cast can ruin the experience. Thankfully, the English casts are reliably excellent, and the actors hired for The Wind Rises should continue that tradition. Look for this film in select North American theaters on Feb. 21, 2014, expanding wide on Feb. 28, 2014.
In The Wind Rises, Jiro dreams of flying and designing beautiful airplanes, inspired by the famous Italian aeronautical designer Caproni. Nearsighted and unable to be a pilot, he becomes one of the world’s most accomplished airplane designers, experiencing key historical events in an epic tale of love, perseverance and the challenges of living and making choices in a turbulent world.
Here are the voices audiences can look forward to:
JOSEPH GORDON-LEVITT lends his voice to Jiro Horikoshi, who harbors strong ambitions to create his own beautiful airplane. A bubbling mix of wild excitement, extreme focus, individualism, pride, realism and idealism, Jiro also has a cool and brilliant mind and is recognized for his talent.
JOHN KRASINSKI provides the voice of Honjo, Jiro’s college friend and fellow aviation engineer.
EMILY BLUNT voices Nahoko Satomi, a beautiful and cheerful girl who is a passenger on the same train as Jiro on the day of a natural disaster. Ten years later, they reunite.
MARTIN SHORT was tapped to portray Kurokawa, Jiro’s grumpy boss.
STANLEY TUCCI provides the voice of Caproni, an airplane creator known worldwide from the dawn of Italian aviation through the 1930s, who appears in Jiro’s dreams to stir up, advise and voice Jiro’s thoughts and emotions.
MANDY PATINKIN lends his voice to Hattori, the senior designer at Mitsubishi.
WERNER HERZOG voices Castorp, a mysterious visitor to Japan who encounters Jiro at a mountain resort.
WILLIAM H. MACY steps into the role of Satomi, Nahoko’s father.
MAE WHITMAN was called on to voice Kayo Horikoshi, Jiro’s younger sister, who adores him. Whitman also voices Kinu, Nahoko’s caretaker.
JENNIFER GREY provides the voice of Mrs. Kurokawa.
DARREN CRISS lends his voice to Katayama, a jovial junior engineering colleague of Jiro.
ELIJAH WOOD voices Sone, a studious engineering colleague of Jiro.
RONAN FARROW is the voice of the Mitsubishi Employee.
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