The mana tree and birds

[Cordilow]

In the SNES game, The Secret of Mana, is the mana tree modeled after a camphor tree? It reminds me a lot of the tree in the Hayao Miyazaki movie called My Neighbor Totoro (which is said to be a giant camphor tree), and some of the trees in the Miyazaki movie called Castle in the Sky.

Also, there is a fancy-looking bird in Castle in the Sky. It reminds me of the scarlet ibises in the introduction to The Secret of Mana that fly by the mana tree (and it's around the camphor-like trees in the said movie), although I don't remember that it was red (I thought it was fancier-looking, too, and maybe a little longer). What kind of bird is that, if it's based off of a real one?

[Dolphinia]

Well I'm not entirely sure what kinds of birds they are but the Ghibli Museum says that the birds that fly to Sheeta are pigeons. They don't mention the names of any other birds in the film. Personally I liked Spirited Away better but that could be because it was the first Miyazaki film I ever saw. Me and my best friend sat down one Saturday after picking random movies from the video store and bam there was Spirited Away. I also highly enjoyed Howls Moving Castle. Kikis Delivery service was cute I really liked the little boy who wanted to fly. I want to see Ponyo, it looks like it will be a good one I just haven't gotten to it yet. D.

[Cordilow]

I've seen Castle in the Sky all the way through twice. I should say, though, that I think it's a whole lot better if you have a nice, big TV and sound system. I'm not sure why, but it changes the way the movie feels for me.

[Dolphinia]

Interesting that you should mention watching them on a nice big screen. My sister and I are saving up money to buy her daughter one of those crystal projectors for her birthday next year. We want to put a huge white sheet between two trees and let them sleep in the grass in front of the "screen" as a unique slumber party thingy.
I was already giving some thought as to which movies I wanted to watch once the parties over, I'll have to add Castle in the Sky to my list.