When one of Japan's top developers, Level-5, announced three years ago it was creating a game titled Ni no Kuni with animation giant Studio Ghibli (Princess Mononoke, My Neighbor Totoro), it seemed too big to not get an international release. Then the release of the original DS version came and went without any word of localization. The same thing looked to be happening with the PS3 edition planned for release next month in Japan, but this weekend brought news that it would receive an English language release next year thanks to Namco Bandai.

With new official English title of Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch, the game is a gorgeous-looking action-RPG with original animation from Ghibli and music by Joe Hisaishi, who composed many classic songs for Ghibli over the years, among other film soundtracks. Namco Bandai describes the game as an “epic tale of a young boy, Oliver, who embarks on a journey to become a master magician and bring back his dead mother from the parallel world of Ni no Kuni. Along the way he encounters some extraordinary characters, many of whom become helpful allies. They guide Oliver as he explores the vast world and learns the magical skills that will make him strong enough to face his most deadly foes, and ultimately survive an encounter with the White Witch herself.” We couldn’t be happier that Ni no Kuni will finally be available outside of Japan, and we hope Namco Bandai gives it the royal treatment when the PS3 title hits stores in the US and UK sometime in 2012.

Oct 17, 2011