Ghibliotheque - A Podcast About Studio Ghibli

In this special episode recorded live at Latitude Festival, Michael & Jake venture out of the podcast recording booth and out of the Studio Ghibli canon altogether to discuss Mary & The Witch's Flower, the first film from Ghibli alumni Studio Ponoc. Director Hiromasa Yonebayashi and producer Yoshiaki Nishimura previously worked together at Ghibli on the radical When Marnie Was There, but Ponoc's debut feature is a tribute to the magical, fantastical animation perfected by their mentors, Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata. Does it reach the Studio's standard of quality? Follow Michael and Jake on Twitter: @MichaelJLeader – Michael @jakehcunningham – Jake Produced by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Harold McShiel and Steph Watts Editing by Lister Rossell  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This season of Ghibliotheque comes to a close with the final masterpiece from the legendary filmmaker, and Studio Ghibli co-founder, Isao Takahata. Described by Hayao Miyazaki as 'descended from a giant sloth', Takahata took his sweet time with his quietly experimental take on the 10th century folk tale, working at his own glacial pace and missing many production deadlines before the film's eventual release in November 2013. Takahata's previous films, Grave of the Fireflies, Only Yesterday and Pom Poko were all hits with Jake in previous seasons - will the streak continue?     Find out more about the Studio Ghibli screenings at the British Museum, with Q&As hosted by the Ghibliotheque gang, here: https://checkout.timeout.com/london/StudioGhibliscreenings/   Read Michael's interview with Isao Takahata - https://medium.com/@Film4/isao-takahata-on-the-tale-of-the-princess-kaguya-4221f5df60a9  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week, Michael & Jake zero in on Hayao Miyazaki's most recent release, the wildly ambitious biographical, historical, and very technical aviation drama The Wind Rises. Once thought to be Miyazaki's final film, this magnificent mic-drop masterpiece showed the old master still innovating even as he contemplated retirement - blending the magical animation of his beloved classics with deeper themes relating to inspiration, the purity of craft, and the inescapable blight of the Second World War. And planes, so many planes. Follow Michael and Jake on Twitter: @MichaelJLeader – Michael @jakehcunningham – Jake Produced by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Harold McShiel and Steph Watts Editing by Lister Rossell  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week, Michael & Jake go all the way back to the beginning for the very first Studio Ghibli production: the fantasy-adventure epic Laputa, also known as Castle In The Sky. By 1986, Hayao Miyazaki was already a seasoned animator, but the pressure was on. Could this new, independent studio revolutionise Japanese animation? Follow Michael and Jake on Twitter: @MichaelJLeader – Michael @jakehcunningham – Jake Produced by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Harold McShiel and Steph Watts Editing by Lister Rossell  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week, Michael & Jake tackle the controversial Ursula K. Le Guin adaptation Tales From Earthsea, the directorial debut from Goro Miyazaki, son of Studio Ghibli legend Hayao Miyazaki. Le Guin once said that only Miyazaki could do her epic fantasy series justice on the big screen - but little did she know that the task would fall to Goro, who had no prior animation, filmmaking or directing experience. He also had no support from his ever-aloof dad, and, on release, received little encouragement from critics and fans alike. How does this inauspicious debut play today? Show notes: Read Goro Miyazaki’s blog, ‘Zero Marks as a Father, Full Marks as a Director’ -http://www.nausicaa.net/miyazaki/earthsea/blog/blog39.html Read Ursula K Le Guin’s blog, ‘Gedo Senki, a first response’ -http://www.ursulakleguin.com/GedoSenkiResponse.html Follow Michael and Jake on Twitter: @MichaelJLeader – Michael @jakehcunningham – Jake Produced by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Harold McShiel and Steph Watts Editing by Lister Rossell  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Welcome to the Ghibliotheque, the podcast that leafs through the library of films from the world’s greatest animation studio, Studio Ghibli. This week, Michael & Jake tackle Hiromasa Yonebayashi's second film as director, the fantasy-tinged drama When Marnie Was There. Still, for now, the final Studio Ghibli feature film to be released in cinemas, this adaptation of Joan G. Robinson's British novel transposes the action to the wetlands of Hokkaido - and introduces emotional textures, themes and tones that have never been seen before in a Ghibli film. Where does it sit in the annals of the Ghibliotheque? Show notes: -- Read Michael's interview with Hiromasa Yonebayashi Follow Michael and Jake on Twitter: @MichaelJLeader – Michael @jakehcunningham – Jake Produced by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Harold McShiel and Steph Watts Editing by Lister Rossell  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Hosts Michael Leader and Jake Cunningham return to the Ghibliotheque to discuss one of Studio Ghibli's most beloved adventures. Hayao Miyazaki's animated tale of a witch coming of age and leaving home came at a time when the Studio's fortunes were flagging, but the film's box office success secured Ghibli's future for years to come, and would set the tone for many more magical Miyazaki gems, from Spirited Away to Ponyo. Follow Michael and Jake on Twitter: @MichaelJLeader – Michael @jakehcunningham – Jake Produced by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Harold McShiel & Steph Watts. Editing by Lister Rossell  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Michael Leader & Jake Cunningham invite Honey Ross and her father, broadcaster Jonathan Ross into the Ghibliotheque to discuss their relationship with the films of Studio Ghibli, from Jonathan's career as a TV host, film critic and avowed Asian cinema fanatic, to the Ross family's visit to Studio Ghibli's headquarters to interview Hayao Miyazaki himself. Follow Michael and Jake on Twitter: @MichaelJLeader – Michael @jakehcunningham – Jake Produced by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Harold McShiel & Steph Watts. Editing by Lister Rossell  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Merry Christmas from the Ghibliotheque, the podcast that leafs through the library of films from the world’s greatest animation studio, Studio Ghibli! To round off 2018, producer Steph Watts joins Michael & Jake for a special episode packed with festive treats, ranging from Ghibli Christmas cracker jokes and a Ghibli dad-themed quiz, to Jake's own Leaderboard ranking of all the films covered on the podcast so far. The Ghibliothechnicians also dig deep into the Ghibli memory mailbag, sharing some of the listeners' fondest reminiscences of the Studio and their magical movies. Follow Michael, Jake and Steph on Twitter: @MichaelJLeader – Michael @jakehcunningham – Jake @_stephwatts - Steph Produced by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Harold McShiel and Steph Watts Editing by Lister Rossell  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Welcome to the Ghibliotheque, the podcast that leafs through the library of films from the world’s greatest animation studio, Studio Ghibli. To finish this second season of Ghibliotheque, Michael & Jake return to the mighty Hayao Miyazaki for his family-friendly follow-up to Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away and Howl's Moving Castle: the fish-out-of-water fantasy Ponyo. After the increasing influence of CGI on Ghibli animation, Miyazaki envisioned this project as an ambitious return to the Studio's hand-drawn roots. But does the legendary director succeed ... or flounder? Read Michael's interview with Kathleen Kennedy: https://www.denofgeek.com/uk/movies/18590/kathleen-kennedy-interview-war-horse-lincoln-studio-ghibli-jurassic-park-4-more Read Roger Ebert's review of Ponyo: https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/ponyo-2009 Follow Michael and Jake on Twitter: @MichaelJLeader – Michael @jakehcunningham – Jake Produced by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Harold McShiel and Steph Watts Editing by Lister Rossell  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Welcome to the Ghibliotheque, the podcast that leafs through the library of films from the world’s greatest animation studio, Studio Ghibli. This week, Michael & Jake are joined by Iana Murray to paw over the only feature-length sequel in the Ghibli canon, and Hiroyuki Morita's sole directorial credit for the Studio: the feline fantasy adventure The Cat Returns. Follow Michael and Jake on Twitter: @MichaelJLeader – Michael @jakehcunningham – Jake Produced by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Harold McShiel and Steph Watts Editing by Lister Rossell  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Welcome to the Ghibliotheque, the podcast that leafs through the library of films from the world’s greatest animation studio, Studio Ghibli. This week, Michael & Jake discuss Hiromasa Yonebayashi's Ghibli debut, Arrietty. Based on the Mary Norton children's classic, this fantasy following the adventures of a tiny girl and her miniature family was by no means small-scale - eventually becoming the Studio's highest grossing film in the United States. But is it a mini-masterpiece or small fry? Follow Michael and Jake on Twitter: @MichaelJLeader – Michael @jakehcunningham – Jake Produced by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Harold McShiel and Steph Watts Editing by Lister Rossell  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Welcome to the Ghibliotheque, the podcast that leafs through the library of films from the world’s greatest animation studio, Studio Ghibli. In this episode, Michael and Jake leave the cosy confines of the Ghibliotheque for an in-depth conversation with The Red Turtle director Michaël Dudok de Wit, recorded live at the British Film Institute as part of their Podstock programme. Dialogue-free, French-animated and developed over a number of years in collaboration with 'artistic producer' Isao Takahata, The Red Turtle is a unique entry in the Studio Ghibli canon, and Michaël shares with the Ghibliotechnicians his memories of creating what is, to date, the only non-Japanese Ghibli production. Follow Michael and Jake on Twitter: @MichaelJLeader – Michael @jakehcunningham – Jake Produced by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Harold McShiel and Steph Watts Editing by Lister Rossell  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Welcome to the Ghibliotheque, the podcast that leafs through the library of films from the world’s greatest animation studio, Studio Ghibli. In this episode, pigs fly (or one does, anyway) as Michael & Jake take off with Hayao Miyazaki's 1992 porcine aviator adventure, Porco Rosso. Initially planned as short in-flight movie for Japan Airlines, the film ballooned as Miyazaki went the whole hog, packing the film with period detail, memorable characters and thrilling airborne action sequences - resulting in a 90-minute piggy bank stuffed to the brim with magical Ghibli moments. Will our hosts roast the hog, or will they deem it a full-boar Miyazaki masterpiece? Show notes:  News report referring to the planned Porco Rosso sequel: https://www.denofgeek.com/uk/movies/16222/hayao-miyazaki-on-a-porco-rosso-sequel-and-studio-ghibli-s-closure Follow Michael and Jake on Twitter: @MichaelJLeader – Michael @jakehcunningham – Jake Produced by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Harold McShiel and Steph Watts Editing by Lister Rossell  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Welcome to the Ghibliotheque, the podcast that leafs through the library of films from the world’s greatest animation studio, Studio Ghibli. In this episode, Michael & Jake get to grips with one of the oddest films in the Studio Ghibli canon: Isao Takahata's 1994 urbanisation polemic Pom Poko. Focusing on a community of magical tanuki raccoon-dogs who use their powers of transformation - and their large, mythical testicles - to hold back the development of their forest habitat, Pom Poko has earned a unique reputation among fans of the studio. But is it one of the (family) jewels in the Ghibli crown? Show notes:  Mixing Work With Pleasure by Toshio Suzuki: http://www.jpic.or.jp/japanlibrary/en/books/001886.html Junji Ito: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junji_Ito Follow Michael and Jake on Twitter: @MichaelJLeader – Michael @jakehcunningham – Jake Produced by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Harold McShiel and Steph Watts Editing by Lister Rossell  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.