Ghibliotheque - A Podcast About Animation and Studio Ghibli

In this third episode of our Hosodathon miniseries, Michael, Jake and Steph discuss Mamoru Hosoda's Wolf Children, the first feature produced by his independent production company Studio Chizu.Once again mixing personal themes and high-concept storytelling, Hosoda turns his awestruck feelings upon seeing his friends become parents into a sweeping fable about a single mother tasked with bringing up a pair of half-human, half-wolf kids.Get in touch with Ghibliotheque at [email protected] or follow us on Twitter:@ghibliotheque@MichaelJLeader – Michael@jakehcunningham – Jake@_stephwatts - StephProduced by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Harold McShiel and Steph Watts. Edited by James Payne. Music by Anthony Ing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this second episode of our Hosodathon miniseries, Michael, Jake and Steph team up to tackle Mamoru Hosoda's Summer Wars, an epic tale of an everyday, dysfunctional family banding together to face a world-threatening threat in a virtual world - bringing together two of the director's recurring themes: family dynamics and the impact that the internet has on our lives.Get in touch with Ghibliotheque at [email protected] or follow us on Twitter:@ghibliotheque@MichaelJLeader – Michael@jakehcunningham – Jake@_stephwatts - StephProduced by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Harold McShiel and Steph Watts. Edited by James Payne. Music by Anthony Ing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Michael, Jake and Steph return with an all-new Ghibliotheque spin-off miniseries, leaping into the filmography of one of today's leading anime filmmakers, Mamoru Hosoda, whose latest film Belle is a hotly anticipated new release in early 2022.We start our Hosodathon journey with 2006's The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, the fan-favourite anime gem that first introduced many viewers to Hosoda and his work. Coming off the back of years working on long-running anime series at Toei Animation, including Digimon and One Piece, as well as an ill-fated stint at Studio Ghibli as the initial director of Howl's Moving Castle (before Hayao Miyazaki came back out of retirement and took the reins), Mamoru Hosoda sets in motion much of his unique style and many of his recurring themes in this collision of slice-of-life high school comedy and high-concept sci-fi storytelling.Get in touch with Ghibliotheque at [email protected] follow us on Twitter:@ghibliotheque@MichaelJLeader – Michael@jakehcunningham – Jake@_stephwatts - StephProduced by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Harold McShiel and Steph Watts. Edited by James Payne. Music by Anthony Ing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's the annual Ghibliotheque Christmas episode! At the virtual Christmas party, Michael, Jake, Steph and Harold look back at 2021, declare their favourite books, films, games and music of the year, read out some superb casting choices for a Ghibli Nativity play, and of course it wouldn't be a Ghibliotheque Christmas episode without Harold singing some Ghibli remixes of some festive favourites.Follow Ghibliotheque on Twitter:@ghibliotheque@MichaelJLeader – Michael@jakehcunningham – Jake@_stephwatts - StephAnd get in touch via email at [email protected] by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Steph Watts & Harold McShiel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Since we're now on hiatus we thought we'd give a nod to a new podcast from some friends and colleagues of the pod, that also digs into the wonderful world of Anime! Anime To Z features comedian Bec Hill and rapper Che Lingo digging through the intricate worlds of some massive anime franchises, starting with the Evangelion rebuild film series. Have a listen, and if you like it, please subscribe over here - https://podfollow.com/anime-to-z.Get in touch with Ghibliotheque at [email protected] or follow us on Twitter at @ghibliotheque or Instagram at ghibliotheque.pod.@MichaelJLeader - Michael@jakehcunningham - Jake@_stephwatts - StephProduced by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Harold McShiel and Steph Watts. Music by Anthony Ing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the Ghibliotheque book is now available in shops and from online retailers in the UK, Michael and Jake have a short chat to mark the occasion. Listeners - thank you for all your support of the podcast to date, and if you do pick up the book, we hope you enjoy it!If you haven't picked up a copy yet, you can do so from your local bookshop in the UK, or you can order online from various online stores, such as Amazon or Bookshop.org.Get in touch with Ghibliotheque at [email protected] or follow us on Twitter at @ghibliotheque or Instagram at ghibliotheque.pod.@MichaelJLeader - Michael@jakehcunningham - Jake@_stephwatts - StephProduced by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Harold McShiel and Steph Watts. Music by Anthony Ing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this final episode of The Chat Returns, we're very excited to welcome Siobhan Reddy into the walls of the Ghibliotheque, to talk about how the works of Ghibli have inspired and crossed over with her hugely successful, ambitious and creative works. Studio Director at Media Molecule, the video game developers behind LittleBigPlanet, Tearaway and last year's acclaimed Dreams, we spoke to Siobhan about the nature of storytelling in her works, her approach to a creative a workplace and a lot more. Our book, Ghibliotheque - The Unofficial Guide to Studio Ghibli, will be on sale from all good bookshops in the UK from 2nd September, and is available for preorder now. Pre-order today: Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3usAw0h Or for free international shipping: https://bit.ly/3oRQr7c Get in touch with Ghibliotheque at [email protected] or follow us on Twitter: @ghibliotheque @MichaelJLeader - Michael @jakehcunningham - Jake @_stephwatts - Steph Produced by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Harold McShiel and Steph Watts. Music by Anthony Ing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are very excited to welcome comic artist and big Ghibli fan Erica Henderson into the Ghibliotheque for this episode. Erica's stunning work can be found in the revolutionary Marvel comic Squirrel Girl, the Archie comics standout Jughead and much more, she joins us for a conversation about the Cantonese language Ghibli films that got her into the studio, the Chinatown basement that housed some huge anime discoveries and the mouth-watering food moments in Ghibli's work. Keep an eye out for weekly episodes in our Chat Returns miniseries - featuring conversations with filmmakers, writers, and animators who have either worked directly with Ghibli, or have been heavily inspired by them - over the next couple of months.Our book, Ghibliotheque - The Unofficial Guide to Studio Ghibli, will be on sale from all good bookshops in the UK from 2nd September, and is available for preorder now.Pre-order today: Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3usAw0hOr for free international shipping: https://bit.ly/3oRQr7cGet in touch with Ghibliotheque at [email protected] or follow us on Twitter:@ghibliotheque@MichaelJLeader - Michael@jakehcunningham - Jake@_stephwatts - StephProduced by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Harold McShiel and Steph Watts. Music by Anthony Ing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For this episode of The Chat Returns, we're joined by the incredible, BRIT award winning, artist Arlo Parks. Whilst recording her acclaimed debut album 'Collapsed in Sunbeams', Arlo and her producer would watch a different Ghibli film each day, so we get into how much Ghibli crossed over into the record, the first time she discovered Ghibli and her fairly controversial choice for a Ghibli hidden gem... Keep an eye out for weekly episodes in our Chat Returns miniseries - featuring conversations with filmmakers, writers, and animators who have either worked directly with Ghibli, or have been heavily inspired by them - over the next couple of months.Our book, Ghibliotheque - The Unofficial Guide to Studio Ghibli, will be on sale from all good bookshops in the UK from 2nd September, and is available for preorder now.Pre-order today: Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3usAw0hOr for free international shipping: https://bit.ly/3oRQr7cGet in touch with Ghibliotheque at [email protected] or follow us on Twitter:@ghibliotheque@MichaelJLeader - Michael@jakehcunningham - Jake@_stephwatts - StephProduced by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Harold McShiel and Steph Watts. Music by Anthony Ing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we get an early glimpse of an event that Ghibli fans the world over will be clamouring to see, the Hayao Miyazaki exhibition at the Academy Museum in Los Angeles. Sadly we can't visit the museum and the exhibition, which opens on 30 September, so for this episode we spoke to Jessica Niebel and J. Raul Guzman, the curating team behind it. Featuring more than 300 objects, including original imageboards, character designs, storyboards, layouts, backgrounds, posters, and cels from Studio Ghibli’s archives - including pieces on public view outside of Japan for the first time - Jessica and Raul give us an audio tour through an incredible exhibition. Keep an eye out for weekly episodes in our Chat Returns miniseries - featuring conversations with filmmakers, writers, and animators who have either worked directly with Ghibli, or have been heavily inspired by them - over the next couple of months.Our book, Ghibliotheque - The Unofficial Guide to Studio Ghibli, will be on sale from all good bookshops in the UK from 2nd September, and is available for preorder now.Pre-order today: Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3usAw0hOr for free international shipping: https://bit.ly/3oRQr7cGet in touch with Ghibliotheque at [email protected] or follow us on Twitter:@ghibliotheque@MichaelJLeader - Michael@jakehcunningham - Jake@_stephwatts - StephProduced by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Harold McShiel and Steph Watts. Music by Anthony Ing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're so excited to welcome Emily VanDerWerff, one of the finest film and TV critics working today, on to the podcast, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Spirited Away, her favourite film of all time. Together we explore the deep depths of Miyazaki's Oscar winner, Emily's thoughts on the wider Ghibli catalogue and how Hayao Miyazaki's work compares to David Lynch's. Keep an eye out for weekly episodes in our Chat Returns miniseries - featuring conversations with filmmakers, writers, and animators who have either worked directly with Ghibli, or have been heavily inspired by them - over the next couple of months.Our book, Ghibliotheque - The Unofficial Guide to Studio Ghibli, will be on sale from all good bookshops in the UK from 2nd September, and is available for preorder now.Pre-order today: Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3usAw0hOr for free international shipping: https://bit.ly/3oRQr7cGet in touch with Ghibliotheque at [email protected] or follow us on Twitter:@ghibliotheque@MichaelJLeader - Michael@jakehcunningham - Jake@_stephwatts - StephProduced by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Harold McShiel and Steph Watts. Music by Anthony Ing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Ghibliotheque dysfunctional family welcomes Mike Rianda - director of 'The Mitchells vs The Machines, one of our favourite films of the year - on to the podcast to talk about his love of Ghibli, the lessons in animation he took from watching documentaries about the studio, and how he wanted to create a unique art style for 'The Mitchells vs The Machines'Keep an eye out for weekly episodes in our Chat Returns miniseries - featuring conversations with filmmakers, writers, and animators who have either worked directly with Ghibli, or have been heavily inspired by them - over the next couple of months.Our book, Ghibliotheque - The Unofficial Guide to Studio Ghibli, will be on sale from all good bookshops in the UK from 2nd September, and is available for preorder now.Pre-order today: Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3usAw0hOr for free international shipping: https://bit.ly/3oRQr7cGet in touch with Ghibliotheque at [email protected] or follow us on Twitter:@ghibliotheque@MichaelJLeader - Michael@jakehcunningham - Jake@_stephwatts - StephProduced by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Harold McShiel and Steph Watts. Music by Anthony Ing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're very proud to welcome Peter Lord, one of the co-founders of legendary animation studio Aardman, on to the podcast this week to talk about Aardman's relationship to Studio Ghibli, Hayao Miyazaki's influence on an Aardman exhibition at the Ghibli Museum and a lot more.Keep an eye out for weekly episodes in our Chat Returns miniseries - featuring conversations with filmmakers, writers, and animators who have either worked directly with Ghibli, or have been heavily inspired by them - over the next couple of months.Our book, Ghibliotheque - The Unofficial Guide to Studio Ghibli, will be on sale from all good bookshops in the UK from 2nd September, and is available for preorder now.Pre-order today: Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3usAw0hOr for free international shipping: https://bit.ly/3oRQr7cGet in touch with Ghibliotheque at [email protected] or follow us on Twitter:@ghibliotheque@MichaelJLeader - Michael@jakehcunningham - Jake@_stephwatts - StephProduced by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Harold McShiel and Steph Watts. Music by Anthony Ing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Chat Returns, or should we say 🇮🇹 Torna la Chat 🇮🇹 this week with Luca director Enrico Casarosa, on his love of early Miyazaki and how the Studio Ghibli philosophy informed his style of storytelling. From watching Future Boy Conan on TV as a kid in Italy, to screening his Pixar short La Luna at Studio Ghibli, it turns out that Enrico's connection to Miyazaki and the Studio runs deep.Keep an eye out for weekly episodes in our Chat Returns miniseries - featuring conversations with filmmakers, writers, and animators who have either worked directly with Ghibli, or have been heavily inspired by them - over the next couple of months.Our book, Ghibliotheque - The Unofficial Guide to Studio Ghibli, will be on sale from all good bookshops in the UK from 2nd September, and is available for preorder now.Pre-order today: Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3usAw0hOr for free international shipping: https://bit.ly/3oRQr7cGet in touch with Ghibliotheque at [email protected] or follow us on Twitter:@ghibliotheque@MichaelJLeader - Michael@jakehcunningham - Jake@_stephwatts - StephProduced by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Harold McShiel and Steph Watts. Music by Anthony Ing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week in our Chat Returns miniseries, friend of the show Alex Dudok de Wit returns to tell us all about his new book on Isao Takahata's Grave of the Fireflies - which is available now from all good booksellers.Keep an eye out for weekly episodes in our Chat Returns miniseries - featuring conversations with filmmakers, writers, and animators who have either worked directly with Ghibli, or have been heavily inspired by them - over the next couple of months.Our book, Ghibliotheque - The Unofficial Guide to Studio Ghibli, will be on sale from all good bookshops in the UK from 2nd September, and is available for preorder now.Pre-order today: Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3usAw0hOr for free international shipping: https://bit.ly/3oRQr7cGet in touch with Ghibliotheque at [email protected] or follow us on Twitter:@ghibliotheque@MichaelJLeader - Michael@jakehcunningham - Jake@_stephwatts - StephProduced by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Harold McShiel and Steph Watts. Music by Anthony Ing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week in our Chat Returns miniseries, we are joined by Elizabeth Ito, creator of the delightful Netflix animated series City of Ghosts, which chronicles the adventures of the Ghost Club as they discover the histories of various vibrant Los Angeles neighbourhoods.Keep an eye out for weekly episodes in our Chat Returns miniseries - featuring conversations with filmmakers, writers, and animators who have either worked directly with Ghibli, or have been heavily inspired by them - over the next couple of months.Our book, Ghibliotheque - The Unofficial Guide to Studio Ghibli, will be on sale from all good bookshops in the UK from 2nd September, and is available for preorder now.Pre-order today: Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3usAw0hOr for free international shipping: https://bit.ly/3oRQr7cGet in touch with Ghibliotheque at [email protected] or follow us on Twitter:@ghibliotheque@MichaelJLeader - Michael@jakehcunningham - Jake@_stephwatts - StephProduced by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Harold McShiel and Steph Watts. Music by Anthony Ing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, the Chat Returns and so does the Cartoon Salooniverse, as Michael and Jake speak with Will Collins, co-writer of both Song of the Sea and Wolfwalkers. Down the line from Ireland, Will tells Michael and Jake about his relationship with the films of Studio Ghibli and his ongoing collaboration with Cartoon Saloon filmmakers Tomm Moore and Ross Stewart.Keep an eye out for weekly episodes in our Chat Returns miniseries - featuring conversations with filmmakers, writers, and animators who have either worked directly with Ghibli, or have been heavily inspired by them - over the next couple of months.Our book, Ghibliotheque - The Unofficial Guide to Studio Ghibli, will be on sale from all good bookshops in the UK from 2nd September, and is available for preorder now.Pre-order today: Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3usAw0hOr for free international shipping: https://bit.ly/3oRQr7cGet in touch with Ghibliotheque at [email protected] or follow us on Twitter:@ghibliotheque@MichaelJLeader - Michael@jakehcunningham - Jake@_stephwatts - StephProduced by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Harold McShiel and Steph Watts. Music by Anthony Ing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week in our Chat Returns miniseries, we are thrilled to speak with one of the leading characters of the Ghibliotheque story so far... Studio Ghibli's long-serving producer, enabler, genius-herder and former President, Toshio Suzuki. Suzuki has played a key role in every Studio Ghibli film to date, and has had significant influence on the careers of all Ghibli's filmmakers, not least Goro Miyazaki, who was tapped to direct Tales From Earthsea by Suzuki. As discussed on our previous episode, Goro Miyazaki describes Suzuki as the 'dark wizard' behind Ghibli, and his mark is still seen even today, on the new release Earwig and the Witch - which is screening in UK cinemas now.Keep an eye out for weekly episodes in our Chat Returns miniseries - featuring conversations with filmmakers, writers, and animators who have either worked directly with Ghibli, or have been heavily inspired by them - over the next couple of months.Our book, Ghibliotheque - The Unofficial Guide to Studio Ghibli, will be on sale from all good bookshops in the UK from 2nd September, and is available for preorder now.Pre-order today: Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3usAw0hOr for free international shipping: https://bit.ly/3oRQr7cGet in touch with Ghibliotheque at [email protected] or follow us on Twitter:@ghibliotheque@MichaelJLeader - Michael@jakehcunningham - Jake@_stephwatts - StephProduced by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Harold McShiel and Steph Watts. Music by Anthony Ing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kicking off our new interview miniseries, Michael talks with director, museum project manager and all-round Ghibli veteran Goro Miyazaki about his career, his relationship with the Studio, and his new film, Earwig and the Witch - which is now screening in cinemas across the UK.Keep an eye out for weekly episodes in our Chat Returns miniseries - featuring conversations with filmmakers, writers, and animators who have either worked directly with Ghibli, or have been heavily inspired by them - over the next couple of months.Our book, Ghibliotheque - The Unofficial Guide to Studio Ghibli, will be on sale from all good bookshops in the UK from 2nd September, and is available for preorder now.Pre-order today: Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3usAw0hOr for free international shipping: https://bit.ly/3oRQr7cGet in touch with Ghibliotheque at [email protected] or follow us on Twitter:@ghibliotheque@MichaelJLeader - Michael@jakehcunningham - Jake@_stephwatts - StephProduced by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Harold McShiel and Steph Watts. Music by Anthony Ing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Before we close the swing doors of the Cartoon Salooniverse, Michael, Jake and Steph cast the new wide to discuss everything the studio does that isn't feature length, from the Oscar-nominated short film Late Afternoon, to the delightful children's series Puffin Rock, and everything in between, including a conversation about Cartoon Saloon's pitch for a Winnie the Pooh series, and a tantalising look at what's next for the studio. And, of course, we must rank the Cartoon Saloon films - with a little help from our listeners.Watch the short film Late Afternoon here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvHj_AwFg_gWatch There's a Monster in My Kitchen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rIjVDo_u8cWatch other Cartoon Saloon shorts, trailers, teasers and clips on their YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/CartoonSaloonVisit Monica Armiño's portfolio site for a look at Cartoon Saloon's concept art for Winnie the Pooh: https://monicaarmino.com/winnie-the-pooh/Listen to the Best Bits podcast, co-hosted by Will Collins: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-best-bits/id1555161900?uo=4&itscg=30200&itsct=podcast_boxListen to The Screenwriting Life podcast, co-hosted by Meg Lefauve: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-screenwriting-life-with-meg-lefauve-and-lorien-mckenna/id1501641442Get in touch with Ghibliotheque at [email protected] or follow us on Twitter:@ghibliotheque@MichaelJLeader - Michael@jakehcunningham - Jake@_stephwatts - StephProduced by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Harold McShiel and Steph Watts. Music by Anthony Ing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's episode of our Cartoon Salooniverse miniseries brings us up to date, as Michael, Jake and Steph talk about Cartoon Saloon's latest, Oscar-nominated feature, Wolfwalkers, which sees Tomm Moore completing his Irish folklore trilogy of stories, this time working in collaboration with co-director Ross Stewart.Get in touch with Ghibliotheque at [email protected] or follow us on Twitter:@ghibliotheque@MichaelJLeader - Michael@jakehcunningham - Jake@_stephwatts - StephProduced by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Harold McShiel and Steph Watts. Music by Anthony Ing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week in our Cartoon Salooniverse miniseries, Michael, Jake and Steph leave behind the folklore-filled landscape of Tomm Moore's Ireland for The Breadwinner, the animated drama about a young girl growing up in Afghanistan in the dying days of Taliban rule, directed by Cartoon Saloon co-founder Nora Twomey. What happens when such a distinctively Irish studio looks abroad?Read the article 'The Breadwinner, or the Cinema as Secular Hegemony' by Jalil Kochai here: https://www.milestonesjournal.net/reviews/2018/7/2/the-breadwinner-or-the-cinema-as-secular-hegemonyGet in touch with Ghibliotheque at [email protected] or follow us on Twitter:@ghibliotheque@MichaelJLeader – Michael@jakehcunningham – Jake@_stephwatts - StephProduced by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Harold McShiel and Steph Watts. Music by Anthony Ing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do you follow a widely-renowned, Oscar-nominated debut feature? In this episode in our miniseries about the Irish animation studio Cartoon Saloon, Michael, Jake and Steph discuss their second feature, Tomm Moore's coastal fantasy Song of the Sea - a film about a young boy, his little sister (who also happens to be a magical selkie creature), and the rich folklore that rises out of the very landscape of Ireland itself.Get in touch with Ghibliotheque at [email protected] or follow us on Twitter:@ghibliotheque@MichaelJLeader – Michael@jakehcunningham – Jake@_stephwatts - StephProduced by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Harold McShiel and Steph Watts. Music by Anthony Ing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Michael, Jake and Steph return with a new Ghibliotheque spin-off miniseries, dedicated to the wonderful work of Irish animation studio Cartoon Saloon, who are often referred to as the Ghibli of Kilkenny. Listeners may remember our interview with Cartoon Saloon directors Tomm Moore and Ross Stewart about their latest film WolfWalkers and the enduring influence of Studio Ghibli, but in this episode we're going right back to the beginning for The Secret of Kells, the company's distinctive, Oscar-nominated debut feature film.Get in touch with Ghibliotheque at [email protected] or follow us on Twitter:@ghibliotheque@MichaelJLeader – Michael@jakehcunningham – Jake@_stephwatts - StephProduced by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Harold McShiel and Steph Watts. Music by Anthony Ing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Michael and Jake are thrilled to tackle something new for the Ghibliotheque podcast... a brand-new Studio Ghibli film! The latest from Goro Miyazaki, Earwig and the Witch may come from a familiar source, as it's adapted from a novel by Howl's Moving Castle author Diana Wynne Jones, but it showcases a radical new direction for Ghibli as the Studio's first 3D, CG-animated feature. But how has the experiment turned out?Follow Ghibliotheque on Twitter:@ghibliotheque@MichaelJLeader – Michael@jakehcunningham – Jake@_stephwatts - StephProduced by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Harold McShiel and Steph Watts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's the annual Ghibliotheque Christmas episode! At the virtual Christmas party, Michael, Jake, Steph and Harold look back on the strange year that was 2020, read some excellent letters from listeners and their Ghibli plus ones, and even do a bit of Ghibli-themed karaoke. So grab a drink and a buffet plate, and join in the fun.Follow Ghibliotheque on Twitter:@ghibliotheque@MichaelJLeader – Michael@jakehcunningham – Jake@_stephwatts - StephAnd get in touch via email at [email protected] by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Steph Watts & Harold McShiel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This special interview miniseries comes to a close with Pixar writing veteran Mike Jones (Soul, Luca), who talks with Michael and Jake about his experiences adapting the screenplays for The Wind Rises and The Tale of the Princess Kaguya for English-speaking audiences, as well as the similarities and differences in Studio Ghibli and Pixar's approaches to storytelling.Follow Ghibliotheque on Twitter:@ghibliotheque@MichaelJLeader – Michael@jakehcunningham – Jake@_stephwatts - StephAnd get in touch via email at [email protected] by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Steph Watts & Harold McShiel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our series of conversations with writers, animators and filmmakers about their relationship with Studio Ghibli continues with Rebecca Sugar, creator of the Cartoon Network series Steven Universe, talking with Steph and Jake about her lifelong love of anime, and how the work of Miyazaki and Takahata influenced her approach to animation.Follow Ghibliotheque on Twitter:@ghibliotheque@MichaelJLeader – Michael@jakehcunningham – Jake@_stephwatts - StephAnd get in touch via email at [email protected] by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Steph Watts & Harold McShiel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Steve Alpert, the one-time "resident foreigner" at Studio Ghibli and author of the memoir Sharing a House With the Never-Ending Man, joins Michael, Jake and Steph to talk about his 15-year tenure at the Studio, including working on the international distribution of Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away.Follow Ghibliotheque on Twitter:@ghibliotheque@MichaelJLeader – Michael@jakehcunningham – Jake@_stephwatts - StephAnd get in touch via email at [email protected] by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Steph Watts & Harold McShiel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this new miniseries, Michael, Jake and Steph are joined by filmmakers, animators and writers to talk about their relationships with Studio Ghibli. This week, director Domee Shi talks with the gang about the influence Ghibli had on her as a young animator, and how the work of Isao Takahata informed her Oscar-winning Pixar short, Bao.Follow Ghibliotheque on Twitter:@ghibliotheque@MichaelJLeader – Michael@jakehcunningham – Jake@_stephwatts - StephAnd get in touch via email at [email protected] by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Steph Watts & Harold McShiel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this new miniseries, Michael, Jake and Steph are joined by filmmakers, animators and writers to talk about their relationships with Studio Ghibli and the enduring influence of Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata. To start, Tomm Moore and Ross Stewart join the gang to talk about their new film, WolfWalkers, and how the work of their studio, Cartoon Saloon (Song of the Sea, Secret of Kells, The Breadwinner), draws inspiration from Ghibli.Follow Ghibliotheque on Twitter:@ghibliotheque@MichaelJLeader – Michael@jakehcunningham – Jake@_stephwatts - StephAnd get in touch via email at [email protected] by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Steph Watts & Harold McShiel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special bonus episode, we talk to actress and activist Shakina Nayfack on providing the voice of Hana in the new English dub of Satoshi Kon's Tokyo Godfathers, produced by GKIDS.Follow Ghibliotheque on Twitter:@ghibliotheque@MichaelJLeader – Michael@jakehcunningham – Jake@_stephwatts - StephFollow Shakina on twitter @ShakeenzAnd get in touch via email at [email protected] by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Steph Watts & Harold McShiel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special mailbag episode, Michael, Jake and Steph discuss Satoshi Kon's final short film, Ohayo, his unfinished works and his legacy, with help from listeners and special guests Paul Williams, Zack Davisson, Shakina Nayfack and Natalie Ng.Follow Ghibliotheque on Twitter:@ghibliotheque@MichaelJLeader – Michael@jakehcunningham – Jake@_stephwatts - StephFollow this episode's guests on Twitter:@artporu - Paul Williams@ZackDavisson - Zack Davisson@Shakeenz - Shakina Nayfack@wednesdaydreams - Natalie NgAnd get in touch via email at [email protected] by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Steph Watts & Harold McShiel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Michael, Jake and Steph come to the end of Satoshi Kon's short filmography with a voyage into a world of dreams. To many, Paprika is Kon's best-known film, widely released, broadly praised and, if you believe the internet, ripped off by Christopher Nolan in Inception. But is watching Paprika a dream or a nightmare?Follow Ghibliotheque on Twitter:@ghibliotheque@MichaelJLeader – Michael@jakehcunningham – Jake@_stephwatts - StephAnd get in touch via email at [email protected] by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Steph Watts & Harold McShiel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Michael, Steph and Jake's journey into the animated work of Satoshi Kon continues with the director's foray into TV: the twisty, twisted mystery series Paranoia Agent.Follow Ghibliotheque on Twitter:@ghibliotheque@MichaelJLeader – Michael@jakehcunningham – Jake@_stephwatts - StephAnd get in touch via email at [email protected] by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Steph Watts & Harold McShiel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s Christmas this week on the Konology, the miniseries that looks at the work of anime legend Satoshi Kon. Michael, Jake and Steph watch Kon's holiday comedy drama, Tokyo Godfathers.Follow Ghibliotheque on Twitter:@ghibliotheque@MichaelJLeader – Michael@jakehcunningham – JakeAnd get in touch via email at [email protected] by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Steph Watts & Harold McShiel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Next in the Konology miniseries that looks at the work of anime legend Satoshi Kon, Michael, Jake and Steph discuss Kon's second feature film, Millennium Actress.Follow Ghibliotheque on Twitter:@ghibliotheque@MichaelJLeader – Michael@jakehcunningham – JakeAnd get in touch via email at [email protected] by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Steph Watts & Harold McShiel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kicking off the Konology miniseries that looks at the work of anime legend Satoshi Kon, Michael, Jake and Steph watch Kon's influential debut, the psychological thriller Perfect Blue.Follow Ghibliotheque on Twitter:@ghibliotheque@MichaelJLeader – Michael@jakehcunningham – JakeAnd get in touch via email at [email protected] by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Steph Watts & Harold McShiel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A quick tease of what's to come from Ghibliotheque... The Konology! A miniseries looking at the work of Satoshi Kon, from Perfect Blue to Paprika, taking in Millennium Actress, Tokyo Godfathers and the anime series Paranoia Agent along the way. Kon's international reputation, singular artistic vision and unbeatable body of work put him in the annals of animation alongside the masters at Studio Ghibli, so if we were to add a new wings to the Ghibliotheque to cover non-Ghibli filmmakers, we thought Kon would be the perfect place to start. Tune in next week for the first episode...Follow Ghibliotheque on Twitter:@ghibliotheque@MichaelJLeader – Michael@jakehcunningham – JakeAnd get in touch via email at [email protected] by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Steph Watts & Harold McShiel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Michael and Jake welcome to the Ghibliotheque stand-up comedian, writer and podcaster Ed Gamble (Off Menu) to undertake that most excruciating, ambitious of feats: assembling the perfect meal from the delicious dishes served up in Ghibli films.Follow Ghibliotheque on Twitter:@ghibliotheque@MichaelJLeader – Michael@jakehcunningham – JakeAnd get in touch via email at [email protected] by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Steph Watts & Harold McShiel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this ever so slightly off-topic bonus episode of Ghibliotheque, Michael, Jake and Steph talk about the latest, and some say greatest, instalment in Nintendo's long-running Legend of Zelda video game franchise, Breath of the Wild. The game tempted both Jake and Steph to sink hundreds of accumulated hours into their Switch consoles. But what did they learn on their respective adventures? And does this have anything to do with Ghibli?Follow Ghibliotheque on Twitter:@ghibliotheque@MichaelJLeader – Michael@jakehcunningham – Jake@_stephwatts - StephAnd get in touch via email at [email protected] by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Steph Watts & Harold McShiel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this second part of our Ghibliotheque documentary double bill, Michael and Jake discuss the TV special Never-Ending Man: Hayao Miyazaki, which originally aired on Japanese TV in 2016 before getting a short cinema run in the USA and, finally, a DVD/Blu-ray release in the UK just this year. Shot in the aftermath of Miyazaki's retirement following the release of The Wind Rises, this doc charts the old master's attempts to incorporate CGI animation into his process, as he works on the short film Boro the Caterpillar for the Ghibli Museum.Follow Ghibliotheque on Twitter:@ghibliotheque@MichaelJLeader – Michael@jakehcunningham – JakeAnd get in touch via email at [email protected] by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Steph Watts & Harold McShiel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Michael and Jake return to the Ghibliotheque for the first in a documentary double-bill. Mami Sunada's 2013 documentary started life as a promotional feature chronicling the making of Hayao Miyazaki's The Wind Rises and Isao Takahata's The Tale of the Princess Kaguya, but the finished film - observational, subtle and insightful - is a compelling and poignant portrait of the Studio at the height of its powers, contemplating an uncertain future as its two genius filmmakers make what, at the time, was believed to be their final films.Follow Ghibliotheque on Twitter:@ghibliotheque@MichaelJLeader – Michael@jakehcunningham – JakeAnd get in touch via email at [email protected] by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Harold McShiel and Steph Watts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special episode of Ghibliotheque, Michael, Jake and producer Steph dial in remotely to catch up on life during lockdown, with the help of listeners, former guests and other Ghibliotheque friends.Follow Ghibliotheque on Twitter:@ghibliotheque@MichaelJLeader – Michael@jakehcunningham – JakeProduced by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Harold McShiel and Steph Watts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this very special miniseries of Ghibliotheque, hosts Michael and Jake and producers Steph and Harold travel to Tokyo for a distinctly Ghibli-themed pilgrimage. In this final episode, the team talk with British-born animator Paul Williams about working on Ghibli co-production The Red Turtle, the Japanese animation industry, and an animator's perspective on both Studio Ghibli and, specifically, the work of Isao Takahata.Find more pics, videos and treats from our trip to Japan at ghibliotheque.tumblr.com.Follow Ghibliotheque on Twitter:@ghibliotheque@MichaelJLeader – Michael@jakehcunningham – JakeProduced by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Harold McShiel and Steph Watts. Audio wizardry from Jamie Maisner. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this very special miniseries of Ghibliotheque, hosts Michael and Jake and producers Steph and Harold travel to Tokyo for a distinctly Ghibli-themed pilgrimage. In this episode, the team visit Studio Ponoc, the animation studio founded by Ghibli veteran Yoshiaki Nishimura (producer of The Tale of the Princess Kaguya and When Marnie Was There). There, Michael and Jake talk with Ponoc's Chief of International, Geoffrey Wexler, about his work at both Ponoc and Ghibli presenting films such as Mary and the Witch's Flower, Modest Heroes, The Wind Rises and From Up on Poppy Hill to the world - as well as answering the eternal question: subs or dubs?Find more pics, videos and treats from our trip to Japan at ghibliotheque.tumblr.com.Follow Ghibliotheque on Twitter:@ghibliotheque@MichaelJLeader – Michael@jakehcunningham – JakeProduced by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Harold McShiel and Steph Watts. Audio wizardry from Jamie Maisner. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this very special miniseries of Ghibliotheque, hosts Michael and Jake and producers Steph and Harold travel to Tokyo for a distinctly Ghibli-themed pilgrimage. In this second episode, the team visit the Ghibli Museum, the Studio's shrine to the art of animation, and also share their spoils in a segment dedicated to their favourite merchandise finds from the trip.Find more pics, videos and treats from our trip to Japan at ghibliotheque.tumblr.com.Follow Ghibliotheque on Twitter:@ghibliotheque@MichaelJLeader – Michael@jakehcunningham – JakeProduced by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Harold McShiel and Steph Watts. Audio wizardry from Jamie Maisner. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this very special miniseries of Ghibliotheque, hosts Michael and Jake and producers Steph and Harold travel to Tokyo for a distinctly Ghibli-themed pilgrimage. In this first episode, the team visit three key locations that should be at the top of any Ghibli fanatic's must-see list: an intricate public clock designed by Hayao Miyazaki, the Tama suburbs that provided the location for Ghibli gem Whisper of the Heart, and Shiro-Hige’s Cream Puff Factory, home of the official, Miyazaki-approved Totoro cream puff.Find more pics, videos and treats from our trip to Japan at ghibliotheque.tumblr.com.Follow Ghibliotheque on Twitter:@ghibliotheque@MichaelJLeader – Michael@jakehcunningham – JakeProduced by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Harold McShiel and Steph Watts. Audio wizardry from Jamie Maisner. Edited by Jack Claramunt. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Merry Christmas from the Ghibliotheque! Producer Steph joins Michael and Jake once more for an episode filled with festive shenanigans, including Ghibli-themed Christmas carols sung by Producer Harold, a Ghibli quiz, and a mailbag of listeners' picks for the ideal Ghibli dinner guests. There is also chat about the past, present and future of all things Ghibliotheque. See you in 2020!Follow Michael, Jake and Steph on Twitter:@MichaelJLeader – Michael@jakehcunningham – Jake@_stephwatts - StephProduced by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Harold McShiel and Steph Watts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Michael and Jake bring this season of Ghibliotheque to a close with the feature debut of Mr Hayao Miyazaki. A very promising director of anime series, Miyazaki made the leap to feature animation in 1979 with this spin-off from the long-running Lupin III series. But is there much Miyazaki magic to be found in this franchise entry?Follow Ghibliotheque on Twitter:@ghibliotheque@MichaelJLeader – Michael@jakehcunningham – JakeProduced by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Harold McShiel and Steph Watts. Audio wizardry from Jamie Maisner. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.