Ghibliotheque - A Podcast About Animation and Studio Ghibli
Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham & Steph Watts
Welcome to the Ghibliotheque, the podcast that leafs through libraries of films from the world’s greatest animation studios.In 2018, Michael Leader, an avowed Studio Ghibli fanatic, sat down with Jake Cunningham, who had never seen any of the Studio’s work before. Together they looked at the history behind Ghibli's films (including Spirited Away, My Neighbour Totoro and Princess Mononoke), and got a critical perspective from Jake as a first-time viewer. They covered all of Studio Ghibli's films, visited Japan on the ultimate Ghibli pilgrimage, and have since interviewed artists, animators and filmmakers who have either worked on or have been deeply inspired by Ghibli's films. With their co-host Steph Watts, they have also branched out to cover filmographies of other studios and filmmakers whose work has revolutionised animation, from Satoshi Kon and Mamoru Hosoda to Cartoon Saloon and Henry Selick.Where will we go next? For more information, follow us on Twitter at @ghibliotheque, or on Instagram at ghibliotheque.pod. Or email us at ghibliotheque@gmail.com.Follow Michael and Jake on Twitter:@MichaelJLeader – Michael@jakehcunningham – Jake Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jun 7, 2019 • 34min
The Tale of The Princess Kaguya | Ghibliotheque #18
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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 31, 2019 • 36min
The Wind Rises | Ghibliotheque #17
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 – JakeProduced by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Harold McShiel and Steph WattsEditing by Lister Rossell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 24, 2019 • 32min
Castle In The Sky | Ghibliotheque #16
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 – JakeProduced by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Harold McShiel and Steph WattsEditing by Lister Rossell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 17, 2019 • 39min
Tales From Earthsea | Ghibliotheque #15
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.htmlRead Ursula K Le Guin’s blog, ‘Gedo Senki, a first response’ -http://www.ursulakleguin.com/GedoSenkiResponse.htmlFollow Michael and Jake on Twitter:@MichaelJLeader – Michael@jakehcunningham – JakeProduced by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Harold McShiel and Steph WattsEditing by Lister Rossell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 10, 2019 • 31min
When Marnie Was There | Ghibliotheque #14
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 YonebayashiFollow Michael and Jake on Twitter:@MichaelJLeader – Michael@jakehcunningham – JakeProduced by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Harold McShiel and Steph WattsEditing by Lister Rossell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 3, 2019 • 32min
Kiki's Delivery Service | Ghibliotheque #13
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 – JakeProduced by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Harold McShiel & Steph Watts. Editing by Lister Rossell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Apr 26, 2019 • 47min
Jonathan Ross & Honey Ross | Ghibliotheque Interview Special
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 – JakeProduced by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Harold McShiel & Steph Watts. Editing by Lister Rossell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 25, 2018 • 32min
Ghibliotheque Christmas Special
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 - StephProduced by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Harold McShiel and Steph WattsEditing by Lister Rossell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 21, 2018 • 30min
Ponyo | Ghibliotheque #12
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-moreRead Roger Ebert's review of Ponyo: https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/ponyo-2009Follow Michael and Jake on Twitter:@MichaelJLeader – Michael@jakehcunningham – JakeProduced by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Harold McShiel and Steph WattsEditing by Lister Rossell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 14, 2018 • 34min
The Cat Returns (with Iana Murray) | Ghibliotheque #11
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 – JakeProduced by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Harold McShiel and Steph WattsEditing by Lister Rossell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
