

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

Aug 31, 2018 • 34min
Only Yesterday (with Robbie Collin) | Ghibliotheque #6
Welcome to the Ghibliotheque, the podcast that leafs through the library of films from the world’s greatest animation studio, Studio Ghibli.In this special end-of-season episode, Michael & Jake are joined by Telegraph critic, Wittertainment guest-host and all-round Studio Ghibli expert Robbie Collin, given the choice to bring with him any Ghibli film to discuss, Robbie selected Isao Takahata’s Only Yesterday, an animated drama aimed squarely at an adult audience. One of the Studio’s deepest cuts, Only Yesterday was a box office hit on its initial release in Japan, but it wasn’t released in the USA for 25 years. The film is as experimental, poignant and pointed in its message as you’d expect from Takahata (Grave of the Fireflies, The Tale of the Princess Kaguya) - and has over the years become a firm fan favourite.This episode brings this initial volume of Ghibliotheque to a close. Thank you for listening, it’s been a real adventure, hasn’t it? If you’ve enjoyed the show and would like to hear more episodes of Michael and Jake diving deep in to Studio Ghibli then make sure you tweet: @MichaelJLeader – Michael@jakehcunningham – Jake@robbiereviews - RobbieShow notes:Read Robbie’s tribute to Isao Takahata here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/2018/04/06/studio-ghibli-isao-takahata-brought-indescribable-beauty-everyday/ (behind a paywall though)For more details about Film4's Studio Ghibli Season, click here: https://bit.ly/2JYqrBjAdditional production on this episode from Steph Watts - @_stephwatts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 24, 2018 • 30min
Princess Mononoke | Ghibliotheque #5
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 travel back to 1997 for Hayao Miyazaki's fantasy epic, Princess Mononoke. A huge box office hit in Japan, Mononoke was originally set to be Studio Ghibli's entrance onto the international stage, but this long, complex and violent adventure baffled Disney executives. Ghibli stood firm, refusing cuts or edits, resulting in a smaller, limited American release - but the ensuing film still stands as a testament to Miyazaki's unparalleled craft and unique vision.Show notes:- Read more about Stephen Alpert's memoir, I am a Gaijin: The Man Who Sold Ghibli to the World: http://blog.alltheanime.com/books-gaijin-at-ghibli/- Read more about the use of CG in Princess Mononoke: http://www.nausicaa.net/miyazaki/mh/cg.html- Princess Mononoke: The First Story: https://www.viz.com/read/art-book/princess-mononoke/product/3625Follow Michael and Jake on Twitter:@MichaelJLeader – Michael@jakehcunningham – JakeFor more details about Film4's Studio Ghibli Season, click here: https://bit.ly/2JYqrBjAdditional production on this episode from Steph Watts - @_stephwatts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 17, 2018 • 26min
Whisper Of The Heart | Ghibliotheque #4
Welcome to the Ghibliotheque, the podcast that leafs through the library of films from the world’s greatest animation studio, Studio Ghibli.In this special, host's-choice episode, Michael picks one of his personal favourite Ghibli films for Jake to watch: the whimsical teenage romance, Whisper Of The Heart. Adapted by Hayao Miyazaki from a manga by Aoi Hiiragi, the film was the first, and, sadly, only directorial credit for veteran Ghibli animator Yoshifumi Kondo before his untimely death in 1998 at age 47. It remains one of the Ghibli library's deep cuts, one considered by many fans to be one of the Studio's best. But what will Jake make of it?Follow Michael and Jake on Twitter:@MichaelJLeader – Michael@jakehcunningham – JakeFor more details about Film4's Studio Ghibli Season, click here: https://bit.ly/2JYqrBj Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 10, 2018 • 32min
My Neighbour Totoro (with Beth Webb) | Ghibliotheque #3
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 Leader and Jake Cunningham are joined by film programmer and journalist Beth Webb (Empire Magazine, Little White Lies, Bechdel Test Fest) to talk about everyone's favourite forest spirit, My Neighbour Totoro. First released in a double bill with Grave Of The Fireflies in 1988, Totoro was, at first, only a modest success, but thanks to merchandising and some timeless Miyazaki magic, the film has become one of the Studio's most iconic releases, and the character himself serves as Ghibli's company mascot to this day.Read Beth's 30th anniversary article on My Neighbour Totoro here: http://lwlies.com/articles/my-neighbour-totoro-hayao-miyazaki/Read Hayao Miyazaki and Akira Kurosawa's 'fireside chat' here: http://www.nausicaa.net/miyazaki/interviews/miyazaki_kurosawa_p1.html.Follow Michael, Jake and Beth on Twitter:@MichaelJLeader – Michael@jakehcunningham – Jake@BethKWebb - BethFor more details about Film4's Ghibli Season, click here: https://bit.ly/2JYqrBjAdditional production on this episode from Steph Watts - @_stephwatts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 3, 2018 • 26min
Grave of the Fireflies | Ghibliotheque #2
Welcome to the Ghibliotheque, the podcast that leafs through the library of films from the world’s greatest animation studio, Studio Ghibli.Tissues are recommended for this episode, as Michael and Jake discuss Isao Takahata’s devastating Second World War tragedy, Grave Of The Fireflies. A modest success on its first release in 1988 (when it was presented as an odd double bill with the chipper adventure, My Neighbour Totoro), Grave Of The Fireflies is now recognised as the crowning achievement of Takahata’s long and influential career in animation - and one of the most powerful films ever made, animated or otherwise.Follow Michael and Jake on Twitter:@MichaelJLeader – Michael@jakehcunningham – JakeFor more details about Film4's Ghibli Season, click here: https://bit.ly/2JYqrBj Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 31, 2018 • 27min
Spirited Away | Ghibliotheque #1
Welcome to the Ghibliotheque, the podcast that leafs through the library of films from the world’s greatest animation studio, Studio Ghibli.To coincide with UK broadcaster Film4's complete Studio Ghibli retrospective this summer, Michael Leader (Little White Lies, Sight & Sound), an avowed Ghibli fanatic, is sitting down with Jake Cunningham (The Independent, BFI), who has never seen any of the Studio’s work before. Together they'll be looking at the history behind Ghibli's films (including Spirited Away, My Neighbour Totoro and Princess Mononoke), getting a critical perspective from Jake as a first-time viewer and forcing Michael to rank some of his favourite ever films.In this episode, Michael and Jake tackle Studio Ghibli's biggest hit, Spirited Away. First released in 2002, Hayao Miyazaki's fantasy adventure broke box office records in Japan, went on to win the Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival and Best Animated Feature at the Academy Awards. In the years since, it has become the defining work for both Ghibli and Miyazaki - and there's no better place to start our adventure through the Studio's library of films.Follow Michael and Jake on Twitter:@MichaelJLeader – Michael@jakehcunningham – JakeFor more details about Film4's Ghibli Season, click here: https://bit.ly/2JYqrBj Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 24, 2018 • 1min
Ghibliotheque | Trailer
Welcome to the Ghibliotheque, the podcast that leafs through the library of films from the world’s greatest animation studio, Studio Ghibli.To coincide with UK broadcaster Film4's complete Studio Ghibli retrospective this summer, Michael Leader (Little White Lies, Sight & Sound), an avowed Ghibli fanatic, is sitting down with Jake Cunningham (The Independent, BFI), who has never seen any of the Studio’s work before. Together they'll be looking at the history behind Ghibli's films (including Spirited Away, My Neighbour Totoro and Princess Mononoke), getting a critical perspective from Jake as a first-time viewer and forcing Michael to rank some of his favourite ever films.Released on Fridays over the summer, subscribe now to get Ghibliotheque delivered straight to your feed.Follow Michael and Jake on Twitter:@MichaelJLeader – Michael@jakehcunningham – Jake Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.