
Ghibliotheque - A Podcast About Animation and Studio Ghibli
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 Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Latest episodes

Jul 22, 2022 • 47min
James and the Giant Peach | The Selick-tionary #2
For the second episode of our Selick-tionary miniseries, we dive into the world of Roald Dahl for Henry Selick's stop-motion adaptation of a children's classic, James and the Giant Peach.Join us on Patreon for ad-free and bonus episodes, Discord access and show footnotes and more: Patreon.com/ghibliothequeEmail us: ghibliotheque@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter @ghibliotheque and Instagram @ghibliotheque.pod.@MichaelJLeader – Michael@jakehcunningham – Jake@_stephwatts - StephProduced by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Harold McShiel and Steph Watts. Music by Anthony Ing. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 15, 2022 • 52min
The Nightmare Before Christmas | The Selick-tionary #1
It's a new Ghibliotheque miniseries! And this one's a two-parter; first up, we're entering the nightmare worlds of stop-motion animator Henry Selick in the Selick-tionary up to his time at Laika Studios. Then we're continuing on to follow Laika's advancement in stop-motion features in the Laika-nography. As always, expect historical context, reviews and film rankings, plus some extra discussions of other films of note over on our Patreon.For the first episode of our Selick-tionary miniseries, we're heading to Halloweentown for the Selick, Burton and Elfman collaboration that defined a generation of emo teenagers, The Nightmare Before Christmas.Join us on Patreon for ad-free and bonus episodes, Discord access and show footnotes and more: Patreon.com/ghibliothequeEmail us: ghibliotheque@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter @ghibliotheque and Instagram @ghibliotheque.pod.@MichaelJLeader – Michael@jakehcunningham – Jake@_stephwatts - StephProduced by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Harold McShiel and Steph Watts. Music by Anthony Ing. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 29, 2022 • 60min
Bec Hill on Ghibli | Chatbus #5
All aboard the Chatbus for the final stop on our route - to comedian, presenter and writer Bec Hill for tales of her first Ghibli watches, going to Tokyo alone on an unplanned trip, and why Totoro reminds her of a kiwifruit.More information on Bec's book, Horror Heights: https://www.hachette.co.uk/titles/bec-hill-2/horror-heights-now-livescreaming/9781444962345/Join us on Patreon for ad-free and bonus episodes, Discord access and more: Patreon.com/ghibliothequeEmail us: ghibliotheque@gmail.com 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. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 22, 2022 • 58min
Maisie Williams on Studio Ghibli | Chatbus #4
All aboard the Chatbus once more! Maisie Williams of Game of Thrones, The New Mutants, and host of the Frank Film Club podcast, talks about seeing Ponyo for the first time, her journey through the Ghibli catalogue, and her experiences of voice acting for animation. Join us on Patreon for bonus episodes, Discord access and more: Patreon.com/ghibliothequeEmail us: ghibli@littledotstudios.com 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. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 15, 2022 • 59min
Julia Cho on Turning Red | Chatbus #3
This week on our Chatbus miniseries, playwright and screenwriter Julia Cho joins us to talk about writing Turning Red with director (and former Ghibliotheque guest!) Domee Shi, plus how she got into Studio Ghibli movies, and visiting the Ghibli Museum.Join us on Patreon for bonus episodes, Discord access and more: Patreon.com/ghibliothequeEmail us: ghibli@littledotstudios.com 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. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 8, 2022 • 1h 2min
Kenneth Ladekjær & Jess Nicholls on Flee | Chatbus #2
This week on our Chatbus interview miniseries, we talk to two people who worked on the Oscar nominated documentary, Flee: Background artist Jess Nicholls and Animation Director Kenneth Ladekjær.Join us on Patreon for bonus episodes, Discord access and more: Patreon.com/ghibliothequeEmail us: ghibli@littledotstudios.com 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. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 1, 2022 • 57min
Greg Kythreotis & Michelle Zauner on Sable | Chatbus #1
All aboard the Chatbus! For the first episode of our new interview miniseries, we talk to the designer of the incredible open world game Sable, Gregorious Kythreotis, and musician Michelle Zauner, aka Japanese Breakfast, who composed the score, about their favourite Ghibli films and their influences on the game.Sable is nominated for Best British Game at this year's BAFTA Game Awards. Japanese Breakfast's latest album, Jubilee, is nominated for Best Alternative Album at this year's Grammy Awards.Join us on Patreon for bonus episodes, Discord access and more: Patreon.com/ghibliothequeEmail us: ghibli@littledotstudios.com 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. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 18, 2022 • 11min
An Announcement! | Ghibliotheque
Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 18, 2022 • 59min
Mailbag & Early Works | Hosodathon #8
The final episode in our Hosodathon mini series is a bumper special, as Michael, Jake and Steph explore Mamoru Hosoda's early works, and read letters from listeners on their thoughts on Hosoda's films. Check out Hosoda's early works:Digimon: Our War GameOne Piece: Baron Omatsuri and the Secret IslandOjamajo Doremi - Doremi and the Witch That Stopped Being a WitchSuperflat MonogramSamurai Champloo - opening credits sequenceThank you for listening along to the Hosodathon with us! Email us with suggestions of what to cover next - ghibli@littledotstudios.comFollow us on Twitter:@ghibliotheque@MichaelJLeader – Michael@jakehcunningham – Jake@_stephwatts - StephProduced by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Harold McShiel and Steph Watts. Music by Anthony Ing. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 11, 2022 • 1h 32min
Mamoru Hosoda Interview | Hosodathon #7
In this special episode of our Hosodathon mini series, Michael and Jake talk to the director himself, Mamoru Hosoda, all about the making of Belle.The interview has been edited in a style that lets you hear only the English translation, but if you want to hear the full conversation with Mamoru Hosoda's answers in Japanese, skip forward 25 minutes.Let us know what you think of Hosoda's works via email: ghibli@littledotstudios.com or follow us on Twitter:@ghibliotheque@MichaelJLeader – Michael@jakehcunningham – Jake@_stephwatts - StephProduced by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Harold McShiel and Steph Watts. Edited by Steph Watts. Music by Anthony Ing. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.