Podcasts · TV & Film

Science & Magic: The Films of Studio Ghibli

Science & Magic: The Films of Studio Ghibli

22 episodes

Each episode covers a different Studio Ghibli film, featuring the three hosts, Neil, Ruben (http://heyimruben.com/), and Jamie (https://soundcloud.com/user-598885023), and guests. Cover image by: Daisy May Harbour (https://www.saatchiart.com/kaledse) Theme music by: Yurii Radko (https://www.instagram.com/radkoaccordion/)

Episodes

  1. 22: Ghibli Oscars

    · 1 h 07 min

    In the final episode (for now...), Neil, Ruben, and Jamie give their picks for what Ghibli films deserve special awards. This is the only episode to have been recorded live together!

  2. 21: When Marnie Was There

    · 1 h 22 min

    Along with our amazing guest Pete Mummert, the crew discusses 2014's When Marnie Was There, written and directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi and based on the 1967 novel by Joan G. Robinson of the same name. We all scored…

  3. 20: The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (2013)

    · 1 h 31 min

    Written and directed by Isao Takahata, The Tale of Princess Kaguya (2013), this movie is an adaptation of The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter, a 10th-century Japanese literary tale. Join the crew and guest Chrysanthe Tan on…

  4. 19: The Wind Rises (2013)

    · 1 h 36 min

    Written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, The Wind Rises (2013) is a biopic about Japanese aeronautical engineer Jiro Horikoshi, who designed the Mitsubishi A6M "Zero" fighter plane used in World War II. This was…

  5. 18: From up on Poppy Hill (2011)

    · 1 h 26 min

    The second film directed by Hayao Miyazaki's son, Gorō Miyazaki, this film touches on many of the themes of previous Studio Ghibli movies, such as war, memory, and young people learning about how they connect to older…

  6. 17: Arrietty (2010)

    · 1 h 28 min

    The crew discusses Arrietty (2010), also known as Arrietty the Borrower in Japan and The Secret World of Arrietty in North America, along with guest Erin Hamer-Beck. This film is the directorial debut of Hiromasa…

  7. 16: Ponyo (2008)

    · 1 h 36 min

    Guest Jonfen Parker joins the hosts to discuss Ponyo (2008), a film about questionable parenting, weird fishes, and water.

  8. 15: Tales from Earthsea (2006)

    · 1 h 28 min

    Loosely based on an Ursula K Le Guin novel, and marking the directorial debut of Hayao Miyazaki's son, Gorō Miyazaki, Tales from Earthsea (2006) is certainly one of the movies from Studio Ghibli. Guest Dr Abby…

  9. 14: Howl's Moving Castle (2004)

    · 1 h 35 min

    Howl's Moving Castle (2004) is an adaptation of the 1986 Diana Wynne Jones novel of the same name. It features anti-war imagery inspired by Miyazaki's opposition to the 2003 Iraq War. Guest John Ingle helps the crew…

  10. 13: The Cat Returns (2002)

    · 1 h 18 min

    With their guest Andrew Hawthorn, the crew discusses The Cat Returns, one of the only Ghibli films that is a spin off of another -1995's Whisper of the Heart. It follows the adventures of a teenage girl who can…

  11. 12: Spirited Away (2001)

    · 1 h 45 min

    Guest Bethany Van Scoo joins the crew for discussion of Spirited Away (2001), written and directed by Hiyao Miyazaki. This was the first non-English film to win Best Animated Feature at the Academy Awards and was the…

  12. 11: My Neighbors the Yamadas (1999)

    · 1 h 26 min

    My Neighbors the Yamadas (1999) has a very different style than any other Ghibli film. Based on a yonkoma manga (a format similar to US newspaper comics like Peanuts), it follows a family in a slice-of-life format,…

  13. 10: Princess Mononoke (1997)

    · 1 h 54 min

    Cléa from Radio Clash Revival joins us to discuss Princess Mononoke (1997), written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, the first Ghibli film to break through to wide release outside of Japan, featuring a dubbed English…

  14. 9: Whisper of the Heart (1995)

    · 1 h 32 min

    Rob Lumley joins our hosts to discuss Whisper of the Heart (1995), a film written by Hiyao Miyazaki and directed by Yoshifumi Kondō. It tells the story of a boy and girl who bond over John Denver's classic track, "Take…

  15. 8: Pom Poko (1994)

    · 1 h 10 min

    Pom Poko (1994), written and directed by Isao Takahata, focuses on tanuki, Japanese raccoon dogs, who in folklore are known for their shape shifting abilities. Unfortunately in the English dub of the movie, they are…

  16. 7: Porco Rosso (1992)

    · 1 h 21 min

    Originally planned as an in-flight short for Japan Airlines based on Hayao Miyazaki's manga "The Age of the Flying Boat", Porco Rosso tells the tale of a former WWI flying ace who has undergone a remarkable…

  17. 6: Only Yesterday (1991)

    · 1 h 37 min

    Written and directed by Isao Takahata, Only Yesterday (1991) is a beautiful film about nostalgia, childhood, and choices. Guest Doris Weiss joins us to discuss Japan's top grossing film of 1991.

  18. 5: Kiki's Delivery Service (1989)

    · 1 h 59 min

    Kiki's Delivery Service (1989) is based on Eiko Kadono's 1985 novel of the same name. The fictional city in the movie is based on real cities in Sweden and the animators travelled there to get inspiration. Our guest is…

  19. 4: My Neighbor Totoro (1988)

    · 1 h 27 min

    My Neighbor Totoro (1988), written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, was sometimes screened as a double feature with Grave of the Fireflies (see episode 3). George Hendricks of the Mogwai Minute is our first guest on the…

  20. 3: Grave of the Fireflies (1988)

    · 1 h 23 min

    Grave of the Fireflies (1988) is notorious for being one of the saddest films ever made. It was written and directed by Isao Takahata, and produced by Studio Ghibli.

  21. 2: Laputa: Castle in the Sky (1986)

    · 1 h 07 min

    Also known as Castle in the Sky, this was the first film to be animated by Studio Ghibli. The story was partly inspired by Hayao Miyazaki visiting Wales and learning about the 1984 coal miners' strike.

  22. 1: Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984)

    · 1 h 28 min

    Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984), written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki and based on his 1982 manga, is a Japanese post-apocalyptic anime fantasy film. Although it was not released by Studio Ghibli initially,…

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