Category Archives: Studio Ghibli

The Red Turtle

Posted on February 4, 2019 by

This is something of a coda to my Studio Ghibli articles, for the time being at least. There’s one final Miyazaki movie in production, but for now The Red Turtle is the end of the line. It was co-production, and … Continue reading →

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When Marnie Was There

Posted on January 28, 2019 by

I don’t particularly try to avoid spoilers in the Junkyard, as it’s effectively almost impossible to write about things on a sufficiently detailed level without drilling down into the plot, but When Marnie Was There is definitely one where I … Continue reading →

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The Tale of the Princess Kaguya

Posted on January 21, 2019 by

Long, long ago, there lived an old bamboo wood-cutter. He was very poor and sad also, for no child had Heaven sent to cheer his old age, and in his heart there was no hope of rest from work till … Continue reading →

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The Wind Rises

Posted on January 14, 2019 by

In 1923 a terrible earthquake struck Japan.  It picked its moment: lunchtime.  What’s the problem with an earthquake at lunchtime?  People were cooking their lunches, and that means fires.  Firestorms swept across cities, and there was even a fire tornado.  … Continue reading →

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From Up on Poppy Hill

Posted on January 7, 2019 by

When Hayao Miyazaki’s son Goro directed Tales from Earthsea his work was not exactly received with rapturous praise, which is a shame because it’s a solid piece of work.  From Up on Poppy Hill is his second effort for Studio … Continue reading →

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Arrietty

Posted on December 31, 2018 by

Back in the dim and distant past of 1992 I was just getting back into the world of Doctor Who when another magical television series arrived to enchant me: the BBC adaptation of The Borrowers, with the fabulous cast of … Continue reading →

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Ponyo

Posted on December 17, 2018 by

It has been a long time since Studio Ghibli made a film that was so welcoming to a very young demographic.  I am choosing my words carefully there: “welcoming to”, rather than “aimed at”, because Ponyo is every bit as … Continue reading →

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Tales from Earthsea

Posted on December 13, 2018 by

Adapting books into films comes pre-packaged with certain problems.  The audience is less easy to satisfy, because some of them approach their viewing experience with preconceived ideas and expectations.  If you try to adapt a fantasy book series with a … Continue reading →

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Howl’s Moving Castle

Posted on December 6, 2018 by

In 2001 Spirited Away won an Academy Award.  In 2004 Howl’s Moving Castle was nominated.  Could lightning strike twice for a Japanese animation?  Unfortunately not.  It lost out to Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (good grief), but … Continue reading →

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The Cat Returns

Posted on November 26, 2018 by

Studio Ghibli don’t really go in for sequels.  They could be forgiven for doing so.  Spirited Away won an Oscar, but never got a sequel.  Several other films are ripe for a sequel, My Neighbour Totoro in particular.  But the … Continue reading →

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