Tag Archives: Hayao Miyazaki

The Wind Rises

Posted on January 14, 2019 by Roger Pocock

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 →

Posted in Anime, Entertainment, Movies, Reviews, Studio Ghibli | Tagged , | Leave a comment

From Up on Poppy Hill

Posted on January 7, 2019 by Roger Pocock

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 →

Posted in Anime, Entertainment, Movies, Reviews, Studio Ghibli | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Ponyo

Posted on December 17, 2018 by Roger Pocock

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 →

Posted in Anime, Entertainment, Movies, Reviews, Studio Ghibli | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Howl’s Moving Castle

Posted on December 6, 2018 by Roger Pocock

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 →

Posted in Anime, Entertainment, Movies, Reviews, Studio Ghibli | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Spirited Away

Posted on November 19, 2018 by Roger Pocock

OK, this one is going to require a different approach.  Up until this point I have been writing about Studio Ghibli films that a good proportion of readers won’t have seen, and some will not have even heard of, but … Continue reading →

Posted in Anime, Entertainment, History, Movies, Reviews, Studio Ghibli | Tagged , , | 9 Comments

Princess Mononoke

Posted on November 12, 2018 by Roger Pocock

We are only one film away now from Studio Ghibli’s big Oscar-winning moment, but Princess Mononoke was the studio’s breakthrough in terms of international recognition. It goes without saying that it was hugely successful in Japan, virtually all the Ghibli … Continue reading →

Posted in Anime, Entertainment, History, Movies, Reviews, Studio Ghibli | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Whisper of the Heart

Posted on November 5, 2018 by Roger Pocock

I dreamed of living alone but fearless, Secret longing to be courageous, Loneliness kept bottled up inside, Just reveal your brave face, They’ll never know you lied. Whisper of the Heart was Studio Ghibli’s third effort at a slice of … Continue reading →

Posted in Anime, Entertainment, Movies, Reviews, Studio Ghibli | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Kiki’s Delivery Service

Posted on October 8, 2018 by Roger Pocock

Growing up is a tricky business.  For 14-year-old Kiki it is going to be even more difficult than usual because she is a witch, and wants to follow an important tradition: spending a year away from home perfecting her abilities, … Continue reading →

Posted in Anime, Art, Entertainment, Movies, Reviews, Studio Ghibli | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

My Neighbour Totoro

Posted on October 3, 2018 by Roger Pocock

Studio Ghibli’s first release was Laputa: Castle in the Sky, and then came a double bill: Grave of the Fireflies and My Neighbour Totoro, shown together in cinemas in Japan.  It must be the strangest pairing of movies ever.  I’m … Continue reading →

Posted in Anime, Art, Movies, Studio Ghibli | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Laputa: Castle in the Sky

Posted on September 24, 2018 by Roger Pocock

Last week we looked at Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, not strictly speaking a Studio Ghibli film, but made by a lot of the same people before the founding of the studio.  In 1985 the studio was founded … Continue reading →

Posted in Anime, Art, Movies, Studio Ghibli | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind

Posted on September 17, 2018 by Roger Pocock

Watching anime movies used to be a relatively niche hobby.  In most cases you had to be prepared to watch them in Japanese with English subtitles.  If we could point to one film that changed all that and brought anime … Continue reading →

Posted in Anime, Movies, Studio Ghibli | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments