“Mahito, Will You Continue My Work?”
This week on ANIMATION FASCINATION Stanford and Marc get lost in an abandoned tower and end up in an alternate plain of existence. Join us as we cover Hayao Miyazaki’s latest film, THE BOY AND THE HERON!
Also discussed: did we go subbed or dubbed, how many Batman is too many, metaphors and dealing with grief, plus much, much more…
(recorded on: Monday, December 11th, 2023)
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“I’m Anxiety, where can I put my stuff?”
Welcome back to another AF News Edition episode! This week of American Thanksgiving Marc and Stanford discuss all the past month’s news from the animation industry!
From the end of the SAG AFTRA strike to COYOTE VS ACME being shelved, then saved! To a DOUG sequel series in the works for Disney+ and RICK AND MORTY‘s new voice actors!
Also discussed: trailers for INSIDE OUT 2, PENCILS VS PIXELS, & THE GARFIELD MOVIE, plus much, much more…
(recorded on: Monday, October 13th, 2023)
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“Jinkies!”
Welcome back to another AF News Edition episode! This week Stanford and Marc discuss the past few weeks in animation industry news. From VFX and Animation unions being created at different studios, to Marvel Studios’ animation series getting new release dates, and Marc binging season two and three of HARLEY QUINN.
Also discussed: trailers for SCOTT PILGRIM TAKES OFF, MIGRATION, INVINCIBLE | SEASON TWO, plus much, much more…
(recorded on: Sunday, September 10th, 2023)
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“Nothing that happens is ever forgotten, even if you can’t remember it.”
In this episode, Stanford and Marc enter The Spirit Realm with first-time guest Ted Sowards. They recount each of their experiences watching the adventures of Chihiro, Haku, and No Face as part of Fathom Events’ Studio Ghibli Fest 2023 in, SPIRITED AWAY: LIVE ON STAGE!
Also discussed in this episode: THE RESCUERS, GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3, plus much, much more…
(recorded on: Sunday, May 7th, 2023)
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“Animation is not the art of drawings that move but the art of movements that are drawn.”
It’s a blast from the past in the 100th episode, Marc Vibbert and Stanford Clark are joined by past co-hosts Trent Vactor (of The Vactor-Verse) and Matt Quest (of Fisher-Price) to discuss their favorite films and television series from 2015 to 2022.
Also Discussed: reminiscing on highlights from past episodes, podcast origins, plus much, much more…
(Recorded on January 30th, 2023)
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Famed animation director Hayao Miyazaki has come out of retirement to direct again, but the project is not what you’d expect.
In the spirit of full disclosure, I did not grow up a ravenous anime connoisseur, as so many of my fellow animation geeks. I enjoyed some shows that were anime without really noticing that they were (like Rainbow Brite and TMNT), but I didn’t watch much Pokemon, Yu-gi-oh!, or Dragon Ball Z (much to my husband’s chagrin.) I did see Spirited Away the year it won the Academy Award and I, to be perfectly honest, did not get it. So much more fantastical and bizarre than what I was used to, I wrote it off as “weird.” Yet, I always knew there was something great I was missing–whether because the whole world was raving about it or from some inherent awesome-story-detector deep inside me, I’m not sure. In any case, it is now one of my favorite animated films, and Chihiro is one of the most interesting, admirable characters ever depicted–on-screen or in print.
Three new Blu-rays of English-dubbed Studio Ghibli features are on their way this fall. Kiki’s Delivery Service, Princess Mononoke, and The Wind Rises are all scheduled to be released in the U.S. on November 18th. All three films were released in the U.S. by The Walt Disney Studios and Disney has put together these new Blu-ray sets.
Legendary artist and co-creator of Studio Ghibli Hayao Miyazaki has been named as a recipient of the 2014 Governors Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Studio Ghibli, the whimsical company responsible for such brilliant films as Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke, has been making headlines recently. First, Miyazaki announced his retirement and his last film, The Wind Rises, debuted with much critical acclaim. Now, purported inner turmoil is threatening to close the doors of the studio he left. However, despite doom and gloom articles abound on the status of the most prominent Japanese animation studio, the official word from the Ghibli’s mouth about their current hiatus is lacking a terminal diagnosis.
Animation Fascination 