Episode 104: Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away: Live on Stage

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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)

Episode 102: AF News Edition – The 95th Academy Awards

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“I’d like to thank the academy…”

It’s time to head to the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, CA for another year at the Oscars! In this AF news edition, Stanford and Marc discuss the 95th Academy Awards. Including, Guillermo del Toro’s acceptance speech for PINOCCHIO‘s Best Animated Feature win, THE BOY, THE MOLE, THE FOX AND THE HORSE‘s win for Best Animated Short, AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER‘s win for Best Visual Effects, as well as the new trailer and cast announcement for TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: MUTANT MAYHEM plus much, much more…

(recorded on: Tuesday, March 14th, 2023)

Episode 80: An Oscar Tale – The 94th Academy Awards

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“And the Oscar goes to…”

We’re back this week recapping the Academy Award winners and nominations from this year’s ceremony. Discussion of animation being seen as “less than” and “only for kids,” our weekly recommendations including the films “Flee” and “Melody Time,” all that plus much, much more…

(recorded: Monday April 4th, 2022)

Top Ten Most Fascinating Animated Characters: Number 5

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.

Hayao Miyazaki to Receive Governors Award

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.

Update on Studio Ghibli: Nothing to See Here

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.

Disney to Distribute ‘The Wind Rises’

The Walt Disney Studios has announced that it will be the U.S. distributor for Studio Ghibli’s latest film The Wind Rises. No opening date has been announced. The film will make its North American debut at the Toronto International Film Festival next month.