At the heart of the Ghibliesque historical drama Cocoon – One Summer of Girlhood, lies the most brutal yet compelling of metaphors for coming of age: the silkworm and its cocoon. You see, the silkworm spins its silk into a protective cocoon at the pupae stage, akin to its teenaged years, but tragically, it is… Read More Film Review: Cocoon – One Summer of Girlhood
Goro Miyazaki’s Tales from Earthsea begins with regicide and a boy on the run. Prince Arren, overtaken by a malicious spirit, kills his father the king, and then flees from home holding a magical sword; he not only runs from justice and the deed he’s done (even if out of his control), but from expectation.… Read More Tales from Earthsea and Ordinary Dragons
This article was originally printed on November 4, 2015 in Area of Effect magazine. It is reprinted here with permission. If you enjoy this article, we recommend you check out the Area of Effect anthology, containing pieces similar to this one and many more written by a cacophony of wonderful (and nerdy) writers. A teenage… Read More Grave of the Fireflies and burying selfishness
Some of my loved ones and friends don’t use social media at all. They have no FOMO nor a desire to post the minutia of their everyday lives, and rarely feel the need to see how their connections are doing. I sometimes envy them. Facebook and Instagram are wonderful ways of keeping up with people,… Read More Only Yesterday (And onto Tomorrow)
As a child, I dreamed of becoming a director. I would write out my career, detailing the movies I would make, the awards they would win, and even how much money they would earn. But most of all, I loved casting the roles in the films. I would get just the perfect actors and actresses… Read More Casting Nausicaa
We’re proud to present a guest post today by Eric Reinders, a professor of East Asian religions, religion and fantasy, and fortune-telling in the Department of Religion of Emory University. He has authored books on Christianity in China, Medieval Chinese Buddhism, and the films of Miyazaki. His current project is on Chinese translations of Tolkien.… Read More Creative Spark and a Whisper of the Heart
Studio Ghibli’s contribution to anime (and animation in general) cannot be understated. Founded by directors Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata, and producer Toshio Suzuki, the studio has produced many of Japan’s most hallowed films, movies that are both critically acclaimed and monsters at the box office. In 1996, Disney partnered with Studio Ghibli to bring… Read More Ranked: Every Studio Ghibli Movie
Interested in watching thoughtful, human-centered conversations with people connected to anime?
Watch Something Genuine, our interview series that cuts through the noise and focuses on the people behind the costumes, in front of the mics, and watching anime, just like you and me. Season two premieres on May 27th.