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
I decided to watch a Studio Ghibli film I hadn’t seen yet and give my first impressions of it. So I watched Howl’s Moving Castle, which had the misfortune of being released at a time when my interest in anime (and movies and television in general) were at a low ebb. It also had the… Read More A New Perspective on Howl’s Moving Castle
In a movie filled with fantastic (and fantastical) sequences, it’s one near the end of The Tale of the Princess Kaguya that stands out as both thrilling and questionable. Kaguya is a magical being who has grown into a beauty that is proposed to by suitors far and wide, including the emperor, but feels burdened… Read More Leaving Family for the Princess Kaguya
The round of sixteen in our tournament to determine the best Studio Ghibli film is done and we’re on to the elite eight! Spirited Away (v. Arrietty), Princess Mononoke (v. When Marnie Was There), Howl’s Moving Castle (v. Ponyo), and My Neighbor Totoro (v. Porco Rosso) crushed their opponents, and Grave of the Fireflies one… Read More Studio Ghibli Tournament: Round of 8
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
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