Guest post by Tyne Lowe. In the first thirty minutes of Miss Hokusai, artist O-Ei walks through Edo with her blind younger sister, O-Nao, and attempts to explain their father’s art to her. The viewer has been introduced to their father, Katsushiko Hokusai (referred to in the film as Tetsuzo), as a somewhat eccentric and… Read more »
At the beginning of the making of the documentary for Isao Takahata’s final film, The Tale of Princess Kaguya, someone behind the camera (presumably one of the two directors of the documentary) asks Takahata “What kind of movie are you trying to make with Princess Kaguya?” Takahata sits fidgeting on a couch, hand combing through… Read more »
Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki have inspired delight in international audiences for decades. The enchanted worlds of Princess Mononoke (1997) and Spirited Away (2001) transport us to worlds of complex ethics, captivating creatures, and a beautiful animation style. However, the overwhelming popularity of Studio Ghibli’s films can overshadow the diversity of offerings coming from Miyazaki’s… Read more »