And Then, An Aeroplane

We return from a long hiatus to talk about what might be our most divisive take yet. What does it mean to get popular internationally? What does it mean to adapt a work that isn’t your own two decades after it’s release? What does it mean to show your whole ass trying to say something about the Iraq war? All this and more as we have rough ride on Howl’s Moving Castle!

Please send all your questions and comments about this game or anything else to [email protected]!

You can listen to and support Autumn’s work at Export Audio and the Export Audio Patreon, and find Em mostly talking Gundam on The Great Gundam Project.

This Week’s Film:
Howl’s Moving Castle

Next Time:
Tales from Earthsea

What better way to follow up Spirited Away than a 75 minute sequel to a lesser known movie made for a theme park that never happened? That’s where we find ourselves today as Ghibli breaks out the Baron for another adventure and we enjoy the brief misadventures of a girl and some cats.

Please send all your questions and comments about this game or anything else to [email protected]!

You can listen to and support Autumn’s work at Export Audio and the Export Audio Patreon, and find Em mostly talking Gundam on The Great Gundam Project.

This Week’s Film:
The Cat Returns

Next Time:
Howl’s Moving Castle

We finally land on the most important Ghibli film for almost all western moviegoers as we tackle the behemoth that is Spirited Away! Do our memories of this movie hold up? Do we find ourselves in the same conundrums we struggled with during Kiki’s? A surprising series of twists and turns in this long episode. Thank you everyone for your many questions!

Please send all your questions and comments about this game or anything else to [email protected]!

You can listen to and support Autumn’s work at Export Audio and the Export Audio Patreon, and find Em mostly talking Gundam on The Great Gundam Project.

This Week’s Film:
Spirited Away

Next Time:
The Cat Returns

Our slightest film yet finds us at a loss for conversation but not a loss of heart as we discover that Takahata can just make a nice movie that doesn’t wreck your heart. Finally! Also, the delights of a movie that just looks better than traditional anime.

Please send all your questions and comments about this game or anything else to [email protected]!

You can listen to and support Autumn’s work at Export Audio and the Export Audio Patreon, and find Em mostly talking Gundam on The Great Gundam Project.

This Week’s Film:
My Neighbors the Yamadas

Next Time:
Spirited Away

We reach the halfway point of this adventure and come across one of the most famous and contentious movies yet. How do we feel about Miyazaki’s return to war and ecology? More importantly, can we stan Lady Eboshi while thinking she’s a villain? And finally, we must continue to ask: will Autumn ever read Nausicaa? All this and more.

Please send all your questions and comments about this game or anything else to [email protected]!

You can listen to and support Autumn’s work at Export Audio and the Export Audio Patreon, and find Em mostly talking Gundam on The Great Gundam Project.

This Week’s Film:
Princess Mononoke

Next Time:
My Neighbors the Yamadas

We remain in New Tama which has just become Tama today as we explore the quieter feelings of what it means to be young and desire to create things. Because it’s us, we couldn’t help bring class into it, and no we will not apologize! Also, when exactly is teen love turning into getting married not the most embarrassing yet charming thing in the world? All this and more!

Please send all your questions and comments about this game or anything else to [email protected]!

You can listen to and support Autumn’s work at Export Audio and the Export Audio Patreon, and find Em mostly talking Gundam on The Great Gundam Project.

This Week’s Film:
Whisper of the Heart

Next Time:
Princess Mononoke

A historical record of the tanuki war, we find Takahata’s Pom Poko one of the most rewarding and difficult movies to watch and talk about since starting this project. Who would have thought the man who brought you Grave of the Fireflies could turn joy into sorrow so easily and profoundly? Who would have thought that themes of capitalism and imperialism and ecological disaster would be so resonant over two decades later? This one was a doozy.

Please send all your questions and comments about this game or anything else to [email protected]!

You can listen to and support Autumn’s work at Export Audio and the Export Audio Patreon, and find Em mostly talking Gundam on The Great Gundam Project.

This Week’s Film:
Pom Poko

Next Time:
Whisper of the Heart

Finally we are divided on a movie. This week we look at the television film Ocean Waves, taking apart its chill aesthetics and light romance to see if it holds water or if it’s actually all washed up. I’m out of ocean puns, but that’s okay, because the movie is short.

Please send all your questions and comments about this game or anything else to [email protected]!

You can listen to and support Autumn’s work at Export Audio and the Export Audio Patreon, and find Em mostly talking Gundam on The Great Gundam Project.

This Week’s Film:
Ocean Waves

Next Time:
Pom Poko

We return to one of both of our favorite films as we discuss the strange mix of new and familiar that is Porco Rosso. Everyone knows he’d rather be a pig than a fascist, but what does that actually mean in the context of this story? Also, we have our first protagonist that is a grown man since Lupin III, which lets us stop and reflect on how far Miyazaki’s come in terms of the things he cares about and how he portrays them. Join us in this episode about heroism, love, and staying on your bullshit in the face of history.

Please send all your questions and comments about this game or anything else to [email protected]!

You can listen to and support Autumn’s work at Export Audio and the Export Audio Patreon, and find Em mostly talking Gundam on The Great Gundam Project.

This Week’s Film:
Porco Rosso

Next Time:
Ocean Waves

The first movie on this adventure that neither of us have seen, Only Yesterday bowls over both Autumn and Em with incredible storytelling and beautiful animation and design. Sometimes watching movies is just a delight, with no qualifications, and this week is absolutely one of those. I hope you all enjoy!

Please send all your questions and comments about this game or anything else to [email protected]!

You can listen to and support Autumn’s work at Export Audio and the Export Audio Patreon, and find Em mostly talking Gundam on The Great Gundam Project.

This Week’s Film:
Only Yesterday

Next Time:
Porco Rosso