Anime Was (Not) A Mistake

“Now I have children of my own. They ask their mother, what will I be? Will I be handsome? Will I be rich? I tell them tenderly…Que será, será!” Seasons Greetings and Happy New Year from us at Anime Was (Not) A Mistake. May your lives in the New Year be bright, full of anime, and may you be at the center of your very own family vignette to be blessed with screen time. Life goes on, even on our podcast and how fortunate for us that we are viewing Isao Takahata’s 1999 charming classic My Neighbors the Yamadas. Listen in as we discuss family drama, take time to stop and smell the roses, and even hop on a motorcycle to chase down some street toughs…Kamen Rider style. You’ll definitely come away with a further appreciation for family, friends, and maybe even…Goro? *Doot Doot*

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“To see with eyes, unclouded by hate.” Tonight, on Anime Was (Not) A Mistake, we travel through a world of man made iron and natural beauty. 1997’s Princess Mononoke pits humans vs. gods in an epic battle to balance the world. Join us, on our humble podcast, as we discuss what might be Studio Ghibli’s most prolific work. Miyazaki wanted to deliver a tale of beasts and wild frontiers and delivered, in all regards, a motion picture deserving of its spot in anime and film history. So, join us as we dance with boars and wolves, toil in the burning heat of Iron Town, and party with the kodama in the Nightwalker’s wake…as we journey to find if Anime was a mistake.

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“Country Roads, Take me Home to the Place I Belong…” On this episode of Anime Was (Not) A Mistake we chase a cat into an antique shop, only to find some real-life lessons, and poignant views on following/working hard on your own dreams. Yoshifumi Kondo’s 1995 directorial debut Whisper of the Heart bows the violin strings of our soul. The film tells the story of young Shizuku Tsukishima in her attempts to survive middle school, traverse blossoming relationships, and look inside herself to find the drive to begin a worthwhile writing career. If you have ever doubted your own magnificent abilities, or been inspired by a mysterious cat statue, than this film might seem like a familiar, favorite novel…an old friend re encountered.  So clean off your study area, get some chill anime beats, and work hard, all the best things take time.  

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“Mr. Raccoon, Mr. Raccoon, won’t you come out to play?” Anime Was (Not) A Mistake s back again, with the one Ghibli film hailed as the perfect family picture…if your family happens to be a bunch of raccoons. Pom Poko scurries up this time on our humble little podcast to entertain as well as teach. If you ever had an interest in Japanese folklore, military history, and charm all viewed through the lens of a furry little mammal, with black circled eyes and tiny little hands, this film is the perfect match for you. Prepare yourself for epic bloody battles, touching lessons on friendship, the power of nature, and more whimsey than you can shake a scrot…uh we mean a “raccoon pouch” at. Our story begins year 30 of the Pom Poko Era…

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Rev up your plane engines, and prepare to soar over the animated Adriatic Sea! Anime Was (Not) A Mistake is back with a vengeance with the rip roaring, and utterly charming Porco Rosso. Join the intrepid pig man pilot/bounty hunter Porco as he lives a life full of aerial mechanics, wine bottles, cigarette smoke, and romance. This film manages to skillfully combine humor and Italian sophistication, and bumbling sky pirates into an incredibly poignant picture. Studio Ghibli never loses altitude, while still managing to ask the big questions. Should experience trump instinct? Does love ever really die? Do all planes go to Heaven? Pull up a chair and listen to us recount the fantastic tale of this “Bacon-Slab Bombardier.” We here at the podcast are convinced that you haven’t seen anything until you’ve seen pigs fly!  

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Get ready for the nostalgia, regret, and wonder only childhood can provide on this latest episode of Anime Was (Not) A Mistake. Today get ready to hop on a train to the Japanese countryside as hosts Dan and Jonathan examine Isao Takahata’s 1991 classic Only Yesterday … and wonder if the Sonic the Hedgehog film will truly become a new cult classic. If you ever hated the taste of pickled onions, had a 5th grade crush that also loved stormy weather, or had dreams of a patent leather purse/ an acting career that never went anywhere this movie might be one for you. Let’s pick some safflowers, breathe in some country air, and soul search as we journey through life together.  Remember, “Some say love, it is a hunger, an endless aching need. I say love, it is a flower, and you, its only seed.”

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Grab your broomstick, a radio, and a black cat familiar, as another episode of Anime Was (Not) A Mistake soars into your life. Today we join the lovable, and highly relatable Kiki on her journey of self-discovery and magical innovation. It's time to shake off the summer and leap into life, in search of new experiences and an adventure. This is a movie near and dear to every Ghibli fan we've ever come into contact with and might just be the most watchable of the Ghibli movies, anime fans or not? We will leave that for you to decide. But, this deceptively simple movie certainly shares some of the most poignant morals. Keep smiling and you are bound to succeed. Your art can be magic. Always be true to yourself and you will be able to fly! Most importantly, never use blimps as a form of transportation and always appreciate Grandma's pumpkin and herring pie. 

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We are back, back, back, again just in time for the tail end of summer with a real tearjerker. Today on Anime Was (Not) A Mistake we talk about 1988's war torn Grave of the Fireflies. This film has been lauded as one of the most poignant antiwar films in existence and for an animated film, it's difficult not to get emotional when watching. Join us as we discuss the horrors of war, the symbolism of firefly light, and ponder how we would react if placed in Seita and Setsuko's shoes. Will we cry, live on the air? What are we fighting for? Why do fireflies have to die so soon? The only answer we can muster is to keep a box of Kleenex and aa case of Fruit Drops close at hand.

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Art By: Dan Ryan Instagram:@king_dannis   Twitter:@xDKR

Music  "Ghibli's Waltz" By: Ross Bugden Youtube: Ross Bugden - Music

Ready, Set, Hey, Let's Go with another episode of Anime Was (Not) A Mistake! On this episde we travel to the rural Japanese country side, in search of soot sprites, forest spirits, and the wonderous sense of childhood. Sisters Satsuki and Mei, explore the emotions of moving to a new house, getting accostomed to having a mother recovering in the hospital...oh, and setttling right next to resident Ghibli mascot Totoro.  This fluffy rabbit/bear/spirit of death and nature has a collection of quirky tricks up his sleeve that might just help the girls more than they could have ever dreamed. While this film is undoutedly one of Studio Ghibli's most lighthearted film, we couldnt help but question are there some darker motives just underneath the surface. We have no time to ponder this right now though, the Cat Bus is starting to pull away. All Aboard and hold on tight!

Sail with us into the storm as we search for lost civilizations on the latest episode of Anime Was (Not) A Mistake! Today we take a look at the first official Studio Ghibli film, Castle in the Sky. Follow the intrepid Sheeta and Pazu as they flee a corrupt army, team up with the Dola Gang (a bumbling group of sky pirates) and search for the technological marvels of the legendary Laptua. Laputa may be a floating city in the sky that as inspired countless tropes in anime, video games, and modern pop culture, but did you know that this film was intentionally going to take place below the ocean waves? Also could this film possibly be the root of a sprawling Ghibli universe? Only time may tell. Learn this and so much more by listening to the latest episode of Anime Was (Not) A Mistake, but mind your footing its a long way down, clutch your crystals...and leap.