Jake Cunningham

Published 2021 with a comprehensive overview of all Studio Ghibli movies through Earwig and the Witch, itself released the year before. I was familiar with precisely half of the 24 films reviewed here, and each chapter was enjoyable and provided something new. A standard format is applied consistently: a brief chapter devoted to each film, with production notes and background; a review portraying a viewer's personal reaction to watching the film; and extensive illustrations (including show more official posters, usually the Japanese original). An introduction and supplementary index and bibliography round out the book. Throughout, the co-authors maintain a personal approach but do more than simply adulate. This is not an academic critique but two fans sharing their knowledge of films and filmmakers they admire.

A pleasant bonus is in clarifying the separate contributions of Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata, and the creative influence of Toshio Suzuki. The authors are careful to note when one of a handful of other directors are involved, primarily in later films. Takahata has fewer films on his resume, but arguably claims as large a legacy as Miyazaki's. Ghibliotheque persuades me not only do I need to seek out more Takahata films, it's probably worthwhile reading Suzuki's memoir, Mixing Work and Pleasure.

I'll revisit Ghibliotheque to track down titles I've not yet seen, and when I do, probably find myself getting waylaid for a chapter or two. It's an easy read, but always informative and fun.

//

Leader & Cunningham regularly refer to streaming availability of Ghibli films through GKIDS and Studio Canal, and Netflix. I didn't find Ghibli films available in the US, and suspect the contracts they referenced are not specific to the US. show less