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cover art for Only Yesterday (with Robbie Collin) | Ghibliotheque #6

Ghibliotheque - A Podcast About Animation and Studio Ghibli

Only Yesterday (with Robbie Collin) | Ghibliotheque #6

Welcome to the Ghibliotheque, the podcast that leafs through the library of films from the world’s greatest animation studio, Studio Ghibli.


In this special end-of-season episode, Michael & Jake are joined by Telegraph critic, Wittertainment guest-host and all-round Studio Ghibli expert Robbie Collin, given the choice to bring with him any Ghibli film to discuss, Robbie selected Isao Takahata’s Only Yesterday, an animated drama aimed squarely at an adult audience. One of the Studio’s deepest cuts, Only Yesterday was a box office hit on its initial release in Japan, but it wasn’t released in the USA for 25 years. The film is as experimental, poignant and pointed in its message as you’d expect from Takahata (Grave of the Fireflies, The Tale of the Princess Kaguya) - and has over the years become a firm fan favourite.


This episode brings this initial volume of Ghibliotheque to a close. Thank you for listening, it’s been a real adventure, hasn’t it? If you’ve enjoyed the show and would like to hear more episodes of Michael and Jake diving deep in to Studio Ghibli then make sure you tweet: 


@MichaelJLeader – Michael

@jakehcunningham – Jake

@robbiereviews - Robbie


Show notes:


Read Robbie’s tribute to Isao Takahata here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/2018/04/06/studio-ghibli-isao-takahata-brought-indescribable-beauty-everyday/ (behind a paywall though)


For more details about Film4's Studio Ghibli Season, click here: https://bit.ly/2JYqrBj


Additional production on this episode from Steph Watts - @_stephwatts

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