In Takeshi Kitano’s summer road movie, Kikujiro, a young boy searching for his estranged mother sets out from Tokyo into rural Japan with an unruly former Yakuza as his guide, begetting a series of misadventures, felonious incidents, comedic interludes, surreal vignettes, and tender moments, as bonds of affection form between the unlikely pair.
Timestamps:
[00:00] Introductions and Nonsense
[09:09] Mini-Review of Tatsuki Fujimoto’s manga Goodbye, Eri
[44:40] Kikujiro Review
If you have questions or comments about the show, please feel free to shoot us an Email or leave a comment below.
We review a classic that needs no introduction: Studio Ghibli’s Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (1984) from director / writer Hayao Miyazaki.
What We’ve Been Watching + News (00:00)
Review (35:32)
Twitter Questions (1:55:11)
Links:
Although, this is our first episode covering Hayao Miyazaki, we previously recorded two episodes on films done by his contemporaries at Studio Ghibli: Isao Takahata’s The Tale of Princess Kaguya and Yoshifumi Kondo’s Whisper of the Heart — if you liked this podcast, be sure to check those out!
Zyuranger, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Drifters, Yuri on Ice, Izetta, and March Comes in like a Lion.
News (31:14):
Dragon Ball Super can at last be found legally streaming on Crunchyroll.
Tatsunoko Productions nears its 55th anniversary.
Plus our thoughts on colorized manga, Tom and Jerry, and other random nonsense.
Review (54:35)
We discuss Isao Takahata’s absolutely wonderful The Tale of Princess Kaguya. Released by Studio Ghibli in 2013, the film features utterly unique and spectacular to behold animation by designer Osamu Tanabe, incredible art direction courtesy of Kazuo Oga, and a musical score by legendary composer Joe Hisaishi that’s as majestic as it is mournful. Thematic depth comes courtesy of Takahata and Riko Sakaguchi’s screenplay, which freshens up this retelling of Japan’s oldest folk tale, The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter, making it feel important and more relevant to modern audiences than ever before. Of the all the films I watched last year, this was easily my favorite!
Lastly, a small correction: I mentioned in our pre-review how the unorthodox production of My Neighbors the Yamadas led to major dysfunction during the production of Studio Ghibli’s next film — I misspoke; that film was Spirited Away NOT Howl’s Moving Castle. OK, that’s everything.
Enjoy!
If you have questions or comments about the show, please feel free to shoot us an Email or leave a comment below.
BLADE LICKING THIEVES 