Episode Collection: Studio Ghibli + Stop Motion

Porco Rosso + My Life as a Zucchini

Posted on June 3, 2021 by Alice Thirteen
Porco Rosso + My Life as a Zucchini

The final stop in the Studio Ghibli stop motion adventure. The journey comes to and end as year finale questions are flirted with. What Porco Rosso means to someone who has just watched a string of Studio Ghibli films. A single adventure in a larger world. There are symbolic Studio Ghibli war movies and then there are Studio Ghibli movies wherein the war occurred or is even portrayed. Hayao Miyazaki antagonists. My Life as a Zucchini is called Ma vie de Courgette in French, which sometimes leads to the English version being called My Life as a Courgette. Especially if you’re quite British. A defense of G-rated film for fans of ugly subject matter films. The utility of motifs for visual and meditative storytellers. Various motifs in My Life as a Zucchini. Continue reading →

Tales from Earthsea + Corpse Bride

Posted on March 25, 2021 by Alice Thirteen
Tales from Earthsea + Corpse Bride

This stop on the Studio Ghibli meets stop motion adventure takes the infamous final act turn. Two of the most divisive movies in their series. The burden of expectations. First, Tales from Earthsea takes a popular fantasy series of fiction and distills it down until its basic elements before distilling further until it’s not really distilling so much as just creating something entirely different with the same character names. Goro Miyazaki handles the expectations of the family name. Then, Tim Burton fans recon with the lightning in a bottle of previous stop motion films bearing his name. An honest look at Corpse Bride as the show attempts to view it with fresh eyes. Continue reading →

Grave of the Fireflies + Kubo and the Two Strings

Posted on January 21, 2021 by Alice Thirteen
Grave of the Fireflies + Kubo and the Two Strings

Studio Ghibli meet back up with stop motion! If you must blink, do it now. Pay careful attention to everything you see and hear, no matter how unusual it may seem. And please be warned, if you fidget, if you look away, if you forget any part of what I tell you, even for an instant, then our hero will surely perish. Seriously, stop looking at your phone. Goddamnit, did you hear none of that? Go back and re-read it. Ok, but you can’t let your eyes de-focus. Just one time, try to take in the words. One fucking time. Please. Continue reading →

Whisper of the Heart + Anomalisa

Posted on November 19, 2020 by Alice Thirteen
Whisper of the Heart + Anomalisa

The adventure continues as Double Feature pairs up another Studio Ghibli film with a stop motion film. The importance of finding and following one’s passions. Two films that discuss the transformative power of human connection. Digging deep to find the best and worst in yourself. Whisper of the Heart is a Studio Ghibli film like few others. Waiting for a floating what-not. Self discover and ambition. Anomalisa might be stop motion, but that’s only the beginning. Anomalisa’s many devices. The desperate search for something unique and special in a sea of sameness. Continue reading →

Spirited Away + Isle of Dogs

Posted on August 6, 2020 by Alice Thirteen
Spirited Away + Isle of Dogs

A brand new journey begins. This multi-part exploration of Studio Ghibli and stop motion sends Double Feature on an adventure to further understand animation. In the first part, Spirited Away takes a unique look at the coming of age genre by secretly using it as an indictment of soul-crushing capitalism. Then, Isle of Dogs makes a postcard case for Japan’s mostly broadly understood culture and directs it squarely at Americans. Also, the film is kind of gross, right? No one says “I love dogs.” Mainstream audiences respond, but does the film get away with it? Continue reading →