Ghibliotheque - A Podcast About Animation and Studio Ghibli

Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham & Steph Watts

Welcome to the Ghibliotheque, the podcast that leafs through libraries of films from the world’s greatest animation studios.

In 2018, Michael Leader, an avowed Studio Ghibli fanatic, sat down with Jake Cunningham, who had never seen any of the Studio’s work before. Together they looked at the history behind Ghibli's films (including Spirited Away, My Neighbour Totoro and Princess Mononoke), and got a critical perspective from Jake as a first-time viewer. They covered all of Studio Ghibli's films, visited Japan on the ultimate Ghibli pilgrimage, and have since interviewed artists, animators and filmmakers who have either worked on or have been deeply inspired by Ghibli's films. With their co-host Steph Watts, they have also branched out to cover filmographies of other studios and filmmakers whose work has revolutionised animation, from Satoshi Kon and Mamoru Hosoda to Cartoon Saloon and Henry Selick.

Where will we go next? For more information, follow us on Twitter at @ghibliotheque, or on Instagram at ghibliotheque.pod. Or email us at ghibliotheque@gmail.com.

Follow Michael and Jake on Twitter:

@MichaelJLeader – Michael

@jakehcunningham – Jake

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20 episodes
Updated February 27

Episodes20

Newest first

February 27 · 1 hr 10 min
All You Need Is Kill with Kenichiro Akimoto | Interview Special
This week, Michael is joined by director Kenichiro Akimoto to talk about All You Need Is Kill, a new animated adaptation of the novel by Hiroshi Sakurazaka previously brought to the screen as Edge of Tomorrow. Did you know, we have a new book out? It's called The Animation Atlas and it is a journey through the world of animation, visiting 30 countries over 30 chapters and highlighting key films and filmmakers along every stop of the journey. Subscribe to our Patreon for ad-free episodes and bonus conversations in our Library Cafe series. Follow us on Twitter or Instagram, or drop us an email at ghibliotheque@gmail.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
February 16 · 32 min
Zootropolis 2 with Jared Bush & Yvett Merino | Interview Special
We're collecting Best Feature Animation Oscar nominees like trading cards! In this bonus interview episode, Jake sits down with director Jared Bush and producer Yvett Merino to talk about their blockbusting Disney Animation sequel Zootropolis 2. Haven't seen it? Here's a quick breakdown of the plot: In Zootropolis 2, detectives Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) and Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman) find themselves on the twisting trail of a mysterious reptile who arrives in Zootropolis and turns the mammal metropolis upside down. To crack the case, Judy and Nick must go undercover to unexpected new parts of town, where their growing partnership is tested like never before. Zootropolis 2 is available for home entertainment purchase now, and will be available on Disney+ soon. Did you know, we have a new book out? It's called The Animation Atlas and it is a journey through the world of animation, visiting 30 countries over 30 chapters and highlighting key films and filmmakers along every stop of the journey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
February 13 · 56 min
Little Amélie with Mailys Vallade and Liane-Cho Han | Interview Special
With the Oscars and Baftas around the corner, we've lined up a couple of interview episodes with filmmakers behind some of the contenders. Today, Michael and Jake speak with Mailys Vallade and Liane-Cho Han, directors of the French animated gem, Little Amélie or the Character of Rain. This remarkable film sees the world through the eyes of a toddler growing up in postwar Japan as she observes, explores and makes sense of the world around her, thanks in no small part to her deep connection with her family's housekeeper, Nishio-San. Did you know, we have a new book out? It's called The Animation Atlas and it is a journey through the world of animation, visiting 30 countries over 30 chapters and highlighting key films and filmmakers along every stop of the journey. Subscribe to our Patreon for ad-free episodes and bonus conversations in our Library Cafe series. Follow us on Twitter or Instagram, or drop us an email at ghibliotheque@gmail.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
February 6 · 34 min
Another World with Polly Yeung and Tommy Ng | Q&A Interview Special
Back in January, Michael was invited to host the UK premiere of Another World, a spectacular, high-concept, high-emotions animation from Hong Kong. Here is the recording of the Q&A from that screening, with producer-writer Polly Yeung and director Tommy Ng. Tasked to help transient souls through Another World to their reincarnation, a spirit and a young girl embarks on a dangerous journey to prevent her curse from destroying the world. Another World is currently on release in the UK thanks to Central City Media and will be released in the US by GKids later this year. If you're in the UK, find a screening near you here: https://www.centralcity.media/films/another-world/ Did you know, we have a new book out? It's called The Animation Atlas and it is a journey through the world of animation, visiting 30 countries over 30 chapters and highlighting key films and filmmakers along every stop of the journey. Subscribe to our Patreon for ad-free episodes and bonus conversations in our Library Cafe series. Follow us on Twitter or Instagram, or drop us an email at ghibliotheque@gmail.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
January 23 · 1 hr 3 min
Ethel & Ernest | Briggsonometry #6
It's the final episode of our Briggsonometry mini series all about the adapted works of Raymond Briggs! And today we're ending on Raymond Briggs's most personal project of his whole career: his graphic ode to his parents, Ethel and Ernest. Originally published in 1998 to award-winning acclaim, this story of two normal people living through extraordinary times acts like a Rosetta Stone for all of Briggs's recurring motifs, themes and obsessions. So much of what we have discussed in our episodes on The Snowman, When the Wind Blows, Father Christmas and The Bear come into sharp relief here, in this polished, feature-length 2016 adaptation from Lupus Films. Keep an eye out next week for an archive interview from 2017 with the late Roger Mainwood, director of Ethel & Ernest, by young Jake Cunningham. Did you know, we have a new book out? It's called The Animation Atlas and it is a journey through the world of animation, visiting 30 countries over 30 chapters and highlighting key films and filmmakers along every stop of the journey. Subscribe to our Patreon for ad-free episodes and bonus conversations in our Library Cafe series. Follow us on Twitter or Instagram, or drop us an email at ghibliotheque@gmail.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
January 16 · 46 min
Ivor the Invisible | Briggsonometry #5
It's another imaginary creature who meets a child and they have an adventure, of course it's a new addition to the Briggsonometry! Ivor the Invisible, a curiosity as it was never a Raymond Briggs book, is here. Once seen (or not), never forgotten. Did you know, we have a new book out? It's called The Animation Atlas and it is a journey through the world of animation, visiting 30 countries over 30 chapters and highlighting key films and filmmakers along every stop of the journey. It's a perfect stocking filler, we promise. Subscribe to our Patreon for ad-free episodes and bonus conversations in our Library Cafe series. Follow us on Twitter or Instagram, or drop us an email at ghibliotheque@gmail.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
January 12 · 58 min
Ugo Bienvenu on Arco | Interview Special
In this special episode, Michael has a wide-ranging chat with director Ugo Bienvenu about one of our favourite films of last year, his extraordinary sci-fi animation Arco - and so much more. Colourful, soulful and shot through with a disarming optimism for the future, Arco tells the story of a time-travelling boy from a far-flung future who is dropped into a climate crisis-ridden 2075. There, he teams up with the young girl Iris, and the kids club together to dream up a way to the future. Arco is coming to UK cinemas in March via Picturehouse Entertainment and is getting a wider release in the USA later in January thanks to Neon. Subscribe to our Patreon for ad-free episodes and bonus conversations in our Library Cafe series. Follow us on Instagram at @ghibliotheque.pod, or drop us an email at ghibliotheque@gmail.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
January 2 · 44 min
The Bear | Briggsonometry #4
We are bearly just still within the festive season and another (attempted) winter warmer has been added to the Briggsonometry curiculum: The Bear. It's got a magical creature meeting a child, a domestic farce and an overnight adventure with a fantastical being. But is this just déjà vu? Or could there be more here than just retrodden footprints in the snow? Whilst we're just about still in the Christmas spirit... Did you know, we have a new book out? It's called The Animation Atlas and it is a journey through the world of animation, visiting 30 countries over 30 chapters and highlighting key films and filmmakers along every stop of the journey. It's a perfect stocking filler, we promise. Subscribe to our Patreon for ad-free episodes and bonus conversations in our Library Cafe series. Follow us on Twitter or Instagram, or drop us an email at ghibliotheque@gmail.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 24, 2025 · 1 hr 6 min
Ghibliotheque Christmas Special 2025
Ho ho ho, Merry Podmas! In this seasonal special, Michael, Jake and Steph hop on the mic to round up their years in cinemagoing, podcasting, wrestling, roller derby and beyond; Michael puts Jake and Steph's movie knowledge to the test with a two-round Christmas TV film quiz pulling from magazines from 1985 and 2025; and we open up the mailbag to answer a few festive questions from listeners and friends of the pod. Whilst we're in the Christmas spirit... Did you know, we have a new book out? It's called The Animation Atlas and it is a journey through the world of animation, visiting 30 countries over 30 chapters and highlighting key films and filmmakers along every stop of the journey. It's a perfect use for a Christmas book token, we promise. Subscribe to our Patreon for ad-free episodes and bonus conversations in our Library Cafe series. Follow us on Twitter or Instagram, or drop us an email at ghibliotheque@gmail.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 22, 2025 · 27 min
Axel Scheffler | Interview Special
With the animated short The Scarecrow's Wedding premiering on the BBC on Christmas Day, Michael speaks with illustrator Axel Scheffler (The Gruffalo, Stick Man, The Snail and the Whale) about creating picture books for children, seeing his work adapted for television, and his fruitful ongoing partnership with writer Julia Donaldson. Whilst we're in the Christmas spirit... Did you know, we have a new book out? It's called The Animation Atlas and it is a journey through the world of animation, visiting 30 countries over 30 chapters and highlighting key films and filmmakers along every stop of the journey. It's a perfect stocking filler, we promise. Subscribe to our Patreon for ad-free episodes and bonus conversations in our Library Cafe series. Follow us on Twitter or Instagram, or drop us an email at ghibliotheque@gmail.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 19, 2025 · 44 min
Father Christmas | Briggsonometry #3
It's time for another bloomin' episode of the Briggsonometry mini series. This week, Michael, Jake and Steph have picked up their red fur snowsuits from the dry cleaners and hopped aboard the Ghibliotheque sleigh to go for the Big One, Father Christmas. Whilst we're in the Christmas spirit... Did you know, we have a new book out? It's called The Animation Atlas and it is a journey through the world of animation, visiting 30 countries over 30 chapters and highlighting key films and filmmakers along every stop of the journey. It's a perfect stocking filler, we promise. Subscribe to our Patreon for ad-free episodes and bonus conversations in our Library Cafe series. Follow us on Twitter or Instagram, or drop us an email at ghibliotheque@gmail.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 12, 2025 · 50 min
When The Wind Blows | Briggsonometry #2
Our journey through the adaptations of the works of Raymond Briggs continues with the definitely-not-festive feature film, When the Wind Blows - a heartbreaking satire following an elderly couple weathering the impact and fallout of a nuclear attack. Whilst we're in the Christmas spirit... Did you know, we have a new book out? It's called The Animation Atlas and it is a journey through the world of animation, visiting 30 countries over 30 chapters and highlighting key films and filmmakers along every stop of the journey. It's a perfect stocking filler, we promise. Subscribe to our Patreon for ad-free episodes and bonus conversations in our Library Cafe series. Follow us on Twitter or Instagram, or drop us an email at ghibliotheque@gmail.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 8, 2025 · 35 min
Joe O'Connell on Ultimate Anime | Interview
In this special bonus episode, Michael speaks with Joe O'Connell, creator of the Youtube channel Beyond Ghibli and author of Ultimate Anime, a doorstop guide to Japanese animation encompassing 100 films and series. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 5, 2025 · 51 min
The Snowman | Briggsonometry #1
We're walking through the airwaves! Ghibliotheque has returned with a festively fused new season exploring the adapted works of Raymond Briggs, beginning here with perenial TV favourite: The Snowman. Whilst we're in the Christmas spirit... Did you know, we have a new book out? It's called The Animation Atlas and it is a journey through the world of animation, visiting 30 countries over 30 chapters and highlighting key films and filmmakers along every stop of the journey. It's a perfect stocking filler, we promise. Subscribe to our Patreon for ad-free episodes and bonus conversations in our Library Cafe series. Follow us on Twitter or Instagram, or drop us an email at ghibliotheque@gmail.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Oct 9, 2025 · 8 min
The Animation Atlas | Out Now!
It's a shameless plug! Our new book, The Animation Atlas, is out today! So, to celebrate, here's a little chat with Michael and Jake talking about what the book is all about and why (hopefully) you should be excited about it. A cartography of cartoons, The Animation Atlas takes in everything from titans of animation such as Disney, Pixar, Aardman and Studio Ghibli to pioneers, innovators and rising stars from the wider world of cinema. A truly global history of animation - Each of the 30 chapters sets down in a different country to focus on local talent that has made a global impact on the form, from Spain to South Africa and China to Chile. The book can be purchased wherever you get your books, online or out in the real world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sep 12, 2025 · 55 min
Nicolas Rapold on The Worlds of Hayao Miyazaki | Interview Special
Michael speaks with film critic Nicolas Rapold about his new book, The Worlds of Hayao Miyazaki, which examines the films of our favourite grumpy Japanese master through a spectrum of influences and inspiration. Find out more about The Worlds of Hayao Miyazaki Listen to Nicolas's podcast, The Last Thing I Saw Read about the BFI's upcoming Frederick Wiseman season Did you know, we have a new book coming out? It's called The Animation Atlas and it is a journey through the world of animation, visiting 30 countries over 30 chapters and highlighting key films and filmmakers along every stop of the journey. It's out in October! Subscribe to our Patreon for ad-free episodes and bonus conversations in our Library Cafe series. Follow us on Twitter or Instagram, or drop us an email at ghibliotheque@gmail.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Aug 1, 2025 · 1 hr 25 min
Claude Barras on Savages | Interview Special
This episode, Michael and Jake speak with stop-motion director Claude Barras about his new film, Savages, his previous film, the Ghibliotheque favourite My Life as a Courgette, his life in animation and his almost Takahata-like approach to research. To listen to Claude's full, unedited French answers, fast forward to 40.10. Savages is in UK cinemas now. Subscribe to our Patreon for ad-free episodes and bonus conversations in our Library Cafe series. Follow us on Twitter or Instagram, or drop us an email at ghibliotheque@gmail.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mar 14, 2025 · 49 min
Gints Zilbalodis on Flow | Interview Special
On the pod this week, Michael speaks with Latvian filmmaker Gints Zilbalodis about his Oscar-winning feature, FLOW. This conversation was recorded during the London Film Festival in October 2024, partway through Zilbalodis's remarkable journey with the film: a low-budget, independent feature made by a small crew that became one of the most lauded films of the year, and eventually picked up the Oscar for Best Animated Feature against stiff competition from the animation world's biggest names. Flow is in UK cinemas from 21st March, and Gints's first feature, AWAY, is returning to UK cinemas from 14th March. On Saturday 15th March, we're hosting a special double bill of both films, plus two of Gints's early shorts, with a masterclass Q&A with the director himself, at Curzon Soho in London. Find out more about this 'Whole Loada Zilbalodis' retrospective here. Subscribe to our Patreon for ad-free episodes and bonus conversations in our Library Cafe series. Follow us on Twitter or Instagram, or drop us an email at ghibliotheque@gmail.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Feb 21, 2025 · 37 min
Oscars 2025 - Best Animated Feature (Part 2)
It's the second part of our awards season chat about the Oscar-nominated animated films! Michael, Jake and Steph talk about Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl, Flow and Memoir of a Snail. Scroll back through our archive for interviews with Oscar nominees Chris Sanders (The Wild Robot), Nick Park & Merlin Crossingham (Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl) and Adam Elliot, and look forward to our interview with Gints Zilbalodis (Flow), coming to podcast your feeds in March. Subscribe to our Patreon for ad-free episodes and bonus conversations in our Library Cafe series. Follow us on Twitter or Instagram, or drop us an email at ghibliotheque@gmail.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Feb 14, 2025 · 38 min
Oscars 2025 - Best Animated Feature (Part 1)
It's awards season! And we're jumping into the fray. In this first episode of a two-part awards miniseries, Michael and Jake talk about the two CG-animated offerings from Hollywood studios in contention for Best Animated Feature this year: Inside Out 2 and The Wild Robot. Scroll back through our archive for interviews with Oscar nominees Chris Sanders (The Wild Robot), Nick Park & Merlin Crossingham (Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl) and Adam Elliot, and look forward to our interview with Gints Zilbalodis (Flow), coming to podcast your feeds in March. Subscribe to our Patreon for ad-free episodes and bonus conversations in our Library Cafe series. Follow us on Twitter or Instagram, or drop us an email at ghibliotheque@gmail.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.