The Complete Catalog

The Boy and the Heron w/ Edmond Ernest dit Alban (Studio Ghibli, Episode 30)

This is it: the season finale of The Complete Catalog: Studio Ghibli (at least for now)! Hayao Miyazaki’s The Boy and the Heron stands as his and the studio’s final film (again, for now) and it offers a rich yet complicated host of thematic threads and compelling characterizations; all while being beautiful of course. Tristan and Edmond “Edo” Ernest dit Alban, Assistant Professor in Communication and Asian Studies at Tulane University, cover as much ground as possible but the film will certainly continue to offer nuanced readings upon subsequent rewatches. And announcing season two of The Complete Catalog: Madonna! Tristan and his guests will explore the 17 albums released by the pop icon over 36 years. Follow your host on Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/ettletodd.bsky.social], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/ettletodd/], and/or TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@ettletodd] to stay tuned for the premiere date!

Earwig and the Witch w/ Caitlin Casiello (Studio Ghibli, Episode 29)

Earwig and the Witch has the infamous reputation as Studio Ghibli’s worst film. That is indeed true, as Tristan and Assistant Professor of Japanese Film and Media Studies at the University of Florida Caitlin Casiello agree, but they also try to find some things to appreciate about Goro Miyazaki’s 2020 release.

The Red Turtle w/ Kyle Macciomei (Studio Ghibli, Episode 28)

Michaël Dudok de Wit’s 2016 feature The Red Turtle almost didn’t make it into the episode run of the “complete Studio Ghibli catalog.” But this Japanese/French/German co-production, helmed by Ghibli’s only non-Japanese filmmaker, is, besides being great, full of recurring themes and its own unique readings and aesthetic, as Tristan and Kyle Macciomei, Ghibli cuisine enthusiast, discuss.

When Marnie Was There w/ Ben Gierhart (Studio Ghibli, Episode 27)

When Marnie Was There, directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi, has been read through a few different lenses since its 2014 release, with many centering platonic female friendships and/or queer relationships. Theater artist and writer Ben Gierhart and Tristan tackle these nuanced themes and generally praise this downtempo and somewhat unconventional Studio Ghibli film.

The Tale of the Princess Kaguya w/ Ethan Simmie (Studio Ghibli, Episode 26)

The Tale of the Princess Kaguya is Isao Takahata’s final directorial effort. So it comes with a bit of resonance as the conclusion to the career of a great filmmaker, and Tristan and Ethan Simmie, host of the The Movie Draft Podcast [https://open.spotify.com/show/6z14W4RNcBDuYNmT81CLPL], explore the many emotions and themes of the expansive film, released just months after The Wind Rises in 2013.