And Then, An Aeroplane

A podcast emerges from the mists of time with the hosts in very different places in their lives only to find that Miyazaki? That mfer is so goddamn the same. You can listen to and support Autumn’s work at Export Audio and the Export Audio Patreon , and find Em on the Abnormal Mapping network! Listen to them both on this season of Around the Long Fire! If you want to hear them talk about a good mov...

It’s over! We have finally crossed the finish line with thoughts on Ghibli culture, Hideaki Anno, Goro the hero, our rankings of films, and the strange and difficult journey this podcast has been. Thanks for sticking with us through the ups and many many downs and I hope some day we can all sit down again and watch a new one of these and hopefully not just be mad about it. Much love, find better c...

Here we are, a movie that literally came out while we were recording this podcast, bringing us to the end of new Ghibli movies for now! Also, turns out it’s a movie everyone hates. How do two veteran Ghibli haters fare? The answer might surprise you. Please send all your questions and comments for our FINAL episode to abnormalmappingpodcast@gmail.com!  You can listen to and support Autumn’s w...

The final theatrical Ghibli movie (for now) brings us to the questions of what we actually want from films from this studio, a world without Miyazaki or Takahata, and the strange relationships of childhood colored by nostalgia and depression. Finally we can answer the burning question: was Marnie there? Please send all your questions and comments about this game or anything else to podcast@abnorma...

We dig into the final Takahata movie with a great sense of both wonder and sadness for the conflicting feelings that we find in this retelling of a classic folk tale. This one was difficult for both of us for differing reasons. Rip to a real one. Please send all your questions and comments about this game or anything else to podcast@abnormalmapping.com!  You can listen to and support Autumn’s...

We’ve come to the pinnacle of Miyazaki, the film he retired* on, a movie I had always heard referred to as one of his greatest works. Welp, we did our best, and I hope you will understand. Maybe the next one will be better. Please send all your questions and comments about this game or anything else to podcast@abnormalmapping.com!  You can listen to and support Autumn’s work at Export Audio a...

A raucous episode as we talk Japanese history, Ghibli house style, trailer reactors to the new film, and most importantly GORO’S REVENGE! This was a fun one to podcast about, surprisingly! Please send all your questions and comments about this game or anything else to podcast@abnormalmapping.com!  You can listen to and support Autumn’s work at Export Audio and the Export Audio Patreon , and f...

The power of very small things and very little plot wins the day on this chill episode of And Then, An Aerooplane. Also, we get very distracted and talk about bullshit! Please send all your questions and comments about this game or anything else to podcast@abnormalmapping.com!  You can listen to and support Autumn’s work at Export Audio and the Export Audio Patreon , and find Em mostly talkin...

We return from our hiatus to talk about the joy of low ambitions and the power of abandoning all your high detail technology to go back to focusing on the art with Ponyo! Please send all your questions and comments about this game or anything else to podcast@abnormalmapping.com! You can listen to and support Autumn’s work at Export Audio and the Export Audio Patreon , and find Em mostly talking Gu...

Today we’re here to talk about the tragic tale of Goro Miyazaki and the terrible movie he was forced to make. There’s very little of worth here, sorry, just enjoy us taking apart Earthsea. It wasn’t Goro’s fault. Please send all your questions and comments about this game or anything else to podcast@abnormalmapping.com! You can listen to and support Autumn’s work at Export Audio and the Export Aud...

We return from a long hiatus to talk about what might be our most divisive take yet. What does it mean to get popular internationally? What does it mean to adapt a work that isn’t your own two decades after it’s release? What does it mean to show your whole ass trying to say something about the Iraq war? All this and more as we have rough ride on Howl’s Moving Castle! Please send all your question...

What better way to follow up Spirited Away than a 75 minute sequel to a lesser known movie made for a theme park that never happened? That’s where we find ourselves today as Ghibli breaks out the Baron for another adventure and we enjoy the brief misadventures of a girl and some cats. Please send all your questions and comments about this game or anything else to podcast@abnormalmapping.com! You c...

We finally land on the most important Ghibli film for almost all western moviegoers as we tackle the behemoth that is Spirited Away! Do our memories of this movie hold up? Do we find ourselves in the same conundrums we struggled with during Kiki’s? A surprising series of twists and turns in this long episode. Thank you everyone for your many questions! Please send all your questions and comments a...

Our slightest film yet finds us at a loss for conversation but not a loss of heart as we discover that Takahata can just make a nice movie that doesn’t wreck your heart. Finally! Also, the delights of a movie that just looks better than traditional anime. Please send all your questions and comments about this game or anything else to podcast@abnormalmapping.com! You can listen to and support Autum...

We reach the halfway point of this adventure and come across one of the most famous and contentious movies yet. How do we feel about Miyazaki’s return to war and ecology? More importantly, can we stan Lady Eboshi while thinking she’s a villain? And finally, we must continue to ask: will Autumn ever read Nausicaa? All this and more. Please send all your questions and comments about this game or any...

We remain in New Tama which has just become Tama today as we explore the quieter feelings of what it means to be young and desire to create things. Because it’s us, we couldn’t help bring class into it, and no we will not apologize! Also, when exactly is teen love turning into getting married not the most embarrassing yet charming thing in the world? All this and more! Please send all your questio...

A historical record of the tanuki war, we find Takahata’s Pom Poko one of the most rewarding and difficult movies to watch and talk about since starting this project. Who would have thought the man who brought you Grave of the Fireflies could turn joy into sorrow so easily and profoundly? Who would have thought that themes of capitalism and imperialism and ecological disaster would be so resonant...

Finally we are divided on a movie. This week we look at the television film Ocean Waves, taking apart its chill aesthetics and light romance to see if it holds water or if it’s actually all washed up. I’m out of ocean puns, but that’s okay, because the movie is short. Please send all your questions and comments about this game or anything else to podcast@abnormalmapping.com! You can listen to and...

We return to one of both of our favorite films as we discuss the strange mix of new and familiar that is Porco Rosso. Everyone knows he’d rather be a pig than a fascist, but what does that actually mean in the context of this story? Also, we have our first protagonist that is a grown man since Lupin III, which lets us stop and reflect on how far Miyazaki’s come in terms of the things he cares abou...

The first movie on this adventure that neither of us have seen, Only Yesterday bowls over both Autumn and Em with incredible storytelling and beautiful animation and design. Sometimes watching movies is just a delight, with no qualifications, and this week is absolutely one of those. I hope you all enjoy! Please send all your questions and comments about this game or anything else to podcast@abnor...

A week later than expected but that’s what happens when you have to go to that job and deal with that sadness. Our Kiki talk veers all over the place as we confront the reality of one of the warmest films we’ve ever seen also being an advocate for some ideas that fill us with disquiet and frustration. Truly, if a bag can be mixed, this is one. Thankfully it is in safe hands as it goes towards its...

It’s time for the second half of a double feature of sorrow as we find My Neighbor Totoro surprisingly sad as adults who understand that children are right to be afraid of what might go wrong even in the warmest of tales. Also, an announcement about our schedule going forward. Let’s all wish for the seeds to sprout together! Please send all your questions and comments about this game or anything e...

We take on the tragedies minor and major in one of the most heart-wrenching films either of us has ever seen with Grave of the Fireflies. The joys of life, the sorrows of death, and the failures of community and country both wartime and not take the center stage in this beautiful movie. Please send all your questions and comments about this game or anything else to podcast@abnormalmapping.com! You...

Studio Ghibli is now a real thing and we watch their first film in this, the third episode of our rewatch podcast. Today we discover that everything that isn’t a Nausicaa is instead a Laputa, we discuss the limits of a setpiece first storytelling method, and we love us some adorable robots. Truly we have reached the end of the beginning! Please send all your questions and comments about this game...

There are classics and then there are classics , and this week we watch arguably the most important work of Hayao Miyazaki as we delve into our pile of emotions around Nausicaa. We talk Miyazaki’s already apparent tropes, ecology, politics and war, depictions of women, voice acting, fatalism vs hope, and so much more in this monster bug of an episode. Thank you to all our new listeners for an amaz...