June 8, 2023

/stream /film /anime

Watched The White Snake Enchantress (1958). My partner and I have started going through a new film guide to try to find some new corners of /anime, and this was the first one on the list. It was really interesting to see an obvious connection to early Disney, but that is also still distinctly anime, even if you can tell that it was 65 years old. It was hard to find a good copy of the film, but the art direction and sound design still came through the lo-fi recording. It's difficult to watch something so old without spending most of the time focused on the historical relevance, but the story touched on themes that are still explored in anime today, like the boundary between the spirit world and humanity, and overcoming taboo.

May 31, 2023

/stream /film /anime /ghibli

Watched Whisper of the Heart, directed by Yoshifumi Kondō, written by Hayao Miyazaki, and based on a manga by Aoi Hiiragi. This was the second time I've seen it, the first time being while watching every Studio Ghibli film in order two years ago. I rated it highly after my first watch, and I enjoyed it just as much the second time.

The story follows a 14 year old girl as she navigates the people around her growing up, moving on, and taking risks, and then choosing to take her future into her own hands as well. I think it does a great job of capturing the combined emotional rollercoaster of both being a 14 year old navigating new social situations and trying to push yourself creatively for the first time. While Ghibli movies are more widely known for their fantasy elements, their films about normal people living normal lives are just as beautiful and engrossing

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