Episode 288 - Battle of the Animated Feature Films - Disney vs Don Bluth vs Studio Ghibli

Cartoons and animated features films are often one of the first (visual) ways children encounter a full character journey. Not that animated feature films are just for children - some of the most successful studios are masters of making a story work on many layers so that adults, teens and children are all equally entertained and engaged. There is also something enlightening about coming back to an animated feature film which affected you as a child once you are an adult, and examining whether it affects you in a different way. This week Jules and Madeleine take a look at how Disney, Don Bluth and Studio Ghibli all handle the same themes very differently in their films. Are some explorations of theme more suited for children or adults? Does any particular studio do it better or are they all necessary because everyone needs different stories?  On the slab this week - Frozen, Princess Mononoke, Fern Gully, The Last Unicorn, When Marnie was There, An American Tale goes West and many more.

 

Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic