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.

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.

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.