ANYTIME ISSUE 5 – Special Edition

高畑 勲 Isao Takahata

Issue number five of Anytime is dedicated to the Japanese director, screenwriter and co-founder of Studio Ghibli — Isao Takahata. Takahata took on different roles within the production of numerous film projects. However for this issue we focused on the projects he directed only.

This special edition of Anytime is divided into two booklets: The first one provides an overview of Takahata’s multilayered and complex work. It contains a filmography and biography as well as an extended exploration of the recurring series Shōji. The second booklet contains all other contributions organised by the films' release dates. 

We’re more than happy to announce that this issue is filled with guest contributions all over the place: Sarah Tolpeit interpretes the movie Grave of the Fireflies. For the second time we welcome Benji Steiner with an illustration highlighting the swing as a symbol for and the female characters of Taiyō no Ōji: Horusu noDaibōken. Lisa Braid's marvelous illustration deals with and rearranges the characters of My Neighbors the Yamadas. The ideas for the contributions by Endi Tupja, Klodiana Millona and Yuan Chun Liu were developed during a workshop we were invited to host by Neverland Cinema during the film festival Other Ways of Watching together (Rotterdam, 2020). Both contributions are dedicated to Takahata’s last film Princess Kaguya. Endi's poetic approach mirrors her personal experience while watching the movie. Cam and Klodiana explore the theoretical figure of the trickster in regards to the character of Kaguya.

Furthermore you will find an utmost personal essay by Ricarda Götz dealing with the the question of guilt in Grave of the Fireflies. Laura Egger-Karlegger's text offers a feminist reading of Princess Kaguya.   Vinz Schwarzbauer introduces some Yōkai inhabiting the movie Pom Poko: Kitsune, Noppera-bō, Shirime and of course Tanuki, the protagonists. A comic by Georg Wolf casts a glance in the dark, but fantastic future of Heidi – Girl of the Alps.