Michael Leader
@michaeljleader.bsky.social
Films, etc. | Writer, host, curator | Podcasts, books + screenings as Ghibliotheque
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📚 Our new book is out today! 📚
The Animation Atlas, our round-the-world trip through the global history of animation, is now available from all good bookshops!
The Animation Atlas, our round-the-world trip through the global history of animation, is now available from all good bookshops!
Reposted by Michael Leader
'Angel's Egg, rehatched' by @kambole.bsky.social xith quotes from me and @brianruh.bsky.social
www.animationmagazine.net/2025/11/ange...
www.animationmagazine.net/2025/11/ange...
'Angel's Egg,' Rehatched | Animation Magazine
Anime historians discuss the significance of Mamoru Oshii's 'Angel's Egg,' arriving in a new 4K restoration from GKIDS in theaters Nov. 19.
www.animationmagazine.net
November 19, 2025 at 5:29 PM
'Angel's Egg, rehatched' by @kambole.bsky.social xith quotes from me and @brianruh.bsky.social
www.animationmagazine.net/2025/11/ange...
www.animationmagazine.net/2025/11/ange...
We really need to break this habit of casually describing films as 'forgotten' and 'rediscovered'. Here's a cinema newsletter saying The Nightmare Before Christmas was "soon forgotten" and "rediscovered on VHS".
November 16, 2025 at 10:22 AM
We really need to break this habit of casually describing films as 'forgotten' and 'rediscovered'. Here's a cinema newsletter saying The Nightmare Before Christmas was "soon forgotten" and "rediscovered on VHS".
Reposted by Michael Leader
#LFF
“Nick Park should retire”
— The hosts of Ghibliotheque
I, a “staunch animation defender”, stood out at the Q&A for this panel reckoning with the world and uncertain state of animation. Stunned Mike and Jake by naming with one stutter but no hesitation every film on their book’s front cover.
“Nick Park should retire”
— The hosts of Ghibliotheque
I, a “staunch animation defender”, stood out at the Q&A for this panel reckoning with the world and uncertain state of animation. Stunned Mike and Jake by naming with one stutter but no hesitation every film on their book’s front cover.
October 12, 2025 at 4:48 PM
#LFF
“Nick Park should retire”
— The hosts of Ghibliotheque
I, a “staunch animation defender”, stood out at the Q&A for this panel reckoning with the world and uncertain state of animation. Stunned Mike and Jake by naming with one stutter but no hesitation every film on their book’s front cover.
“Nick Park should retire”
— The hosts of Ghibliotheque
I, a “staunch animation defender”, stood out at the Q&A for this panel reckoning with the world and uncertain state of animation. Stunned Mike and Jake by naming with one stutter but no hesitation every film on their book’s front cover.
This is a very elder millennial thing for me to say, but the second a cosy, relatable film or TV tiktok account creates sponcon for a brand, I'm out.
November 12, 2025 at 12:07 PM
This is a very elder millennial thing for me to say, but the second a cosy, relatable film or TV tiktok account creates sponcon for a brand, I'm out.
Reposted by Michael Leader
So I just checked our sales - we're at 289 copies sold.
We need 11 more to reach 300, which is our internal threshold to go ahead and start planning Issue #2 - let's do this!
We need 11 more to reach 300, which is our internal threshold to go ahead and start planning Issue #2 - let's do this!
Anime Herald Magazine's first issue launches in just a couple of weeks! We're shipping this 90+-page volume in November, so get your orders in today 🥰
Digital copy ($15.75 USD): hera.fyi/buyahmag1dig 💻
Physical copy ($17.95 USD): hera.fyi/buyahmag1 📔
Bundle: hera.fyi/buyahmag1bun 📦
Digital copy ($15.75 USD): hera.fyi/buyahmag1dig 💻
Physical copy ($17.95 USD): hera.fyi/buyahmag1 📔
Bundle: hera.fyi/buyahmag1bun 📦
November 3, 2025 at 8:38 PM
So I just checked our sales - we're at 289 copies sold.
We need 11 more to reach 300, which is our internal threshold to go ahead and start planning Issue #2 - let's do this!
We need 11 more to reach 300, which is our internal threshold to go ahead and start planning Issue #2 - let's do this!
End of year film polls should be published the following February so they can cover an entire theatrical year and also allow some crucial Christmas/January catch up time.
November 2, 2025 at 4:42 PM
End of year film polls should be published the following February so they can cover an entire theatrical year and also allow some crucial Christmas/January catch up time.
Reposted by Michael Leader
It was a fab party for a fab book. You can buy The Animation Atlas anywhere so please support your local indie bookshop or bookshop.org.uk - the online platform that lets a percentage from your purchases support your chosen bookshop.
November 1, 2025 at 1:33 PM
It was a fab party for a fab book. You can buy The Animation Atlas anywhere so please support your local indie bookshop or bookshop.org.uk - the online platform that lets a percentage from your purchases support your chosen bookshop.
Earlier this week... We launched a book! 📚
Such a treat to bring together a mezzanine full of pals and loved ones to mark the release of the new @ghibliotheque.bsky.social book, The Animation Atlas.
Such a treat to bring together a mezzanine full of pals and loved ones to mark the release of the new @ghibliotheque.bsky.social book, The Animation Atlas.
November 1, 2025 at 11:54 AM
Earlier this week... We launched a book! 📚
Such a treat to bring together a mezzanine full of pals and loved ones to mark the release of the new @ghibliotheque.bsky.social book, The Animation Atlas.
Such a treat to bring together a mezzanine full of pals and loved ones to mark the release of the new @ghibliotheque.bsky.social book, The Animation Atlas.
An intriguing trend I'm seeing on tiktok is a revival of the terms "forgotten", "ignored", "hidden", "underrated" while just preaching to the converted. Animation accounts getting huge engagement saying that The Tale of the Princess Kaguya or Wolfwalkers are overlooked gems. Overlooked... by who?
November 1, 2025 at 10:23 AM
An intriguing trend I'm seeing on tiktok is a revival of the terms "forgotten", "ignored", "hidden", "underrated" while just preaching to the converted. Animation accounts getting huge engagement saying that The Tale of the Princess Kaguya or Wolfwalkers are overlooked gems. Overlooked... by who?
Reposted by Michael Leader
DO NOT MISS The Word for World: The Maps of @ursulakleguin.com, Architectural Association, Bedford Sq, London. It's truly beautiful. (I've never been involved w a project that's had massive banners before, it's v exciting).
Spend time with the maps, inc my niche fave, The City Ansul from VOICES 💙
Spend time with the maps, inc my niche fave, The City Ansul from VOICES 💙
October 10, 2025 at 10:16 PM
DO NOT MISS The Word for World: The Maps of @ursulakleguin.com, Architectural Association, Bedford Sq, London. It's truly beautiful. (I've never been involved w a project that's had massive banners before, it's v exciting).
Spend time with the maps, inc my niche fave, The City Ansul from VOICES 💙
Spend time with the maps, inc my niche fave, The City Ansul from VOICES 💙
Off to London to interview Takeshi Koike
a yellow car is driving down a dirt road and the word unregistered is on the bottom
ALT: a yellow car is driving down a dirt road and the word unregistered is on the bottom
media.tenor.com
October 29, 2025 at 10:24 AM
Off to London to interview Takeshi Koike
Reposted by Michael Leader
Publication date confirmed for my next book: 5th March 2026!
helenmccarthy.net/the-manga-bi...
helenmccarthy.net/the-manga-bi...
The Manga Bible: launch date confirmed! - Helen McCarthy
It’s official – The Manga Bible launches on 5th March 2026! You can help me to supercharge the launch by sharing the news, pre-ordering, and asking your public library or school library to pre-order. ...
helenmccarthy.net
October 28, 2025 at 12:52 PM
Publication date confirmed for my next book: 5th March 2026!
helenmccarthy.net/the-manga-bi...
helenmccarthy.net/the-manga-bi...
Reposted by Michael Leader
Been itching to go to the BFI Mediatheque for years, and I was thrilled to discover they had the Countdown episodes from 1989 featuring the infamous white and red tiles.
September 12, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Been itching to go to the BFI Mediatheque for years, and I was thrilled to discover they had the Countdown episodes from 1989 featuring the infamous white and red tiles.
My colleagues at the BFI National Archive have acquired the Daily Star's infamous Liz Truss Lettuce livestream, leading to this cover story. All part of our project to preserve more onine video.
Full story here: www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-...
Full story here: www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-...
October 20, 2025 at 4:55 PM
My colleagues at the BFI National Archive have acquired the Daily Star's infamous Liz Truss Lettuce livestream, leading to this cover story. All part of our project to preserve more onine video.
Full story here: www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-...
Full story here: www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-...
Love this podcast anyway but it was particularly fun to hear @mrbasilpesto.bsky.social & @samuelwroberts.bsky.social talk about their routes to/through Japanese pop culture. Kore-eda, Ozu and Ghibli? Demon Slayer and anime blockbuster chat? Now we're talking.
New episode! The 'games set in Japan' hall of fame, plus our impressions of Absolum and Ball X Pit. Will a Persona or Yakuza game get mentioned? Perhaps!
The stakes have never been lower. Listen wherever you get podcasts:
open.spotify.com/episode/6jvy...
The stakes have never been lower. Listen wherever you get podcasts:
open.spotify.com/episode/6jvy...
The 'Games Set in Japan' Hall of Fame (plus Absolum and Ball X Pit)
open.spotify.com
October 18, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Love this podcast anyway but it was particularly fun to hear @mrbasilpesto.bsky.social & @samuelwroberts.bsky.social talk about their routes to/through Japanese pop culture. Kore-eda, Ozu and Ghibli? Demon Slayer and anime blockbuster chat? Now we're talking.
Reposted by Michael Leader
If you're an animation head like me and you're as shocked as I am by the absence of Arco and A Magnificent Life in this year's #LFF programme, they'll actually be playing across the UK as part of the French Film Festival! Worth the trip to Ciné Lumière, so long as you can handle a rowdy audience...
October 11, 2025 at 9:41 AM
If you're an animation head like me and you're as shocked as I am by the absence of Arco and A Magnificent Life in this year's #LFF programme, they'll actually be playing across the UK as part of the French Film Festival! Worth the trip to Ciné Lumière, so long as you can handle a rowdy audience...
Film in Print at BFI #LFF Day One: @tomhuddleston.bsky.social & @hannahstrong.co.uk on David Lynch, a panel on the art of the interview and an illustrated talk on the world's most important cinemas, plus a craft + career conversation between Kim Newman and Anna Bogutskaya!
October 12, 2025 at 8:13 AM
Film in Print at BFI #LFF Day One: @tomhuddleston.bsky.social & @hannahstrong.co.uk on David Lynch, a panel on the art of the interview and an illustrated talk on the world's most important cinemas, plus a craft + career conversation between Kim Newman and Anna Bogutskaya!
Reposted by Michael Leader
The Secret of Kells is, if not the definitive colonial horror for kids then the third purest expression of folklore put to film, behind Tomm’s later films.
Was not prepared for how hard Éiru would wreck me. A scrappy underdog story that transforms into a pained, beautiful cry for a peaceful world.
Was not prepared for how hard Éiru would wreck me. A scrappy underdog story that transforms into a pained, beautiful cry for a peaceful world.
October 8, 2025 at 10:03 PM
The Secret of Kells is, if not the definitive colonial horror for kids then the third purest expression of folklore put to film, behind Tomm’s later films.
Was not prepared for how hard Éiru would wreck me. A scrappy underdog story that transforms into a pained, beautiful cry for a peaceful world.
Was not prepared for how hard Éiru would wreck me. A scrappy underdog story that transforms into a pained, beautiful cry for a peaceful world.
Reposted by Michael Leader
Don't miss The Time Masters, a cult animated film by visionary science-fiction animator René Laloux (La Planète sauvage) and Jean Giraud aka Mœbius.
12 & 18 Oct at Ciné Lumière + intro by @michaeljleader.bsky.social @ghibliotheque.bsky.social (18 Oct)
🎟️ www.institut-francais.org.uk/cinema/the-t...
12 & 18 Oct at Ciné Lumière + intro by @michaeljleader.bsky.social @ghibliotheque.bsky.social (18 Oct)
🎟️ www.institut-francais.org.uk/cinema/the-t...
October 10, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Don't miss The Time Masters, a cult animated film by visionary science-fiction animator René Laloux (La Planète sauvage) and Jean Giraud aka Mœbius.
12 & 18 Oct at Ciné Lumière + intro by @michaeljleader.bsky.social @ghibliotheque.bsky.social (18 Oct)
🎟️ www.institut-francais.org.uk/cinema/the-t...
12 & 18 Oct at Ciné Lumière + intro by @michaeljleader.bsky.social @ghibliotheque.bsky.social (18 Oct)
🎟️ www.institut-francais.org.uk/cinema/the-t...
Reposted by Michael Leader
📚 Our new book is out today! 📚
The Animation Atlas, our round-the-world trip through the global history of animation, is now available from all good bookshops!
The Animation Atlas, our round-the-world trip through the global history of animation, is now available from all good bookshops!
October 9, 2025 at 1:45 PM
📚 Our new book is out today! 📚
The Animation Atlas, our round-the-world trip through the global history of animation, is now available from all good bookshops!
The Animation Atlas, our round-the-world trip through the global history of animation, is now available from all good bookshops!
📚 Our new book is out today! 📚
The Animation Atlas, our round-the-world trip through the global history of animation, is now available from all good bookshops!
The Animation Atlas, our round-the-world trip through the global history of animation, is now available from all good bookshops!
October 9, 2025 at 1:45 PM
📚 Our new book is out today! 📚
The Animation Atlas, our round-the-world trip through the global history of animation, is now available from all good bookshops!
The Animation Atlas, our round-the-world trip through the global history of animation, is now available from all good bookshops!
Reposted by Michael Leader
@michaeljleader.bsky.social On proud display in the Ghibli section at Kyobo Books in Seoul (the biggest bookshop in the country)!
October 9, 2025 at 7:55 AM
@michaeljleader.bsky.social On proud display in the Ghibli section at Kyobo Books in Seoul (the biggest bookshop in the country)!
Reposted by Michael Leader
It’s taken a couple of years, but I have now watched every film in @ghibliotheque.bsky.social Anime Movie Guide. Some if seen before, some were first time watches. My favourites were Akira, Belle, Millennium Actress, Mind Game and Your Name, but really there’s no bad film on the list.
September 27, 2025 at 11:29 AM
It’s taken a couple of years, but I have now watched every film in @ghibliotheque.bsky.social Anime Movie Guide. Some if seen before, some were first time watches. My favourites were Akira, Belle, Millennium Actress, Mind Game and Your Name, but really there’s no bad film on the list.
Reposted by Michael Leader
I went ahead and made a ranking of all thirty films featured in the book on Letterboxd!
boxd.it/P5W0e
boxd.it/P5W0e
Ghibliotheque Anime Movie Guide Films Ranked
Ranking all the movies featured in the Ghibliotheque Anime Movie Guide book.
boxd.it
September 27, 2025 at 11:29 AM
I went ahead and made a ranking of all thirty films featured in the book on Letterboxd!
boxd.it/P5W0e
boxd.it/P5W0e