Studio Ghibli - Japan's Oscar-winning animators
Ashley Byrne explores the creation of Japan's Studio Ghibli and the early days of the great animation studio. From 2020.
*** Broadcast as part 4 Extra's The Stories of Studio Ghibli season.
In August 1986, the first Studio Ghibli film hit the cinema screens.
It would go on to bring Japanese animation to a world audience.
Hirokatsu Kihara was a young animator who joined the studio to work on Castle in the Sky, its first feature length film.
He spoke to Ashley Byrne of Made in Manchester about the early days of the great animation studio.
Producer: Ashley Byrne
A Made in Manchester production for the BBC World Service, first broadcast in 2020.
Photo: Oscar-winning animator Hayao Miyazaki, one of the founders of Studio Ghibli. Credit: Getty Images.
On radio
Broadcasts
- Christmas Eve 202008:50BBC World Service
- Christmas Eve 202012:50BBC World Service
- Christmas Eve 202018:50BBC World Service except East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa
- Christmas Eve 202023:50BBC World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only
- Christmas Day 202003:50BBC World Service except Americas and the Caribbean, East Asia & South Asia
- Monday10:45BBC Radio 4 Extra
- Monday16:45BBC Radio 4 Extra
- Tuesday00:45BBC Radio 4 Extra
Featured in...
![]()
The Stories of Studio Ghibli
Celebrating the 40th anniversary of Studio Ghibli's first release

