If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you already know that I watch animated shows, such as the works of Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli. Just as I believe good children’s literature isn’t just for children, I believe that adults can appreciate good animation. This year Netflix has released two excellent animated shows that are not to be missed if you have the opportunity to watch them.
Hilda
Hilda is a magical show based on a series of graphic novels. Hilda is a brave, compassionate girl who can discover possibilities where other people only see problems. She lives in a sort of Scandinavian country, where she encounters trolls, giants, elves, nisse, and other weird and wonderful beings. Hilda is equal to any creature she meets, but she finds people a bit more difficult. Her greatest challenge is leaving the wilderness to live in the city.
For me, Hilda is comfort television, like a cup of hot chocolate. The world is one I’d want to visit, and I fell in love with many of the characters. You can’t help but want to sit down for a board game with Hilda and her mom. And you’ll find yourself wishing you could meet the Wood Man, even though he’ll walk into your house uninvited, make himself comfortable, and insult you. Like The Hobbit (the book) or Spirited Away, Hilda invites adults to embrace childhood wonder again.
So far, only one season of 13 episodes is available, though Netflix will eventually add a second season.
Aggretsuko
While Hilda is a children’s show that adults will love, Aggretsuko really is animation for adults. This is a side of Sanrio that was totally new to me. Think Hello Kitty gets drunk at an office party. This is not one you watch with your three-year-old.
Retsuko is a 25-year-old red panda who hates her job. Her boss is literally a sexist pig who delights in making her life miserable. A responsible woman, Retsuko quietly takes everything that is piled on her, but she has a secret outlet: after work, she goes to a karaoke establishment and releases her tensions through death metal.
In ten 15-minute episodes, Aggretsuko takes viewers through the ups and downs of Retsuko’s life as she tries to either escape her job or make peace with her boss. Like Hilda, this is a show with marvelous characters, including the fabulously cool Washimi; sweet but awkward Haida; and cute, calculating Tsunoda. Even if you’ve never had to deal with a boss like Retsuko’s, you’ll find yourself relating to some of the situations she faces. After all, we all have days when it would feel great to go into a room by ourselves and scream.
My child and I watched Aggretsuko in Japanese with English subtitles. It is also available in other languages, including English. Like Hilda, it will be renewed for a second season.
I’ve always told myself I wouldn’t use my “something wonderful” posts to review things that were already quite popular, so I initially thought I’d never write about Studio Ghibli. It seems like everyone I know is familiar with at least some of co-founder Hayao Miyazaki’s work. But a short conversation with someone outside of my circle of friends made it clear to me that many people haven’t even heard of Spirited Away or My Neighbor Totoro, much less watched them. So I decided to cover Studio Ghibli and Miyazaki after all.
If you are among those who have no idea what I’m talking about, here’s a brief introduction to Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli.
What is Studio Ghibli? And, who is Hayao Miyazaki?
Studio Ghibli is a Japanese animation studio, co-founded in 1985 by Miyazaki and Isao Takahata. Takahata created excellent animated features during his lifetime, but Miyazaki has a magic touch; he wrote and directed the studio’s best-known films outside of Japan. If you have watched only a few Studio Ghibli films, I’m willing to bet that they were all Miyazaki’s work.
Miyazaki is a master storyteller, and his movies are always beautifully animated. Although each of his films is distinct from the others, certain themes pop up frequently in his work:
Flight. Miyazaki has the heart of an aviator. Castle in the Sky involves airships and a floating city. A witch’s ability to fly is at the heart of Kiki’s Delivery Service. Porco Rosso is about an aviator, and The Wind Rises is about an aeronautical engineer.
Magic. Miyazaki is one of those people who, to steal a phrase from a friend, “Went to fairyland and never came back.” His films frequently feature wizards, witches, or mythical beings. Miyazaki’s world is infused with magic.
The environment. Many of Miyazaki’s films touch on the importance of preserving nature. Princess Mononoke and Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind both feature a conflict between humans and nature. Ponyo’s father, the sorcerer Fujimoto, is deeply concerned about what humans are doing to the world, particularly to the oceans. And when Ponyo decides to become a human, she throws the balance of nature out of whack.
War. Miyazaki is hardly the only Japanese film-maker and animator to touch on war. You can find the scars of Hiroshima and Nagasaki everywhere from Godzilla movies to Star Blazers. War is present in many of Miyazaki’s films, and it’s never glorified.
Absentee parents. Many people have noticed how many Disney characters are motherless children. Similarly, one or both parents are often missing in Miyazaki’s films, though they aren’t necessarily dead. In My Neighbor Totoro, Satsuki and Mei’s mother is in the hospital. In Ponyo, Sosuke’s father is a captain on a fishing boat, so busy with his work that he’s never home. Pazu and Sheeta, the main characters in Castle in the Sky, are both orphans. And I’m just getting started.
Strong female characters. If you want great female role models for your children, Miyazaki’s movies are the way to go. Girls are often central characters in his stories. They are brave and powerful. San and Lady Eboshi, two female characters in Princess Mononoke, are strong opposing forces in the struggle between humans and nature. Chihiro of Spirited Away is on a mission to save her parents… and in the process, she rescues other beings in the spirit world. Ponyo is unstoppable in her quest to become a human.
Joe Hisaishi’s music adds to the magic.
Miyazaki’s masterful storytelling isn’t all that makes so many Studio Ghibli features masterpieces. Many of his best films have gorgeous scores composed by Joe Hisaishi. Search for “Ghibli Music” on YouTube and you’ll find several long compilations of music from the movies; most of the songs on these compilations will be Hisaishi’s. You can listen to jazz versions, piano versions, harp versions, music box versions. And like John Williams, Hisaishi composes concert-worthy film scores.
Disney has played a key role in bringing these films to the U.S.
Before Disney got involved, Miyazaki’s work was already making it over to the U.S. in subtitled or dubbed versions. But Disney knows a good thing when they see it, and in the mid-’90s they began distributing Studio Ghibli films outside of Japan. They arranged for high-quality English dubs and re-dubs, bringing in renowned actors to do the voice work. While I generally prefer to watch anime with subtitles, I enjoy most of Disney’s English dubs.
What follows is by no means an exhaustive list of the works of Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli. I couldn’t get my hands on one Studio Ghibli film — Ocean Waves — and Miyazaki has had a very prolific career. Several of his short films can be viewed only at the Studio Ghibli museum in Japan. That said, I included as many films as I could, and even a couple of television series — one that Miyazaki directed for a while, and another that was co-produced by Studio Ghibli. Unless you are a big Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli fan already, I hope that this list will either introduce you to these films for the first time or at least introduce you to some work that you didn’t already know.
I’ve arranged this list from “must-sees” — the movies that I strongly urge you to watch, even if you never watch another Miyazaki or Studio Ghibli film beyond those — to a few that I encourage you to skip, unless you are a die-hard fan who feels the urge to watch everything. Although most of the trailers I found don’t capture the movies the way I wish they did, I’ve included trailers whenever possible to give you a taste of each film or series.
Must-Sees
Castle in the Sky (1986) — Written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki
When I think of my favorite Studio Ghibli films, this is the first one that comes to mind. A fantasy with a touch of steampunk, Castle in the Sky jumps into action right from the start as an airship is attacked by sky pirates. Miyazaki delivers lots of adventure studded with moments of quiet beauty, such as a visit to a garden on a legendary floating island. This is a great starting point for people who are new to Studio Ghibli and Miyazaki.
My Neighbor Totoro (1988) — Written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki
My Neighbor Totoro is the classic Studio Ghibli film. Totoro is incorporated in the studio’s logo, and you can find all sorts of stuffed toys and other gifts featuring the character. This sweet film is one of two ideal Studio Ghibli starting points for young children (the other is Ponyo). The action and adventure in this movie are on a smaller, more personal scale than Castle in the Sky, well-suited to a younger audience. I don’t know anyone who isn’t completely taken with the magical creatures in the story — not only Totoro (particularly the big Totoro) but also “soot sprites” and a Catbus.
Spirited Away (2001) — Written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki
When Spirited Away won Best Animated Feature in the 75th Academy Awards, that may have been the tipping point that moved Miyazaki from a cult favorite to a famous name in the United States. This story is a fairy tale in which the hero, a girl named Chihiro, must rescue her parents from a curse and escape from the spirit world. As in many fairy tales, Chihiro befriends magical beings who help her on her quest. While the formula is classic, the story and characters are like nothing you’ve seen before. Except for the soot sprites…
Princess Mononoke (1997) — Written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki
This powerful film is not for young children. A fairy tale with strong environmentalist themes, Princess Monoke is about a war between humans and the beings of the surrounding forest. The characters are complex; neither side in this war is wholly good or wholly evil. The movie is very violent and very moving.
Ponyo (2008) — Written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki
This is the other film that I consider a great Studio Ghibli starting point for young children. Ponyo, the fish-child of a sorcerer and a sea goddess, escapes from home and befriends a human child. Once she has had a literal taste of the human world, she will let nothing stop her from rejoining her friend as a human herself — thus upsetting the balance of nature. The story is clearly inspired by “The Little Mermaid,” and it’s the best take on that fairy tale that I’ve ever seen (albeit very different from the original).
Howl’s Moving Castle (2004) — Written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki
Howl’s Moving Castle is based on the book by Diana Wynne Jones, though it has been simplified for the screen. While I can be a purist about these things, I think the simplification was necessary. Most of the Miyazaki movies I love best are original stories or, in the case of Ponyo, complete reinterpretations, but this is one of the happy exceptions to that rule. It’s also one of the few Miyazaki films with a full-fledged romance.
The Cat Returns (2002) — Written by Reiko Yoshida and directed by Hiroyuki Morita
The Cat Returns is the only non-Miyazaki anime from Studio Ghibli that I consider a must-see. Although the animation isn’t as beautiful as the other movies in this group, I enjoy the story and characters. Haru is an awkward teenager who rescues a cat. Unfortunately, he turns out to be cat royalty, and his father sees fit to reward Haru by arranging for her marriage to his son. With the help of Muta (a cat), the Baron (a cat figurine that comes to life), and Toto (a raven), Haru tries to escape an unwanted marriage and gains confidence in the process. This movie is actually the sequel to Whisper of the Heart (below), but it stands on its own. The score, by Yuji Nomi, is lovely.
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984) — Written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind was created before the founding of Studio Ghibli. The story is an environmental fable about a post-apocalyptic world in which humans fight for survival among poisonous forests filled with angry insects. It’s pretty heavy, so I don’t recommend it for small children. Despite the serious subject matter, I strongly suggest you don’t miss Miyazaki’s breakthrough film.
Highly Recommended
Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989) — Written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki
My child was offended that I listed this film as “highly recommended” instead of “must-see,” but this is, after all, just my opinion. Kiki’s Delivery Service is a lovely story about a young witch who moves away from home and establishes (surprise!) a delivery service. The movie is cute, your kids (if you have any) will love it, and you will enjoy watching it with them; however, I don’t think it measures up to the very best of Miyazaki’s movies — perhaps because it was based on an existing book rather than coming straight from his imagination.
Porco Rosso (1992) — Written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki
Once upon a time, an aviator named Marco was turned into a pig… or rather, a sort of pig-man. Porco Rosso takes place after that transformation. It’s a sweet story, but it is probably more to adult tastes than many of Miyazaki’s movies.
The Wind Rises (2013) — Written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki
The Wind Rises is Miyazaki’s last film to date. A loving tribute to a Japanese aircraft designer, this movie is both sad and beautiful. Before you watch it with your children, keep in mind that there is some disturbing content, including an earthquake and a character who suffers from tuberculosis.
The Secret World of Arrietty (2010) — Written by Hayao Miyazaki and Keiko Niwa and directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi
Based on The Borrowers, The Secret World of Arrietty is an engaging film that retains the spirit of the book, but — like Kiki’s Delivery Service — it doesn’t have that spark that makes it a must-see. It also lacks the depth of most of Miyazaki’s films, so while most adults won’t mind watching it, the movie probably has greater appeal for children.
My Neighbors the Yamadas (1999) — Written and directed by Isao Takahata
This sweet, funny anime is a series of shorts about family. The animation style is very different from most Studio Ghibli films, but it is beautiful in its own way. Overall, I thought the movie was a delightful exploration of the ups and downs of family life.
From Up on Poppy Hill (2011) — Written by Hayao Miyazaki and Keiko Niwa and directed by Gorō Miyazaki
You’re going to see the name “Gorō Miyazaki” pop up occasionally on this list; one of Hayao Miyazaki’s sons, he has begun directing some anime with mixed success. From Up on Poppy Hill is probably one of his best-loved anime, a coming-of-age film set in 1960s Japan. Much of the focus of the film is on a convoluted romance between the two main characters, so it will probably appeal more to older children and adults.
Whisper of the Heart (1995) — Written by Hayao Miyazaki and directed by Yoshifumi Kondō
The Baron from The Cat Returns was first introduced in this movie, though his role here is very different. The Baron never truly comes to life, except in the imagination of Shizuku, a young writer. This coming-of-age film gets a bit angst-y at times and has a somewhat awkward romance, but it’s worth seeing, despite those bumpy patches.
Only Yesterday (1991) — Written and directed by Isao Takahata
This slice-of-life movie alternates between the story of 27-year-old Taeko, a woman on vacation in the country, and flashbacks to her childhood. At times, it felt like it dragged on, but sometimes the most mundane scenes — such as one in which the adult Taeko assists with a harvest — are absolutely beautiful. The story continues into the end credits, so don’t stop watching when the credits roll.
The Tale of Princess Kaguya (2013) — Written by Isao Takahata and Riko Sakaguchi and directed by Isao Takahata
The Tale of Princess Kaguya is one of the most beautifully animated movies I’ve ever seen. Based on a Japanese folktale, the film tells a heart-breaking story about a miraculous child who is forced into a role she doesn’t want. Its runtime is more than two hours, but it never bogs down.
The Castle of Cagliostro (1979) — Written by Hayao Miyazaki and Haruya Yamazaki and directed by Hayao Miyazaki
This is another of Miyazaki’s pre-Studio Ghibli movies, part of an enormous body of work about Lupin III, a master thief. Miyazaki had already done work on part one of the Lupin III television series when he was hired to direct The Castle of Cagliostro, the second theatrically released movie. This isn’t really like Miyazaki’s later work — after all, he was working with a pre-existing character — but it’s fun and action-packed.
Not Bad, But…
Ronja, the Robber’s Daughter (2014-15) — Written by Hiroyuki Kawasaki and directed by Gorō Miyazaki
This series almost doesn’t count as a Studio Ghibli film; it was co-produced by Studio Ghibli, but the animation was done by Polygon Pictures. The series is an extremely faithful adaptation of Astrid Lindgren’s Ronia, the Robber’s Daughter — in fact, while I’m normally a fan of faithful adaptations, I feel like they could have made some cuts and hurried the story along a little. The animation bugged me and my child a bit in the beginning, but we got used to it. Overall, it’s a high-quality series — the kind that might run on PBS. Right now it is streaming on Amazon Prime; according to Wikipedia, it will eventually be released by GKIDS.
Grave of the Fireflies (1988) — Written and directed by Isao Takahata
Grave of the Fireflies is an anime classic, so I feel a little guilty about putting it on this part of the list, but it is extremely depressing. I do willingly watch and appreciate sad movies, but in my opinion, the merits of this one don’t outweigh how hard it is to watch. The movie definitely does a great job illustrating the horrors of war.
When Marnie Was There (2014) — Written and directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi
When Marnie Was There is based on a book by the same name. At the time of this writing, its Wikipedia entry notes that the critical consensus on Rotten Tomatoes is that it is “still blessed with enough visual and narrative beauty to recommend, even if it isn’t quite as magical as Studio Ghibli’s greatest works.” Perhaps that lack of magic is why I couldn’t bring myself to put this on my “highly recommended” list. Yes, it is beautiful, but now that I’ve seen it once, I don’t need to see it again.
Sherlock Hound (1984-85) — Various writers and directors, including Hayao Miyazaki
Miyazaki directed the first six episodes of this Sherlock Holmes-inspired series. It is a not-unpleasant cartoon for young children, but after five episodes, I thought, “Okay, that’s enough.” (This was before I realized that Miyazaki had not directed all 26 episodes in the series. I might have powered through one more, but by the time I learned that I had only one Miyazaki episode left, I didn’t feel that going back to watch that episode would change my opinion of the series.) I wouldn’t go as far as to say, “Don’t bother,” but I also don’t think you need to make an effort to see these.
Only for Die-hard Fans
Tales from Earthsea (2006) — Written by Gorō Miyazaki and Keiko Niwa and directed by Gorō Miyazaki
Tales from Earthsea is very loosely based on some of the Earthsea novels, particularly The Farthest Shore and Tehanu. (Apparently Ursula LeGuin said, “It is not my book. It is your movie.”) This is one of the least popular Studio Ghibli movies ever produced, although apparently it did well in the box office in Japan. Even if the movie stood on its own and didn’t pretend to be based on LeGuin’s novels, it’s surprisingly dull for its genre. Or maybe I was just sleepy when I watched it.
Pom Poko (1994) — Written and directed by Isao Takahata
Maybe I don’t like Pom Poko because it doesn’t speak to me culturally. The movie is an environmental tale about a group of tanuki, Japanese raccoon dogs, that declare war on the developers who are destroying their forest. Certain elements of Japanese folklore about tanuki show up in this movie — including the notion that they have shape-shifting powers, as well as an emphasis on the size of their testicles. While there’s a lot of humor, Pom Poko is also very sad. There are scenes that are littered with dead tanuki. And while the movie is “only” 119 minutes long, it seems to drag on and on.
Panda! Go, Panda! (1972) — Written by Hayao Miyazaki and directed by Isao Takahata
I used to check Panda! Go, Panda! out from the library for my child to watch (without actually watching it myself — shame on me). She enjoyed it, so when I started working on this post and found I could no longer get the movie from the library, I bought it, thinking it would be a worthwhile addition to our collection of Miyazaki and Ghibli-related films. That was a mistake. The dubbing is extremely annoying — particularly the voice for Papa Panda. My child has seen a version with subtitles and claims that’s much better, but you are far more likely to run across the dubbed version that I bought. The DVD technically has two Panda! Go, Panda! movies on it — the original and Panda! Go, Panda!: The Rainy Day Circus. I made it through the first movie and couldn’t bring myself to continue.
In addition to being annoyed by the dub, I kept thinking about how the story wouldn’t fly today. A young grade-schooler, Mimiko, is left alone at home for several days when her grandmother, who is her caretaker, goes to an out-of-town funeral. While Grandma is gone, Mimiko lets a baby panda, Panny, and its father into her house and decides they should be a family. She is Panny’s mother, and Papa Panda plays the role of father to both of them. Nothing creepy about this story at all.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mtKB92WQEI
Bonus Video
On Your Mark (1995) — Written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki
“On Your Mark” is a music video to a song by Chage & Aska. The video tells a sci-fi story about two policemen who rescue an angelic being; the story jumps back and forth in time, offering alternate endings. If you have the opportunity to view this short work, I highly recommend it.
Although The Tick was a comic book superhero before he appeared on TV, I first encountered him in a 1994-96 cartoon. I fell in love with the quirky show, filled with ridiculous heroes and villains like Bipolar Bear and El Seed. The big blue hero is the subject of three different television series: the animated series, a brief-lived live action show in 2001, and now an Amazon Prime series.
The Tick is a muscly man in what appears to be a blue suit (it may be a part of The Tick himself). He is known for his “incredible strength, nigh invulnerability, and a teeny-tiny little brain.” Arthur is his crimefighting partner — an average man who acts as the brains of the duo. The Tick is optimistic and childlike; Arthur balances him with his adult realism. They’re the perfect pairing of crime-fighters — something that The Tick realizes long before Arthur does.
Beyond The Tick and Arthur, there are few similarities between the three shows and the comic book series (I admit that I’ve read only a handful of the comics). All of them include Arthur’s sister, Dot, who is not crazy about his “lifestyle.” All include an ancient villain known as The Terror. But there are big differences in terms of the supporting cast and tone of each iteration.
The animated series is a high-energy Saturday morning cartoon, suitable for most children but enjoyable for adults. In addition to The Tick and Arthur, frequently recurring characters include Die Fledermaus, a cowardly womanizer who resembles Batman, and American Maid, a Wonder Woman parody who’s one of the more competent heroes in the series. These two characters are unique to the cartoon; in the 2001 series, they were replaced by Batmanuel and Captain Liberty.
The 2001 series is well-loved (as is the animated series — both are rated a 7.9 out of 10 on IMDB). I confess that I’m not crazy about it. The humor is more adult, and the focus is on relationships, not crime-fighting. It comes across as a sitcom about superheroes. It has its moments; the episode “Arthur, Interrupted,” in which Arthur “comes out” as a superhero to his family, is pretty funny. But it can also be predictable. If I tell you to write a scene with two characters and a bulldog with a hand grenade in its mouth, you’d probably come up with something similar to part of the “Couples” episode.
Amazon has released six episodes of its series so far, and I’ve really enjoyed them. They’re darker than the other versions of The Tick, and Arthur takes longer to reconcile himself to being a hero. But it still retains much of the humor of the comic books and the other shows. The characters are delightful. I love Overkill, a Punisher-type character whose ill-matched partner is a boat with artificial intelligence.
If you love superheroes and silliness and have not yet experienced The Tick, it’s time to give it a try. Unless you’re into comic books, I’d recommend starting with the cartoon or the Amazon series. If you love The Tick and Arthur and their crazy adventures as much as I do, you’ll probably try all of the takes on these characters… and you may find that each is wonderful in its own way. You might even be inspired to bring your favorite character to life.
The Librarians television series owes its existence to three movies that aired on TNT between 2004 and 2008: The Librarian: Quest for the Spear, The Librarian: Return to King Solomon’s Mines, and The Librarian: Curse of the Judas Chalice.
Had those three movies not inspired the TV series, I wouldn’t be writing this post. The movies aren’t bad. They are enjoyable, though formulaic, Indiana Jones-style adventures with just a pinch of Harry Potter thrown in. They are not, however, “wonderful.” The Librarians is something else entirely.
The original Librarian, Flynn Carsen (played by Noah Wyle), is the only character from the original movies who shows up frequently in the television series. Chosen by the Metropolitan Public Library because of his exceptional intelligence and expertise in several different subjects, Flynn is charged with finding and retrieving magical artifacts, which are placed in the Library to keep them out of the wrong hands. Traditionally there is only one Librarian at a time, and he (the Librarian is often a male) is usually protected by a kick-ass Guardian (who tends to be female). The television series opens with the recruitment of a new Guardian, Colonel Eve Baird (Rebecca Romijn).
In addition to selecting Eve, the Library expands its staff with three new Librarians. Cassandra Cillian (Lindy Booth) is a math and science geek who is dying of a brain tumor that augments her talents, allowing her to visualize complex things in a manner reminiscent of Sherlock’s “mind palace.” Jacob Stone (Christian Kane) is an expert in art, history, and literature; his work is frequently published in academic journals under fake names. Ezekiel Jones (John Harlan Kim) is an egotistical master thief who understands technology inside and out. As these new recruits begin training under Eve and Jenkins (John Larroquette), caretake of the Library’s annex, Flynn and his work take a back seat to the stories of the new Librarians.
Of all of the characters, I find Flynn the least appealing, so his frequent absences from the show don’t bother me. Like Ezekiel, he’s arrogant, but somehow Ezekiel’s ego comes across as charming, and Flynn is just annoying. As you come to know Ezekiel, he shows a depth of character that makes him all that much more wonderful; Flynn, though significantly older than Jones, manages to come across as a perpetual child, a loner who is rarely willing to listen to or cooperate with others.
I like Eve, who is almost a mother figure to the three new Librarians (although there is an alternate timeline twist that casts her in a different role), but my favorite characters are the Librarians themselves and Jenkins, who develops from fussy old man into a beloved member of the team over the course of three seasons. I wouldn’t do without any of the Librarians, and it is hard for me to pick a favorite among them, although I especially enjoy the way Ezekiel’s character has evolved.
The series reminds me a lot of Doctor Who — even some of the music sounds similar. “The Promise of Action” from The Librarians reminds me of “I Am the Doctor,” and Cassandra’s theme is similar to Amy Pond’s theme. The Librarians are a bit more limited than the Doctor in his TARDIS, almost always traveling only to different present-day Earth locations rather than through “all of time and space,” but, like Doctor Who, there is an overarching theme to each season, with each episode providing a new problem to solve while propelling the team forward to the season’s finale. In Doctor Who, these problems are always tied to aliens, but in The Librarians, the encounters are related to magic (in fact, Jenkins informs the Librarians “It’s never aliens”). Whether or not the folks behind The Librarians had Doctor Who in mind as they worked on the series, they definitely gave it (and Back to the Future) a nod in an episode that actually did involve time travel.
Within the series, episodes makes references to everything from fairy tales and Greek mythology to Cthulu and horror movies. One of my favorite episodes, “…And Santa’s Midnight Run,” features Bruce Campbell as a marvelous Santa who changes incarnations several times throughout the episode.
The characters are what really pulled me into The Librarians, but I also love its wit and geeky references. If you haven’t watched this show yet, by all means, check out the first season; my guess is that you will move on to the second and third. You may want to watch the first Librarian movie to get a sense of what’s going on in the series, but you can skip the second and third unless you are a completest.
There are several reasons why I blog about two wildly different subjects: wonderful things and making a difference. First and foremost, these things are both very much a part of who I am. I have always been what one friend described as “an evangelist” for things I love. But making a difference is also important to me. I believe that my purpose on earth is not to live just for myself. I’m here — we’re all here — to embody God’s love for the world.
But I also write about these subjects because I believe both are important for a balanced life. If you spend all of your time consuming culture, no matter how wonderful it is, and no time reaching out to others, you’ve wasted your life. But if you are a very earnest person who is always driven to make a difference and who can never simply relax and have fun, you are in danger of burning out or becoming self-righteous. We need to work hard to make the world a better place, and we need time to rest and play.
This post was born from that need to rest. The world seems darker lately, and it can become easy to be overwhelmed by all of the bad news. It is important to be informed. It is important to stand up for what’s right and to work toward change. But we also need to take care of ourselves. Some of that self-care involves eating right and getting exercise and spending time with loved ones. But sometimes we just need to escape.
I was reflecting on this last week, and I asked my friends on Facebook to let me know what they watched or read when they needed comfort. I hadn’t been thinking about a blog post when I asked, but as the answers came pouring in, I knew I had to share them on the blog. This is my first post that will include references to things I have not sampled at all, but I can assure readers that one or more people told me that they found comfort in these.
Light nonfiction TV
More than one person has told me that they find the old Bob Ross painting shows relaxing, but his are not the only nonfiction TV shows you can turn to. Consider The Great British Baking Show or The Great British Bake Off(the name had to be changed for American audiences), Antiques Roadshow, even car shows (one friend watches Top Gear and The Grand Tour). You might also consider watching some of Norway’s “slow TV” shows, though I wouldn’t want to watch an entire episode in one sitting. The important thing is that you choose something light — shows that are depressing or that raise your blood pressure are out.
Sources for Bob Ross shows included PBS, Netflix, and YouTube.
The Great British Baking Show is not currently on the air, but public television supporters can stream it online, or you can purchase it on Amazon.
You can watch Antiques Roadshow on public television, or it can be purchased on Amazon.
You can watch Top Gear on BBC America or Netflix, or you can purchase it from YouTube, the BBC Store, iTunes, or Amazon.
The Grand Tour is available on Amazon.
Eight different slow TV shows are available on Netflix, including “Train Ride Bergen to Oslo,” “National Knitting Night,” “Salmon Fishing,” and “National Firewood Night.” “National Firewood Morning” is only two hours and five minutes long, but the remaining episodes range from just under four hours to more than 11 hours.
Sitcoms and funny movies
Many people brought up sitcoms and funny movies when they talked about what they watched for comfort. The sitcoms included older shows, like Cheers (that one was mentioned more than once), and current series, like The Big Bang Theory. Among the movies mentioned, Fried Green Tomatoes, which has both comic and tragic moments, came up twice. One person mentioned Jackie Chan movies, and another brought up The Full Monty. The key is turning to things that make you laugh and that, as one friend mentioned, are worth multiple viewings.
Old favorites
Another theme among the responses from my friends was finding comfort in favorite books and movies. In some ways, the category above overlaps with this category, since in many cases my friends were returning to shows that had made them laugh before. When we feel uncertain about the future, it makes sense that we seek out things that have given us pleasure in the past. I’ve done that with the original Star Trek (one of my friends also mentioned that series), as well as with The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings (the books, not the movies, though Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings is stunning). One of my friends did mention all of Jackson’s Tolkien movies. People told me that they found comfort in Andy Griffith, The Green Mile, Return to Me, the Twilight series, Casablanca, Dirty Dancing, and Maeve Binchy’s books. One person mentioned The Chronicles of Narnia, a couple mentioned L.M. Montgomery, and someone else noted that any favorite book from childhood was comforting. Like sitcoms and funny movies, this is a very personal category. Whatever feels “comfortable” to you, like a pair of jeans worn to softness, is worth turning to in difficult times.
Jane Austen
Jane Austen came up often enough that I decided she needed her own category. My friends frequently turn to her books and to movies about her books for a comforting escape. The 1994 version of Pride and Prejudice (you know, the one with Colin Firth) came up more than once, and some of my friends also love the 1995 version of Persuasion with Amanda Root. But overall, the feeling seemed to be “anything Austen.”
Relaxing games
When my daughter was going through a difficult time at the beginning of high school, she ran across Ferry Halim’s collection of games at Orisinal. The games tend to be cute and positive; her favorite, Casanova, involves kissing giraffes. She frequently turned to these games when she was feeling anxious, and while she doesn’t play them much now, she still loves them. I’m not much of a game player, but the game Constellations, in which you use jellyfish to catch stars, brought a smile to my face. The games require Adobe Flash to play.
This week, let’s all — myself included — make a commitment to limit our exposure to the news. Consider restricting both the number of times per day that you tune into some sort of news source as well as the amount of time you spend consuming news. Take time to think of how you can respond to what bothers you; take time to take care of yourself; and make sure you take a little time this week for some sort of escapist comfort. We’re human beings with human limitations, and we need to honor those limitations by allowing ourselves time to relax.
