Howl's Moving Castle (Jackson's Anime Adventure) | TNP EP. 136 - The Nerdiest Podcast

Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Bob Iger pulls out a remote and presses a button and wheels in
Walt Disney. And, but it's like, but it's
like a robot and it like has hishead.
And they're like, guys, because of AI, because of just
technological advancements, we unfroze Walt Disney's head,
which has been under the park forever, by the way, and he is

(00:24):
our new CEO, to come back. Thus, our movies are racist
again. That's right everyone, Walt
Disney is back. We're making a Nazi propaganda
again. We're doing live action Song of
the South with Dwayne Johnson and it's kind of be great.

(01:04):
Hello and welcome to the nerdiest podcast when nerds talk
about nerdy things. As always, I'm one of your
hosts, Mr. Jackson Glass. Bye.
Joined by my Ride or die, the host with the most who is always
sleep deprived, Mr. Nick Bear. And as always, we're here
together to talk about movies and something exciting.
So we got a lot of news to covertoday, an update on the

(01:27):
Chick-fil-A streaming service coming up, a lot of different
Disney announcements that we're some excited about, some not.
And then later in this episode we are talking about the famous
Studio Ghibli movie, Howl's Moving Castle.
Now this was voted by the peopleof the Nick, but no K YouTube
channel. You guys voted for Howl's Moving

(01:51):
Castle for this episode of Jackson's anime adventure.
And this is the first time I've seen it and I'm really excited
to talk about it. So thank you so much for joining
us here today. If you don't already, you should
follow us on Instagram at the underneath podcast, YouTube at
the underneath podcast. And if that's not enough, you
can go to the nerdepodcast.com and order some new, new merch
for yourself, for your friends, everyone there.

(02:12):
So we're going to get into all that here in just a minute.
But first, Mr. Nick, how was your week?
Well, on a scale of ride or die,I'm feeling pretty close to
ride. It hasn't been a bad week.
It it, I mean, it's been tiring,but not like I wanna die.
Like I feel more energized now than I have all week.

(02:34):
But that's also because this afternoon was pretty hype 'cause
I went and did my civic duty andI voted in the election.
And what the Frick is a kilometer?
And then I got a burger for lunch.
I was like, yeah, it's America day of.

(02:57):
The free for for our American listeners, you know.
It's we're doing. We're, we're in election season
right now and this is the first time that I voted, the first
time I got to vote. I've been of.
I'm finally of age and I can vote.
Technically you were of age the last election, were you not?
No. No, you weren't because I was

(03:18):
just a voting age and you're younger than me.
I was the, IT was the midterm that you forgot to vote in and I
gave you, I gave you a. Lot of crap for that.
Well, you weren't. You didn't register in time.
Oh well, no one educated me on that.
I did. I figured, oh, he was there for
the 2020 election, he'll be sureto get registered, and I wasn't.

(03:39):
Anyway. Anyway, it's a big, big, big fun
time. Hopefully by the time the next
episode comes out, all of this will be over because the
election is in real 10 days. Oh gosh.
I think it's less than two weeksand I'm like, OK, so maybe this
time it will be over like a couple days after instead of

(04:02):
being dragged out until January,today's November. 5th.
Like I just, I want it to all besettled and done that week so
that we can all accept it eitherway it goes and move on and
enjoy Thanksgiving, Christmas and of course the most important

(04:25):
holiday, Black Friday. So.
And of course, the release of Sonic Three.
True, true, so true. The only thing that can unite
this country. So yeah, I went and voted today.
It's voting's fun. I don't like, I don't know, it's
just a fun time if you don't have to stand in a line for like
10 hours, get Some places make you fill out with a circle pen,

(04:50):
other places make you punch buttons on a screen.
I got to do both. Oh, you did both.
So it well, it like gave me thislittle slip and then I punched
the number, the buttons on the machine and then it printed it
out physically on the ballot. And then that's what I turned
down. So it wasn't purely digital, but
it also wasn't purely physical. Great blending of both.

(05:10):
Speaking of, that's. What I did too.
Blending of digital and physical.
I went and saw a movie last week.
Or well, I guess it was two weeks ago, but I didn't see it
in time to talk about on the last episode.
I went and saw the hit movie that has gone completely under
the radar and under recognized this year.
Transformers One dude legitimately might be the best

(05:34):
movie I've seen all year. Really.
Like all year. Like my, my top 4 right now is
my hero 'cause I went and saw that that was really good Spy
Family at #2 one of the Bunny girl senpai movies at 3:00.
And then Transformers 1, like itis right there and I'm like,

(05:55):
dude, what can I say? Look, look.
I try not to throw this word around too much.
It's peak like, easily the best Transformers movie, easily the
like best family movie we've gotten in a while.
And this kind of ties back into the episode we did a couple
weeks ago about why don't they make good family movies?

(06:16):
Well, they do, but then when they do, people don't go see
them. So like, Transformers 1 is a
incredible family movie because I went with one of my other
young adult friends and we both like had a great time, even
though we're not like kids, but we're both Transformers fans.
So we had a lot of fun seeing that.

(06:37):
It was really funny. The action was really well done.
Chris Hemsworth did an incredible job as Orion packs
slash Optimus Prime and then what's his name, Brian Tyree
Hen. I want to make sure I get his
name right 'cause he did an incredible job.

(06:58):
Brian Tyree Henry. That's his name.
I need to see it. He did an incredible job as D16
slash Megatron in one of the, I think, the best vocal
performances this year. So you do need to see it.
It's on digital, but you could probably still swing in a

(07:18):
theater and see it. I could probably still swing to
a theater. And I think the theater's
probably the better way to see it.
What I am concerned about is that this amazing movie will not
do well enough financially. And they will Yoinky Sploinky
the sequel that they had plannedaway, which is what I don't want
them to do because it it's a like satisfying like story

(07:42):
overall, but it's also like theytease very well for a sequel.
Like you could do a trilogy, youcould make it a ongoing film
series. I don't know.
It's I mean, you could even moveit into a new show if you wanted
to. It's it was just good.

(08:03):
And I really like the story. The story dealt a lot with
injustice and the ways to deal with that.
And I contemplated making a video about it, but then I'm
trying to have more pieces of media that I just enjoy and
don't necessarily make content about.
You have to monetize everything.Yeah, I'm trying to do that

(08:23):
less. But it was, it was really good.
And if you haven't seen it, I highly recommend you watch it.
I want to get the steel book when it comes out in December.
And I might watch it again between now and then.
Or I might just wait till I get the steel book.
And if I do that, it might jump even closer to #1 So we'll,

(08:48):
we'll see how that goes. But.
We'll see. Outside of fighting I haven't
been doing much, just making videos on YouTube work and I'm
streaming on twitch now so if you want to go follow me on
twitch. It's Nick under score with no
under score. K so nice playing Twilight
Princess HD for a while. That's wild.

(09:09):
So what about you? How have you been?
You know, on ride or die. I'm riding baby.
Let's go double ride. Can we get a shirt?
Dude, never say double ride everagain.
One of those I thought about it like after I said it.

(09:31):
Double ride baby. We can.
We make a shirt that's like a spectrum and it just says ride
on one side and die on the other.
I'm doing good. It was a good week.
My my homework just kind of dropped off the face of the
planet. And then there's just like,
yeah, no homework was like, oh, sick.

(09:54):
I'm in. So I really just been doing a
lot of work. I've I've just gotten a lot of
rest. Yesterday morning was, I think
the most sleep I've gotten in a single night in maybe a year.
Just be in like a very, very long time 'cause I went to bed
at like 11, which isn't early, that's late to go to bed.

(10:18):
But then I woke up at like 9 andso I was like, oh OK, like I
actually like felt good. But it was also like I had class
at like 9:30. So it was the, it was the only
time I've rushed to class in thelast like 2 years.
I was like man, freshman move. So anyway, that was, that was

(10:39):
really great to just kind of catch up on some rest and some
sleep. I'm at a point right now that
I've that I for a term I coined in high school called living in
the kitchen. And it's essentially when you're
living in the kitchen, you're always cooking something.
So I've just worked on, I'm living in the kitchen right now.

(10:59):
We're working on our next EP right now, which is super
exciting. If you don't follow Jackson
Glass on Spotify, we're doing anEP series.
That one's almost done, which isso exciting.
I'm working really hard on a short film that will be in
production very soon. I'm excited about that.
It's very different from anything I've ever made, so
that's really good. I did that.

(11:21):
I've worked on a couple videos for other people, just doing
like a lot of contract work, working on a music video for
someone that'll hopefully be outvery soon.
So, you know, I'm just also doing YouTube stuff.
I edited a ton of shorts today. I'm writing a couple videos,
we're working on podcast stuff. We're trying to like get back
into a good podcast rhythm. But man, I'm, I'm living in the

(11:43):
kitchen. I'm living in the kitchen and
it's exhausting, but it's so filling and I'm just, I'm just
happy to be here. I haven't been watching a ton of
stuff. We're kind of like we're getting
like our Halloween movies out ofthe way because I don't really
like Halloween movies. That's so fun.
But we want to watch like a few before.
So we watched like The NightmareBefore Christmas the other day.

(12:05):
That's a great movie, but that'snot a Christmas movie.
That is a Halloween movie through and through.
So really, I just want to watch The Haunted Mansion and then
I'll be good. It's almost Christmas time,
guys. November.
First, we're so close. We are so freaking close.
I do not like Halloween. I it's it's just not for me.
It's the spooky, like I like autumn vibes, like if you want

(12:29):
to do like Jack O lanterns and like, you know, leaves falling
and cool weather and sweater like sweaters and stuff that is
10 out of 10. But like Halloween as it just
it's just tacky. Like Halloween decorations don't
look good. Everything's just kind of
disturbing and gross. Like all the streaming services

(12:50):
are just trying to push you horror movies that would
traumatize me. Like I I'm just not about it.
Like all around. I'd rather just have Christmas,
but hey, are you? Do you have a costume this year?
What's your? My costume is still living at
home. 22 year old who can barelyafford gas.

(13:15):
OK. Hopefully it's the last year I
have to break out this costume, but one can only hope.
That's great. No, I don't have a costume.
This year. I might, I don't know, 'cause
like some of my family's coming in town to do like some trick or
treating stuff in our neighborhood, which is really

(13:35):
more for my younger sister and my younger cousins.
So I'll probably be there. Like I might throw my
Mandalorian helmet on or something just for funsies or
break out one of the lightsabersI have.
I. Don't know right, Like as an
adult you're not like oh, I'm dressing up, but it's like if
there's a big like party or likea family get together, something

(13:56):
like you should wear something like just to be fun.
Me and Amy are going in a couple's costume as the couple
from the fall guy. So that will be I need to go get
a leather jacket and I meant to do that like 3 weeks ago and
didn't so that's what I will be doing this weekend You're.
Trying to find the leather. Jacket It is a week from today

(14:20):
or yesterday. It's a week from yesterday.
Aware of how expensive leather jackets are.
OK, yes, because I was gonna getlike a real one, like one that
said like Miami Vice stunt team like in the movie, and I was so
like dead set on it. And then there wasn't one that

(14:41):
was below $80.00. And I was like, oh.
That's not even bad for a leather jacket.
That's actually pretty. Reasonable, but it was like an
Etsy like faux leather like fromDubai that I didn't know when it
would come in time. And it was just like $80.00 is a
little much for a Halloween costume.

(15:02):
I'm, I'm OK, so I'm going to go to Goodwill and see what I can
see, what I can ruffle up. It's going on a bad idea.
I know someone with a cricket machine so maybe they can just
put like the the little like Miami Vice thing on the back for
me. So I don't know.
Anyway, also disclaimer, I have been deep like chest coughing

(15:22):
for I'm on week 3. I just I'm at the end of my
third week of deep chest coughing.
If it's not better by the weekend, I am going to a doctor.
I was about to say, but you you might have to go to the doctor.
Brother, I might have bronchitis, but that's OK.
So if you hear me just like faintly coughing, that's me

(15:43):
attempting to jump out of the way of the microphone.
So I don't. Just it's OK, worst case
scenario I will fix it in editing.
Yeah, it'll be great. So I'll be too lazy.
It'll stop. No.
All right. Moving on.
Moving on. Some news.
Wicky wicky. Wow, nice time.
Perfect, perfect little drop. We need a Stream deck.

(16:06):
First things first, I have. One, I just don't know how to
use the soundboard with the recording.
I use them at work. I use it at work.
We play sound effects on it all the time.
It's so fun. Yeah, it's.
Crazy. Anyway, update on a a topic we
told you we would keep you updated on.
The Chick-fil-A streaming service has, yeah, Chick-fil-A
play and will launch on November18th.

(16:30):
Guys, first of all, what the actual heck?
Why? Second of all, why am I gonna
get it? You wanna go Hazi?
Definitely low key guys. Let's go with sharing.
And then both make let's do likea video about it.
Are they going? I wonder if it's gonna be its

(16:50):
own app or if they're gonna try to put it in the dining app.
I really hope it's its own app and they're not trying to like
put this in on the app where youorder food.
Well, also don't like this sounds super out of character,
but like, I don't remember how deep we went in the last time we

(17:12):
talked about this, but Chick-fil-A every year for
Christmas makes short films and they're very good.
They make very good animated short films.
And also the, I'm, I'm not gonnasay it because I don't 100% know
if it's true. There's a big, like a really big
studio in Atlanta that Chick-fil-A just bought.

(17:35):
And so it's like one of the like.
Big Atlanta studios. I am 99% sure that's true
because my work has a station inAtlanta or somewhere in Georgia
near Atlanta. And they also told us that there
was a big studio that just got bought.
OK, I heard it. I heard it from a dude from

(17:57):
church and he was like, yeah, mysister-in-law is a make, was the
makeup artist for for Twisters and she said they just got
bought out. And I was like, oh, sick.
So Chick-fil-A doing movie now. And honestly, I never thought, I
never thought that we had a chance in the movie world until
now. So.
Like here's the thing. Here's The thing is, like I I

(18:22):
really don't think they're gonnalose any money over this.
No like they're. They're so big, it's just kind
of a fun little experiment to see what happens.
And if they make money, great. If they don't, they can write it
off as a business expense and say, well we tried and then go
back to making food. Also, The thing is like they

(18:44):
think about this move as a brand, like Chick-fil-A.
Chick-fil-A is more of a brand than anything else because it's
they've always just done really high quality chicken sandwich,
fries, Mac and cheese, like sweet tea.
Like they have not ventured far from that at all.
But they say if we can consistently keep up that

(19:06):
quality and just build a brand, then we'll be successful.
And they have been. And so like, maybe that'll blend
over into their streaming service, then maybe they're just
like not reinventing the wheel, but they're like, yo, making the
streaming content isn't that hard.
Just get competent creators and don't like stifle them, right?

(19:30):
So like but also like nerdiest. And moving to Chick-fil-A play.
Hi, Key, Hi Key. Listen, sorry guys, if I'm just
saying I was in that voting booth today and if I could have
written in the name of whoever is running the Chick-fil-A drive
through, I would have done it. I mean, because they are running
that fool better than any president that I've ever known.

(19:52):
That is all I'm saying. So they there's more by the way.
The service will launch with a collection of original animated
shows, scripted podcasts, cooking shows and interactive
stories. So reel it back.
What the Frick is a scripted podcast.

(20:16):
That is a that's called a nominal question.
Yeah, that's called video tubes.I say what you mean scripted.
The whole point of a podcast is to not be scripted.
Like yes, you can have. No I feel like we just went over
this like 3 episode. We literally just talked.
About this, I'll keep it brief then.
The whole point of a podcast is to have a more unscripted format

(20:38):
where you can just talk about whatever.
Unless you've got notes. So are we.
Washed. Are we just doing the same
things? I, I don't know, see.
Also, like I think the key is the, it sounds like the
demographic for this will be more like children.
And so I'm really hoping that they're they're actually make it

(20:59):
engaging for adults too. And it's not just like, Oh yeah,
we're going to throw some cute cow shows for kids on there and
it's like, OK, that's not worth my seven $812.00 a month.
They haven't set up the price yet.
So like anyway I'm. Shocked they haven't told us the
price yet when it comes out in three weeks.
Yeah, but which also makes me wonder if, like, they're doing,

(21:23):
I don't know, like, are they at least free Amazon?
I mean, free with what if it's free with ads, but every ad is a
Chick-fil-A ad? That would be so baller.
We don't have to pay advertisersbecause all of our ads are our

(21:43):
own. I mean it's.
Kind of impeccable strategy, honestly.
I really. Interesting strategy.
We'll see if it works out for him.
Yeah. You wanna hit me?
Hit me with the next one. Oh, OK, hold on.
I gotta all right? Did you not have it up?
I, I did, it was just in a different tab.
So it was announced recently, sometime this week, while

(22:06):
Jackson hacks up along that Bob Iyer's successor as Disney CEO
will be announced in early 2026.Now that's still a little bit of
a ways away, so I don't know whythey felt the need to tell us
that now, unless it's like a lateral move of, well, we want
you to think we have some concept of a plan.

(22:30):
Yeah, that's what I was thinking.
But I don't know. I also think this is really
unrelated. Disney's not in a great spot
right now. Now, the downfall of Disney
right now is more in the parks than anything else because they
announced like a new, they're doing something different with
Lightning Lane now. And it's like everything, but

(22:55):
now it's like $200 per person, but it's per day per your trip
or some. And it's like, I don't know,
it's really wacky and really, really overpriced.
And then they're jacking up the price of everything else at the
parks, like the food, the merchandise, the desserts, like,
and they're also upping the annual annual pass price 2.

(23:19):
So they announce all of this stuff and like make these people
really upset. And then the next day Universal
comes in and is like, hey guys, we're opening a 1/3 park with
Nintendo and more Harry Potter and how to train your dragon and
villains and all this stuff. And we're doing a new hotel.
And our hotels are actually pretty fairly priced, not really
exceeding $250 a night. So if you guys want to come here

(23:44):
like that, that'd be cool too. Which, you know, you can't
really get a low end Disney hotel at 2:50 a night.
That's kind of that's your that's your floor, that's your
ceiling at Universal. I'm like OK.
All right, I see how it is. So yeah, anyway, back to the Bob
Iger thing. I don't really care.

(24:06):
Like. Well, it's, it's do you unless
they have some sort of self-awareness and they're like,
guys, don't worry, he's only here till 2026.
But also like who takes that position next?
He was supposed to be the great savior from Evil Bob Chapeck and
he literally has made things worse.
Somehow it got worse. Somehow Bob returned.

(24:31):
So which? So everyone drop a comment.
Which Bob do you think will be the next Disney?
Disney CEO? Bob the Tomato?
I was gonna say Bob the Builder,but Bob the Tomato is a great
option too. OK, here's a theory.
Let me let me lay this out. Disney has always been at the
forefront of technology, right? I think their next Disney CEO

(24:54):
will be an AI that has been infused with Walt Disney's
frozen brain. Now, hear me out, Walt.
They're like, guys, it's like big, like D 23/20/26.
And we're like, yo, who's the new CEO?
This is wild. And then Bob Iger pulls out a

(25:17):
remote and presses a button and wheels in Walt Disney.
And but it's like, but it's likea robot and it like has his
head. And they're like, guys, because
of AI, because of just technological advancements, we
unfroze Walt Disney's head, which has been under the park
forever, by the way, and he is our new CEO, to come back.

(25:41):
Thus, our movies are racist again.
That's right everyone, Walt Disney is back.
We're making a Nazi propaganda again.
We're. Doing live action Song of the
South with Dwayne Johnson and it's kind of be great.
Bray Rabbit will be voiced by Kevin Hart.

(26:03):
Yeah, that is, that's my theory.And if I'm wrong, then I owe you
$20. That's that's I'm gonna hold it
to that. I'm sticking to that bet.
I'm sticking to that. My bet is that they'll pick some
random corpo guy who we've neverheard of or it'll be Josh
tomorrow, which wouldn't be any better 'cause people don't like
him either. Not that like the CEO of a

(26:25):
company has to be liked by the patrons of said company, but
also it does a lot to your brandto have someone likeable
language. So I just, I don't know, I feel
like they're slowly but surely starting to learn the lesson of

(26:46):
how to make things good, but then they like take three steps
forward and five steps back. So we're still net negative too.
It's like. Oh, that was good.
Oh, but that was like, atrociously awful.
It's like they did the whole thing with like, well, they
didn't want to make or like theyhad a focus group or something,

(27:07):
say, or the creatives wanted to make Riley Gay in Inside Out
too. And then some of the higher ups
were like, maybe let's not do that.
And now it's the highest grossing animated movie of all
time. So like, OK, great, three steps
forward. And then they're like, oh, but
we're going to increase all of our park prices by like 50% and
OK, well, that's five steps back.

(27:28):
That's. Five steps back.
You're you're taking all of thatmoney and you're burning it
away. You need to stop.
As a continuation on this, our next news point, and this just
proves my theory by the way, is Disney announces major AI
initiative. That will feature.
Quote hundreds of people and be focused on post production and

(27:51):
VFX. And.
Announces production major AI initiative starts.
What is that? Production and then it starts in
visual effects and then it worksits way everywhere else.
How does that how like how? I don't know what they're
thinking here. What's the plan?

(28:14):
We. Literally just talked about AI
last episode. We cannot do it again for
another 20. Minutes.
I'm tired of AI. Stop calling every single
algorithm AI. That's not how this this isn't.
This isn't how this works. Exactly.
I can't. I can't do this, man.
I. Guys, guys, Fortnite is bad

(28:35):
because it has a IS. Spotify is bad because it has an
algorithm that recommended you this podcast episode.
That's why I use Apple Music. Apple Music also has an
algorithm that recommended someone in this podcast episode.
Yeah. Yeah, you're right.
So, so, so here's what's so frustrating.
And like, this is beating a deadhorse, so I won't spend too long

(28:55):
on it. But like, what is Disney going
to do in five years when we're done with the AI craze?
Yeah, like what happens when this fad is over?
Then what? And they're like, well, shoot.
And you've built your business. Hundreds of people yeah well,
open AI is bleeding money. They've they've lost they lose
like 700 KA day because they haven't learned how to monetize

(29:18):
entirely yet, but also they keeplike releasing new like they're
releasing new like features for the free tier.
And I'm like, hey, Dumbo, maybe if you want more people to pay,
you got to stop giving the people things for free, which is
like stupid, 'cause I'm with thefree things too.
But also like, this is just a general like cybersecurity

(29:40):
principle. If something is free, you are
the product. So it's like, oh, but but be
real is free. How does be real make money?
Fascinating, fascinating how be real wants your location
information, Huh? Fascinating, fascinating how be
real wants access to your your photo stream.

(30:02):
Fascinating how oh, but Instagram is free.
Fascinating how Instagram wants,you know, if something is free,
you are the product. And so it's like ChatGPT is the
exact same way. They're learning.
They're taking your data to update their training models so
that they can make more money. But it's not working because AI

(30:22):
is a fad and we keep saying it'sgoing to replace everyone's
jobs, but they said the same thing years ago.
Like anytime there's a new pieceof technology, we pretend it's
the end of the world and we're obsessed with it for 5-6 years
and then we realize, oh hey, by the way, when people with actual
bodies and brains and souls and hearts make stuff, it's better.
Who was going to tell me that weaccidentally proved that humans

(30:46):
actually have souls by creating a AI and showing what art would
look like if it didn't have one,correct?
Anyway, that's my that's my daily AI rant.
Yeah, I'm also like, here's the thing, I don't think people hate
AII. Think at least a lot of the

(31:06):
pushback I've seen to AI is the generative AI that is
legitimately scanning and stealing people's work from the
Internet to generate images or make videos or whatever.
I think that's what people have a problem with, Not necessarily
the idea of ChatGPT being able to generate you a transcript or

(31:29):
outline a video. Like that's all very helpful,
but it's that generative side atleast that I personally have an
issue with because at that pointit's like, OK, well, and I
talked about this last time withthe like generating YouTube
thumbnails and stuff of like, atwhat point are you just being
lazy and not like doing what you're supposed to be doing?

(31:53):
So I don't know, it's it's dumb and Disney says it'll start or
they say it'll be in post production and visual effects,
but it will eventually warm its way into the other aspects of
the creative process because it's how it is.
It's a slippery slope. They'll see how efficient the
VFX and the post production is and then they'll be like, OK,
well let's implement it in actual production and then, you

(32:16):
know, and. Then we'll let it do the pre
production and it it's also likea IS expensive to keep up with.
Like we keep saying a IS is costcutting measure.
Well, guess what, you still haveto hire someone to monitor the
AI and that costs more than thanthe actual paying someone to
just to do it. And it's so funny because

(32:38):
there's companies and I don't know the exact name, so someone
can Fact Check this if you want.There are companies that are
getting in trouble and they're saying like they realized that
instead of maintaining the machine learning software to, to
do these algorithms for AI, theyrealized it's faster, easier and

(32:59):
cheaper to just have people do it.
So they were taking work that people made, like people wrote
it and said, hey, look at how good our AI content is.
And it was like some dude probably got paid like $5.00 an
hour to write that, if that probably lower.

(33:21):
And they're like, hey, look at this AI, like isn't our AI
amazing? But it's just it's cheaper and
it's the buzzword and it's all marketing and it's stupid.
So anyway, this isn't the AI podcast, but I just genuinely,
it sure could be. This is this is what this is
what the world we're living in is always talking about.
And like this is what the media world is always talking about.

(33:43):
So it's just, it's just important to keep up and stay
educated on this stuff. So anyway, next point.
Next point, Speaking of Disney, which this felt very much like
they they dropped the AI stuff and then they very quickly
dropped this because they try toalways package like a bad thing

(34:05):
and a good thing together. We got new.
Compliment sandwich. We got new 4K steel books for
the Mandalorian season 3, Ahsokaseason 1, Hawkeye and Loki
season 2 and they will literallymake a 4K steel book for
everything Star Wars except for Star Wars visions, Book of Boba
Fett and Star Wars The clone Wars season 7.

(34:26):
So until can I make a Clone WarsSeason 7 steelbook, I will not
be buying any of their steelbooks.
I'm going on strike until you put Visions and Clone Wars on
Steelbook Disney, do you? You've heard my demands.
Now do it because I know you listen to the podcast.
Do you want a Boba Fett steelbook?

(34:49):
It's more about the principle than anything else of like they
have put every other Star Wars show they've done.
Yeah except for the Bad batch, Clone wars and Visions.
Seems like they're targeting animated things.
But you guys shouldn't because Arcane is a Netflix exclusive

(35:09):
and they just got a physical 4K steel book so.
So checkmate. Well, The thing is like, think
I'd understand for Visions if that was like a rights issue
because so many different studios worked on that.
I'm sure Disney. Owns all of it.
Yeah, but like, I'm sure that's complicated, but like you're

(35:30):
right, the Clone Wars thing is stupid.
Like they're they're begging people to pirate at this.
Point if they really wanted money, they would do a complete
4K steelbook collection of seasons one through 7, right?
They would do it and I would buyit.
If it was like $300.00, I'd do it.
I, I, I would pay that to have all seven seasons on steelbook.

(35:53):
Dude, I would because then I'd never have to buy Disney Plus
again. That's real.
You're real for that. I don't know.
And they're running out of shoesto do, if you really think about
it, because they've done all their big ones now and.
They're not really doing new ones right now.
Like, right, they're kind of Star Wars is kind of floundering

(36:15):
right now. Like it's not.
It's so sad, but move like continuing into that.
Steve Knight is no longer writing the Ray movie.
Nope. Tell me about that.
That's all I have. That's it.
He's not doing. It who is Who is Steven Knight?
I don't know, let's do a quick IMDb search.
Let's do a little Oops, that's the wrong.

(36:37):
Not IMSBIMDB, you silly goofy goober.
IMSB Steven No. I'm a bee.
I'm a bee. I'm a.
I'm a. I'm a.
Steven Knight. He's a writer.
OK, he wrote Peaky binders and aton of movies I've never seen.
So he is British? Oh man, he's not the top.

(37:02):
I'm not the top. IMDb clip saying Ray's return to
Star Wars. Yeah, he's written a lot of
things that I haven't seen. I don't think I've seen a single
thing he's written. I know what Peaky binders is.
Everything else like I'd I've never I've never heard of this.
He wrote the A Christmas Carol TV miniseries Who Wants to be.

(37:28):
He was a creator. No, it says creator on 4
episodes of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.
That's an interesting that's an interesting credit.
Yeah. I don't really I don't really I
don't really got got anything onthis guy.
I. Don't got anything on the movie
so I just saw like that it may now make it hard for the movie

(37:52):
to hit it's 2026 release date because they don't have a
writer. Well, obviously.
Are they just going to like theyshould just cancel it like we
don't? Want.
Yes, we sure should. I don't want I don't want the
Ray movie. I.
Don't need it. I don't want it.
I'm OK. Thanks guys.

(38:14):
Also I wonder like did he leave?Was he fired like it?
It really feels like every time they try to make a Star Wars
movie, someone gets fired for some kind of creative decision,
which tells me that Kathleen Kennedy has her grubby little
fingers in the creative process a little too much.
The only time they haven't firedsomeone is for the shows that

(38:36):
have been. That's been pretty consistent,
and those have been pretty consistent.
But then you look at the movies,like 7 might have been the only
movie they didn't fire anyone. Same for rogue One.
Rogue One was pretty fine, but then after seven we got The Last
Jedi and they let Rian Johnson do his thing, and then they gave

(38:59):
him a trilogy. And then they fired him and took
his trilogy away 'cause people didn't like The Last Jedi, even
though that is not indicative ofhis ability to write a trilogy
of completely separate Star Warsmovies.
And I've never understood why Star Wars fans don't like that.
That drives me up a freaking wall, by the way, that we did
not get a Rian Johnson Star Warstrilogy 'cause people didn't
like The Last Jedi. He did the best with what he was

(39:20):
handed. He was handed a broken mess with
no oversight and did his best. And you took away his trilogy
because the fans were a little whiny about it.
Mark Hamill was doing method acting for that role.
He's the same in that movie as he is in real life.
He did. It.
Ryan Johnson didn't have to write that in the script.

(39:41):
He was already there. He just showed up to, he just
showed up to set and he can I goon a little tangent about Mark
Hamill real quick, just like 30 seconds.
Yeah, go for it. Yeah, take the time you need.
So. This drives me.
This is another thing that drives me up a wall and it
really made me mad this week. So I know we don't get political
here on the show and I'm not really going to, but Mark Hamill
is a very infamous Trump hater, like more so than any celebrity

(40:05):
I've ever seen. And I've kind of made peace with
that. Like he's just kind of a OK,
whatever, You're free to have your opinion.
You don't like the guy. I don't think you should be as
vocal about it because he's saida lot of things this year of
like, if you're a MAGA fan, well, you should go force
yourself like at A at a convention and stuff.
I'm like, dude, you're an actor.Like you can have your opinion,
but like, don't start dividing your fans based on who like

(40:28):
their political belief. Anyway, what really got me this
week though is this week was Carrie Fisher's birthday and
rest in peace. Like, Carrie Fisher gone too
soon. So Mark Hamill takes to Twitter.
You talk about how much Carrie Fisher also hated Trump and

(40:53):
would be voting for Kamala Harris.
And he was like, I'm here on herbirthday to remind you that she
hated this guy and would vote for this person.
And I was like, get off the Internet.
I am all for everyone having their own political opinion.

(41:14):
That's what that is the essence of what this country was built
on. But for you to dig up the name
of a dead person to push your own political beliefs is
incredibly insensitive and made me so uncharacteristically mad
because it's so stupid. I don't care how Carrie Fisher

(41:36):
would have felt about it, It doesn't matter.
The same way I don't care how you feel about her, you.
Should be honoring her and her memory and the work that she did
on her birthday. Not talking about who you want
to vote for. I'm sorry that just.
Literally, like, the definition of narcissism is like,

(41:58):
manipulating people for power. And so it's like, that's just
crazy. Especially like a friend, like
one of your friends that you worked with for years and you're
like, yeah, rest in peace. This is who they would have
voted for. And it's like, whoa, who asked?
Like, literally like, no one waswondering who Carrie Fisher was

(42:21):
voting for. If we're going to play that
game, let me be like, hmm, who do we think Robin Williams was
going to vote for? It doesn't matter if you're
like, if your political opinion is swayed by Mark Hamill, like,
grow a backbone, please. Like get your own opinion.
Yeah, really don't listen to celebrities who have no
financial stake in how the government operates, by the way,

(42:44):
which is why I get so mad when people are like, Taylor Swift
told me to vote for this person.Why?
She's like a multi trillion Ant.It doesn't matter to her if you
can afford gas or not. Why are you listening to her
anyway? Which?
Is both sides too. Yes, it is both sides.
Too even these like even these like crazy white, crazy white

(43:05):
wing, crazy right wing. It's not a white wing.
That's a little. Funny but.
It's even the crazy like right wing celebrities are like, I'm
voting for this person because this and it's like, OK.
I just like your movies. Like I just, I just or like

(43:26):
Jerry Seinfeld is so like he, hedid this interview that I
thought was interesting where hewas like, he was like I said a
long time ago that comedians should be the people that are
like pushing the boundaries and like, you know, challenging
society and like, there should be no limits.

(43:47):
And he was like, honestly, I take that back.
And he was like, honestly, I think, I think comedy, like
culture, he, he compared it to skiing and he was like, culture
sets the gates for comedy to skithrough and it's our jobs to
carefully ski through those gates.
And I was like. No.
No. It's our job to smash the gates

(44:10):
and figure out where the gates need to be re put.
And I was like the fact that like Jerry Seinfeld, who is like
such a good comedian would be like, honestly, like there's a
line where like, you shouldn't be, you shouldn't be just

(44:30):
blatantly offensive because that's not what comedy should
be. That's not funny.
It should be something everyone can laugh about.
Right. It shouldn't be blatantly
hurtful. That's not what comedy needs to
be. But the fact that he's
essentially saying, it's up to you guys what I'm allowed to say
and what I'm not allowed to say is like really like the just

(44:56):
not, not good for comedy becausethe idea is to push the line a
little bit. So I don't know, essentially,
Long story short, don't. Don't listen to celebrities.
Essentially, long story. Short for.
Your own mental well-being BlockMark Hamill on Twitter.
That's what I've done, and I'm sick of seeing him and I can't.

(45:16):
He's such a disgrace to Star Wars now because, like, he used
to be so cool. Luke Skywalker's a cool
character, but he's made it so hard to disassociate the
character from the actor. Because he's such, he's so just
rude. He's.
Such a grumpy old man. Yeah.

(45:37):
And I'm anyway, that was a tangent from me getting upset
about Ryan Johnson not getting his trilogy anyway.
With the next news point, we'll kind of.
Because that's going to. Go through these next.
We'll go through these next three pretty quick because
there's not a whole lot to. Say pretty much all they
announced. Yeah, I'm excited about all
these. So they announced a John Wick

(45:59):
anime adaptation that would be aprequel feature film, and it
will show the impossible tasks that John had to do before
retiring. Now, this is how you do it.
Take notes, Peacock, Because when there's four really great
movies in a series and we're like, yo, this is great movies,

(46:21):
and there's so much world building here, there's so much
to do. The idea is not let's just,
yeah, let's just do the same thing but a few but said it a
few years back in the same location and put it straight to
Peacock and don't put too much production value in it.
Just do like 3 three episodes. That'll be fine.

(46:44):
That is not the idea. Great idea is to flip the medium
entirely into something that works really well.
Keyword is works really well. Take notes, Joker flip the
medium entirely on what and works really well because these
anime movies are like some of the highest quality animation on

(47:06):
the planet right now and their fight scenes are unmatched and
like you have to give them that.And so it's like, hey, John Wick
as an anime in the theater, takemy money.
We are. So I will be there.
We will be there anyway. That's super exciting.
There's no date or any info on that but I'm really really hyped

(47:30):
they DreamWorks announced the Wild Robot 2 following the
success of the Wild Robot. Honestly not mad, think it has a
lot of potential. DreamWorks is pretty good at
sequels. Think about like the Kung Fu
Panda 2 is really good. Madagascar 2 is so iconic.

(47:50):
I think like so, you know, and then there's like Megamind.
Well, we don't talk about that. How to train your dragon?
Two, there is hope how to train your dragon 2.
That's a great that's a great movie Shrek 2.
Come on, get out of here. So like some.
Boots too. Put some boots.
Come on, come on. So there's a lot of potential
here for another, for an expansion of the Wild Robot that

(48:12):
I'm excited about. I don't know why.
We'll see how that goes. And then the final piece of news
for today is Five Nights at Freddy's 2 has gotten a release
date of December 5th, 2025. Find a Nicky where every time we
could talk about a video game movie on the podcast in December
of a given year, I'd have two nickels, which isn't a lot, but

(48:33):
it's weird that it's going to happen twice.
So I'm just saying I was in theaters for that for that first
one. You best believe I'm going to be
there for that second one. Yeah, you already know.
You already know we're going to be there opening night this
time. You know we're going to be there
opening night in our in our fullcosplay.
So I will be Golden Freddy. Thank you.

(49:01):
I'll be. The dead guy, I'll just cut
myself in. It'll be so.
Funny. Oh my gosh.
All right. Unless you have anything else to
add. That was our news.
There's a lot to go over, but itwas all it was all really good.
Now moving on to air quote. Main topic of the day really is

(49:24):
we've really we've really gotteninto the habit of like splitting
episodes half and half, but that's OK.
So topic of today, Howl's MovingCastle, the Studio Ghibli movie.
I'd like a debate settled. I know some people that say
Studio Ghibli and I just want your opinion on that as as

(49:45):
someone part of the culture. As the as the as the resident
anime nerd of the podcast. As the resident anime minority
on the Internet, I. I I've also heard it both ways.
I've always said Studio Ghibli just because that's what I've

(50:07):
heard the most. It's kind of like the GIF or GIF
type thing, but you have to takeinto the context of it's GHI and
you also have like ghost which is GHO.
So GH is usually GH, so I say Ghibli.
Ghibli, yeah. So it could go either way.
It literally. Sounds like giblets or it sounds
like, I don't know, Ghibli just sounds inappropriate.

(50:31):
Like I don't, I don't, I don't like Ghibli.
Yeah. No, it's Studio Ghibli.
So for some context here, we really needed an episode to do
for today. Yeah.
And I thought to myself was something really easy we could
do that, Like we could make a good episode out of.

(50:51):
And I thought to myself, oh, well, it's been a while since
we've done a Jackson's Anime adventure, but almost two.
Well by the time this episode comes out it'll have almost been
three whole months because the last one was My Hero back in
August. So I thought OK well what what
should we do? And I decided to let my lovely

(51:13):
YouTube community over at Nick with no K shout out to you guys.
All I did was post a poll on my community tab that said quick
pick a Studio Ghibli movie. All will be explained soon and
the options were Princess Mononoke, Howl's Moving Castle,
Castle in the Sky, and Spirited Away.
Now in in the in an effort to befully transparent on this

(51:35):
election with you guys, I'd liketo clarify some details of what
happened. Political How did we get so
political? So I let this poll run for 24
hours before I like, made a definitive decision on what
movie we were going to watch. Because we had to.
We had, we didn't have a lot of time.
We had to watch the movie. But at the 24 hour mark, Howl's

(51:57):
Moving Castle and Spirited Away,we're both tied at 38% of the
vote, and that was with about 175 votes in.
So we made an executive decisionto watch Howl's Moving Castle
because that's what we wanted todo, not to invalidate your

(52:18):
votes. Like if if Spirited Away was
actually ahead, we would have watched that because they're
tied. We did like a tiebreaker vote
and that's the way we went. But see us, see us as kind of
like an elective college, if youwill, yeah.
We're like the Electoral College.
We hear what you have to say. You can vote.
But we don't really care becausewe're going to do.

(52:39):
Whatever we want to do, but if we don't like what you voted
for, we're going to do somethingelse.
Just not. And it's like that.
I appreciate the joke. So as of timer recording, this
will be the last update I give on this poll.
It is currently at 224 votes. In last place is Castle in the

(53:00):
Sky at 7%. That's stayed pretty consistent.
In 2nd place is Princess Mononoke with 18%.
Wow. 3rd place is Howl's Moving Cat.
Wait, I did this backwards 1/2. No OK my bad.
Castle in the Sky is 4th. Princess Mononoke is third.

(53:21):
Howl's Moving Castle is second with 33% and then Spirited Away
is now in first with 42% but. We had point.
Lead. But we had to call it at the 24
hour mark. Yeah, we had to stop the count,
stop the count, we had to cut and it was Howl's moving.
Castle I. Have the screenshot on my phone

(53:42):
of them being tied. I did not lie.
There was no lie in what I said.So I've seen Howl's moving
Castle before. I actually saw it in the
theaters 3 weeks ago, no sick and I thought it was pretty
good. But Jackson, you have never seen
a Studio Ghibli? Have never seen.
I've seen a couple. So give me your thoughts, honey.

(54:05):
Let me. So here's a little, here's a
little context. I have seen one Studio Ghibli
movie other than Castle in the Sky or sorry, Moving Castle.
There's 2 Castle movies on here.Yeah, because last year for or
no, early this year for a class,we had to watch My Neighbor

(54:25):
Totoro and I loved My Neighbor Totoro.
I sobbed in My Neighbor Totoro so well they they fake you out,
they make you think that the momis going to die and then she's
fine. Well, don't tell me I've never
seen it. Really.
Oh freak, I'm sorry. There's like one of the only
ones I haven't seen. Oh, I'm sorry.

(54:45):
It's really good. So yeah, that was my only
experience. And then last, yeah, last year
we had a Howl's Moving Castle print on our wall in my dorm,
but it was Collins and I had never seen it.
And so this year we were like, hey, maybe let's just not put it

(55:08):
up because, you know, you're theonly one that's ever seen it.
So essentially, I knew, I saw the design, I knew the castle.
I knew that it was kind of steampunky.
And I was like, oh, OK, I could like, I could get in.
I could get into it. And then when I was about to
turn it on last night, I was like, Oh my gosh, I just

(55:29):
realized I genuinely know nothing about this movie.
Like, I don't know the plot. I don't know like what it's
about. I don't know the anything.
I was like, I know nothing but the poster.
And I was like, OK, here goes nothing.
So generally speaking, just an overall thought.
At first, I genuinely did not know what to think.

(55:52):
I thought it was a little off. I was a little, it was a little
odd for me because I felt like we had jumped into a story with
no context in that it's very much like you are immediately
thrown into this world with no, like there's no pre, like
there's no preconceived anything.

(56:14):
There's no narrator, There's no,there's no like explanation.
There's no nothing, no prologue,no, no anything.
And so it's like you're immediately thrown into this hat
shop with this girl. And I was like, OK, interesting.
The style, the animation was baller.
It was phenomenal. Like so cozy.

(56:37):
And so I was like, OK, the style's cool.
And then like I saw the castle and I was like, oh, that's a
little weird. Like the style was funky.
Like it was weird. And I was like, OK, I don't, I
don't know what to, I don't knowwhat to think yet.
And then it was so. But I really liked the setting

(56:57):
because it was very like, it wasvery like, I guess it was very
British. It was very like, I don't even
know that era, but it was very, it was very like Peter Panny.
And I was like, OK, I can get, Ican get behind this.
And then he he like wished her away and that he was like, I'm

(57:20):
sorry, I guess you're involved now.
And they fly away and start walking in the sky.
And I was like, oh, it is like Peter Pan, like I can get behind
this. Like this is this is like it's
like whimsical. It's like a it's like a dream
thing. I was like, OK, sick.
So he did that. And then the most grotesque

(57:40):
overweight woman I've ever seen in an animated movie walks into
the room and I was so taken a Mac.
I was like, wow, you want fries with that, ma'am?
Like it was like she had like she had like that body type that
like you would mistake her for abean bag if you like sat like it

(58:03):
was anyway, I can say that because she's animated.
So it it was that like the stylewhere like they really
intentionally like made her really huge.
And I think that was a really great character choice because
she was a very like gluttonous character in a very like, you

(58:25):
know, she was always like wanting something shows wanted
power. Like, you know, there was
something she always wanted. And so it was like really great
character design. But at first I was like, oh,
what the Frick like EW, yeah, EW.
And so that took me back. And then she turned the young
girl into an old lady. And I was like, oh, it's like

(58:47):
that. Like we're doing, we're doing
like the Wizards and the witchesand like we're doing, we're
doing the magic thing. Like, that's that's what we're
doing. I was like, OK, sick.
I'm following. And then she goes on this
journey and like the scarecrow and I was like, bro, this movie
whimsical. That's Frick.
Like, I'm, I'm into this. Like, I can, I can get behind

(59:08):
this. And I was really engaged.
I was really engaged with it. And then she got into the castle
and I was like thinking about how to build this in Minecraft.
And I was like, I was like, thisis so dope.
And then like, Billy Crystal is the fire 'cause I watched the
English version. Yeah.
And it had like Christian Bale was there and like Billy Crystal

(59:28):
was there and like, and I was like, dude, the fire guy.
Hold on. I didn't, I don't remember his
name. Calcifer.
I gotta go back. Calcifer.
I was like, Calcifer is my is myhomie.
Like I love Calcifer. Hold on.
I'm going to look up the character's name so that I
don't. I have all the names memorized

(59:50):
because I just watched it last night.
OK, so Calcifer, what a guy. Like, I love him.
He was awesome. He was hilarious.
He was heartfelt and then like Sophie, like as a character and
I'll get your take on this. I think as a character, she's

(01:00:11):
interesting because at the I don't feel like by the end, we
really still don't really know her too well.
But I'll I'll get your take on that in a second.
The whimsical Ness was wild and then like and then like the way
that it like rotated and like took you to different places and

(01:00:32):
like it was like, I really likedthat it was it was a movie that
could not have worked in anything but animation.
Like it used the animated mediumso well and it was like it's it
was so just gorgeous. It was, it was beautiful and the

(01:00:55):
music was phenomenal. Like I got, I got pulled on the
heartstrings a little bit and like Howl was awesome.
He was like, he's a pretty, he'sa pretty cool dude, but he was
also like, I don't know, he wasn't like the the beauty and
the beast. Like he wasn't the beast.

(01:01:15):
He was like really kind of a goober and was like really just
kind of a screw up. And he wasn't, he wasn't like,
you know, his place was a disaster.
And this old lady comes in and she's like, I'm a new cleaning
lady. And he was like vet like, OK, he
didn't question it. And so anyway, by the by the

(01:01:36):
end, I've, I kind of like, I gota little confused near the end
because like the the witch lady,like joined them and I was never
like fully clear on why she was with them.
And then like she was with and then she like was mainly the
reason that like the castle crumbled.

(01:01:56):
And then it was so I don't know,that confused me near the end,
but it was also like it was getting late.
I may just not have been paying attention enough.
But overall, Howl's moving castle, I enjoyed it a lot more
than I thought I would. And I have some critiques about
it, but I want to hear your, I want to hear your take first.
OK, so. I absolutely agree with you on

(01:02:21):
the whimsical aspect of this movie because I personally have
been very hit or miss with Studio Ghibli.
I watched Castle in the Sky first, I thought that was good,
Then I watched Princess Mononokewhich I thought was good, and
then I watched Spirited Away which I was like, it was all
right, not my favorite. And then I watched Boy in the

(01:02:43):
Heron, which I was also like, it's OK, not my favorite.
So to watch this movie and everyone is like, well, I think
you're really going to like it just based on what I know you
like and your taste in anime. And I was like, OK, so I gave it
a shot. And from the very beginning,
what really sold me was that steampunk I, I googled it

(01:03:07):
because I was going to do a video on it, but it's that
steampunk like early 19th century type type stuff and.
Architecture. Aesthetic that really sold me
and I loved. There was a train going through

(01:03:28):
the middle of this town and thatwas just part of their
infrastructure. And there were these really cool
buggy things in the air that flyaround and then those ships that
have like the multiple fan wavesthat keep them in the air.
Like I thought all of that was cool.
And of course you have the castle, which is just this
hodgepodge of metal and scraps and like Zelda guardian legs

(01:03:53):
that walks around and like. So I thought all of that was
really cool and I really enjoyedthat.
I like the romance between Sophie and Howell.
I'm a big sucker for romance. So you put that in your story or
your game or whatever, you've got me instantly more hooked
than you did before. And I liked how that was

(01:04:15):
progressed and characterized andhow he, it's kind of like an
inverse Beauty and the Beast, ifyou think about it, because he
was able to fall in love with her despite her looking like an
old lady fell in love with her. And I guess they both kind of
did for what was on the inside and their true intentions rather
than what they look like on the outside, which for Howell was a

(01:04:36):
big part of his character development.
Was this very vain narcissistic,like, oh, I dyed my hair the
wrong color so I'm going to die and turn into goop and kill
everyone around me because I don't feel like I look pretty.
Or his consistent running away from things that he didn't want
to do. Like he didn't want to go

(01:04:58):
essentially get drafted. Which honestly, me too, brother,
I would, I would dodge too. I get it.
So like his continual running away from that and then that
pivotal moment later on where he's like fighting all the the
bombs and stuff and he's like, well, now I have something I
want to protect so I can't run away anymore.
So for that to be his character development was good.

(01:05:22):
I, I wrote that down. I I have that.
Quote, it says now I got something I want to protect.
It's you. And I was just like, oh, oh,
like that was the part of the movie.
When I was like. Oh, oh, that and then for.
Her to. Because it So here's what I will

(01:05:43):
say. This movie makes a lot more
sense on a second watch especially.
But spoilers for Hallows will becancelled, by the way,
especially in when you know thatshe time travelled back to when
he. First like caught.
Calcifer So then he knew who shewas, which completely

(01:06:06):
recontextualizes and changes their first meeting in that
alleyway of like he knows who she is, but she doesn't know who
he is yet. So Oh my gosh, you're right.
Reframing it with. The whole movie.
With all that context makes a lot more sense.
So it is one of those that I feel like you do need to watch

(01:06:27):
two or three times to fully get it right, but I don't think
it's. Ungettable if.
You only watch it once so that makes sense.
I did appreciate her character development of one finding.
And going after what? She wants in life and not just

(01:06:48):
like passively going throughout the day but also this like
acknowledging. Herself.
As beautiful Eve in the physicalbut also the emotional and
metaphorical sense. And that was kind of what her
whole curse was about. Was like I didn't understand on

(01:07:09):
the 1st watch but one of the friend I went and saw it with he
explained it to me of like she shifted back.
Into her younger. Self every time she was not over
relying or thinking about how she looked, she was being very
true to herself and how she would act.

(01:07:31):
But then the second she got selfaware and caught on it is when
she regressed back into being anold lady.
So then at the end of the movie when she does all of this like
self sacrificial stuff for howl,that's her ultimate acceptance
of her true self, which is then what breaks her curse.

(01:07:53):
So it's like, it's a really goodstory and I'd I love it.
Interesting. I also love counsel.
Interesting. What?
Billy. Crystal, what was I saying?
I was gonna say. Dude, Billy Crystal cooked on
this one. Well, it's so funny, 'cause I
was watching it and I was like, is that Billy?

(01:08:14):
I was like, that's not Billy Crystal.
That's not. And then I looked it up and I
was like, that's Christian Bale and that's Billy Crystal and the
and you know the kid is Josh Hutcherson, right?
Yes. And then the kid and I was like.
But also like, I kind of forgot,like this is 2004 Josh
Hutcherson, like 300 years. Like, yeah, like Josh Hutcherson

(01:08:36):
was a child actor. Like he was in Bridge to
Terabithia and, you know, Race to Witch Mountain.
And so when it what? I didn't recognize him at all
'cause I'm used to adult Josh Hutcherson by this point.
So I mean 10 out of 10 cast. Cause honestly, like.
And isn't Christian Balin the boy in the Heron?

(01:08:57):
No. That's Rob.
He was. I think you're thinking of that,
people who've played Batman. Batman who are?
Now wrong Batman. Studio Ghibli.
Movie if I had a nickel for every time a Batman.
Actor played a character in a Studio Ghibli movie.
I'd have two nickels probably, which isn't a lot, but it's
weird that I'd really think about it.
I think. Michael.

(01:09:18):
Keaton's been in a Ghibli movie.Whoa.
Let me see. Hold on.
What is with this? Overlap.
Hold on, I gotta look this up. Surely he's been in a yes.
Michael Keaton. Was in Porco Porco Rossi.
Oh Porco. Oh yeah.

(01:09:40):
That's an earlier one. That's crazy.
There's that. OK, good word.
Also, this dub is done by Disney.
Like Disney licensed the dub formost of the Studio Ghibli
movies, at least up until I don't know when because I know

(01:10:00):
they didn't do Boy in the Heron.When did Disney stop?
Interesting, I didn't know that I.
Didn't know Disney had any. Hand in this in this kind of
stuff, they also did the. What?
They did not stop dubbing. Yes, they did.

(01:10:22):
OK, so. Here's my, here's a, here's
another. Clarifying question that I had
that I didn't fully understand and I may have just been sleepy
but like why? Why was the?
The witch of the waste with themafter they went and saw the
Queen like what was her? Purpose for going with them.

(01:10:45):
Because I think I just missed that part.
Hold on. I'm trying, I'm I'm doing.
Deep research on this this G Ghibli thing, these deep in in
the in the research they just did.
Not renew the contract to keep to.
Keep doing distribution but it doesn't say win.
Huh. Fascinating.

(01:11:05):
So. OK, OK, OK, so.
When did G kids get? While Nick is researching.
That I would like to give some of my favorite Howl's Moving
Castle letterbox reviews 2011 Dang.
It. I mean, you can still do the,
you can still do the reviews. I won't stop.

(01:11:26):
You I'll just do some other ones.
This this says howl. Made Sophia portal to a valley
he knew she'd love. And I can't even get a text
back. I was like, oh buddy, howl.
Set the standard high man. I don't know.
I don't. Feel like I'm never going to be
able to reach that. Yeah, for real.

(01:11:46):
So. What was I saying?
Oh. Why was the Witch of the?
Waste with them. So she was with.
Them, if I understand correctly and I could have it wrong, when
they went to the castle she got all of her magic sucked away and
she kind of just stuck with themand Sophie and Howell were OK

(01:12:09):
with it because they were opposed to the to the magic
abilities that the palace. Was doing.
So they were like, OK, well, andthen towards the end, she kind
of had a genuine change of heart.
Yeah. After, like, ripping the house
apart. Yeah.
So then they just kind of let her stay because she didn't have

(01:12:32):
any magic either. So it's not like she could do
anything. So they were like, you suck.
For cursing me. But also, no one should have
their power stripped away. Like that's wrong.
That makes sense. And honestly, like it's weird
because we. Always say we're like we.
Want more like morally good characters that can forgive and
then the second a character forgives, I'm like why?

(01:12:54):
Why would they? That doesn't make sense.
They're like why you should hatethis person forever?
And it's like, well. Well, it's almost like
forgiveness exists. So what?
I don't know. I thought that was really
interesting. I also, I wrote the two quotes.
I said, now I've got something Iwant to protect.
It's you. And I was like, that tickled the

(01:13:15):
back of my brain. I was like, go get them howl.
So I was really into that one. I also really like when he said
I feel terrible, like there's a weight on my chest.
And she said a heart is a heavy burden.
And I was just like, oh, oh, a heart.
Dang, Sophie, that hurt. That kind of hit me deep bro.

(01:13:37):
So here's here's an. Interesting question.
I want, I kind of want you to take on like, so Sophie is a
character. Like I liked watching her arc,
but I also felt like, I feel like by the end I still didn't
really truly know who she was and like what?
You know it just may. Just be like a less conventional
form of storytelling where it's not like, you know, the

(01:13:59):
perfectly rounded Disney story, but like, what do you think
about that? I think you're not wrong.
Because really, all we know about her is she's this young
adult. Woman.
Who works in a hat shop with a sister and a mom.

(01:14:19):
And then she gets cursed and then the movie starts and we but
she's kind of like a Cinderella figure.
And I was thinking about this. Yesterday of like.
There comes a. Certain point where?

(01:14:40):
She almost forgets about undoingher curse.
Like there's a there's a stretchin the middle of the movie where
she kind of forgets about undoing the curse and focuses
more on cleaning the castle and taking care of Howl and taking
care of the kid and like going to the palace.
And even then when when she wentthere, like she had that
interaction with the Witch of the waste and was like, well,

(01:15:04):
you should learn how to uncurse me.
But it's still like that didn't stop her from doing what she
went there to do anyway, right? And that was the first time we
had seen her turn back into her younger self.
I think. I think there might have been
like one. I think that's right.
Like I think he pulled the curtain back while she was

(01:15:25):
sleeping or something. And we saw it there.
But this was the first time likewe saw it happen and vaguely
understand why it was happening.So I I think there's a lot to
glean from her character and whoshe is just based on the way she
acts and her mentality of even when she gets turned into this

(01:15:46):
old lady, she's still very positive about it.
Like as positive as you can be and is very proactive in trying
to find a solution instead of just waddling around and waiting
for like a howl to show back up again.
Which is what I was worried was going to happen was she was
going to like fumble around in that town and then he'd show up
and be like, let me take you to my castle and I'll try to fix it

(01:16:08):
there. And then she just kind of shows
up and. What's also interesting?
And this is a really small detail and I might have may have
missed this is. I don't think she.
Ever says her says says her nameto anyone in the castle at 1st
and Howell just immediately starts calling her Sophie.

(01:16:34):
Does she say her name? I can't remember.
I can't remember I. Remember thinking that on the
1st go. To I might have to go.
Back. I might have to go back.
What do you mean so? That also ties into the whole
like time travel thing of him knowing who she was.
That's so interesting. So I.

(01:16:58):
I don't know. I think there's a.
Lot you could glean from the wayshe acts.
It's more of a show don't tell us type thing.
Yeah, but that does make it a little.
Harder. To like.
Pinpoint those things on. A first watch.
Yeah, I think I could. I would grab.
A lot more from this movie on a second watch, like 'cause it's

(01:17:21):
very, there's so many little details and like things that are
like connecting it all. And there's a lot of like
revealing factors. But also like at the end of the
day, the story is very simple and it's very heartfelt.
And it's just kind of like, you know, it's really interesting
commentary on like, you know, the wartime and like, it's a

(01:17:44):
very, it's a very like realisticlook at what you know, actually
having like Wizards and witches and like, and like demons in
the, in the sense that the movieis using them would look like,
because they're like, Hey, we, we need you to go to war for us

(01:18:04):
because you have this power. And how will like, in a way,
like feels taken advantage of. And he was like, I don't, I
don't want war. It's like, I don't support what
they're doing, but they're calling me to this because I
have this power. And so he built the castle to
run, which is such an interesting, like, I don't know,
it's such an interestingly set up story and character arc and

(01:18:28):
like a setting is perfect. And like, it's just, it's all,
it all like fits together so, sowell.
Yeah. And this watch through.
I'm gonna, I'm gonna say 4 stars.
I'm gonna, I'm gonna give, I'm gonna give four stars.
I think it's about when I put iton this.

(01:18:48):
Watch through if I watched. It again, I would probably rate
it higher because I I didn't I didn't understand some of it and
I think it's just because it's genuinely a complex movie and so
like it requires more than one watch through to to appreciate
the whole thing. But like, even even the let me

(01:19:10):
go, even Calcifer had like such a good character arc and like by
the end she was like, I need youto step up and he's like, I
can't. And she was like, you have the
brightest flame that is ever that I've ever seen.
And it's like she, she knows howto encourage him and like, she
sees his potential and like he, he knows.

(01:19:32):
And like, you know, Calcifer hasbeen like underappreciated
pretty much like this whole time.
And then like once they said, cause the the queen said at one
point they were like, Oh, you sold you sold your heart to a
demon. I was like, oh, that's weird.
This little interesting. And I did not connect the dots
at all that it was Calcifer likethat came out of such left

(01:19:56):
field. And then they were, she was
like, oh, it's Calcifer. And I like, like jumped in my
seat. I was like, Oh my gosh, I'm so
dumb. Like, of course it's Calcifer.
He just he's the fire demon. Like that's what he said he is.
I was also a little unclear on like what what what was a what

(01:20:19):
could a wizard do and what coulda demon do?
And like what was the differencein like what the but he was like
a star. I think the influence is demons
were a lot more. Natural and or I guess
supernatural in in their sense, whereas the Wizards and witches

(01:20:39):
had to be taught how to use magic.
Like there was that difference. Essentially had a degree.
Yeah, there's. Like a difference between the
natural magic. User and the supernatural magic
User and I think that was the that was the the distinction
there. I did really like the parallel

(01:21:02):
of all of these Wizards and witches signing up to go to war
and getting turned into monsters.
I don't know if you picked this up, but it's a almost impeccable
commentary on when you go to war, there is a part of you that
never goes back to being human just because of the nature of

(01:21:24):
what war is, right? It's dehumanizing.
It is very. Dehumanizing and.
I think it's a it's a subtle wayor really honestly not subtle
because it literally like Howellhas that conversation with
councillor of like they've turned themselves into monsters
for the sake of this war. And then councillor was like,

(01:21:47):
well, they're they're going to regret that because they're
never going to be human again. And like it, it is kind of an
eye opening thing of like, hey, interesting.
Not saying everyone. Who goes to war is a monster.
But it is that idea of like the things that happen at war are
not great. Like war in and of itself is not

(01:22:08):
great. And it's just like appreciating
the weight of that is. Really interesting, yeah.
And the fact that this whole wargot started.
Because the Prince from like theneighboring Kingdom went missing
so. One side was very quick.
To just be like, all right, well, time to start attacking
the other one and carpet bombingtheir town.

(01:22:29):
Like, OK, guys, maybe we should talk about this.
Why are we fighting over this? Like we didn't we didn't kidnap
your guy. So but also like high key
realistic. Like no talk.
Drop bomb. That's how it happens.
That's how it happens, yeah. So that is how it.
That's an interesting thing I didn't necessarily pick up on

(01:22:51):
'cause there was a lot of war commentary that I appreciate it
I thought was really interesting, especially for like
2004. Yeah, you know, like 2004 wasn't
like, you know, we weren't struck in in wartime.
So it was just a really, it was the middle of the War on Terror.
Brother, I mean post 911. I mean.

(01:23:13):
Yeah, which is interesting. I'm I'm under educated because.
From an American perspective, that makes sense because 2004,
like we were still in the middleof that war in the Middle East,
which we were kind of still are,but you have to then.
Put this back through. The lens and like reverse your

(01:23:36):
thinking of put it back through the lens of the Japanese
perspective of well this is a Japanese.
Film, but then. Go even further back because
this is a Japanese film based ona pre-existing book that was
written in Let me get the year of when this book was written.
Oh that's so true. That's such an interesting one

(01:23:56):
because. That could also.
I didn't even consider that. Change the book was written.
In. 1986 War. Would that have been around the?
Cold War. 19. 86. I'm so homeschooled so I'm
sorry. I was at the Cold War conflicts.
In 1986, I feel like it was. The Cold War that.

(01:24:21):
Feels right. I'm sorry if you're like
screaming in your car. 'Cause I'm saying the wrong
thing. I'm really sorry.
I'm trying. OK who wrote this book?
OK, it was a British. Author So what wars were the
British involved in? What British?
OK. This is what we're using.
AI for what? Oh, the cold.
War was in 1947. No, it was.

(01:24:46):
Not. The Cold War started in 1947.
Two years after the end of WorldWar 2 and lasted until the fall
of the Soviet Union in 1991, it was.
That long? Dude, I'm dude that's almost 50
years. I'm.
Dumb. Now granted.

(01:25:08):
It was just. It was.
Just geopolitical tension between the United States and
the Soviet Union, right? Sorry, I'm a little.
I'm a little dumb. It, yeah, I don't know.
What war would have been? Around 86, but huh, who's to say

(01:25:30):
who's? To say.
It's interesting. There's really great commentary
in the film though, like like overall very, very well done war
commentary that wasn't heavy, but it was very like, oh, very
thought provoking is how I wouldhow I would say it.
It was it was articulated very well.

(01:25:52):
It was very it was very formalist in its in its ideals.
So yeah, I. Really.
I really really. Like this movie?
I think. I think I would.
Be I would be open to. Watching more Ghibli movies
because the two I've seen have been bangers.
And so I need to get you on Princess Monon.

(01:26:13):
OK, I know. See it went to theaters a.
Few like months ago and I almostwent and saw it but because
Princess Monon OK. I really like.
That one, because you can see a lot of the inspiration for where
they got Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom from, and
those being my two favorite Zelda games, you can very

(01:26:36):
clearly see that. And Castle in the Sky is there's
also a lot of that, especially with the sky islands and stuff
in Tears of the Kingdom and likethe constructs who have the
really long flowy arms. Yeah, it's you can see they they
took a lot of inspiration from those movies.
And that makes sense. I really appreciate that.

(01:26:57):
So that makes sense. My personal head cannon is that.
A castle in the. Sky comes after Howl's Moving
Castle 'cause then his castle goes up in the sky and my
booyah, and that's awesome. Stuck somewhere up there.
And then it just stays. And that's awesome, because.
Castles in the sky is where theydon't belong.
That's where they belong. That's where.

(01:27:18):
Castles belong. It's official castles belong in
the sky. Well, let's see if anything else
to add. I'm pretty I'm pretty wrapped
up. I think this is a great I think
it's a great movie that I'm happy I watched.
It was worth the watch. Highly recommend.
I this is a little. Bit of a.
Non. Traditional anime adventure,
because I don't have anything for you to pick yet 'cause I

(01:27:39):
don't know when we're doing the next one, so that's awkward.
Well, so. We'll just surprise you guys
with another one at some point in the future.
We will at some point crawl out of our little.
Cave to be like surprise, we're doing this again.
So This is why it's important. All the links are in the
description. Follow us on YouTube and
Instagram, not just not just thepodcast, but us personally,

(01:28:02):
YouTube, the glass studios, Nickwouldn't OK everywhere where
we're always we're always putting something out.
We're living in the kitchen essentially, so there's always
something new coming out. Keep an eye for we always we.
Always like to give. You guys a voice in what we
talked about and just what we watch just so that we can keep
it fresh and know that that's that's what you guys want to

(01:28:22):
see. So go subscribe on YouTube.
On YouTube, because we're very close to 1000 subscribers, I'm
trying to get a specific number.Hold on 9 where does is it?
68. Is it 971-259-7972?
That's what I was going to say. Go.

(01:28:42):
Follow us on YouTube on YouTube with the nerdiest.
Podcast, we're trying to get all.
Three of our channels. Over 1000 silos by the end of
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I just hit 1600 today. Jackson is also very close.
He's at like 7. 8776 that is correct 77670. 6.

(01:29:08):
And I'm at 1:00. .6 K the. Podcast is at. 970 we can get
there, we can we can get all of them over 1000 by the I just
have slightly more inconsistent content because I.
Am a full time student so yeah every once in a while I crawl
out of my cave to drop a video so make sure you subscribe over
there. I don't see.
If anything else to add I think.It's time to wrap up here.

(01:29:30):
That's our time. I'm good the News Podcast.
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(01:29:51):
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(01:30:11):
Until then.

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Howl's Moving Castle (Jackson's Anime Adventure) | TNP EP. 136

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.css-14f5ked{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:2;overflow:hidden;}Howl's Moving Castle (Jackson's Anime Adventure) | TNP EP. 136