Eye of the Duck: A Film Podcast

Goodbye Ghibli! This week we’re saying a fond farewell to The Pig, The Sloth, The Heron, and, uh, The Earwig (?)

Listen as we sort through our remaining thoughts about the Kingdom of Dreams and Madness, answer listener questions, and reveal what’s next for our podcast! Also… Dom is going to play the ocarina for some reason.

A very special thanks to everyone who voted for us at the 2026 Signal Awards! If you're listening on release date, you still have one more day to vote here: https://vote.signalaward.com/PublicVoting#/2026/individual-episodes/genre/television-film

Join the conversation on our Discord at https://discord.com/invite/RssDc3brsx and get more Eye of the Duck on our Patreon show, After Hours https://www.patreon.com/EyeoftheDuckPod 
Credits:
Eye of the Duck is created, hosted, and produced by Dom Nero and Adam Volerich.
This episode was researched by Parth Marathe.
Our logo was designed by Francesca Volerich. You can purchase her work at francescavolerich.com/shop
The "Adam's Blu-Ray Corner" theme was produced by Chase Sterling.
Assistant programming and digital production by Nik Long.
Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Letterboxd or join the conversation at Eye of the Discord.
Learn more at eyeoftheduckpod.com

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Open up those brain lids, listeners. It’s time to go deeper than ever before.

This week we go face-to-face with the Grand Uncle himself. Hayao Miyazaki’s final(?) film is a doozy, and we’ve got a lot of ground to cover, so grab your Number Seven Flight Feathers and come transcend with us. We’ll be your guide!!!!!

Next week we say farewell to the Kingdom of Dreams and Madness. We’ll be tying off some loose ends, answering listener questions, and revealing what’s next for Eye of the Duck! Join the conversation on our Discord at https://discord.com/invite/RssDc3brsx and get more Eye of the Duck on our Patreon show, After Hours https://www.patreon.com/EyeoftheDuckPod
Help us win the Listener Choice Award at the 2026 Signals by voting here: https://vote.signalaward.com/PublicVoting#/2026/individual-episodes/genre/television-film
References:
Special FeaturesInterview with Supervising Animator Takeshi Honda
Interview With Producer Toshio Suzuki
Interview With Composer Joe Hisaishi

The Art of Boy and the Heron
Hayao Miyazaki and the Heron
2399 Days With Hayao Miyazaki & Studio Ghibli
Entertainment Weekly Toshio Suzuki Interview
How GKids Made the English Dub
Full Frontal Toshiyuki Inoue Interview
Full Frontal Akihiko Yamashita Interview
Animation World Network Takeshi Honda & Dave Jesteadt Interview
Columbian Graphic Artist Scams the World
Credits:
Eye of the Duck is created, hosted, and produced by Dom Nero and Adam Volerich.
This episode was researched by Parth Marathe.
Our logo was designed by Francesca Volerich. You can purchase her work at francescavolerich.com/shop
The "Adam's Blu-Ray Corner" theme was produced by Chase Sterling.
Assistant programming and digital production by Nik Long.
Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Letterboxd or join the conversation at Eye of the Discord.
Learn more at eyeoftheduckpod.com

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Never flip a turtle! There might be a beautiful woman inside it!!
This week we venture beyond Japan to celebrate a European (?!) co-production with Studio Ghibli. It’s a one-of-kind collaboration involving Isao Takahata and the great Dutch animator Michaël Dudok de Wit that defies all expectation… and language!
Next week we return to the world of Hayao Miyazaki one last time for THE BOY AND THE HERON (2023). Join the conversation on our Discord at https://discord.com/invite/RssDc3brsx and get more Eye of the Duck on our Patreon show, After Hours https://www.patreon.com/EyeoftheDuckPod
We also have some BIG NEWS to share – our episode on THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING has been nominated for a Signal Award for Best Episode in the TV/Film category! But we need your help! While we wait for the final results, you can help us win the Listener’s Choice Award by voting here: https://vote.signalaward.com/PublicVoting#/2026/individual-episodes/genre/television-film
References:
Special FeaturesThe Birth of The Red Turtle
The Red Turtle at AFI Fest Q&A

Sony Pictures Press Notes
The Film Stage Michael Dudok de Wit Interview
Screen Daily Production History
The Washington Post Michael Dudok de Wit Interview
Credits:
Eye of the Duck is created, hosted, and produced by Dom Nero and Adam Volerich.
This episode was researched by Parth Marathe.
Our logo was designed by Francesca Volerich. You can purchase her work at francescavolerich.com/shop
The "Adam's Blu-Ray Corner" theme was produced by Chase Sterling.
Assistant programming and digital production by Nik Long.
Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Letterboxd or join the conversation at Eye of the Discord.
Learn more at eyeoftheduckpod.com

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Birds, bugs, beasts, grass, trees, AND flowers? All in a single film??!
This week we take the leap of life with Isao Takahata and his final masterpiece. It’s an extraordinary work that epitomizes the Studio Ghibli philosophy… and completely shatters all expectations with its singular visual style. So yes, I guess you can say we liked it!
Next week we explore the 2016 Ghibli co-production, THE RED TURTLE. Join the conversation on our Discord at https://discord.com/invite/RssDc3brsx and get more Eye of the Duck on our Patreon show, After Hours https://www.patreon.com/EyeoftheDuckPod
References:
Special FeaturesIsao Takahata and his Princess Kaguya
Announcement of the Completion of the Film

Kingdom of Dreams and Madness
Japanese Policy Forum Toshio Suzuki Interview
IndieWire Isao Takahata Interview
Isao Takahata Reveals His Next Film
Credits:
Eye of the Duck is created, hosted, and produced by Dom Nero and Adam Volerich.
This episode was researched by Parth Marathe.
Our logo was designed by Francesca Volerich. You can purchase her work at francescavolerich.com/shop
The "Adam's Blu-Ray Corner" theme was produced by Chase Sterling.
Assistant programming and digital production by Nik Long.
Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Letterboxd or join the conversation at Eye of the Discord.
Learn more at eyeoftheduckpod.com

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

[Bane voice]: The wind rises!!
This week we fly with Jiro Hirokoshi and the mysterious Italian man of his dreams! It's Hayao Miyazaki's most personal film to date, featuring some of the most ravishing animation ever committed to film. And believe it or not, it's also the subject of controversy! We'll get into it.
Next week it's the great Isao Takahata's final film, THE TALE OF THE PRINCESS KAGUYA (2013). Join the conversation on our Discord at https://discord.com/invite/RssDc3brsx and get more Eye of the Duck on our Patreon show, After Hours https://www.patreon.com/EyeoftheDuckPod
References:
Special FeaturesTen Years With Hayao Miyazaki

Kingdom of Dreams and Madness
The Art of The Wind Rises
Japanese Policy Forum Toshio Suzuki Interview
Princess Kaguya delayed to the Fall
Another Double Feature
Suzuki Turns Down Ponyo Sequel
Credits:
Eye of the Duck is created, hosted, and produced by Dom Nero and Adam Volerich.
This episode was researched by Parth Marathe.
Our logo was designed by Francesca Volerich. You can purchase her work at francescavolerich.com/shop
The "Adam's Blu-Ray Corner" theme was produced by Chase Sterling.
Assistant programming and digital production by Nik Long.
Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Letterboxd or join the conversation at Eye of the Discord.
Learn more at eyeoftheduckpod.com

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.