Zaki Con was created when a group of teens in our Teen Advisory Group decided they wanted to host a Studio Ghibli movie marathon. Movies like Howl's Moving Castle, My Neighbor Totoro, and Spirited Away have been favorite during Young Adult programs here at the library for years and they wanted a way to share that with more people. The idea blossomed to include crafts for kids and families, games, food, and art made by local (mostly teen) artists.
But the movies are where we started and what gave our mini convention its name. Hayao Miyazaki co-founded Studio Ghibli in 1985 and directed many of its most famous films. His birthday is January 5th and we try to hold Zaki Con as close to that date as we can.
Every year we screen four movies. Three from Studio Ghibli and a fourth highlighting a different studio that we think our attendees will enjoy. Here is some info about the movies we'll be showing this year to help you plan your Zaki Con experience.
Porco Rosso 1992 Rated PG - Friday 12/4 12:30pm
Porco Rosso is an ex-fighter ace and veteran of WWI afflicted with a mysterious curse that transformed him into a pig, he makes his living as a bounty hunter. When he runs foul of air pirates, Porco may be in for his final high-flying showdown.
Grave of the Fireflies 1988 Rated PG - Friday 12/4 4:30pm
Based on the retellings of survivor Nosaka Akiyuki, Grave of the Fireflies is the story of siblings Seita and Setsuko in the days after World War II. When firebombings separate them from their parents the young brother and sister must rely on each other for survival. Haunting and heart-wrenching, this movie may be a lot to handle for younger, more sensitive viewers. However, many who have watched this movie claim it is one of the best movies ever made and even that it made them a better person.
Howl's Moving Castle 2004 Rated PG - Saturday 12/5 11:00am
My personal favorite Ghibli film (and just one of my favorite movies in general), Howl's Moving Castle, based on the book by Diana Wynne Jones, is the story of Sophie, a quiet hatmaker. A chance encounter with the infamous Wizard Howl (who is rumored to eat the heart's of beautiful girls) leads to a curse by the Witch of the Waste which transforms Sophie into an old woman. In an effort to find the Witch and break the curse, Sophie finds herself in Howl's Moving Castle and part of his household where she finds out there's more to the wizard and herself than she knew. Oh yeah, and there's a fire demon!
But the movies are where we started and what gave our mini convention its name. Hayao Miyazaki co-founded Studio Ghibli in 1985 and directed many of its most famous films. His birthday is January 5th and we try to hold Zaki Con as close to that date as we can.
Every year we screen four movies. Three from Studio Ghibli and a fourth highlighting a different studio that we think our attendees will enjoy. Here is some info about the movies we'll be showing this year to help you plan your Zaki Con experience.
Porco Rosso 1992 Rated PG - Friday 12/4 12:30pm
Porco Rosso is an ex-fighter ace and veteran of WWI afflicted with a mysterious curse that transformed him into a pig, he makes his living as a bounty hunter. When he runs foul of air pirates, Porco may be in for his final high-flying showdown.
Grave of the Fireflies 1988 Rated PG - Friday 12/4 4:30pm
Based on the retellings of survivor Nosaka Akiyuki, Grave of the Fireflies is the story of siblings Seita and Setsuko in the days after World War II. When firebombings separate them from their parents the young brother and sister must rely on each other for survival. Haunting and heart-wrenching, this movie may be a lot to handle for younger, more sensitive viewers. However, many who have watched this movie claim it is one of the best movies ever made and even that it made them a better person.
Howl's Moving Castle 2004 Rated PG - Saturday 12/5 11:00am
My personal favorite Ghibli film (and just one of my favorite movies in general), Howl's Moving Castle, based on the book by Diana Wynne Jones, is the story of Sophie, a quiet hatmaker. A chance encounter with the infamous Wizard Howl (who is rumored to eat the heart's of beautiful girls) leads to a curse by the Witch of the Waste which transforms Sophie into an old woman. In an effort to find the Witch and break the curse, Sophie finds herself in Howl's Moving Castle and part of his household where she finds out there's more to the wizard and herself than she knew. Oh yeah, and there's a fire demon!
Mary and the Witch's Flower 2017 Rated PG - Saturday 12/5 3:00pm
A film from Studio Ponoc, the animation in Mary and the Witch's Flower may seem familiar. That's because the studio founder Yoshiaki Nishimura and the film director Hiromasa Yonebayashi are former members of Studio Ghibli. Based on the novel The Little Broomstick by Mary Stewart, Mary and the Witch's Flower is about a young girl who discovers a flower with magic properties and a broom that allows her to fly. These new items whisk her away to Endor College a magic school where Mary tells that a lie that could be impossible to fix.
These are the films we'll be watching at Zaki Con 2019, what films do you want to see at Zaki Con 2020?
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