Gkids has acquires North American rights to Mamoru Oshii’s Ghost In The Shell 2: Innocence and will release a new 4K restoration this summer.
First released in 2004, Oshii’s cyberpunk mystery centred on the character Batou from his 1995 classic Ghost In The Shell and is imagined as a stand-alone return to the world established in the original.
It is now the year 2032 and the line between humans and machines has become blurred as cyber-bodied agent Batou and his human partner Togusa investigate a string of murders committed by a prototype android model.
Prior to the film’s nationwide release,...
First released in 2004, Oshii’s cyberpunk mystery centred on the character Batou from his 1995 classic Ghost In The Shell and is imagined as a stand-alone return to the world established in the original.
It is now the year 2032 and the line between humans and machines has become blurred as cyber-bodied agent Batou and his human partner Togusa investigate a string of murders committed by a prototype android model.
Prior to the film’s nationwide release,...
- 4/17/2024
- ScreenDaily
Originally released in 2004, director Mamoru Oshii's followup to the groundbreaking Ghost in the Shell anime film adaptation is getting ready to return to cinemas in North America. Gkids announced the acquisition of theatrical distribution rights for Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence , which it plans to release nationwide in celebration of the film's 20th anniversary this summer. Ahead of that, Gkids will premiere the all-new 4K restoration of Innocence at the Chicago Critics Film Festival at the Music Box Theatre this May. Related: Interview: Mamoru Oshii on Why Humans Keep Telling Stories to Each Other Synopsis: iIn the year 2032, the line between humans and machines has been blurred almost beyond distinction. A string of murders perpetrated by a prototype android model has drawn the attention of Public Security Section 9, a unit specializing in counter cyber-terrorism. With none of the victims’ families pressing charges, suspicions arise regarding the nature of...
- 4/17/2024
- by Joseph Luster
- Crunchyroll
Originally released in 2004, director Mamoru Oshii's followup to the groundbreaking Ghost in the Shell anime film adaptation is getting ready to return to cinemas in North America. Gkids announced the acquisition of theatrical distribution rights for Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence , which it plans to release nationwide in celebration of the film's 20th anniversary this summer. Ahead of that, Gkids will premiere the all-new 4K restoration of Innocence at the Chicago Critics Film Festival at the Music Box Theatre this May. Related: Interview: Mamoru Oshii on Why Humans Keep Telling Stories to Each Other Synopsis: iIn the year 2032, the line between humans and machines has been blurred almost beyond distinction. A string of murders perpetrated by a prototype android model has drawn the attention of Public Security Section 9, a unit specializing in counter cyber-terrorism. With none of the victims’ families pressing charges, suspicions arise regarding the nature of...
- 4/17/2024
- by Joseph Luster
- Crunchyroll
Kazuchika Kise is one of the best-known and acclaimed anime character designers in history. Best known for his work on the Ghost in the Shell series, he has also worked on the xxxHolic and Blood series, and is currently the principal character designer for the popular fantasy series Made in Abyss.
Recently, the acclaimed designer gave an interview for the official Ghost in the Shell website, in which he talked about his projects, about the struggles of character designers in the modern anime market, as well as his opinions on the current state of the anime market. We are bringing you the best pieces of the interview here on Anime Horizon. You can check out the full three-part interview here.
The first part of the interview discussed Ghost in the Shell and Kise’s own preferences. Here, he revealed that drawing Ghost in the Shell was quite challenging and that...
Recently, the acclaimed designer gave an interview for the official Ghost in the Shell website, in which he talked about his projects, about the struggles of character designers in the modern anime market, as well as his opinions on the current state of the anime market. We are bringing you the best pieces of the interview here on Anime Horizon. You can check out the full three-part interview here.
The first part of the interview discussed Ghost in the Shell and Kise’s own preferences. Here, he revealed that drawing Ghost in the Shell was quite challenging and that...
- 4/5/2024
- by Arthur S. Poe
- Fiction Horizon
The official website for the two-part Dead Dead Demon's Dededede Destruction anime film, based on Inio Asano's manga of the same name, announced five new voice cast members who will join its upcoming second part as follows: Ojiro-senpai voiced by Chiharu Sawashiro (Banri Settsu in A3! ) Hikari Sumaru voiced by Saori Onishi (Miyako Shikimori in Shikimori's Not Just a Cutie ) Takarada voiced by Kenichiro Matsuda (Bond Forger in Spy x Family ) Taro Miura voiced by Kengo Kawanishi (Mikazuki Augus in Mobile Suit Gundam Iron Blooded Orphans ) Ogino voiced by Masafumi Kobatake (Senya in Bucchigiri?! ) Additionally, veteran actor Naoto Takenaka will make a supporting appearance as the "chairman" of the invaders. Among anime fans, he is well-known for his voice appearances in Mamoru Oshii films, such as Shigeki Arakawa in Patlabor 2: The Movie (1993), Kimu in Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence (2004), and Master in The Sky Crawlers (2008). Takenaka is...
- 3/27/2024
- by Mikikazu Komatsu
- Crunchyroll
Mermaid fairy tales have enjoyed lasting popularity since Andersen's “The Little Sea Maid” and La Motte-Fouqué's “Undine”. Recent (unequal) reboots can further attest to this enduring appeal. Nothing surprising when considering the universality of these legendary creatures across civilizations and times. As for Japanese folklore, the Ningyo has gained a significant prominence not long ago through Miyazaki's “Ponyo” (2008). Just a decade later, the director of the celebrated “Mind Game” (2004), Masaaki Yuasa, developed his own rendition, this time in the form of a coming-of-age narrative.
on Amazon by clicking on the image below
Kai Ashimoto, a taciturn and disillusioned middle school student, is raised in a small coastal town by a single father in the handcrafted umbrella shop of his grandfather, a retired fisherman. After being exposed for posting music demos online, he agrees to join his classmates, the wannabe Yuho and the carefree Kunio, in a rock band named Seiren,...
on Amazon by clicking on the image below
Kai Ashimoto, a taciturn and disillusioned middle school student, is raised in a small coastal town by a single father in the handcrafted umbrella shop of his grandfather, a retired fisherman. After being exposed for posting music demos online, he agrees to join his classmates, the wannabe Yuho and the carefree Kunio, in a rock band named Seiren,...
- 3/2/2024
- by Jean Claude
- AsianMoviePulse
The late Satoshi Kon was amongst the most prominent Japanese animators, with his works transcending the world of anime and manga, thus creating a modern division of the genre, which chiefly addressed a more mature audience. However, he did not accomplish that via sex and violence, but through the profundity of his themes and a complex style of presentation. The former becomes evident in his nightmarish worlds of terror that are based on concepts like fixation, publicity and the perspective of reality and personal identity, while the latter is clear through the mixture of fantasy and reality in the surrealistic environments of his movies. Additionally, he was equally elaborative as a designer and animator; hence, his works amount to masterpieces, both visually and in content.
Satoshi Kon was born on October 12, 1963 in Kushiro, Hokkaido. Early on, he became a fan of anime and manga, chiefly “Mobile Suit Gundam” and “Space Battleship Yamato...
Satoshi Kon was born on October 12, 1963 in Kushiro, Hokkaido. Early on, he became a fan of anime and manga, chiefly “Mobile Suit Gundam” and “Space Battleship Yamato...
- 1/30/2024
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Following The Film Stage’s collective top 50 films of 2023, as part of our year-end coverage, our contributors are sharing their personal top 10 lists.
In all honesty, the films of 2023 should take a backseat to the images we are seeing every day in Gaza, where journalists and average citizens have been recording and documenting a daily assault on their homes and livelihoods by the Idf. Whatever fakery we watched and enjoyed in the cinema this year should always be kept in perspective in importance with images that are real and actually happening right now. The Palestinians who have documented these important images have been targeted and killed with intent and purpose to silence what their photos and videos are showing and saying.
List of journalists who have been killed.
The below is of lesser note:
Best First Watches:
Angel’s Egg La belle noiseuse Centipede Horror Charley Varrick Coffy Crimson Gold...
In all honesty, the films of 2023 should take a backseat to the images we are seeing every day in Gaza, where journalists and average citizens have been recording and documenting a daily assault on their homes and livelihoods by the Idf. Whatever fakery we watched and enjoyed in the cinema this year should always be kept in perspective in importance with images that are real and actually happening right now. The Palestinians who have documented these important images have been targeted and killed with intent and purpose to silence what their photos and videos are showing and saying.
List of journalists who have been killed.
The below is of lesser note:
Best First Watches:
Angel’s Egg La belle noiseuse Centipede Horror Charley Varrick Coffy Crimson Gold...
- 1/3/2024
- by Soham Gadre
- The Film Stage
Each week we highlight the noteworthy titles that have recently hit streaming platforms in the United States. Check out this week’s selections below and past round-ups here.
Anatomy of a Fall (Justin Triet)
The ensuing days after a romantic breakup, even if it isn’t a cataclysmic one, are an uncanny time. Perhaps once the spell of verbal conflict and sparring’s ceased, suddenly your sole companion for the most intimate thoughts is yourself once again, but it’s an opportune moment for contemplation: how did it really go wrong? Or, can I be honest with myself and acknowledge my own partial responsibility for its demise? For Sandra (Sandra Hüller) and Samuel (Samuel Theis), the key onscreen and offscreen players in Anatomy of a Fall, are enduring this quagmire, although their inevitable breakup was enforced––the latter has just tragically died. – David K. (full review)
Where to Stream: VOD...
Anatomy of a Fall (Justin Triet)
The ensuing days after a romantic breakup, even if it isn’t a cataclysmic one, are an uncanny time. Perhaps once the spell of verbal conflict and sparring’s ceased, suddenly your sole companion for the most intimate thoughts is yourself once again, but it’s an opportune moment for contemplation: how did it really go wrong? Or, can I be honest with myself and acknowledge my own partial responsibility for its demise? For Sandra (Sandra Hüller) and Samuel (Samuel Theis), the key onscreen and offscreen players in Anatomy of a Fall, are enduring this quagmire, although their inevitable breakup was enforced––the latter has just tragically died. – David K. (full review)
Where to Stream: VOD...
- 12/22/2023
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
It seems that the commercial value of Asian films, both of the past (for the most part) and of the current ones, is having an impact also on physical media, with a number of established and newer companies releasing even more movies from the region in 2023. At the same time, the competition seems to up the quality of releases which keep getting better and better, to the joy of collectors, a number of which are definitely among the writers of Asian Movie Pulse.
Without further ado, we list here 30 Best Asian DVD and Blu-ray releases of 2023, in no particular order.
1. The Katsuhito Ishii Collection (Third Window Films)
Over the course of his career Japanese auteur Katsuhito Ishii has gained not only popularity among the festival crowd but a loyal group of fans, which all the more understandable when watching his works, that are now gathered in one comprehensive boxset thanks to Third Window.
Without further ado, we list here 30 Best Asian DVD and Blu-ray releases of 2023, in no particular order.
1. The Katsuhito Ishii Collection (Third Window Films)
Over the course of his career Japanese auteur Katsuhito Ishii has gained not only popularity among the festival crowd but a loyal group of fans, which all the more understandable when watching his works, that are now gathered in one comprehensive boxset thanks to Third Window.
- 12/21/2023
- by AMP Group
- AsianMoviePulse
Game designer Hideo Kojima, creator of the hugely popular “Death Stranding,” had two pieces of news coming out of the Game Awards 2023.
On Thursday evening at the Game Awards show in L.A., Kojima appeared on stage with filmmaker Jordan Peele to announce his next game project: “Od,” which Kojima describes as an “immersive and totally new style of game” that will explore “what it means to Od on fear.” It’s being produced in partnership with Microsoft’s Xbox Game Studios.
In addition, Kojima announced that his documentary film “Hideo Kojima: Connecting Worlds” — which follows his journey to form an independent games studio and his creative process behind “Death Stranding” — will be distributed worldwide in the spring of 2024 exclusively on Disney+.
Peele, the acclaimed director of “Get Out,” “Us” and “Nope,” will be “one of several talented storytellers” involved in the “Od” project, according to Kojima Productions. “We are...
On Thursday evening at the Game Awards show in L.A., Kojima appeared on stage with filmmaker Jordan Peele to announce his next game project: “Od,” which Kojima describes as an “immersive and totally new style of game” that will explore “what it means to Od on fear.” It’s being produced in partnership with Microsoft’s Xbox Game Studios.
In addition, Kojima announced that his documentary film “Hideo Kojima: Connecting Worlds” — which follows his journey to form an independent games studio and his creative process behind “Death Stranding” — will be distributed worldwide in the spring of 2024 exclusively on Disney+.
Peele, the acclaimed director of “Get Out,” “Us” and “Nope,” will be “one of several talented storytellers” involved in the “Od” project, according to Kojima Productions. “We are...
- 12/8/2023
- by Todd Spangler
- Variety Film + TV
Each week we highlight the noteworthy titles that have recently hit streaming platforms in the United States. Check out this week’s selections below and past round-ups here.
Albert Brooks: Defending My Life (Rob Reiner)
One of the most brilliant comedic minds to ever live finally gets his due in Rob Reiner’s loving documentary. Framed around a conversation between the two, Brooks dives into all of his creative output while still proving he’s as witty as ever––and indeed, if you’ve never seen some of his early late-night bits, you’ll be howling along. And since you’ll be looking for more from Brooks to watch after watching, Lost in America and Defending Your Life are on Max, Modern Romance is on Tubi, and Real Life is on Kanopy.
Where to Stream: Max
Before, Now & Then (Kamila Andini)
In Before, Now & Then the social...
Albert Brooks: Defending My Life (Rob Reiner)
One of the most brilliant comedic minds to ever live finally gets his due in Rob Reiner’s loving documentary. Framed around a conversation between the two, Brooks dives into all of his creative output while still proving he’s as witty as ever––and indeed, if you’ve never seen some of his early late-night bits, you’ll be howling along. And since you’ll be looking for more from Brooks to watch after watching, Lost in America and Defending Your Life are on Max, Modern Romance is on Tubi, and Real Life is on Kanopy.
Where to Stream: Max
Before, Now & Then (Kamila Andini)
In Before, Now & Then the social...
- 11/17/2023
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Originally announced back in 2021, the all-new “Terminator: The Anime Series” is coming soon to Netflix, and a first-look teaser was debuted out of “Geeked Week” this afternoon.
Check it out below and read on for everything you need to know.
The anime hails from Japanese animation studio Production Ig (Ghost in the Shell). The eight-episode series is part of the Terminator universe but will center around new characters.
Here’s the official synopsis…
“2022: A future war has raged for decades between the few human survivors and an endless army of machines. 1997: The AI known as Skynet gained self-awareness and began its war against humanity. Caught between the future and this past is a soldier sent back in time to change the fate of humanity. She arrives in 1997 to protect a scientist named Malcolm Lee who works to launch a new AI system designed to compete with Skynet’s impending attack on humanity.
Check it out below and read on for everything you need to know.
The anime hails from Japanese animation studio Production Ig (Ghost in the Shell). The eight-episode series is part of the Terminator universe but will center around new characters.
Here’s the official synopsis…
“2022: A future war has raged for decades between the few human survivors and an endless army of machines. 1997: The AI known as Skynet gained self-awareness and began its war against humanity. Caught between the future and this past is a soldier sent back in time to change the fate of humanity. She arrives in 1997 to protect a scientist named Malcolm Lee who works to launch a new AI system designed to compete with Skynet’s impending attack on humanity.
- 11/11/2023
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
The 1995 'neo-noir cyberpunk' animated feature "Ghost in the Shell", directed by Mamoru Oshii, based on manga comics by Masamune Shirow, starring Atsuko Tanaka, Akio Ōtsuka, and Iemasa Kayumi, will be re-released November 8, 2023 in theaters:
".... with a narrative incorporating philosophical themes focusing on self-identity in the year 2029, 'cyborg' federal agent 'Maj. Motoko Kusanagi' ...
"... hunts 'The Puppet Master', who illegally hacks into the computerized minds of cyborg-human hybrids.
"Her pursuit of a man who can modify the identity of strangers leaves Motoko pondering her own makeup...
"... and what life might be like if she had more human traits.
"With her partner, she corners the hacker...
"... but her curiosity about her own identity...
"... sends the case in an unforeseen direction..."
Click the images to enlarge...
".... with a narrative incorporating philosophical themes focusing on self-identity in the year 2029, 'cyborg' federal agent 'Maj. Motoko Kusanagi' ...
"... hunts 'The Puppet Master', who illegally hacks into the computerized minds of cyborg-human hybrids.
"Her pursuit of a man who can modify the identity of strangers leaves Motoko pondering her own makeup...
"... and what life might be like if she had more human traits.
"With her partner, she corners the hacker...
"... but her curiosity about her own identity...
"... sends the case in an unforeseen direction..."
Click the images to enlarge...
- 11/6/2023
- by Unknown
- SneakPeek
The Creator is a sci-drama film directed by Gareth Edwards, who co-wrote the film with Chris Weitz. Set in a dystopian future where a war between the humans and the artificial intelligence rages on, Joshua an ex-special forces agent is recruited to capture and kill the Creator, who is known as the architect of advanced AI. The Creator stars John David Washington, Gemma Chan, Ken Watanabe, Allison Janney, and Madeleine Yuna Voyles. So, if you loved the original sci-fi film here are some similar movies you could watch next.
Space Sweeper (Netflix) Credit – Netflix
Synopsis: Set in 2092, spaceship Victory is one of the many that live off salvaging space debris. Crewed with a genius space pilot Tae-ho(Song Joong-ki), a mysterious ex-space pirate Captain Jang(Kim Tae-ri), an spaceship engineer Tiger Park(Jin Sun-kyu), and a reprogrammed military robot Bubs(Yoo Hai-jin), Spaceship Victory surpasses all other space sweepers. After...
Space Sweeper (Netflix) Credit – Netflix
Synopsis: Set in 2092, spaceship Victory is one of the many that live off salvaging space debris. Crewed with a genius space pilot Tae-ho(Song Joong-ki), a mysterious ex-space pirate Captain Jang(Kim Tae-ri), an spaceship engineer Tiger Park(Jin Sun-kyu), and a reprogrammed military robot Bubs(Yoo Hai-jin), Spaceship Victory surpasses all other space sweepers. After...
- 9/29/2023
- by Kulwant Singh
- Cinema Blind
If you need an example of a movie that doesn’t earn the portentous use of chapter titles and an “Everything In Its Right Place” needle-drop, look no further than The Creator. The new film from visual effects indie wunderkind-turned-ip peddler Gareth Edwards––the seven-year gap between this and the film you definitely forgot was the most successful grosser of 2016 pointing to confirmation of him not being that movie’s chief author––is an admirable pursuit of big-budget, original sci-fi, a film I kind of wanted to like. The sight of James Cameron/Mamoru Oshii-mechsuits stirred some warm feelings, yet the problem is the intrusion of sentimentality, something beyond Edwards’ talents to pull off.
In the 2060s, the advance of artificial intelligence is at a place where Western robots are subservient little Chappies running around; in the East, humans and machines have essentially merged. Though in a “whoops my bad,...
In the 2060s, the advance of artificial intelligence is at a place where Western robots are subservient little Chappies running around; in the East, humans and machines have essentially merged. Though in a “whoops my bad,...
- 9/28/2023
- by Ethan Vestby
- The Film Stage
Iconic Events Releasing, a company specializing in distributing special engagement theatrical events to theatres, brings the action and bold visual storytelling of anime to the big screen as it announces a slate of upcoming nationwide theatrical events for the latest installment of Ax Cinema Nights.
A different acclaimed anime feature will be screened at over 300 theatre locations across the country beginning in September and continuing through February 2024.
Celebrated films will include a Satoshi Kon Film Festival that will screen 3 of the legendary Director's most renowned anime feature films – Perfect Blue 25th Anniversary, Tokyo Godfathers 20th Anniversary, and Paprika, as well as special presentations of Ghost In The Shell and Cowboy Bebop: The Movie. Both subtitled and dubbed screenings are scheduled.
Ax Cinema Nights is a year-round movie event series celebrating the best new and classic anime films by bringing them to theaters across North America. It provides the passionate fan...
A different acclaimed anime feature will be screened at over 300 theatre locations across the country beginning in September and continuing through February 2024.
Celebrated films will include a Satoshi Kon Film Festival that will screen 3 of the legendary Director's most renowned anime feature films – Perfect Blue 25th Anniversary, Tokyo Godfathers 20th Anniversary, and Paprika, as well as special presentations of Ghost In The Shell and Cowboy Bebop: The Movie. Both subtitled and dubbed screenings are scheduled.
Ax Cinema Nights is a year-round movie event series celebrating the best new and classic anime films by bringing them to theaters across North America. It provides the passionate fan...
- 8/25/2023
- by Adam Symchuk
- AsianMoviePulse
In many respects, the ‘80s are highlighted as a boom period for anime, something perhaps unwittingly foretold by Mobile Suit Gundam creator Yoshiyuki Tomino in his famous “Anime New Century Declaration” — a promo event for the “Ms Gundam” compilation movie “Mobile Suit Gundam 1” that unexpectedly drew a crowd numbering in the thousands. The event was emblematic of that coming explosion — anime production reaching newfound scale, finding larger audiences in turn, and maturing as both a medium and an industry. It would be a decade that saw more confident spending, bigger original productions, and a much deeper roster as new creators.
In a retrospective piece about the moment, “Anime: A History” author Jonathan Clements wrote that while Tomino would become a figurehead, his “new world order” would belong to the next generation. It would be a dynamic new age defined by works like the famous Daicon III & IV Opening Animations, made...
In a retrospective piece about the moment, “Anime: A History” author Jonathan Clements wrote that while Tomino would become a figurehead, his “new world order” would belong to the next generation. It would be a dynamic new age defined by works like the famous Daicon III & IV Opening Animations, made...
- 8/17/2023
- by Kambole Campbell
- Indiewire
Alternate history is one of science fiction’s biggest niches, at least on the bookshelves. There’s some big winners out there, like when historian and author Harry Turtledove took us on a trip through a Civil War where mercenaries funneled modern weapons to the Confederates in The Guns of the South. Meanwhile David Drake has a joyful obsession with introducing Roman centurions to aliens everywhere from Birds of Prey to Ranks of Bronze. It’s a ton of fun to splash through a world of what could have been.
Movies dip their toes into the genre to a far lesser extent, frequently sticking with takes on a post-wwii era where the Axis forces take control. There’s some fantastic movies in that niche, although they’re not often happy rides. But there are some great, zany takes on mixed-up history that a film fan can miss if they’re not looking.
Movies dip their toes into the genre to a far lesser extent, frequently sticking with takes on a post-wwii era where the Axis forces take control. There’s some fantastic movies in that niche, although they’re not often happy rides. But there are some great, zany takes on mixed-up history that a film fan can miss if they’re not looking.
- 7/14/2023
- by David Crow
- Den of Geek
I honestly never expected Steven Spielberg in a Criterion Channel series––certainly not one that pairs him with Kogonada, anime, and Johnny Mnemonic––but so’s the power of artificial intelligence. Perhaps his greatest film (at this point I don’t need to tell you the title) plays with After Yang, Ghost in the Shell, and pre-Matrix Keanu in July’s aptly titled “AI” boasting also Spike Jonze’s Her, Carpenter’s Dark Star, and Computer Chess. Much more analog is a British Noir collection obviously carrying the likes of Odd Man Out, Night and the City, and The Small Back Room, further filled by Joseph Losey’s Time Without Pity and Basil Dearden’s It Always Rains on Sunday. (No two ways about it: these movies have great titles.) An Elvis retrospective brings six features, and the consensus best (Don Siegel’s Flaming Star) comes September 1.
While Isabella Rossellini...
While Isabella Rossellini...
- 6/22/2023
- by Nick Newman
- The Film Stage
Playing in competition in Annecy after premiering in Cannes, Jérémie Périn’s sci-fi thriller “Mars Express” offers an uncommon spin on modern anxieties — particularly when it comes to AI.
“We so often imagine that if robots became sentient, they’ll kill us,” Périn tells Variety. “Or we see many sci-fi films where robots want to become human. In short, humans are always the point of reference – so mysterious and strange and interesting, such an amazing species. We’re a bit pretentious, and I didn’t want to play on that.”
Written by Périn and Laurent Sarfati, “Mars Express” serves a heady pop-culture cocktail, mixing hard-boiled fiction with science-fantasy comix, riffing on Philip Marlow and Philip K. Dick (with winks to “Watchmen” and “Robocop” and oh so many more) with a mystery yarn that places humans and cyborgs on equal footing.
“The film says robots and human are different, so we have to accept those differences.
“We so often imagine that if robots became sentient, they’ll kill us,” Périn tells Variety. “Or we see many sci-fi films where robots want to become human. In short, humans are always the point of reference – so mysterious and strange and interesting, such an amazing species. We’re a bit pretentious, and I didn’t want to play on that.”
Written by Périn and Laurent Sarfati, “Mars Express” serves a heady pop-culture cocktail, mixing hard-boiled fiction with science-fantasy comix, riffing on Philip Marlow and Philip K. Dick (with winks to “Watchmen” and “Robocop” and oh so many more) with a mystery yarn that places humans and cyborgs on equal footing.
“The film says robots and human are different, so we have to accept those differences.
- 6/12/2023
- by Ben Croll
- Variety Film + TV
So it’s come to this: Spider-Man 10, technically. The future prophesied by many Hollywood alarmists, but now with more madness in the multi-verse (I cringe every time I hear it). Our prologue sees a super-powered Gwen Stacy (Hailee Steinfeld) battling the iconic comic villain The Vulture, only to be interrupted by new variants like Spider-Man 2099 (Oscar Isaac) and his pregnant wife Spider-Woman (Issa Rae) emerging from another universe to assist her. Come there be something a little nefarious with them?
We then catch up with the hero of the first film, Miles Morales, deep in the midst of anxiety about his secret identity being revealed to his parents. On top of this, when trailed by his own physics-bending villain The Spot (Jason Schwartzman)––who claims to have had a hand in Miles getting his powers––another complication arises as Gwen and Miles cross paths, again, across dimensions. These early...
We then catch up with the hero of the first film, Miles Morales, deep in the midst of anxiety about his secret identity being revealed to his parents. On top of this, when trailed by his own physics-bending villain The Spot (Jason Schwartzman)––who claims to have had a hand in Miles getting his powers––another complication arises as Gwen and Miles cross paths, again, across dimensions. These early...
- 6/1/2023
- by Ethan Vestby
- The Film Stage
Blu-ray distributor Plaion, previously known in Germany as Koch Media, has been responsible for some Special Editions which were absolute jawdroppers. Their release of Richard Stanley's The Color Out of Space was a highpoint for me in 2020, and last year's super special edition of David Lynch' 1984 take on Dune similarly trumped everything else for me. Unrelated, I'm known as a nutcase with regards to Mamoru Oshii's 1995 anime Ghost in the Shell, copies of which are scattered through my house in five different types of media. I listed them here a long time ago but that article is already hugely outdated. So guess what the Plaion people decided to release as their next super special editions? Oh brother... it was Ghost in the...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 5/21/2023
- Screen Anarchy
Our friends at Neuchâtel International Fantastic Film Festival are busy preparing for this year's 22nd edition of their Swiss-based genre film festival. As the programming comes together the festival has unveiled this year's poster. It is a slick and shiny work that conjurs up memories of the contemporary rendition of Westworld or Mamoru Oshii's Ghost in the Shell. More about the poster and its creation follows in the official announcement. Poster Nifff 2023 The Birth Of An Entity The Neuchâtel International Fantastic Film Festival (Nifff) is happy to unveil the visual of its 22nd edition, which will take place from June 30th to July 8th, 2023. For the third year in a row, our visual identity is the result of a...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 3/30/2023
- Screen Anarchy
Mamoru Oshii was jury president of the new prestigious animation event.
Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman has scooped the grand prize at the inaugural edition of Niigata International Animation Film Festival (Niaff), which ran in the Japanese port city of Niigata from March 17-23.
The animated feature is the directorial debut of US-born French composer Pierre Földes, who also wrote the screenplay and score, and is based on a collection of short stories by Japanese writer Haruki Murakami. It ollows the lives of multiple characters as they navigate existence after the 2011 tsunami in Japan.
Sold by The Match Factory, Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman...
Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman has scooped the grand prize at the inaugural edition of Niigata International Animation Film Festival (Niaff), which ran in the Japanese port city of Niigata from March 17-23.
The animated feature is the directorial debut of US-born French composer Pierre Földes, who also wrote the screenplay and score, and is based on a collection of short stories by Japanese writer Haruki Murakami. It ollows the lives of multiple characters as they navigate existence after the 2011 tsunami in Japan.
Sold by The Match Factory, Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman...
- 3/27/2023
- by Mona Tabbara
- ScreenDaily
Mubi has announced its lineup of streaming offerings for next month, including an epic six-film series dedicated to the brand new restorations of the films of Nina Menkes. The slate also includes a Brian De Palma double bill with Obsession and Body Double as well as Paul Schrader’s Hardcore.
Additional highlights include the Andrea Riseborough-led Please Baby Please, three films by Eugene Kotlyarenko, a Ghost in the Shell double bill, and, ahead of their release of Passages later this year, Ira Sach’s Little Men.
Check out the lineup below and get 30 days free here.
March 1 – Glass Life, directed by Sara Cwynar | Brief Encounters
March 2 – The Great Sadness of Zohara, directed by Nina Menkes | Phantom Cinema: The Films of Nina Menkes
March 3 – Please Baby Please, directed by Amanda Kramer | Mubi Spotlight
March 4 – Hardcore, directed by Paul Schrader
March 5 – Kedi, directed by Ceyda Torun
March 6 – Magdalena Viraga, directed by...
Additional highlights include the Andrea Riseborough-led Please Baby Please, three films by Eugene Kotlyarenko, a Ghost in the Shell double bill, and, ahead of their release of Passages later this year, Ira Sach’s Little Men.
Check out the lineup below and get 30 days free here.
March 1 – Glass Life, directed by Sara Cwynar | Brief Encounters
March 2 – The Great Sadness of Zohara, directed by Nina Menkes | Phantom Cinema: The Films of Nina Menkes
March 3 – Please Baby Please, directed by Amanda Kramer | Mubi Spotlight
March 4 – Hardcore, directed by Paul Schrader
March 5 – Kedi, directed by Ceyda Torun
March 6 – Magdalena Viraga, directed by...
- 2/21/2023
- by Leonard Pearce
- The Film Stage
It would be an understatement to say I am a fan of Japanese director Mamoru Oshii's work. His 1995 anime adaptation of Ghost in the Shell is my most-owned film (even this article on my incurable double-dipping of that title is outdated already...), and few people in cinema can touch my buttons like he does. That doesn't mean, however, that I can easily recommend him to other people. The man knows how to make commercially viable cinema when pressured to do so, but when left unchecked he creates baffling works of personal art, where he himself seems to be the only intended audience. And so it seems to be with his newest live-action film I Can't Stop Biting You, a loose adaptation of his own...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 2/17/2023
- Screen Anarchy
Anime isn't a genre. It's a medium, one that's still fighting for mainstream acceptance in the West. Its hold on American audiences is stronger than ever, with Studio Ghibli blockbusters and franchises like "My Hero Academia" earning critical acclaim and global adoration. However, too many people still associate animation with children's viewing. While there are plenty of great anime films that parents can show to their kids, this attitude still leads to confusion. Not only is some anime emphatically not child-safe, but if you dismiss it as kids' stuff, you're missing out on some great movies.
If you've never watched an anime film before, rest assured that it's not all sailor uniforms and jiggly bits, just like how action movies aren't all gravelly-voiced men and sexy ladies. There's something for everyone, although we also confess that you're going to see a lot of Hayao Miyazaki and Mamoru Oshii here, and for good reasons.
If you've never watched an anime film before, rest assured that it's not all sailor uniforms and jiggly bits, just like how action movies aren't all gravelly-voiced men and sexy ladies. There's something for everyone, although we also confess that you're going to see a lot of Hayao Miyazaki and Mamoru Oshii here, and for good reasons.
- 2/16/2023
- by Margaret David
- Slash Film
Despite the fact that a number of them are interesting, Mamoru Oshii’s live action works never reached the level of his animated ones. And how could they, since the latter include some of the most iconic anime of all time, with the likes of “Ghost in the Shell”, “Angel’s Egg” and “Patlabor” among others. Now in his 70s, the Japanese filmmaker still insists on coming up with the occasional live-action, with “I Can’t Stop Biting You”, based on his own animated series, “Vlad Love”, being the latest one.
I Can’t Stop Biting You is screening at International Film Festival Rotterdam
In Kurusu Private High School, Maki, Niko, Kaoru, and Nami, four girls who are obsessed with blood donation, have started the Blood Donation Club, essentially distancing themselves from the whole of the school environment, with the exception of the school nurse, Ms Chihiro, who is their closest “associate”. One day,...
I Can’t Stop Biting You is screening at International Film Festival Rotterdam
In Kurusu Private High School, Maki, Niko, Kaoru, and Nami, four girls who are obsessed with blood donation, have started the Blood Donation Club, essentially distancing themselves from the whole of the school environment, with the exception of the school nurse, Ms Chihiro, who is their closest “associate”. One day,...
- 2/8/2023
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
This post contains spoilers for the ending of "Ghost in the Shell."
At least twice throughout its 82-minute runtime, Mamoru Oshii's 1995 anime film adaptation of "Ghost in the Shell" quotes from a biblical passage. On a boat in the fictional New Port City circa 2029, Major Motoko Kusanagi, voiced by Atsuko Tanaka in Japanese and Mimi Woods in the English dubbing, hears a whisper from her "ghost" and says, "For now, we see through a glass, darkly." This same line is referenced in the title of "A Scanner Darkly," with that book's author, Philip K. Dick, having penned the source material for "Blade Runner," a notable influence on "Ghost in the Shell."
Toward the end of the movie, Kusanagi quotes again from the passage in 1 Corinthians more at length, saying, "When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child.
At least twice throughout its 82-minute runtime, Mamoru Oshii's 1995 anime film adaptation of "Ghost in the Shell" quotes from a biblical passage. On a boat in the fictional New Port City circa 2029, Major Motoko Kusanagi, voiced by Atsuko Tanaka in Japanese and Mimi Woods in the English dubbing, hears a whisper from her "ghost" and says, "For now, we see through a glass, darkly." This same line is referenced in the title of "A Scanner Darkly," with that book's author, Philip K. Dick, having penned the source material for "Blade Runner," a notable influence on "Ghost in the Shell."
Toward the end of the movie, Kusanagi quotes again from the passage in 1 Corinthians more at length, saying, "When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child.
- 2/4/2023
- by Joshua Meyer
- Slash Film
Spend enough time in anime fandom and you hear a common refrain: "They don't make shows like they used to anymore." Do they? There's plenty of great anime still being made: Fall 2022 alone brought an incredible bumper crop of anime series across multiple genres. Some may prefer the masterpieces of the past, but those masterpieces were exceptional even then. Even so, it is indisputable that certain kinds of anime are simply not made anymore. Original anime series are scarce. Modern shows rarely last beyond 12 or 13 episodes. Robots drawn in traditional 2D animation, outside of specialist studios like Trigger or Sunrise, are rare. Even the newest "Gundam" series, usually the industry standard for 2D giant robot shows, struggled weekly to maintain the standard of its mechanical animation. To find series like the long-running psychological thriller "Monster," or the slice-of-life mystery "Haibane Renmei," you have to go back 20 or 30 years in the medium's history.
- 1/25/2023
- by Adam Wescott
- Slash Film
(Welcome to The Daily Stream, an ongoing series in which the /Film team shares what they've been watching, why it's worth checking out, and where you can stream it.)
The Movie: "Urusei Yatsura 2: Beautiful Dreamer"
Where You Can Stream It: Crunchyroll, RetroCrush
The Pitch: Ataru is a horny teenage boy who wants to make out with every pretty woman he meets. Lum is a beautiful alien from outer space with lightning powers. Lum loves Ataru, but Ataru thinks Lum is annoying. So goes "Urusei Yatsura," one of the most popular anime series of the 1980s. Based on a comic by the queen of romantic comedy, Rumiko Takahashi, it ran for 194 episodes and launched the careers of many young animators and directors. The chief director of its first 106 episodes, Mamoru Oshii, would go on to direct such films as "Ghost in the Shell" and "Patlabor 2."
The strangest work...
The Movie: "Urusei Yatsura 2: Beautiful Dreamer"
Where You Can Stream It: Crunchyroll, RetroCrush
The Pitch: Ataru is a horny teenage boy who wants to make out with every pretty woman he meets. Lum is a beautiful alien from outer space with lightning powers. Lum loves Ataru, but Ataru thinks Lum is annoying. So goes "Urusei Yatsura," one of the most popular anime series of the 1980s. Based on a comic by the queen of romantic comedy, Rumiko Takahashi, it ran for 194 episodes and launched the careers of many young animators and directors. The chief director of its first 106 episodes, Mamoru Oshii, would go on to direct such films as "Ghost in the Shell" and "Patlabor 2."
The strangest work...
- 1/24/2023
- by Adam Wescott
- Slash Film
"The Matrix," like all great stories, was built on some great inspirations. Its basal foundations can be daunting, involving some deep dives into Buddhist theology, philosophy, and the development of AI. The Wachowski sisters drew from three non-fiction grimoires, if you'll pardon the term, to build their world of machine and man. "Out of Control," by Kevin Kelly, is a look at the potential of mechanical evolution. "Introducing Evolutionary Psychology" by Dylan Evans shaped the id of Neo's life. And "Simulacra and Simulation" by Jean Baudrillard is a well-known philosophical treatise that birthed Morpheus' "desert of the real."
These are tough books, but they provide terrific insight into the thought process behind the Matrix itself. Readers who would prefer to take the blue pill instead and jaunt through imaginary worlds in search of a similar fix to Neo's journey through ones and zeros toward his personal nirvana will find plenty of science fiction to enjoy,...
These are tough books, but they provide terrific insight into the thought process behind the Matrix itself. Readers who would prefer to take the blue pill instead and jaunt through imaginary worlds in search of a similar fix to Neo's journey through ones and zeros toward his personal nirvana will find plenty of science fiction to enjoy,...
- 12/22/2022
- by Margaret David
- Slash Film
Yen Audio is expanding its lineup with the release of three new audiobook adaptations of Yen On novels: Even If This Love Disappears Tonight (March 2023), Tezcatlipoca (April 2023), and Konosuba: God’s Blessing on This Wonderful World! (June 2023). In addition to light novels, Yen On is quickly becoming the home for critically acclaimed works of literary and genre fiction, and the immense popularity of its titles have led to highly anticipated audiobook adaptations produced by Yen Audio, such as the November 2022 release of The Miracles of the Namiya General Store audiobook. Voice actors for the three upcoming audiobooks will be announced at a later date.
Even If This Love Disappears Tonight
Story by Misaki Ichijo
When Tooru Kamiya is pushed into falsely confessing his love to Maori Hino, she tells him they can date on three conditions: 1. Don’t talk to her until after school. 2. Keep any communication between them short. 3. Don...
Even If This Love Disappears Tonight
Story by Misaki Ichijo
When Tooru Kamiya is pushed into falsely confessing his love to Maori Hino, she tells him they can date on three conditions: 1. Don’t talk to her until after school. 2. Keep any communication between them short. 3. Don...
- 12/16/2022
- by Adam Symchuk
- AsianMoviePulse
Erratic would be an appropriate word to best describe the track record of Godzilla in anime. Generally speaking, the King of the Monsters’ appearances in the medium have been primarily cross-over specials or brief segments within a show or movie. An example is Mamoru Oshii’s film “Urusei Yatsura 2: Beautiful Dreamer,” which, in one scene, features the characters in a theater watching Ishiro Honda’s 1954 classic. As for actual entries to the popular franchise, the first major attempt was an unfortunate misfire. The Polygon Pictures trilogy, while full of interesting ideas and concepts, sadly fell flat in execution and was further hurt by underwhelming visuals. Regardless, their success was enough of a motivator for Toho Animation to produce another project. A few years later, the iconic kaiju’s next major attempt at anime would be with the series “Godzilla Singular Point.” This time, the results are glorious.
- 11/26/2022
- by Sean Barry
- AsianMoviePulse
I saw "Spirited Away" for the first time as a child via a rental DVD in a New Hampshire farmhouse buried in snow. I was so taken aback that I had to see it again immediately. This time I demanded that my parents join me. Early in the film, when the heroine Chihiro is threatened by a mysterious frog man, her friend Haku traps him in a magic bubble. "It's a Pokemon!" my mother cried. "He's in a Pokeball!" The visuals of "Spirited Away" had so discombobulated my family that they could only grasp at reference points. Critics were similarly taken aback when the film came to the United States in 2002. Nigel Andrews wrote in the Financial Times that "Spirited Away" is a film that "sums up all existence and gives us a mythology good for every society, amoebal, animal or human, that ever lived."
In the years since it's...
In the years since it's...
- 11/22/2022
- by Adam Wescott
- Slash Film
Conventional vampires may not be native to classic Japanese folklore, but they eventually entered modern culture starting in the early 20th century. And today these creatures of the night have become fairly common in the media, often eclipsing actual endemic monsters or ghosts of legend. Vintage depictions of Japanese vampires (kyūketsuki) patterned themselves after Dracula and his ilk. Where these bloodsuckers began to feel more distinctly Japanese was incidentally in and around the golden age of anime, or to be more specific, the 1980s and 1990s. From Vampire Hunter D to Vampire Princess Miyu, Japanese vamps were finally stepping out of their Western counterparts’ shadows and developing their own unique origins and stories.
Looking back, the vampire’s growing popularity in Japanese culture can be interpreted as a fear of Western encroachment. That’s not to say Japan is the only place where vampires were a manifestation of cultural panic...
Looking back, the vampire’s growing popularity in Japanese culture can be interpreted as a fear of Western encroachment. That’s not to say Japan is the only place where vampires were a manifestation of cultural panic...
- 10/28/2022
- by Paul Lê
- bloody-disgusting.com
NYC Weekend Watch is our weekly round-up of repertory offerings.
Film at Lincoln Center
NYFF Revivals concludes with restorations of Edward Yang’s A Confucian Confusion, Beirut the Encounter, Canyon Passage, and Black God, White Devil.
Film Forum
Isabelle Huppert, maybe our greatest actress, is celebrated in a retrospective with work by Godard and Chabrol; Breathless continues, while Wallace and Gromit shows on Sunday.
Japan Society
Mamoru Oshii’s legendary Angel’s Egg screens on Friday.
Roxy Cinema
Weyes Blood presents Possession, An American Werewolf in London, Virginia Woolf, and Hardcore on 35mm, as well as Funeral Parade of Roses and Rebecca; Band of Outsiders and a print of Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence also screen.
Anthology Film Archives
Alexei German’s Khrustalyov, My Car! has a revival run; a retrospective of Colombian filmmaker Luis Ospina continues.
IFC Center
Guy Maddin (who we spoke to here) presents a restoration of his...
Film at Lincoln Center
NYFF Revivals concludes with restorations of Edward Yang’s A Confucian Confusion, Beirut the Encounter, Canyon Passage, and Black God, White Devil.
Film Forum
Isabelle Huppert, maybe our greatest actress, is celebrated in a retrospective with work by Godard and Chabrol; Breathless continues, while Wallace and Gromit shows on Sunday.
Japan Society
Mamoru Oshii’s legendary Angel’s Egg screens on Friday.
Roxy Cinema
Weyes Blood presents Possession, An American Werewolf in London, Virginia Woolf, and Hardcore on 35mm, as well as Funeral Parade of Roses and Rebecca; Band of Outsiders and a print of Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence also screen.
Anthology Film Archives
Alexei German’s Khrustalyov, My Car! has a revival run; a retrospective of Colombian filmmaker Luis Ospina continues.
IFC Center
Guy Maddin (who we spoke to here) presents a restoration of his...
- 10/13/2022
- by Nick Newman
- The Film Stage
Mamoru Oshii has solidified himself from one acclaimed anime film to another. “Ghost in the Shell” is hailed as a masterpiece of cyberpunk storytelling, and “Urusei Yatsura 2: Beautiful Dreamer” is highlighted for its hilarious comedy. Oshii has a lot of range as a visionary that transcends beyond animation, as he has done live-action features as well. One of his most personal projects is the franchise known as the “Kerberos Saga,” a gritty alternate history political thriller. Various forms of media, from radio dramas to comic books, have painted a picture of the gloomy society presented in this horrifying rendition of alternate history. When it comes to cinema, the most popular entry is Hiroyuki Okiura’s anime movie “Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade,” which, which Oshii wrote. Yet, the saga’s first depiction on film would be in Oshii’s surreal and marvelous gem, “The Red Spectacles.”
“The...
“The...
- 10/2/2022
- by Sean Barry
- AsianMoviePulse
Japan Society is pleased to announce its fall lineup for Monthly Classics and Monthly Anime, kicking off on September 2, 2022 with a 35mm screening of Kihachi Okamoto’s satirical chambara, “Kill!”. 2006 anime classic “Tekkonkinkreet” will screen on September 16, featuring a Q&a with screenwriter Anthony Weintraub (“The Animatrix”). For October, Hideo Nakata’s 90s J-horror classic “Ringu” screens on October 7th followed by Mamoru Oshii’s rarely-screened 1985 ethereal masterpiece “Angel’s Egg” on October 14th. Monthly Anime continues on November 4th with a 35mm screening of Hayao Miyazaki’s beloved “My Neighbor Totoro”.
Tickets: 15/12 students and seniors /5 Japan Society members.
Lineup and other details are subject to change.For complete information visit japansociety.org.
Kill!
Friday, September 2, 2022 at 7:00 Pm
Dir. Kihachi Okamoto, 1968, 114 min, 35mm, b&w. With Tatsuya Nakadai, Etsushi Takahashi, Yuriko Hoshi.
Kihachi Okamoto’s darkly satirical chambara opens in the midst of a pummeling windstorm on the outskirts...
Tickets: 15/12 students and seniors /5 Japan Society members.
Lineup and other details are subject to change.For complete information visit japansociety.org.
Kill!
Friday, September 2, 2022 at 7:00 Pm
Dir. Kihachi Okamoto, 1968, 114 min, 35mm, b&w. With Tatsuya Nakadai, Etsushi Takahashi, Yuriko Hoshi.
Kihachi Okamoto’s darkly satirical chambara opens in the midst of a pummeling windstorm on the outskirts...
- 8/20/2022
- by Rouven Linnarz
- AsianMoviePulse
Anime films have a certain kind of magic to them. They can impact an entire genre, like Mamoru Oshii's classic anime epic "Ghost in the Shell," or bring fans to tears, much like Hayao Miyazaki's countless masterpieces. Similarly, they can change the minds of those who believe animation is only for children's entertainment while also introducing new technological innovations into the filmmaking landscape. In short, when all of those (and other elements) are mixed together, it's easy to see why anime movies continue to delight fans across the globe.
With the anime industry releasing so many movies year after year, though, there are just as many that go unnoticed....
The post 18 Underrated Anime Movies You Really Need To See appeared first on /Film.
With the anime industry releasing so many movies year after year, though, there are just as many that go unnoticed....
The post 18 Underrated Anime Movies You Really Need To See appeared first on /Film.
- 6/14/2022
- by Dalin Rowell
- Slash Film
With a proud reputation of raising the profile of the greatest auteurs in Japanese animation, Anime Limited are delighted to announce that they are bringing to the big screen the directorial debut of a man who has made his name doing the same. Masashi Ando worked as Chief Animation Director on landmark films from Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki’s legendary Princess Mononoke to the modern day sensation Your Name, and now his fantasy epic The Deer King will carve its own legend in selected cinemas nationwide from 27th July 2022.
A film that’s been years in the making but is all the more resonant today, The Deer King is the story of an ancient people caught in the midst of a pandemic. When the dreaded Black Wolf Fever returns to ravage the land, old political scars draw new blood when two opposing nations have different plans for the man...
A film that’s been years in the making but is all the more resonant today, The Deer King is the story of an ancient people caught in the midst of a pandemic. When the dreaded Black Wolf Fever returns to ravage the land, old political scars draw new blood when two opposing nations have different plans for the man...
- 6/7/2022
- by Suzie Cho
- AsianMoviePulse
Junji Sakamoto is a director whose long career hasn’t yet hit the heights in both critical acclaim and international exposure. “My Brother, the Android and Me” has a notable cast and certainly looks the part, but does this part sci-fi/part psychological thriller have all the necessary parts to make a satisfying whole?
“My Brother, the Android and Me” is screening at Nippon Connection
Kaoru (Etsushi Toyokawa) is a robotics engineer at a university, but is often preoccupied, neglecting both his teaching and the projects for which he is funded. Suffering from seizures in his legs, he instead spends his days trying to develop an android replica of himself in the family home.
But he hasn’t just been neglecting his work, and his father’s illness prompts his half-brother, Yamashita (Masanobu Ando), to contact him, demanding he sells the family home to pay for the medical fees. But...
“My Brother, the Android and Me” is screening at Nippon Connection
Kaoru (Etsushi Toyokawa) is a robotics engineer at a university, but is often preoccupied, neglecting both his teaching and the projects for which he is funded. Suffering from seizures in his legs, he instead spends his days trying to develop an android replica of himself in the family home.
But he hasn’t just been neglecting his work, and his father’s illness prompts his half-brother, Yamashita (Masanobu Ando), to contact him, demanding he sells the family home to pay for the medical fees. But...
- 6/1/2022
- by Andrew Thayne
- AsianMoviePulse
The original Ghost In The Shell anime directed by Mamoru Oshii (based on Masamune Shirow’s original manga) is one of the landmark works of the entire medium, up there with Akira and the Studio Ghibli canon in terms of influence and importance. But—and this is true of a lot of anime from its time—it could be argued…...
- 5/28/2022
- by Sam Barsanti
- avclub.com
‘Ghost In The Shell’ director Mamoru Oshii appointed first jury president.
A major new international animation festival is set to launch in Japan in 2023, with Ghost In The Shell director Mamoru Oshii appointed its first jury president.
The inaugural Niigata International Animation Film Festival (Niaff) will take place from March 17-23 in the port city (around 200 miles north of Tokyo) and is planned to be held annually, with a focus on commercial animated features.
The team will be led by Shinichiro Inoue as festival director and Tadashi Sudo as artistic director. Veteran producer and Genco Inc CEO Taro Maki has...
A major new international animation festival is set to launch in Japan in 2023, with Ghost In The Shell director Mamoru Oshii appointed its first jury president.
The inaugural Niigata International Animation Film Festival (Niaff) will take place from March 17-23 in the port city (around 200 miles north of Tokyo) and is planned to be held annually, with a focus on commercial animated features.
The team will be led by Shinichiro Inoue as festival director and Tadashi Sudo as artistic director. Veteran producer and Genco Inc CEO Taro Maki has...
- 5/24/2022
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
Japan Society is pleased to announce the launch of Monthly Anime
The rarely-screened Matrixanthology film The Animatrix—featuring works by Cowboy Bebop’s Shinichiro Watanabe, Vampire Hunter D’s Yoshiaki Kawajiri, and Akira animator Koji Morimoto—screens in 35mm on May 27, 2022. Masaaki Yuasa’s The Night is Short, Walk on Girl, a Japan Cuts 2018 selection and Tomihiko Morimi adaptation, screens on June 17, 2022. Finally, to commemorate 25 years since its 1997 release, Hayao Miyazaki’s mystical epic Princess Mononoke screens in 35mm on July 22, 2022.
Tickets: 15/12 students and seniors /5 Japan Society members. Lineup and other details are subject to change.For complete information visit japansociety.org.
Screening Schedule
The Animatrix – Friday, May 27, 2022 at 7:00 Pm
Dir. Peter Chung, Andy Jones, Yoshiaki Kawajiri, Takeshi Koike, Mahiro Maeda, Koji Morimoto, Shinichiro Watanabe; 2003, 102 min., 35mm, color, in English. With Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Clayton Watson.
A straight-to-dvd classic, the anime companion to The Matrix series received a...
The rarely-screened Matrixanthology film The Animatrix—featuring works by Cowboy Bebop’s Shinichiro Watanabe, Vampire Hunter D’s Yoshiaki Kawajiri, and Akira animator Koji Morimoto—screens in 35mm on May 27, 2022. Masaaki Yuasa’s The Night is Short, Walk on Girl, a Japan Cuts 2018 selection and Tomihiko Morimi adaptation, screens on June 17, 2022. Finally, to commemorate 25 years since its 1997 release, Hayao Miyazaki’s mystical epic Princess Mononoke screens in 35mm on July 22, 2022.
Tickets: 15/12 students and seniors /5 Japan Society members. Lineup and other details are subject to change.For complete information visit japansociety.org.
Screening Schedule
The Animatrix – Friday, May 27, 2022 at 7:00 Pm
Dir. Peter Chung, Andy Jones, Yoshiaki Kawajiri, Takeshi Koike, Mahiro Maeda, Koji Morimoto, Shinichiro Watanabe; 2003, 102 min., 35mm, color, in English. With Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Clayton Watson.
A straight-to-dvd classic, the anime companion to The Matrix series received a...
- 5/22/2022
- by Adriana Rosati
- AsianMoviePulse
Japan Society is pleased to announce the launch of Monthly Anime on April 15, 2022, which will kick-off with a screening of Mamoru Oshii’s seminal cyberpunk classic, Ghost in the Shell. Offering an eclectic range of classic, underseen, and contemporary visions from Japanese animation, Monthly Anime explores the widely influential legacy of anime. Tracing the lineage of anime from modern-day digital animation back to the days of hand-drawn cel animation, this program aims to uncover the multifaceted and remarkable variety of stylistic, technological, and generic possibilities that have kept the medium at the forefront of popularity not just in Japan, but worldwide.
Following Ghost in the Shell in April, the rarely-screened Matrix anthology film The Animatrix – featuring works by Cowboy Bebop’s Shinichiro Watanabe, Vampire Hunter D’s Yoshiaki Kawajiri, and Akira animator Koji Morimoto – screens in 35mm on May 27, 2022. Masaaki Yuasa’s The Night is Short, Walk on Girl, a...
Following Ghost in the Shell in April, the rarely-screened Matrix anthology film The Animatrix – featuring works by Cowboy Bebop’s Shinichiro Watanabe, Vampire Hunter D’s Yoshiaki Kawajiri, and Akira animator Koji Morimoto – screens in 35mm on May 27, 2022. Masaaki Yuasa’s The Night is Short, Walk on Girl, a...
- 4/1/2022
- by Suzie Cho
- AsianMoviePulse
The BFI today announce full details of a hotly anticipated two-month season dedicated to Anime, running at BFI Southbank and BFI IMAX from 28 March – 31 May. Originally planned for summer 2020 as part of the BFI’s major survey of Japanese cinema BFI Japan, the season arrives, at long last, to entertain and delight anime fans and novices alike.
The programme will include:
· A broad mixture of classic films such as Akira, Ghost In The Shell, Belladonna Of Sadness, Cowboy Bebop: The Movie and Tekkonkinkreet, as well as an early shorts programme spotlighting work from 1917-1946· Previews of new releases including the thrillingly original Inu-oh, high-octane urban fairy tale Bubble and the powerful and thought-provoking short Summer Ghost (2021) followed by a Q&a with director loundraw· Much-loved recent work by major auteurs Mamoru Hosoda, Makoto Shinkai (Your Name) and the late great Satoshi Kon· A spotlight on emerging female talent Naoko Yamada...
The programme will include:
· A broad mixture of classic films such as Akira, Ghost In The Shell, Belladonna Of Sadness, Cowboy Bebop: The Movie and Tekkonkinkreet, as well as an early shorts programme spotlighting work from 1917-1946· Previews of new releases including the thrillingly original Inu-oh, high-octane urban fairy tale Bubble and the powerful and thought-provoking short Summer Ghost (2021) followed by a Q&a with director loundraw· Much-loved recent work by major auteurs Mamoru Hosoda, Makoto Shinkai (Your Name) and the late great Satoshi Kon· A spotlight on emerging female talent Naoko Yamada...
- 3/15/2022
- by Adriana Rosati
- AsianMoviePulse
Anime is a popular phenomenon across the globe, but it is particularly popular in Asian countries. It can be depicted in many different forms – books, comics, movies, and tv series. Besides fast-paced adventure series that leave you hanging at the end of every episode, there are some dramas that tend to touch the heart. Unlike television, each episode is typically 20 minutes long but tightly packed for maximum emotional impact.
So, if you are a newcomer to Japanese cartoons, this is a great list for you. These anime series are loved by millions of people worldwide. People commonly rewatch and recommend them to others. Let’s go ahead and take a look!
Cowboy Bebop
The Cowboy Bebop series revolves around Spike Spiegel, who, despite his martial arts skills, leads a laid-back life while being a futuristic bounty hunter. He travels across the galaxy with his partner Jet Black and Faye Valentine,...
So, if you are a newcomer to Japanese cartoons, this is a great list for you. These anime series are loved by millions of people worldwide. People commonly rewatch and recommend them to others. Let’s go ahead and take a look!
Cowboy Bebop
The Cowboy Bebop series revolves around Spike Spiegel, who, despite his martial arts skills, leads a laid-back life while being a futuristic bounty hunter. He travels across the galaxy with his partner Jet Black and Faye Valentine,...
- 2/23/2022
- by Peter Adams
- AsianMoviePulse
Satoshi Kon: The Illusionist Review Video — Satoshi Kon: The Illusionist (2021) Video Movie Review, a movie directed by Pascal-Alex Vincent, written by Pascal-Alex Vincent, and starring Darren Aronofsky, Marc Caro, Jeremy Clapin, Megumi Hayashibara, Mamoru Hosoda, Junko Iwao, Masao Maruyama, Masayuki Murai, Mamoru Oshii, Rodney Rothman, and Aya Suzuki. Crew Théo Chapira created the music for [...]
Continue reading: Video Movie Review: Satoshi Kon The Illusionist (2021): Very Compelling from the Moment It Begins...
Continue reading: Video Movie Review: Satoshi Kon The Illusionist (2021): Very Compelling from the Moment It Begins...
- 10/19/2021
- by Thomas Duffy
- Film-Book
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