Anime Blog Tracker

Performing Kaoru’s Funeral (2023) review [OAFF 2024]

Yuasa’s narrative shows that the unavoidable presence of death during a funeral can allow a subject to re-route his own trajectory.

psycho-cinematography

Apr 7, 2024 • Subscribe

Amalock (2024) review [OAFF 2024]

A narrative that fluidly combines comedy and tragedy to deliver an experience of smiles and tears.

psycho-cinematography

Mar 17, 2024 • Subscribe

Suton (2024) review [OAFF 2024]

Rikako Watanabe’s narrative succeeds to echo the unvocalized ‘pandemic’ truth of many.

psycho-cinematography

Mar 2, 2024 • Subscribe

Snowdrop (2024) review [OAFF 2024]

A complex character portrait that touchingly illustrates how easy it is to misrecognize the logic of the subject-supposed-to-be-in-need.

psycho-cinematography

Mar 29, 2024 • Subscribe

Cafune (2023) review [OAFF 2023]

A very strong debut by Haruki Kinemura.

psycho-cinematography

Mar 28, 2023 • Subscribe

Wash Away (2024) review [OAFF 2024]

A pleasant narrative that offers a fresh but familiar exploration of the subject’s fundamental desire for recognition/love and the problematic yet medicative function of consumption.

psycho-cinematography

Mar 23, 2024 • Subscribe

Sumiko 22 (2024) review [OAFF 2024]

A subtle but playful narrative about a subject who slowly tries to crawl out the hole of emptiness and diminished self-worth.

psycho-cinematography

Mar 14, 2024 • Subscribe

Sumiko

Blue Imagine (2024) review [OAFF 2024]

A powerful reminder of the sexual transgressions that structurally plague the Japanese film industry

psycho-cinematography

Apr 1, 2024 • Subscribe

Side by Side (2023) review [OAFF 2023]

A peaceful dream-like visual experience that celebrates both the impact subjects have on each other as well as the manner in which the subject remains opaque to himself…

psycho-cinematography

Mar 19, 2023 • Subscribe

Short Movie Time: After Winter, the Tamaki Family… (2023) [OAFF 2023]

A genuine and heartfelt tribute the grandmother of the Tamaki family

psycho-cinematography

Mar 30, 2023 • Subscribe

Memories of this Scent (2024) review [OAFF 2024]

An endearing and fragrance rich tale of subjective change.

psycho-cinematography

Mar 8, 2024 • Subscribe

Short Movie Time: Perfect・Nervous (2024) review [OAFF 2024]

An exquisitely crafted narrative that touchingly shows that a simple encounter, a simple exchange of signifiers, can turn a wish to die into a desire to life.

psycho-cinematography

Mar 26, 2024 • Subscribe

The Burden Of The Past (2023) review [OAFF 2023]

With his latest drama film, Funahashi’s delivers a contender for this year’s best Japanese film.

psycho-cinematography

Mar 13, 2023 • Subscribe

Short Movie Time: On a Boat (2024) review [OAFF 2024]

The exploration of the frail stability of an obsessional neurotic does not miss its impact on the spectator.

psycho-cinematography

Mar 20, 2024 • Subscribe

Melody

When morning comes, I feel empty (2023) review [OAFF 2023]

A slow moving narrative that accumulates in a subtle but touching shift in the subjective position of its protagonist.

psycho-cinematography

Apr 12, 2023 • Subscribe

Ask For The Moon (2022) review [OAFF 2024]

A satisfying narrative that illustrates how the subject’s ego is but a response to his complexes and struggles.

psycho-cinematography

Mar 5, 2024 • Subscribe

Review: Wonder Family (2023)

Wonder Family 超能一家人 China, 2023, colour, 2.35:1, 111 mins. Director: Song Yang 宋阳. Rating: 5/10. Ma Hua FunAge comedy about a crazy family with super powers has a…

Sino-Cinema 《神州电影》

Dec 3, 2023 • Subscribe

Short Movie Time: Kanro (2023) [OAFF 2023]

A simple but effective short that explores inter-subjective distance and the desire to bridge it in a surprising and satisfying way.

psycho-cinematography

Mar 21, 2023 • Subscribe

Faraway Family (彼方の家族, Taro Kawasaki & Eisuke Sakauchi, 2023)

A teenage boy struggling with grief and loneliness gains a new perspective after bonding with another lonely young man in Taro Kawasaki & Eisuke Sakauchi’s indie drama.

Windows on Worlds

Apr 8, 2024 • Subscribe

Short Movie Time: Ririka of the Star (2024) review [OAFF 2024] 

A narrative that does not merely emphasize the beauty of moving female body, but reveals that such beauty can change subjects.

psycho-cinematography

Mar 11, 2024 • Subscribe

People Who Talk to Plushies Are Kind (2023) review [OAFF 2023]

Kaneko convincingly shows that the symptomatic usage of the plushie attempts to repair the tensive bond with the Other or subdue its overbearing presence.

psycho-cinematography

Mar 16, 2023 • Subscribe

Short Movie Time: TOMA #2 (2023) [OAFF 2023]

A touching narrative that explores the difficulty for the subject to give the Othering effect of dementia on a family member a place

psycho-cinematography

Mar 12, 2023 • Subscribe

Short Movie Time: Detouring Blue (2023) (OAFF 2023)

A highly recommended short that touchingly shows that what dooms the subject to the de-subjectifying effect of the societal Other or to the birth of a subjective deadlock…

psycho-cinematography

Mar 23, 2023 • Subscribe

The Faraway Paladin Review — C

A boy becomes a paladin and goes on an adventure.

Draggle's Anime Blog

Jan 7, 2022 • Subscribe

The Faraway Paladin

Random Call (2022) review [OAFF 2022]

Ohkanda’s narrative proves that one does not need a big budget to deliver a narrative that touches the spectator.

psycho-cinematography

Apr 20, 2022 • Subscribe

Angry Son (2022) review [OAFF 2022]

“An incredibly rich and deep narrative that not only delivers a satisfying coming-of-age story but also an elegantly delivered social commentary on some of the frictions marking Japanese…

psycho-cinematography

Mar 18, 2022 • Subscribe

V. Maria (2025) review [OAFF 2025]

The neatly interwoven narrative fabric, which evokes the dimension of loss in various forms, beautifully sketches out the importance for the subject to construct a narrative to support…

psycho-cinematography

23 days ago • Subscribe

Goto-san (2021) review [OAFF 2021]

“Gokan expertly reveals the position of the freeter as an attempt to escape the capitalistic machinery but also as a position that most easily falls prey to the…

psycho-cinematography

Apr 24, 2021 • Subscribe

Melting Sounds (2022) review [OAFF 2022]

“Kahori Higashi’s debut is impressive.”

psycho-cinematography

Apr 14, 2022 • Subscribe

Good Luck (2025) review [OAFF 2025]

Shin Adachi utilizes the dynamic of the encounter to examine the problem of desiring within the societal field and the way desire give rise to misunderstanding between subjects.

psycho-cinematography

17 days ago • Subscribe

The Faraway Paladin: Episode 4 [Review]

The Goddess of the Flux that stands against stagnation. The fourth episode of The Faraway Paladin has aired and… it frustrates me because, once again, I was curious…

Kvasir 369's Anime, Manga, and Game Blog

Oct 30, 2021 • Subscribe

The Faraway Paladin

The Faraway Paladin: Episode 6 [Review]

I mean, if it works it works, right? The sixth episode of Faraway Paladin has aired, following after Will has set out on his journey. Tasked with preparing…

Kvasir 369's Anime, Manga, and Game Blog

Nov 15, 2021 • Subscribe

The Faraway Paladin

The Faraway Paladin: Episode 8 [Review]

The most adorable Bard you will ever meet. The eighth episode of Faraway Paladin has aired and Will has recruited the ever-useful utility characters into his party as…

Kvasir 369's Anime, Manga, and Game Blog

Dec 9, 2021 • Subscribe

The Faraway Paladin

The Faraway Paladin: Episode 11 [Review]

The tears of a man driven to the edge. Now that Will has been knighted and received the blessing of the Temple, he has officially become a Paladin.…

Kvasir 369's Anime, Manga, and Game Blog

Dec 29, 2021 • Subscribe

The Faraway Paladin

The Faraway Paladin: Episode 2 [Review]

The most effective use of a Grease Spell I have ever seen. The next episode of The Faraway Paladin has aired and it was one that honestly left…

Kvasir 369's Anime, Manga, and Game Blog

Oct 19, 2021 • Subscribe

The Faraway Paladin

The Faraway Paladin: Episode 9 [Review]

Holy Bread does a body real good. I have to look into that. The ninth episode of Faraway Paladin has aired and the group has arrived in Whitesails,…

Kvasir 369's Anime, Manga, and Game Blog

Dec 17, 2021 • Subscribe

The Faraway Paladin

The Faraway Paladin S2 Review — D

The adventure continues…

Draggle's Anime Blog

Jan 5, 2024 • Subscribe

The Faraway Paladin

The Faraway Paladin: Episode 10 [Review]

So a Paladin, a Druid, a Bard, and a Fighter walk into a bar… The tenth episode of Faraway Paladin has aired. After the ominous proclamation that the…

Kvasir 369's Anime, Manga, and Game Blog

Dec 22, 2021 • Subscribe

The Faraway Paladin

The Faraway Paladin: Episode 5 [Review]

A final family celebration after a hard-fought battle. The fifth episode of Faraway Paladin has aired, bringing to a close not only the first Volume of the series…

Kvasir 369's Anime, Manga, and Game Blog

Nov 7, 2021 • Subscribe

The Faraway Paladin

The Faraway Paladin: Episode 7 [Review]

A previous memory of the past for the boy who had no mother. The seventh episode of Faraway Paladin has aired and Will has undertaken his first duty…

Kvasir 369's Anime, Manga, and Game Blog

Nov 24, 2021 • Subscribe

The Faraway Paladin

The Faraway Paladin: Episode 3 [Review]

The God of the Undead has come to collect what’s due. The third episode of The Faraway Paladin has aired and has answered two of the biggest questions…

Kvasir 369's Anime, Manga, and Game Blog

Oct 26, 2021 • Subscribe

The Faraway Paladin

The Faraway Paladin: Episode 1 [Review]

A new lease on life from being raised by the undead. I have been blunt about my thoughts on Mushoku Tensei. I liked the concept of someone who…

Kvasir 369's Anime, Manga, and Game Blog

Oct 15, 2021 • Subscribe

The Faraway Paladin

Kubi (2023) review [Japan Cuts 2024]

One of best period dramas in recent years.

psycho-cinematography

Jul 3, 2024 • Subscribe

OAFF 2022 Special

 Hello everyone, In this special episode of Heroic Purgatory, John and Jason discuss their favorite movies from the wonderful 2022 Osaka Asian Film Festival. Timestamps:2:53 - Media Consumption19:12 - News23:42…

Heroic Purgatory

Mar 28, 2022 • Subscribe

OAFF 2022 Special

 Hello everyone, In this special episode of Heroic Purgatory, John and Jason discuss their favorite movies from the wonderful 2022 Osaka Asian Film Festival. Timestamps:2:53 - Media Consumption19:12 - News23:42…

Heroic Purgatory

Mar 28, 2022 • Subscribe

OAFF 2022 Special

 Hello everyone, In this special episode of Heroic Purgatory, John and Jason discuss their favorite movies from the wonderful 2022 Osaka Asian Film Festival. Timestamps:2:53 - Media Consumption19:12 - News23:42…

Heroic Purgatory

Mar 28, 2022 • Subscribe

Short Movie Review: Natsuko (2020) [OAFF 2022]

“A splendid debut by Shuna Iijima.”

psycho-cinematography

Mar 27, 2022 • Subscribe

Sweet Bitter Candy (2021) review [OAFF 2021]

“An amazing exploration of the clash between a sweet youthful romantic desire and the bitter urge of a wounded subject to defend his subjective wounds.”

psycho-cinematography

Apr 30, 2021 • Subscribe

Our House Party (2022) review [OAFF 2022]

Kawanobe delivers a very touching and emotional story about homosexuality in Japan.

psycho-cinematography

Apr 11, 2022 • Subscribe

I Am Kirishima (2025) review [OAFF 2025]

A timely narrative that highlights the inert quality of a societal field structured by capitalism and right-wing nationalism.

psycho-cinematography

8 hours ago • Subscribe