Anime Blog Tracker

Japan Cuts 2018 Film Festival at the Japan Society

This past few weeks I  volunteered for the Japan Society Film Department’s annual Japan Cuts film festival, which screens a host of new Japanese blockbusters, avant-garde films, and…

踊る猿life is kyōgen

Aug 3, 2018 • Subscribe

Blue Imagine ブルーイマジン Director: Urara Matsubayashi [Osaka Asian Film Festival 2024 / Japan Cuts 2024]

Director Urara Matsubayashi makes a definitive #MeToo film for the Japanese film industry with her sincere and complex drama Blue Imagine ブルーイマジン [Osaka Asian Film Festival 2024 / Japan…

Genkinahito

Jul 18, 2024 • Subscribe

JAPAN CUTS Announces 2024 Lineup

At Japan Society New York from July 10 to 21

Windows on Worlds

Jul 3, 2024 • Subscribe

Kubi (2023) review [Japan Cuts 2024]

One of best period dramas in recent years.

psycho-cinematography

Jul 3, 2024 • Subscribe

Short Movie Time: Bottle George (2024) [Japan Cuts 2024]

An instant stop-motion classic

psycho-cinematography

Jun 26, 2024 • Subscribe

All The Long Nights (2024) review [Japan Cuts 2024]

A splendid drama that shows how symptoms can disturb a subject’s life and how the social field attains its cruel complexity due to the riddle of desire.

psycho-cinematography

Jul 20, 2024 • Subscribe

Six Singing Women (2023) review [Japan Cuts 2024]

A great narrative, yet one that stumbles over its own thematical fixation

psycho-cinematography

Aug 18, 2024 • Subscribe

Bushido (2024) review [Camera Japan Festival]

Kazuya Shiraishi proves that the frame of the samurai and the Edo society can still be utilized to deliver refreshing narratives.

psycho-cinematography

Sep 30, 2024 • Subscribe

Scotland Loves Anime Film Festival 2024 Details

The good folks from Scotland Loves Animation have sent us details for the 2024 run of their festival. The long running and much loved festiv...

Otaku News - World Edition

Sep 16, 2024 • Subscribe

Kizumonogatari – Koyomi Vamp – (2024) review [Fantasia Film Festival 2024]

An evocative experience that succeeds in giving the vampire and the well-explored themes a fresh coat of drama and sexiness.  

psycho-cinematography

Jul 29, 2024 • Subscribe

Girl from Phantasia

Kubi 首 (2023) Director: Takeshi Kitano [Japan Cuts 2024]

Kubi 首 (2023), directed by Takeshi Kitano, is a historical epic that amps up the violence and sex for satire’s sake as Kitano takes aim at the absurd samurai social…

Genkinahito

Jul 17, 2024 • Subscribe

Podcast: Scotland Loves Anime Film Festival 2023 Jury Deliberation Special

SPOILER WARNING – we talk through the four films in competition at Scotland Loves Anime 2023, so expect some in-depth discussion of specific elements of these films. In…

All the Anime

Nov 13, 2023 • Subscribe

Short Movie Time: Social Circles (2023) review [Japan Cuts 2024]

A highly experimental and conceptual experience that might not be for everyone

psycho-cinematography

Jul 16, 2024 • Subscribe

Short Movie Time: Hail Mary (2023) review [Japan Cuts 2024]

Nakamura succeeds in making the spectator care for Maria and impact him/her emotionally with her tragedy.   

psycho-cinematography

Jun 23, 2024 • Subscribe

Short Movie Time: Nezumikozō Jirokichi (2023) review [Japan Cuts 2024]

The mix of elements supports the film’s aim well, that is to entice spectators to seek out the three films that remain from this somewhat forgotten master

psycho-cinematography

Jul 13, 2024 • Subscribe

A Preview of Japan Cuts 2024 (July 10th – July 21st)

Details on the line-up for Japan Cuts 2024 (July 10th – July 21st))

Genkinahito

Jun 10, 2024 • Subscribe

Fantasia International Film Festival Confirms Complete 2024 Programme

In Montreal July 18 to Aug, 4.

Windows on Worlds

Jul 14, 2024 • Subscribe

Girl from Phantasia

House of Sayuri (2024) review [Fantasia Film Festival]

The thoughtful manipulation of this atmospheric field is integral to create an effective and engaging genre-blend.

psycho-cinematography

Aug 11, 2024 • Subscribe

Girl from Phantasia

Taiwan Film Festival in Australia Returns for 2024

In Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane, Hobart, Melbourne, and Adelaide 25th July to 14th September.

Windows on Worlds

Jul 24, 2024 • Subscribe

JAPAN CUTS Announces 2023 Lineup

At Japan Society New York July 26 to Aug. 6

Windows on Worlds

Jun 22, 2023 • Subscribe

It’s a summer film (2021) review [Camera Japan Festival]

“A highly entertaining film that offers a nostalgic and touching dive into youthful passion and romantic feelings and lighthearted celebration of indie-filmmaking and often-forgotten beauty o…

psycho-cinematography

Sep 21, 2021 • Subscribe

Kirara

Perfect Nervous (2024) Dir: Masaru Sano [Osaka Asian Film Festival 2024]

Perfect Nervous (Dir: Masaru Sano, 2024) is a gorgeous short film with fantastical elements as it tells a life-affirming story wherein two young women with incurable body-altering diseases…

Genkinahito

Mar 25, 2024 • Subscribe

Kubi 首 (2023) Director: Takeshi Kitano, Shuta Takahata [Japan Cuts 2024]

Kubi 首 (2023), directed by Takeshi Kitano, is a historical epic that amps up the violence and sex for satire’s sake as Kitano takes aim at the absurd samurai social…

Genkinahito

Jul 17, 2024 • Subscribe

The Box Man (2024) review [Camera Japan Festival]

An incredible satisfying cinematic experience, one that enthrals the spectator from start to finish

psycho-cinematography

Oct 7, 2024 • Subscribe

Let’s Go Karaoke (2024) review [Camera Japan Festival]

This is perfect film for anyone who, after a long day full of struggles, wants to sit in a comfy chair and relax.

psycho-cinematography

Oct 13, 2024 • Subscribe

Japanese Films at the Vancouver International Film Festival 2024

A Preview of the Japanese Films at the Vancouver International Film Festival 2024 – September 26th to October 06th – will screen HAPPYEND, Super Happy Forever, Living in Two…

Genkinahito

Sep 17, 2024 • Subscribe

BFI London Film Festival Confirms Complete Programme for 2024

The BFI London Film Festival returns to cinemas across the city 9th to 20th October. East Asian highlights this year include the latest from Jia Zhangke, Hong Sang-soo, and Tsai…

Windows on Worlds

Oct 7, 2024 • Subscribe

Japanese Cinema at the BFI London Film Festival 2024

The good folks from the BFI have just sent us details of the upcoming Japanese films that'll be show cased at the BFI London Film Festival 2...

Otaku News - World Edition

Oct 9, 2024 • Subscribe

Baby Assassins: Good Days (2024) review [Fantasia Film Festival]

Yugo Sakamoto successfully mixes up the formula that structured his previous two action narratives. Highly Recommended.

psycho-cinematography

Aug 3, 2024 • Subscribe

Girl from Phantasia

Japanese Films at the Rotterdam International Film Festival 2024

A Preview of the Japanese Films Programmed for the International Film Festival Rotterdam 2024

Genkinahito

Jan 15, 2024 • Subscribe

Japanese Films at the Berlin International Film Festival 2024

A Preview of the Japanese Films at the Berlin International Film Festival 2024 (February 15-25)

Genkinahito

Feb 13, 2024 • Subscribe

Japanese Films at the BFI London Film Festival 2024

A Preview of the Japanese Films at the BFI London Film Festival 2024 – October 9 to 20 – with films plucked from festivals from earlier in the…

Genkinahito

Sep 9, 2024 • Subscribe

The Colors Within

Winny (2023) review [Japan Cuts 2023]

Matsumoto offers a serene insight in how the Other of the law curtails a subject and, indirectly, sabotages the prospects of a new industry.

psycho-cinematography

Aug 5, 2023 • Subscribe

Robinson’s Garden (1988) [Japan Cuts 2021]

“Yamamoto is not able to create a composition that engages the spectator with its highly relevant message.”

psycho-cinematography

Feb 10, 2024 • Subscribe

Plastic (2023) review [Japan Cuts 2023]                

Miyazaki creates a moody narrative that highlights the equivocal functionality of music for the subject as well as the destructive impact of not being able to create an…

psycho-cinematography

Aug 19, 2023 • Subscribe

Hand (2022) review [Japan Cuts 2023]

Matsui avoids delivering an exploitative erotic piece merely to be enjoyed by male audiences.

psycho-cinematography

Aug 22, 2023 • Subscribe

Amiko (2022) review [Japan Cuts 2023]

A fabulous narrative that explores the destructive effects caused by the radical misunderstanding that marks the field of speech and the refusal to speak to one’s child as…

psycho-cinematography

Jan 23, 2024 • Subscribe

Single8 (2023) review [Japan Cuts 2023]

Konaka offers the spectator a heartwarming invitation to re-find, within oneself, one’s (nearly extinguished) passion for creation.

psycho-cinematography

Aug 16, 2023 • Subscribe

Film Festival Week: Wasurenagumo

Wasurenagumo was Production IG’s 2011 young animator training project. I’ve looked at some of these before including Harmonie, Aki no Kanade and Ojisan no Lamp. There have also…

Anime Reviews

Aug 14, 2021 • Subscribe

Li'l Spider Girl, Aki no Kanade, Death Parade, Harmonie, Little Witch Academia

Kanazawa Film Festival 2012

If the world ends this year, it won't be because of the whole "2012: End of Days" thing. It will have nothing to do with the Mayan…

Japachickyburgers

Sep 8, 2012 • Subscribe

Whale Bones 鯨の骨 (2023) Director: Takamasa Oe [Japan Cuts 2024]

Takamasa Oe’s social media mystery turns into a satire of living life online as a hapless website worker tries to find a missing AR girl in his beautifully…

Genkinahito

Jul 13, 2024 • Subscribe

The Japan Foundation UK Touring Film Programme 2024

The good folks from The Japan Foundation, London have sent us details of the The Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme. The UK's largest J...

Otaku News - World Edition

Dec 27, 2023 • Subscribe

Chicago Japan Film Collective 2024 (November 14th-24th)

A look at the 11 films at the Chicago Japan Film Collective 2024 (Nov. 14 – 24) – two in cinemas and nine to stream online via SAKKA

Genkinahito

Oct 28, 2024 • Subscribe

Scotland Loves Anime Film Festival 2024 With London Expansion Details

The good folks from Scotland Loves Anime have sent us an update for their anime film festival. They've just revealed more details of the spe...

Otaku News - World Edition

Oct 23, 2024 • Subscribe

Snowdrop スノードロップ Director: Kota Yoshida [Osaka Asian Film Festival 2024]

Snowdrop スノードロップ, by director Kota Yoshida, is a socially conscious domestic drama/character study that looks at the welfare system via a woman chased by the trauma of abandonment…

Genkinahito

Mar 5, 2024 • Subscribe

Japanese and Korean Films at the Glasgow Film Festival 2024

A Preview of the One Japanese Film at the Glasgow Film Festival 2022

Genkinahito

Feb 6, 2024 • Subscribe

Sumiko 22 スミコ22 (2024) Director: Sawako Fukuoka [Osaka Asian Film Festival 2024]

Sumiko 22 スミコ22 (2024), sees editor/writer/director Sawako Fukuoka draw upon her own experiences to make a quirky comedy/drama about the everyday pressures and small-scale strangeness experienced b…

Genkinahito

Mar 18, 2024 • Subscribe

Sumiko

Japan Trip 2018 Special

We’re going on a Japan trip! Ashley’s been on vacation in Japan for the past two weeks, and has gone on some manga-related adventures (and many non-manga-related adventures).…

Shojo & Tell: A Manga Podcast

Dec 4, 2019 • Subscribe

Chicago International Film Festival – Cloud

When I was getting in line for this film, I was genuinely surprised at how long the line was. This particular film probably had the biggest turn out…

Phoenix Talks Pop Culture Japan

Nov 5, 2024 • Subscribe

Film Festival Week: Geu Yeoreum

Geu Yeoreum is a Korean film from Red Dog Culture House. All I know is that it’s a Shoujo ai drama. So, let’s hop right into it. Story:…

Anime Reviews

Nov 15, 2023 • Subscribe

Geu Yeoreum