Yugo Sakamoto successfully mixes up the formula that structured his previous two action narratives. Highly Recommended.
Aug 3, 2024 • Subscribe
More like this
![Featured image for Kizumonogatari – Koyomi Vamp – (2024) review [Fantasia Film Festival 2024]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20240729/1722259193.87931.128085.jpg)
![Background image for Kizumonogatari – Koyomi Vamp – (2024) review [Fantasia Film Festival 2024]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20240729/1722259193.87931.128085.jpg)
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.
![Featured image for House of Sayuri (2024) review [Fantasia Film Festival]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20240811/1723360795.88485.128756.png)
![Background image for House of Sayuri (2024) review [Fantasia Film Festival]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20240811/1723360795.88485.128756.png)
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.
![Featured image for Baby Assassins: Nice Days (ベイビーわるきゅーれ ナイスデイズ, Yugo Sakamoto, 2024) [Fantasia 2024]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20240905/1725579593.89621.130217.jpg)
![Background image for Baby Assassins: Nice Days (ベイビーわるきゅーれ ナイスデイズ, Yugo Sakamoto, 2024) [Fantasia 2024]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20240905/1725579593.89621.130217.jpg)
Baby Assassins: Nice Days (ベイビーわるきゅーれ ナイスデイズ, Yugo Sakamoto, 2024) [Fantasia 2024]
After beginning to conquer the demands of adulthood, Mahiro (Saori Izawa) and Chisato (Akari Takaishi) are taking a well-deserved break, or more like a working holiday to be…


Baby Assassins (2021) review
“One of the most satisfying Japanese action films of this year.”


Fantasia International Film Festival Confirms Complete 2024 Programme
In Montreal July 18 to Aug, 4.
![Featured image for Tokyo Revengers (2021) Review [Fantasia Film Festival]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20210816/1629122594.19484.45175.jpg)
![Background image for Tokyo Revengers (2021) Review [Fantasia Film Festival]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20210816/1629122594.19484.45175.jpg)
Tokyo Revengers (2021) Review [Fantasia Film Festival]
“An exciting blend of satisfying violence, tensive moments, surges of pleasing lightheartedness, and touching emotional moments.”
![Featured image for Shin-Ultraman (2022) review [Fantasia Film Festival]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220728/1658971741.40668.70474.jpg)
![Background image for Shin-Ultraman (2022) review [Fantasia Film Festival]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220728/1658971741.40668.70474.jpg)
Shin-Ultraman (2022) review [Fantasia Film Festival]
Higuchi and Anno deliver an impressive love letter to their childhood, yet their devoted love, which is sensible in every aspect of the narrative, might not be able…
![Featured image for The Pass: Last Days Of The Samurai (2022) review [Fantasia Film Festival]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220810/1660170540.41650.71763.jpg)
![Background image for The Pass: Last Days Of The Samurai (2022) review [Fantasia Film Festival]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220810/1660170540.41650.71763.jpg)
The Pass: Last Days Of The Samurai (2022) review [Fantasia Film Festival]
A very engaging samurai narrative that does not only offer an intriguing glance at one of the most important crossroads of Japanese history, but also a melodramatic exploration…
![Featured image for The Pass: Last Days Of The Samurai (2022) review [Fantasia Film Festival]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220809/1660011540.41549.71643.jpg)
![Background image for The Pass: Last Days Of The Samurai (2022) review [Fantasia Film Festival]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220809/1660011540.41549.71643.jpg)
The Pass: Last Days Of The Samurai (2022) review [Fantasia Film Festival]
A very engaging samurai narrative that does not only offer an intriguing glance at one of the most important crossroads of Japanese history, but also a melodramatic exploration…
![Featured image for Dreams of Fire (2021) review [Fantasia Film festival]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20210825/1629852194.20091.45898.jpg)
![Background image for Dreams of Fire (2021) review [Fantasia Film festival]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20210825/1629852194.20091.45898.jpg)
Dreams of Fire (2021) review [Fantasia Film festival]
“McKie’s film is not only the best dance-film of recent years but might very well be one of the best Japanese films to be released this year.”
![Featured image for Convenience Story (2022) review [Fantasia Film Festival 2022]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220806/1659781140.41407.71316.jpg)
![Background image for Convenience Story (2022) review [Fantasia Film Festival 2022]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220806/1659781140.41407.71316.jpg)
Convenience Story (2022) review [Fantasia Film Festival 2022]
Miki delivers a great psychological mystery narrative, yet it might not be for everyone.
![Featured image for Hold Me Back (2020) review [Fantasia Film Festival]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20210813/1628849596.19291.44941.jpg)
![Background image for Hold Me Back (2020) review [Fantasia Film Festival]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20210813/1628849596.19291.44941.jpg)
Hold Me Back (2020) review [Fantasia Film Festival]
“Ohku delivers, once again, a refreshing and highly touching romance-comedy.”
![Featured image for The Fish Tale (2022) review [Fantasia Film Festival]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220731/1659234541.40977.70834.jpg)
![Background image for The Fish Tale (2022) review [Fantasia Film Festival]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220731/1659234541.40977.70834.jpg)
The Fish Tale (2022) review [Fantasia Film Festival]
A very heart-warming and touching narrative that shows that a subject does not necessarily need to make use of the neurotic solution to inscribe himself within the societal…
![Featured image for Love, Live, and Goldfish (2021) review [Fantasia Film Festival]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20210806/1628292795.18879.44463.jpg)
![Background image for Love, Live, and Goldfish (2021) review [Fantasia Film Festival]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20210806/1628292795.18879.44463.jpg)
Love, Live, and Goldfish (2021) review [Fantasia Film Festival]
“While Makabe’s narrative does not offer anything truly new or groundbreaking, what it does brings to the table is served with excellence.”
![Featured image for Georama Boy Panorama Girl (2020) review [Fantasia Film Festival]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20210918/1631965395.21578.47638.jpg)
![Background image for Georama Boy Panorama Girl (2020) review [Fantasia Film Festival]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20210918/1631965395.21578.47638.jpg)
Georama Boy Panorama Girl (2020) review [Fantasia Film Festival]
‘Seta’s poetically composed narrative blows a fresh breeze into the ‘traditional’ Japanese romance genre.’
![Featured image for The Mole Song: Final (2021) review [Fantasia Film Festival]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220724/1658707140.40385.70163.jpg)
![Background image for The Mole Song: Final (2021) review [Fantasia Film Festival]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220724/1658707140.40385.70163.jpg)
The Mole Song: Final (2021) review [Fantasia Film Festival]
Miike’s narrative delivers everything a fan of the previous narratives desires and even succeeds in inviting newcomers to delve into Reiji’s past exploits.
![Featured image for My Broken Mariko (2022) [Fantasia Film Festival]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220812/1660277940.41712.71841.jpg)
![Background image for My Broken Mariko (2022) [Fantasia Film Festival]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220812/1660277940.41712.71841.jpg)
My Broken Mariko (2022) [Fantasia Film Festival]
Tanada offers a compelling exploration of the emotional turmoil a female subject caused by the sudden death of someone important.
![Featured image for Jigoku-no-hanazono ~Office Royale~ (2021) review [Fantasia Film Festival]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20210819/1629342795.19684.45417.jpg)
![Background image for Jigoku-no-hanazono ~Office Royale~ (2021) review [Fantasia Film Festival]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20210819/1629342795.19684.45417.jpg)
Jigoku-no-hanazono ~Office Royale~ (2021) review [Fantasia Film Festival]
“An absurd and crazy cocktail full of violence and funny twists and unexpected turns.”


Fantasia International Film Festival Confirms Complete 2021 Programme
In cinemas and streaming across Canada Aug. 5 – 25


Fantasia International Film Festival Confirms Complete 2023 Programme
In Montreal July 20 to Aug. 9.


Fantasia Film Festival: 7 Films not to miss.
This year, we, once again, explored the wide selection of films screening at the festival to select some films that we, psychocinematography, duly recommend to the audiences.
![Featured image for Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko (2021) [Fantasia Film festival]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20210822/1629592395.19866.45630.jpg)
![Background image for Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko (2021) [Fantasia Film festival]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20210822/1629592395.19866.45630.jpg)
Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko (2021) [Fantasia Film festival]
“A great animation film that offers an emotional and moving celebration of the strength of the bond between a daughter and a mother.”


Fantasia International Film Festival Confirms Complete 2022 Programme
Runs in Montreal July 14 to Aug. 3
![Featured image for Five Films Not To Miss [Fantasia Film Festival 2022]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220708/1657270952.39127.68607.jpg)
![Background image for Five Films Not To Miss [Fantasia Film Festival 2022]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220708/1657270952.39127.68607.jpg)
Five Films Not To Miss [Fantasia Film Festival 2022]
Let us present 5 Japanese films that should already be high on your to-watch list.
![Featured image for Fly Me To The Saitama: From Biwa Lake with Love (2023) review [Fantasia Film Festival 2024]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20240724/1721833194.87720.127824.jpg)
![Background image for Fly Me To The Saitama: From Biwa Lake with Love (2023) review [Fantasia Film Festival 2024]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20240724/1721833194.87720.127824.jpg)
Fly Me To The Saitama: From Biwa Lake with Love (2023) review [Fantasia Film Festival 2024]
A fun romp that works well as an introduction to the cultural diversity that enriches the Japanese archipelago.
![Featured image for Baby Assassins: 2 babies (2023) review [Nippon Connection 2023]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20230608/1686201522.62478.96845.jpg)
![Background image for Baby Assassins: 2 babies (2023) review [Nippon Connection 2023]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20230608/1686201522.62478.96845.jpg)
Baby Assassins: 2 babies (2023) review [Nippon Connection 2023]
Sakamoto’s latest film has such a irresistible charm that even those who normally shy away of action or comedy narratives will leave satisfied.
![Featured image for What To Do With Dead Kaiju (2022) review [Fantasia Film Festival 2022]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220803/1659521340.41199.71093.jpg)
![Background image for What To Do With Dead Kaiju (2022) review [Fantasia Film Festival 2022]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220803/1659521340.41199.71093.jpg)
What To Do With Dead Kaiju (2022) review [Fantasia Film Festival 2022]
“An extremely well-structured genre-blend that does not only provides the laughs and giggles with its pleasant political satire, but also allows the spectator to immerge himself into the…
Special - Japan Cuts Film Festival 2024
Table of Contents Hello everyone, Once again this year, the Heroic Purgatory podcast is covering the Japan Cuts 2024 film…
![Featured image for Masaru Sano on Capturing Good Images for His Phantasmagorical Film Perfect Nervous (2024) [Osaka Asian Film Festival 2024 Interview]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20240325/1711339570.81452.120022.jpg)
![Background image for Masaru Sano on Capturing Good Images for His Phantasmagorical Film Perfect Nervous (2024) [Osaka Asian Film Festival 2024 Interview]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20240325/1711339570.81452.120022.jpg)
Masaru Sano on Capturing Good Images for His Phantasmagorical Film Perfect Nervous (2024) [Osaka Asian Film Festival 2024 Interview]
“We meticulously took photographs during the location scouting and created storyboards based on the photos, with the intention of making all the shots as beautiful as possible.”: Masaru…


Good Luck Baby! Kickstarter
Noodletub Games , creators of LOVE BAKUDAN (Review HERE), return with a Kickstarter for another interesting looking Kinetic Novel about two young ladies brought together by a baby…
![Featured image for River (2023) review [Fantasia Film Fest 2023]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20230801/1690853321.65844.100891.jpg)
![Background image for River (2023) review [Fantasia Film Fest 2023]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20230801/1690853321.65844.100891.jpg)
River (2023) review [Fantasia Film Fest 2023]
If you like low-key humour and some time-twisting fun, you should not miss Yamaguchi’s latest.
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...
![Featured image for Follow The Light (2021) review [Fantasia Festival 2021]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20210804/1628036595.18680.44242.jpg)
![Background image for Follow The Light (2021) review [Fantasia Festival 2021]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20210804/1628036595.18680.44242.jpg)
Follow The Light (2021) review [Fantasia Festival 2021]
The narrative might not offer anything new at a thematical level, but stands out due to his refusal to spell things out and, instead, imply certain subjective truths…
Perfect Days (2023) [Film Review]
Perfect Days; or, The Art of Mindfulness Next time is next time. Now is now. When I heard about a new movie project by Win Wenders cent...


Taiwan Film Festival in Australia Returns for 2024
In Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane, Hobart, Melbourne, and Adelaide 25th July to 14th September.
![Featured image for Perfect Nervous (2024) Dir: Masaru Sano [Osaka Asian Film Festival 2024]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20240325/1711339571.81454.120023.jpg)
![Background image for Perfect Nervous (2024) Dir: Masaru Sano [Osaka Asian Film Festival 2024]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20240325/1711339571.81454.120023.jpg)
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…
![Featured image for Insomniacs After School (2023) review [Fantasia Film Fest 2023]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20230729/1690593521.65698.100717.jpg)
![Background image for Insomniacs After School (2023) review [Fantasia Film Fest 2023]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20230729/1690593521.65698.100717.jpg)
Insomniacs After School (2023) review [Fantasia Film Fest 2023]
Ikeda’s narrative contains all the right ingredients, but the final mixture is not able to give the narrative the emotional impact it looks for.
![Featured image for Good Luck グッドラック Director: Shin Adachi [Osaka Asian Film Festival 2025]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20250318/1742324157.99897.142943.jpg)
![Background image for Good Luck グッドラック Director: Shin Adachi [Osaka Asian Film Festival 2025]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20250318/1742324157.99897.142943.jpg)
Good Luck グッドラック Director: Shin Adachi [Osaka Asian Film Festival 2025]
Good Luck グッドラック is a wonderful low-key comedy from Shin Adachi that is part travelogue, part-Before Sunrise walk-and-talk, all cool-couple chemistry (HANA AMANO IS A-M-A-Z-I-N-G) [Osaka Asian Film…
![Featured image for Kakegurui 2: Ultimate Russian Roulette (2021) review [Fantasia Festival 2021]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20211123/1637711557.25836.52847.jpg)
![Background image for Kakegurui 2: Ultimate Russian Roulette (2021) review [Fantasia Festival 2021]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20211123/1637711557.25836.52847.jpg)
Kakegurui 2: Ultimate Russian Roulette (2021) review [Fantasia Festival 2021]
“Hanabusa’s second outing proves to be as enjoyable and thrilling as the first.”


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)


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…
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...


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


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…


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…


Baby Assassins: A Slice-of-Life with a Dash of Murder
Not gonna lie, syudou is the reason I ended up watching this. I started getting into his music right before a new TV spinoff of the Baby Assassin…


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…


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


The Good Old Days
detective fiction, 推理小説、games,
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...