Anime Blog Tracker

V. MARIA (2025) Director: Daisuke Miyazaki [Osaka Asian Film Festival 2025]

In Daisuke Miyazaki’s V. MARIA, the passing down of Visual Kei culture and love from one generation to the next is genuinely moving and the stylish delivery of…

Genkinahito

13 days ago • Subscribe

Junketsu no Maria Review

This is review number four hundred and fifty seven. This anime is part of the Winter 2015 lineup, and it’s called Junketsu no Maria or Maria the Virgin…

The Pantless Anime Blogger

Jan 21, 2022 • Subscribe

Maria the Virgin Witch

Maria Holic

Title: Maria HolicGenre: ComedyRating: 8.2/10 Summary: Maria Holic revolves around a lesbian high school girl, Kanako Miyamae, who is scared of boys and breaks out in hives if a boy touches her. During…

Anime Anthology

Nov 8, 2021 • Subscribe

Maria Holic

Cafune (2023) review [OAFF 2023]

A very strong debut by Haruki Kinemura.

psycho-cinematography

Mar 28, 2023 • 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

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

The Anime V-Day Special Returns for 2025!

We’re taking a slice of life (and cake) this year for Takuto’s annual V-Day retreat!

Takuto's Anime Cafe

Feb 14, 2025 • 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

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

Melting Sounds (2022) review [OAFF 2022]

“Kahori Higashi’s debut is impressive.”

psycho-cinematography

Apr 14, 2022 • Subscribe

Faraway Family (2023) review [OAFF 2024]

A very touching narrative that explores the frail position of the father and how his structural failure can cause subjective struggles and inhibitions.

psycho-cinematography

Apr 4, 2024 • 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

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

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

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

Maria Holic Alive

Title: Maria Holic AliveGenre: ComedyRating: 5.0/10 Summary: Season 2 of Maria Holic Review: It pains me to give such an amazing anime a bad score for this season. But alas, after a long time…

Anime Anthology

Nov 8, 2021 • Subscribe

Maria Holic, Maria Holic Alive

Akujiki no Maria

A manga about St. Avline Academy which houses twelve female students. One night at dinner a student is killed during a blackout. Since the teachers refuse to report…

Manga Machinations

Oct 12, 2021 • 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

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

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

“A splendid debut by Shuna Iijima.”

psycho-cinematography

Mar 27, 2022 • 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

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

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

Say hello to Maria!

When Yakeno Yahachi, better known to his friends as “Yakeppachi” (i.e. “desperate”), has ectoplasm seep out of his nose, he does what any normal teenage boy would do…

Tezuka In English

Mar 30, 2017 • Subscribe

BLog: Boy Meets Maria

BLog reviews recent boys love, yaoi and LGBTQ+ English translation manga. Boy Meets MariaStory and art: PEYOTranslation: Amber TamosaitisPublisher: Seven Seas EntertainmentRelease Date: October 26,…

MJ Lyons Writes

Dec 20, 2021 • Subscribe

Maria Holic gets Shafted

I’m leery of Shaft as a studio, but Zetsubou Sensei was pretty good, and the premise for Maria Holic sounded potentially funny, so I figured I’d give the…

Gnostic Lone Wolf Poetry

Jan 10, 2009 • Subscribe

Maria Holic

Say hello to Maria!

When Yakeno Yahachi, better known to his friends as “Yakeppachi” (i.e. “desperate”), has ectoplasm seep out of his nose, he does what any normal teenage boy would do…

Tezuka In English

Mar 30, 2017 • 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

A New Wind Blows (2021) review [OAFF 2021]

A great film that shows that the madness of the male subject is often function of a woman, of a woman that unknowingly puts the by a man…

psycho-cinematography

Apr 20, 2021 • Subscribe

Far Away, Further Away (2022) review [OAFF 2022]

“A beautiful film that elegantly explores the role the imaginary plays in marital failure as well as in the beginning of a new romantic bond.”

psycho-cinematography

Apr 2, 2022 • 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: Outsourcing (2022) review [OAFF 2022]

“A very satisfying satirical short thta shows that, within the job-seeking process, only the image matters.”

psycho-cinematography

Apr 17, 2022 • Subscribe

RPG Review: Final Fantasy V

It’s been a while, but I finally finished a Final Fantasy game that made me cry like a little babby. Also as usual, the characters in this CGI…

かわいいじゃなきゃダメなの！

Jun 29, 2021 • Subscribe

Legend of the Crystals: Final Fantasy

Review: Unstoppable (2025)

Unstoppable 天马星空 China, 2025, colour, 2.35:1, 93 mins. Director: Yang Feng 杨锋. Rating: 3/10. Totally generic sci-fi drama, about an invasion of Earth by aliens, doesn’t have a…

Sino-Cinema 《神州电影》

15 days ago • Subscribe

The Light Of The Spring (2022) review [OAFF 2022]

“An experimental ‘dramamentary’ that succeeds to charm and touch the spectator with its rich mundane and genuine interactions.”

psycho-cinematography

Mar 20, 2022 • 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

Short Movie Time: Bagmati River (2022) review [OAFF 2022]

“A beautiful poetic short that elegantly plays with the contrast between life and death.”

psycho-cinematography

Mar 24, 2022 • 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

Sanka: Nomads of the Mountains (2022) review [OAFF 2022]

“A visually enticing narrative that elegantly explores the unresolvable tension between the societal Other and the subject.”

psycho-cinematography

Apr 8, 2022 • Subscribe

Maria the Virgin Witch: A Clash of Magic & Maidenhood || Review

A peacemaking witch endeavors to save humanity, but at the cost of her . . . virginity!?

Takuto's Anime Cafe

Jan 21, 2021 • Subscribe

Maria the Virgin Witch

Boy Meets Maria Manga Review – The Struggles Of Gender Identity

An interesting take on gender identity

Arum Journal

Aug 14, 2024 • Subscribe

Manga Review | My Demon Cry Baby, Maria by Yukihiko Sano

Satoru is in mourning. His unrequited love, Jun Mariya, has passed away before Satoru ever got the chance to talk to him, much less confess to him. In…

Eve Healy

Jan 12, 2024 • Subscribe

Review Plans for 2025!

Review Plans for 2025! Hey gang! Hard to believe 2024 is already over. I swear, the years go by faster and faster. Regardless, I thought I’d take a…

AstroNerdBoy's Anime & Manga Blog

Dec 31, 2024 • Subscribe

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

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

Short movie time: North Shinjuku 2055 (2021) review [OAFF 2022]

“A pleasant experimental short.”

psycho-cinematography

Mar 30, 2022 • Subscribe

Historical drama film review: Henry V (1989)

No, I wasn’t kidding about the Shakespeare last post. But is it wrong to call a film adaptation of a Shakespeare play a historical drama? I don’t think…

Everything is bad for you

Sep 14, 2023 • Subscribe