Anime Blog Tracker

I’ve Died a Lot Lately (2021) review [JFFH 2022]

Kanemoto proves that he has the talent to create, with a limited budget, a narrative that is not only creative but able to give the spectator a good…

psycho-cinematography

Jul 16, 2022 • Subscribe

Dark Blue Forest (2021) review [JFFH 2022]

A great experimental thriller-mystery narrative about borders and the destructive nature of prejudice.

psycho-cinematography

Jul 13, 2022 • Subscribe

Parasites In Love (2021) review

“One of the most original romance narratives of the year.”

psycho-cinematography

Dec 2, 2021 • Subscribe

Short Movie Time: Kyonetsu (2017) [JFFH 2020]

An impressive narrative that, due to its short runtime, leaves the spectator wanting more.

psycho-cinematography

Apr 15, 2021 • Subscribe

One Day, A woman (2022) review [JFFH 2022]

“Mihiro Kaneko’s incredibly rich performance does not only engages the spectator from start to finish, but allows Yuko’s subjective turmoil, her flight from the societal Other, and her…

psycho-cinematography

Jul 10, 2022 • Subscribe

Short movie time: Reason To Oblivion (2021) review [JFFH 2022]

A pleasant horror short-narrative that showcases Miyahara’s talent.

psycho-cinematography

Jul 4, 2022 • Subscribe

Review: Love after Love (2020)

Love after Love 第一炉香 China, 2020, colour/b&w, 1.85:1, 142 mins. Director: Xu Anhua 许鞍华 [Ann Hui]. Rating: 5/10. Story of a Shanghai teenager in Hong Kong’s pre-WW2 socialite…

Sino-Cinema 《神州电影》

Dec 19, 2021 • Subscribe

Short Movie Time: Sad Girl (2021) [JFFH 2023]

A pleasant comical romance narrative.

psycho-cinematography

Jul 10, 2023 • Subscribe

Stone Steps (2022) review [JFFH 2022]

A great indie narrative that highlights the need for the parental and the traditional Other to aid the subject to embark on the path of his own desire.…

psycho-cinematography

Jul 1, 2022 • Subscribe

Shaman’s Daughter (2022) review [JFFH 2022]

A genre mish-mash – a cocktail of light-hearted comedy, family drama, bloody thriller, and ghostly romance – that is not only pleasant but offers the spectator a rich…

psycho-cinematography

Aug 18, 2022 • Subscribe

Beast Complex Review

Beast Complex, is an early work by Paru Itagaki and a precursor to the popular manga series, Beastars. It’s set in the same world of anthropomorphized animals as…

Al's Manga Blog

Mar 23, 2021 • Subscribe

Tokyo Love Story 2020 Review

Tokyo Love Story 2020 might be the best romance Japanese drama of the last 10 years. With great character and captivating storyline this drama is a must watch.

ThatJapaneseDramaGuy

Jun 8, 2020 • Subscribe

Legend of the Crystals: Final Fantasy

Short Movie Review: Faaawww!!! (2022) [JFFH 2023]

Oniki’s twisted finale does not only visually impress but also underlines that the hunger of the Uber-Ich is never stilled.

psycho-cinematography

Jun 22, 2023 • Subscribe

2020 In Review

Boy, am I happy to see 2020 in the rear-view mirror. Pandemic, protests, political polarization... Millions dead world-wide... It can't end soon enough. Despite that, Orphan Fansubs had…

Collectr's Blog

Dec 31, 2020 • Subscribe

Nagasaki 1945 ~ The Angelus Bells, Senya Ichiya Monogatari, TONIKAWA: Over The Moon For You, Amatsuki, Great Pretender

Sasaki In My Mind (2020) review [Nippon Connection 2021]

“Uchiyama delivers a great and finely composed narrative that explores the ephemeral character of relationships that find their sole strength in the imaginary, in the thirst for gaining…

psycho-cinematography

Jul 2, 2021 • Subscribe

A Man In God’s Country (2020) review

“A visually pleasing narrative that explores, with a refined irony, the very problematic dimensions of nationalism.”

psycho-cinematography

Jan 17, 2022 • Subscribe

Manga Review – A Polar Bear in Love

A Polar Bear in Love 恋するシロクマ (Koisuru Shirokuma) Koromo Shoujo – Boys’ love, comedy, gag, romance 4 Volumes (ongoing) Yen Press Summary: For Polar Bear, it was love…

Daiyamanga

Mar 7, 2020 • Subscribe

TakaTempest a year in review 2021 anime

Ah, 2021 what a fun and chaotic year it was. From seasonal to non-seasonal discovery 2021 never failed to amaze me of it’s unpredictableness. I even go as…

TakaTempest Reviews

Dec 31, 2021 • Subscribe

A Leg (Taiwan, 2020) [NYAFF 2021]

Karen Ma reviews Chang Yao-sheng's dark comedy A Leg.

VCinema

Aug 11, 2021 • Subscribe

2021 in Review

The world continues to go to hell in a handbasket. The pandemic continues to rage. The world supply chain is borked. Inflation is rampant. W...

Collectr's Blog

Jan 2, 2022 • Subscribe

Rain Boy, Yawara!, Bakumatsu no Spasibo, Super Cub, Horimiya

Kingdom of The Apes (2022) review [JFFH 2022]

Shugo Fujii proves that he is the master of indie-thrillers.

psycho-cinematography

Jun 27, 2022 • Subscribe

Bolt (2020) review [Nippon Connection 2021]

“A great narrative by Kaizo Hayashi that explores, via the structure fiction, the truth of three different affects – responsibility, guilt, and sadness through loss – during and…

psycho-cinematography

Jun 11, 2021 • Subscribe

His (2020) review [Nippon Connection 2021]

A touching and heartwarming romance drama that captivates the spectator not only because it’s driven by romantic feelings feel genuine, but also because the truth of love is…

psycho-cinematography

Jul 8, 2021 • Subscribe

Spaghetti Code Love (2021) review [Japan Cuts 2021]

“Maruyama’s narrative speaks powerfully to the spectator’s subjectivity – his fears and hopes – and enables his evocation of a glimmer of hope that remains present in this…

psycho-cinematography

Oct 16, 2021 • Subscribe

Year In Review: 2020

With 2020 finally in the rear-view mirror, let’s take a look at some of the highlights in the world of anime, manga and video games. I really slacked…

雲の上

Jan 5, 2021 • Subscribe

Review: A Leg (2020)

A Leg 腿 Taiwan, 2020, colour, 2.35:1, 115 mins. Director: Zhang Yaosheng 张耀升. Rating: 6/10. Delicious black comedy is weakened by too many flashbacks that lack the main…

Sino-Cinema 《神州电影》

Apr 11, 2022 • Subscribe

A Polar Bear in Love Volume 5 Review

A Polar Bear in Love volume 5 does enough to help fill in the multi-year void thanks to Cathy's story and seeing hope for interspecies relationships.

TheOASG

Feb 16, 2023 • Subscribe

Cursed In Love Review

Watashitachi wa Douka Shiteiru is latest hyped romance drama from Japan. The plot is kinda soapy but the fanservice will make your heart flutter.

ThatJapaneseDramaGuy

Aug 31, 2020 • Subscribe

Kakegurui

A Very GLORIO 2021: Gee’s Year in Review

2021 was an unbelievably strong year with some legitimate generational contenders. I look back on the year and for as much shit as I love to give anime…

The Glorio Blog

Dec 25, 2021 • Subscribe

Getter Robo, Getter Robo Arc

Eleven Greed (2022) [JFFH 2022]

Despite its obvious low-budget nature, Soejima delivers a highly entertaining and engaging action-thriller.

psycho-cinematography

Jul 19, 2022 • Subscribe

Short Movie Time: Necessary & unnecessary (2022) review [JFFH 2023]

A quirky little narrative that explores the necessity of forming inter-subjective social bonds.

psycho-cinematography

Jun 28, 2023 • Subscribe

Review: Do You Love Me As I Love You (2020)

Do You Love Me As I Love You 可不可以你也刚好喜欢我 Taiwan, 2020, colour, 2.35:1, 107 mins. Director: Jian Xuebin 简学彬. Rating: 6/10. In her first major role, Taiwan actress…

Sino-Cinema 《神州电影》

Mar 31, 2022 • Subscribe

Review: Do You Love Me As I Love You (2020)

Do You Love Me As I Love You 可不可以你也刚好喜欢我 Taiwan, 2020, colour, 2.35:1, 107 mins. Director: Jian Xuebin 简学彬. Rating: 6/10. In her first major role, Taiwan actress…

Sino-Cinema 《神州电影》

Mar 31, 2022 • Subscribe

Beast † Blood Volume 2 Review

Beast † Blood volume 2 is great when it focuses on the mystery and action, and its few issues aren't enough to detract from the overall read.

TheOASG

Oct 2, 2020 • Subscribe

Akira

Beast #6 Volume 1 Review

Beast #6's slick action and how Nika acts in this manga might be worth a look if you're in need of another monster-slaying series.

TheOASG

Jan 16, 2023 • Subscribe

MONSTER AND THE BEAST REVIEW

Hello, my dearest friends. Hope you’re all fine and dandy. I, once again, drew blank about what to review for today and asked for suggestions over Twitter, and…

IT'S YOUR FAULT THAT I'M NOT POPULAR!

Mar 11, 2022 • Subscribe

Otome Game Review: Beast Darling

Kazuha is an animal magnet, so when her parents go to work overseas and leave her in Japan (as every manga anime plot would have it) she goes…

かわいいじゃなきゃダメなの！

Mar 4, 2021 • Subscribe

Spring 2021 in Review

This past anime season, counting holdovers from the Winter 2021 season, I watched 26 anime. Of those, I completed 22. Normally, we at the Backloggers would do an…

The Backloggers

Jul 10, 2021 • Subscribe

Fruits Basket, Megalobox, ODDTAXI, To Your Eternity

Year in review 2021

As I sit at my desk typing up this long overdue post, I’m reflecting on all that has changed over these last 6 months. Normally this post would…

雲の上

Apr 3, 2022 • Subscribe

All U Need is Love (Hong Kong, 2020) [NYAFF 2021]

Wilson Kwong reviews Vincent Kok's pandemic comedy All U Need is Love.

VCinema

Aug 22, 2021 • Subscribe

Wonderful Paradise (2020) review [Nippon Connection 2021]

A great experiment of the absurd, but its full potential to satisfy the spectator is hindered by its somewhat lackluster composition.  

psycho-cinematography

Jun 23, 2021 • Subscribe

5 Seconds Before a Witch Falls in Love Review

5 Seconds Before a Witch Falls in Love is a silly yuri romance manga by Zeniko Sumiya and it’s a release that I’ve been greatly anticipating. The enemies-to-lovers…

Al's Manga Blog

Mar 3, 2022 • Subscribe

Winter 2020 Anime In Review

The Winter 2020 Quarter of anime has certainly been a wild ride, hasn’t it? I kind of mean in terms of anime, but mostly in terms of world…

Mechanical Anime Reviews

Apr 11, 2020 • Subscribe

2020 Manga Q3 in Review

[ Last post: 2020 Manga Q1-Q2 in Review! ] [ Standard disclaimer: Spoilers! Lots of spoilers! ] Only “Completed” is ranked, all others alphabetical. As mentioned last time,…

Anime DVD/BD Sales in Japan

Sep 12, 2020 • Subscribe

Spring 2020 Anime In Review

I can’t help but admit this season felt the emptiest in a lot of ways. Not just because of the lack of content provided to us by COVID-19…

Mechanical Anime Reviews

Jul 2, 2020 • Subscribe

Summer 2020 Anime in Review

Covid-19 really did a number on airing anime series for a while, but that didn’t lower the quality of this season for me. I didn’t watch a lot…

Mechanical Anime Reviews

Oct 6, 2020 • Subscribe

Fall 2020 Anime in Review

This season is going to be hard to rank things, but it was a very good season to me. Especially regarding a lot of its unique content. Not…

Mechanical Anime Reviews

Dec 31, 2020 • Subscribe

Beast Tamer (Episode 9) – Beast Tamer VS Beast Tamer

They’ve trapped the Mithril thieves in the mine and just need to go in and capture them, however, that might be easier said than done since they too…

The Otaku Author

Feb 11, 2024 • Subscribe

Beast Tamer

A-Z Drama Challenge: Tokyo Love Story (2020)

So… a tiny explanation. The original title I had picked for T was The IDOLM@STER.KR (2017), but in reviewing the premise of the drama – I had no interest in…

Phoenix Talks Pop Culture Japan

Sep 25, 2022 • Subscribe

A Girl Missing (2020) Review

Introduction Around three years after delivering his award-winning Harmonium (2016), Koji Fukada is finally back with a new filmic product: A Girl Missing (2020). Can Fukada deliver a…

psycho-cinematography

May 15, 2021 • Subscribe