Anime Blog Tracker

Eternally Younger Than Those Idiots (君は永遠にそいつらより若い, Ryuhei Yoshino, 2021)

An insecure young woman struggles to assume her place in the world while preparing to leave the aimless security of college life for an uncertain adulthood in Ryuhei…

Windows on Worlds

Dec 28, 2022 • Subscribe

Any Crybabies Around? (泣く子はいねぇが, Takuma Sato, 2020)

An immature young man abandons his family after becoming disgrace but discovers on his return there may be some bonds you can’t repair in Takuma Sato’s paternity drama.

Windows on Worlds

May 31, 2022 • Subscribe

Follow the Light (光を追いかけて, Yoichi Narita, 2021) [Fantasia 2021]

An alienated young man resentful of his forced relocation to the countryside bonds with an intense classmate in Yoichi Narita’s gentle coming of age drama

Windows on Worlds

Jan 2, 2022 • Subscribe

Girl from Phantasia

Futari ha Daitai Konna Kanji (ふたりはだいたいこんなかんじ)

In the Yuri world Ikeda Takashi is best known for Sasamekikoto / Whispered Words in English, from One Peace Books. That series made fun of every Yuri trope,…

Okazu

Dec 19, 2020 • Subscribe

Whispered Words

The New God (新しい神様, Yutaka Tsuchiya, 1999)

Documentarian Yukata Tsuchiya’s personal documentary explores his friendship with a right-wing punk duo despite not sharing any of their nationalist views

Windows on Worlds

Jan 19, 2022 • Subscribe

Futari ha Daitai Konna Kanji, Volume 3 (ふたりはだいたいこんなかんじ)

One of the defining characteristics of an adult life is facing setbacks. You can work really hard, gambare with all you have and still not achieve the goal.…

Okazu

Dec 2, 2021 • Subscribe

Futari ha Daitai Konna Kanji, Volume 4 (ふたりはだいたいこんなかんじ)

In Futari ha Daitai Konna Kanji, Volume 4 (ふたりはだいたいこんなかんじ) Ikeda Takashi brings his specific brand of wacky slice-of-life to a fantastic conclusion. In the first three volumes of…

Okazu

May 12, 2022 • Subscribe

Futari ha Daitai Konna Kanji, Volume 2 (ふたりはだいたいこんなかんじ)

Okay, so here’s a mood. You like a creator, so when they announce a new book or series, you’re cautiously optimistic at the least. You know it might…

Okazu

Aug 5, 2021 • Subscribe

Struggling Man (私はいったい、何と闘っているのか, Toshio Lee, 2021)

A dejected middle-aged man experiences a crisis of masculinity when his home and work lives come under threat in Toshio Lee’s warmhearted comedy.

Windows on Worlds

Sep 16, 2022 • Subscribe

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…

psycho-cinematography

Aug 3, 2021 • Subscribe

Girl from Phantasia

Dabi is Toya!

Not since Tobi is Obito has a manga twist been so carefully guarded!   My Hero Academia 290 - 5:33Kaiju No. 8 16 - 19:04EDENS ZERO 118 - 26:29Chainsaw Man…

Weekly Manga Recap

Nov 13, 2020 • Subscribe

Ayakashi Triangle, Black Clover, Chainsaw Man, EDENS ZERO, My Hero Academia

Alone Again in Fukushima  ナオト、いまもひとりっきり Dir: Mayu Nakamura (2021) [Yamagata International Film Festival 2021]

Alone Again in Fukushima sees director Mayu Nakamura visit an interesting samaritan who remained behind to look after abandoned animals. Alone Again in Fukushima    ナオト、いまもひとりっきり Dir: Mayu Nakamura…

Genkinahito

Oct 18, 2021 • Subscribe

The Sadness (哭悲, Robert Jabbaz, 2021) [Fantasia 2021]

A young couple find themselves caught up in an epidemic of sadistic violence in Robert Jabbaz’ defiantly depraved satirical horror

Windows on Worlds

Aug 22, 2021 • Subscribe

Girl from Phantasia

Switch Back / 今はもうない

The S&M series has always had a lot of character work and philosophical tangents, and while they sometimes felt a bit overbearing, they nev...

Bad Player's Good Reviews

Mar 15, 2025 • Subscribe

Hanasaku Iroha 花咲くいろは

Ohana, a Tokyo high school girl, who had been living alone with her single mom has no choice but to relocate to her grandmother’s inn when her mom…

Yuu's Sanctuary

Dec 21, 2019 • Subscribe

Hanasaku Iroha ~Blossoms for Tomorrow~

川のほとりに立つ者は

A young woman named Kiyose was recently promoted to the position of manager at an independent café. She devotes her love and attention to the business, but all…

Contemporary Japanese Literature

Sep 30, 2024 • Subscribe

Seobok (서복, Lee Yong-ju, 2021) [Fantasia 2021]

A terminally ill former government agent reckons with mortality while bonding with a clone birthed to cure humanity’s ills in Lee Yong-ju’s high concept thriller

Windows on Worlds

Aug 11, 2021 • Subscribe

Girl from Phantasia

Midnight (미드나이트, Kwon Oh-seung, 2021) [Fantasia 2021]

A deaf woman and her mother become unwitting targets for a sadistic serial killer in Kwon’s extraordinarily tense chase through the darkened streets of Soeul

Windows on Worlds

Aug 24, 2021 • Subscribe

Girl from Phantasia

A Girl in My Room (左様なら今晩は, Natsuki Takahashi, 2022)

A young man reeling from a breakup is suddenly confronted by the literal ghost of lost love in Natsuki Takahashi’s supernaturally-inflected romantic drama

Windows on Worlds

Dec 9, 2024 • Subscribe

Hana Monogatari, Volume 3 (はなものがたり)

In Volume 1 we met Hanayo, an older woman, newly widowed and Yoshiko, a woman of similar age who opens Hanayo’s eyes to many things, including the pleasure…

Okazu

Mar 25, 2024 • Subscribe

Hana Monogatari, Volume 2 (はなものがたり)

In Volume 1, we met Hanayo, a woman whose husband has passed away, leaving her both free to do whatever she wants and confused as to what that…

Okazu

Mar 5, 2024 • Subscribe

Hana Monogatari, Volume 1 (はなものがたり)

Hana Monogatari, Volume 1 (はなものがたり) by shwinn, is one of my new favorite series ever. Hanayo’s husband has been dead for 49 days, so her mourning period is…

Okazu

Nov 13, 2022 • Subscribe

Tomodachi Game ep 1 – Caution

It's a new anime season and I decided to watch Tomodachi Game. So far, it's better than I thought. I hope you're enjoying it too.

I drink and watch anime

Apr 9, 2022 • Subscribe

Tomodachi Game

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.

psycho-cinematography

Jul 24, 2022 • Subscribe

Girl from Phantasia

A Wife Confesses (妻は告白する, Yasuzo Masumura, 1961)

A young widow finds herself on trial not exactly for her husband’s murder but the fact of her survival in Masumura’s noirish courtroom drama

Windows on Worlds

May 30, 2021 • Subscribe

A Girl in My Room 左様なら今晩は (2022) Director: Natsuki Takahashi

A Girl in My Room 左様なら今晩は (2022), by director Natsuki Takahashi, is a cute supernatural drama with shades of romance and sadness.

Genkinahito

Sep 13, 2023 • Subscribe

Tokyo Revengers (2021) Review [Fantasia Film Festival]

“An exciting blend of satisfying violence, tensive moments, surges of pleasing lightheartedness, and touching emotional moments.”

psycho-cinematography

Aug 16, 2021 • Subscribe

Girl from Phantasia, Tokyo Revengers

Seire (세이레, Park Kang, 2021) [Fantasia 2022]

A new father finds himself haunted by paternal anxiety and old transgressions in Park Kang’s eerie folk horror.

Windows on Worlds

Sep 3, 2022 • Subscribe

Girl from Phantasia

Shari (シャリ, Nao Yoshigai, 2021) [Fantasia 2022]

A red monster roams the landscape smearing its blood wherever it goes in Nao Yoshigai’s surreal documentary hybrid.

Windows on Worlds

Sep 17, 2022 • Subscribe

Girl from Phantasia

Movie Review: You Name (君の名は)

Your Name (Kimi no Na wa / 君の名は) is honestly one of the best Japanese movies I’ve seen – ever. It is engaging, funny, clever, interesting and brilliantly…

Haikugirl's Japan

Nov 28, 2016 • Subscribe

Kakegurui 2: Ultimate Russian Roulette (2021) review [Fantasia Festival 2021]

“Hanabusa’s second outing proves to be as enjoyable and thrilling as the first.”

psycho-cinematography

Nov 23, 2021 • Subscribe

Girl from Phantasia, Kakegurui

Tokyo Revengers (東京リベンジャーズ, Tsutomu Hanabusa, 2021) [Fantasia 2021]

A dejected 27-year-old gets a second chance to face his high school trauma in Hanabusa’s high school delinquent x time travel manga adaptation

Windows on Worlds

Aug 14, 2021 • Subscribe

Girl from Phantasia, Tokyo Revengers

you 様 - Meaning in Japanese

What you 様 means in Japanese, with examples and grammar.

Japanese with Anime

Aug 31, 2022 • Subscribe

Just Remembering (ちょっと思い出しただけ, Daigo Matsui, 2021) [Fantasia 2022]

Former lovers are confronted by reminders of their failed romance amid the loneliness of the coronavirus pandemic in Daigo Matsui’s melancholy drama.

Windows on Worlds

Jul 23, 2022 • Subscribe

Girl from Phantasia

Satoshi Kon: The Illusionist (Satoshi Kon, l’illusionniste, Pascal-Alex Vincent, 2021) [Fantasia 2021]

Pascal-Alex Vincent paints an enigmatic picture of the late Perfect Blue director

Windows on Worlds

Aug 7, 2021 • Subscribe

Girl from Phantasia, Perfect Blue

奥村雪男 (Okumura Yukio)

Who is Okumura Yukio? Yukio is a central character in Ao no Exorcist, serving as the younger twin brother of the protagonist, Okumura Rin. Highly skilled and intelligent,…

美咲の部屋

Aug 19, 2025 • Subscribe

Blue Exorcist

The Best Anime Movie of 2021

As part of Anime News Network's "Best Anime of 2021" event, I talk about my pick for the best anime movie of the year.

Biggest In Japan

Jan 2, 2022 • Subscribe

Gakeppuchi Reijou ha Kuro Kishi-sama o Horesasetai!, Volume 1 ( 崖っぷち令嬢は黒騎士様を惚れさせたい)

Gakeppuchi Reijou ha Kuro Kishi-sama o Horesasetai!, Volume 1 / 崖っぷち令嬢は黒騎士様を惚れさせた has a great title. Honestly. ^_^ Gakepucchi means “on a cliff’s edge,” that is to say, someone…

Okazu

Apr 17, 2025 • Subscribe

Charlotte

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.”

psycho-cinematography

Aug 25, 2021 • Subscribe

Girl from Phantasia

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.”

psycho-cinematography

Aug 22, 2021 • Subscribe

Girl from Phantasia, Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko

Chorokbam (초록밤, Yoon Seo-jin, 2021) [Fantasia 2022]

A small family contend with the persistent unfairness of the contemporary society in Yoon Seo-jin’s slow burn indie drama.

Windows on Worlds

Jul 20, 2022 • Subscribe

Girl from Phantasia

Fantasia International Film Festival Confirms Complete 2021 Programme

In cinemas and streaming across Canada Aug. 5 – 25

Windows on Worlds

Aug 2, 2021 • Subscribe

Girl from Phantasia

Sexual Drive (性的衝動, Kota Yoshida, 2021) [Fantasia 2021]

A strange spirit of sexual liberation visits three troubled couples in Kota Yoshida’s odyssey of food-themed eroticism.

Windows on Worlds

Aug 4, 2021 • Subscribe

Girl from Phantasia

Watashi ha Ongaku de Naguritai: Band Yuri Novel (わたしは音楽で殴りたい: バンド百合小説)

Watashi ha Ongaku de Naguritai: Band Yuri Novel (わたしは音楽で殴りたい: バンド百合小説) by Yuruico Vraisravana is the very last item I picked up in February 2019 when I was in…

Okazu

May 30, 2021 • Subscribe

99% Cloudy… Always (99％、いつも曇り, Midori Sangoumi, 2023)

Why do some people feel themselves entitled to ask insensitive questions at emotionally delicate moments? Kazuha (Midori Sangoumi) may have a point when she calls her oblivious uncle…

Windows on Worlds

Feb 21, 2025 • Subscribe

Tsukuritai Onna to Tabetai Onna, Volume 1 (作りたい女と食べたい女)

I am so excited to be able to review this particular book as my first review of 2022! Since I first read this on Comic Walker, I’ve been…

Okazu

Jan 2, 2022 • Subscribe

Tsukuritai Onna to Tabetai Onna, Volume 3 (作りたい女と食べたい女)

In Volume 1, we met Nomoto Yuki, a contractor in an office. She finds society’s expectations for women confining and stress-cooks to relax. We then met Kasuga-san, her…

Okazu

Jan 8, 2023 • Subscribe

Tsukuritai Onna to Tabetai Onna, Volume 2 (作りたい女と食べたい女)

Because I loved Volume 1 so very much, I ran out immediately after reviewing it, and bought Tsukuritai Onna to Tabetai Onna, Volume 2 (作りたい女と食べたい女) as a digital…

Okazu

Feb 3, 2022 • Subscribe