Takahiro Kimura, who died on 5th March, first got the idea that animation might be the career for him when he saw episodes of Armoured Trooper VOTOMS and Blue Meteor SPT Layzner in his student days. “As for the university,” he later remembered, “well, I realised that if I wanted to graduate at the rate […]
Mar 9, 2023 • Subscribe
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Farewell to One of Anime’s Great Character Designers: RIP Kimura Takahiro
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Revenge (1964) review
A classic – a jidai-geki that every cinephile should see.
Pale Flower (1964) review
“A ‘seductive’ nihilistic masterpiece that explores the unescapable subjective problems created by the rhythmic capitalistic machinery.”
Keiko Nobumoto (1964-2021)
The writer Keiko Nobumoto, who died on 1st December from oesophageal cancer, was one of the stand-out figures of the anime world, quite possibly because her path to…
Episode 100 - Dr. Takahiro Yamamoto (Heidelberg)
In this episode, Dr. Yamamoto reviews Japan's diplomatic interactions with Russia in the northern territories of the Kuril Islands and Karafuto in the years around the Meiji Restoration. …
Ken (剣, Kenji Misumi, 1964)
A rigid young man dreaming of a “pure life” is forced to confront the contradictions of the modern society in Misumi’s melancholy masculinity drama
Voice Actor Takahiro Sakurai Departs Intention Talent Agency
Is this the end of Takahiro Sakurai’s entertainment career? The 48-year-old voice actor and his agency Intention announced on Friday that they are parting ways effectively immediately. Sakura…
Voice Actor Takahiro Sakurai Embroiled in Second Adultery Scandal
Takahiro Sakurai’s reputation has taken another hit as word of his involvement in a second extramarital affair has begun making the rounds. The 48-year-old voice actor, who plays…
Masked Ward (仮面病棟, Hisashi Kimura, 2020)
A grief-stricken doctor is confronted by the darkness of his profession when taken hostage by a man in a clown mask in Hisashi Kimura’s creepy crime thriller
New to Sunday: Shiishihi and Takahiro Arai's "Te no Geka"
Last but not least of the five new Sunday serials is a familiar face in Takahiro Arai and a newcomer(?) in writer Shiishihi's "Te no Geka....
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Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964) review [The Godzilla Project]
A splendid Godzilla narrative that does not only delivers Kaiju action in a satisfying and engaging way but also continues the questioning of the blossoming of the capitalistic…
Red Handkerchief (赤いハンカチ, Toshio Masuda, 1964)
A pure-hearted former policeman embarks on a noirish journey of retribution after discovering his partner may have betrayed him in Masuda’s stylish crime drama
The Desperate (どろ犬, Takaharu Saeki, 1964)
A bruiser cop railing against the system is pulled towards the dark side in Takaharu Saeki’s icy noir.
Kimura Hana’s Mother Criticizes Oshi no Ko for Using Daughter’s Story
An episode of the popular anime Oshi no Ko dealt with cyberbullying. But for Kimura Hana's mother, it hit too close to home.
An Outlaw (ならず者, Teruo Ishii, 1964)
Ken Takakura stars as a China-based hitman dragged into local intrigue when a job goes awry in an early crime thriller from Teruo Ishii.
Ai Voice Actor Takahiro Sakurai Admits to Having Decade-Long Extramarital Affair
On October 26, Japanese tabloid Bunshun Online reported that voice actor Takahiro Sakurai had admitted to having a ten-year-long extramarital affair with a writer for his radio show…
The Hunter’s Diary (猟人日記, Ko Nakahira, 1964)
A serial philanderer’s life is upended when his conquests start turning up dead in Ko Nakashira’s twisted noir.
On the Road Forever (無宿者, Kenji Misumi, 1964)
Wandering sons on opposing sides find themselves united in their quest to avenge absent fathers in Kenji Misumi’s filiality drama
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Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster (1964) review [The Godzilla Project]
A pleasant kaiju film that, nevertheless, constitutes a radical thematical break with the previous narratives.
Gamera, Hercules, Ninjas and Giant Robots: American International Television, 1964-1970
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The Thief in Black (黒の盗賊, Umetsugu Inoue, 1964)
Twins separated at birth kick back against the samurai corruption and growing Tokugawa authoritarianism i Umetsugu Inoue’s politically charged jidaigeki.
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The Best Secret Agent (天字第一號, Chang Ying, 1964)
A female super spy is forced to sacrifice romantic fulfilment in the pursuit of her duty but with it gains true freedom and independence in Chang Ying’s hugely…
Monkey King: Havoc in Heaven (大闹天宫, Wan Laiming, 1961/1964)
The Monkey King refuses to be bound by the celestial order in this beautifully animated piece of subversive satire
Here Because of You (君たちがいて僕がいた, Ryuichi Takamori, 1964)
Post-war teens take on injustice in the form of a problematic parent at their school in Ryuichi Takamori’s cheerful youth movie.
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Cafune (2023) review [OAFF 2023]
A very strong debut by Haruki Kinemura.
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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.
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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.
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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…
2023~ update
Still alive! :) A new thing I added a Trending ‘block’ to the top of the ABT homepage. It’s a really simple formula at the moment – I’m…
Fanime 2023
This Fanime season was a bit special for me. I got the opportunity to have my own panel and also present alongside the Nakama Podcast too.
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Farewell, 2023…
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Update (2023)
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2023 Goals Status Update (2023-01-31)
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[ABANDONED] I will go to the Vue.js guide and work on small projects every day. At this point, I feel complacent about my programming skill levels. With me…
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If you like low-key humour and some time-twisting fun, you should not miss Yamaguchi’s latest.
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