Anime Blog Tracker

The Burden of the Past (過去負う者, Atsushi Funahashi, 2023)

A series of former prisoners struggle to find a place for themselves after leaving prison in Atsushi Funahashi’s pressing docudrama.

Windows on Worlds

Apr 4, 2023 • Subscribe

Cafune (2023) review [OAFF 2023]

A very strong debut by Haruki Kinemura.

psycho-cinematography

Mar 28, 2023 • 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

The burden of foreknowledge

When I decided to finally watch Clannad Afterstory this past weekend, I slowly began to notice that this weight had begun to morph into a heavy burden to…

Artificial Night Sky

Feb 10, 2021 • Subscribe

Clannad

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

The Burden of the Past 過去負う者 (2022) Dir: Atsushi Funahashi [Osaka Asian Film Festival 2023]

The Burden of the Past by director Atsushi Funahashi is a fierce film about the failure of Japanese society to provide rehabilitation for former criminals. The Burden of the…

Genkinahito

Mar 13, 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

K: Burden of Kings

When most people think of K Project, they think of it’s flashy style and hot dudes. While there is no doubt there is a heavy focus on these…

A Certain Dazed Producer

Oct 28, 2019 • 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

Voice of the Cards: Beasts of Burden

The Voice of the Cards: Beasts of Burden is an effective, low-stakes concept with solid execution, with a lot of love put into it from creatives that had…

Anime News Network - Views

Oct 23, 2022 • Subscribe

Short Movie Time: Kanro (2023) [OAFF 2023]

A simple but effective short that explores inter-subjective distance and the desire to bridge it in a surprising and satisfying way.

psycho-cinematography

Mar 21, 2023 • Subscribe

People Who Talk to Plushies Are Kind (2023) review [OAFF 2023]

Kaneko convincingly shows that the symptomatic usage of the plushie attempts to repair the tensive bond with the Other or subdue its overbearing presence.

psycho-cinematography

Mar 16, 2023 • 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

School Days and the burden of intimacy

Printed on the faded navy blue spine of an oversized game box, with white, bold, text reading the nondescript “School Days” - the box sits quietly on the…

Artificial Night Sky

Aug 11, 2025 • Subscribe

School Days

Short Movie Time: Detouring Blue (2023) (OAFF 2023)

A highly recommended short that touchingly shows that what dooms the subject to the de-subjectifying effect of the societal Other or to the birth of a subjective deadlock…

psycho-cinematography

Mar 23, 2023 • Subscribe

Short Movie Time: TOMA #2 (2023) [OAFF 2023]

A touching narrative that explores the difficulty for the subject to give the Othering effect of dementia on a family member a place

psycho-cinematography

Mar 12, 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

Short Movie Time: After Winter, the Tamaki Family… (2023) [OAFF 2023]

A genuine and heartfelt tribute the grandmother of the Tamaki family

psycho-cinematography

Mar 30, 2023 • Subscribe

Lupin the 3rd: Prison of the Past Review

AstroNerdBoy reviews Lupin the 3rd: Prison of the Past. Lupin and company go to rescue a prisoner, only to find all is not as it seems.

AstroNerdBoy's Anime & Manga Blog

Dec 1, 2023 • Subscribe

Lupin III, Lupin III: Prison of the Past

Memories of this Scent (2024) review [OAFF 2024]

An endearing and fragrance rich tale of subjective change.

psycho-cinematography

Mar 8, 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

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

Suton (2024) review [OAFF 2024]

Rikako Watanabe’s narrative succeeds to echo the unvocalized ‘pandemic’ truth of many.

psycho-cinematography

Mar 2, 2024 • Subscribe

Short Movie Time: Ririka of the Star (2024) review [OAFF 2024] 

A narrative that does not merely emphasize the beauty of moving female body, but reveals that such beauty can change subjects.

psycho-cinematography

Mar 11, 2024 • 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

GHOSTS OF REVIEWS PAST [Boxing Day Review]

This year I’ve been too busy to write a new review, even a short review for a film, and so I thought I’d share my Boxing Day Reviews…

The Review Heap

Dec 26, 2021 • Subscribe

Review: Back to the Past (2025)

Back to the Past 寻秦记 Hong Kong/China, 2025, colour, 2.35:1, 106 mins. Directors: Wu Xuanhui 吴炫辉 [Ng Yuen-fai], Li Zhenlong 黎震龙 [Jack Lai]. Rating: 6/10. Time-travel costume-action movie,…

Sino-Cinema 《神州电影》

14 days ago • Subscribe

V. Maria (2025) review [OAFF 2025]

The neatly interwoven narrative fabric, which evokes the dimension of loss in various forms, beautifully sketches out the importance for the subject to construct a narrative to support…

psycho-cinematography

Mar 27, 2025 • 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

Good Luck (2025) review [OAFF 2025]

Shin Adachi utilizes the dynamic of the encounter to examine the problem of desiring within the societal field and the way desire give rise to misunderstanding between subjects.

psycho-cinematography

Apr 2, 2025 • Subscribe

Yoyogi Johnny (2025) review [OAFF 2025]

Kimura’s choice to give the tragical dimension of love a deadpan comical twist pays off, creating a unique narrative that will resonate with youth and those who have…

psycho-cinematography

Apr 29, 2025 • Subscribe

Kanon

Melting Sounds (2022) review [OAFF 2022]

“Kahori Higashi’s debut is impressive.”

psycho-cinematography

Apr 14, 2022 • 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

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

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

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

Lupin III: Prison of the Past

I should have gotten this out earlier because this ova was only available for the entire month of February. Though I do have to say, spoilers, this one…

Mechanical Anime Reviews

May 31, 2024 • Subscribe

Lupin III: Prison of the Past, Lupin III

Coping with Trauma and the Burden of Leadership in Maid-sama!

Juggling respect and likability is a tightrope many women are forced to walk. This intricate dance of cultivating social and professional balance is what first drew me to…

Anime Feminist

Mar 11, 2020 • Subscribe

Days of Future Past

A BBC4 Radio appearance

Matt Alt's Pure Invention

Feb 13, 2024 • Subscribe

The Wonder Of a Summer Day (2022) [OAFF 2022]

“A visually pleasing narrative that underlines, in a charming and touching way, the importance for the subject to find the kind of signifiers that can unlock his/her deadlock.”

psycho-cinematography

Apr 23, 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

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

I Am Kirishima (2025) review [OAFF 2025]

A timely narrative that highlights the inert quality of a societal field structured by capitalism and right-wing nationalism.

psycho-cinematography

Apr 19, 2025 • Subscribe

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

“A splendid debut by Shuna Iijima.”

psycho-cinematography

Mar 27, 2022 • Subscribe

Gundam Requiem For Vengeance – The White Devil’s Burden

Much of Gundam RFV’s failures are at its core, failures of its creative team to adequately understand what Gundam represents, both as a mecha franchise and as a…

The Glorio Blog

Nov 20, 2024 • Subscribe

Gundam Requiem For Vengeance – The White Devil’s Burden

Much of Gundam RFV’s failures are at its core, failures of its creative team to adequately understand what Gundam represents, both as a mecha franchise and as a…

The Glorio Blog

Nov 20, 2024 • 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