Prepare to Be Spoiled: Megan Tremethick Teases Debut Feature Asmr Horror 'Spoiling You': "Taking inspiration from the cultural phenomenon of anime cosplay and Asmr YouTube performers, Megan Tremethick (The Slave and the Sorcerer) is producing a startling psychological horror that follows the clandestine activities of a lonely girl who discovers a liberating second life through her invention of 'Miss Mutter', an alluring anime cosplay character she uses to perform Asmr on YouTube. She soon acquires a legion of devoted fans, but as her popularity grows so too do the lines between fantasy and reality begin to blur. As the world begins to learn more and more about Miss Mutter, we soon realise that the woman underneath all the makeup and costume remains a mysterious figure... one with a spine-tingling secret.
A secret that is revealed when Miss Mutter invites her number one fan to spend the night with her for an intimate in-person session.
A secret that is revealed when Miss Mutter invites her number one fan to spend the night with her for an intimate in-person session.
- 5/9/2024
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
Alice Hirsch/ @h.irsch Jesus Piece combines heavy metal with a love of all things anime and it really shows their work. Aaron Heard spoke with Crunchyroll News about his tattoos, love of the Samurai Champloo sword, and which anime he's been keeping up with. This interview has been edited for clarity. You put out one of the albums of the year last year with “...So Unknown.” Congrats on that and I love seeing how it’s taken the band to new heights! Aaron Heard: Oh, man, it's been awesome. Really just breathed new life into everything. You know, once you've been playing the same songs for a long time, it gets a little redundant, you know? Now that we have some new tracks to play, it’s just like a new fire. Seeing the “Gates of Horn” video is actually what inspired me to reach out. I saw it...
- 5/6/2024
- by Alex Lebl
- Crunchyroll
Launched in 2012, Kontravoid is the solo project of Cameron Findlay. Born in Canada and based now in LA, Findlay has perfected his own brand of dark pop that cruises freely through electronic music genres. With the release of the video for his latest single “Reckoning,” Findlay also showcased his love for anime. Tapping into his love of the works of Yoshiaki Kawajiri, the video provides a window into this overall influence anime has on his artistic endeavors. When an artist is so clear about their love of anime, naturally we have to talk to them! Keep reading to learn more about Findlay’s influences and see his top 10 favorite anime. Can you tell me a little about your anime journey? How it started and where you are now? Are there genres you gravitate toward? Findlay : I grew up in Toronto, and in the late ’90s/early 2000s there used...
- 4/13/2024
- by Alex Lebl
- Crunchyroll
13 April 2024 (Saturday) @ Louis Koo Cinema, Hong Kong Arts Centre Individual tickets and ticket packages are available on Popticket
The Hong Kong Arts Centre (Hkac)'s signature programme, Late Night Series – Art X, with the theme of Japanese yokai this year, presents a journey with diverse arts and culture on 13 April, 2024 (Saturday). To complement the exhibition, Yokai Parade: Supernatural Monsters from Japan, at the Pao Galleries of the Hong Kong Arts Centre, moving image programme, Wicked Cities: Hong Kong x Tokyo, presents a double bill of the Japanese classic Ova (original video animation), Wicked City (1987), directed by animation master Kawajiri Yoshiaki; and another live-action adaptation of the titular novel, The Wicked City (1992), produced by legendary Hong Kong director, Tsui Hark, and directed by Hong Kong's multi-talented Peter Mak Tai-kit, who just passed away last year in 2023.
Following the screening of The Wicked City (1992), there will be an after-screening talk, Yokai in Urban Sci-fi,...
The Hong Kong Arts Centre (Hkac)'s signature programme, Late Night Series – Art X, with the theme of Japanese yokai this year, presents a journey with diverse arts and culture on 13 April, 2024 (Saturday). To complement the exhibition, Yokai Parade: Supernatural Monsters from Japan, at the Pao Galleries of the Hong Kong Arts Centre, moving image programme, Wicked Cities: Hong Kong x Tokyo, presents a double bill of the Japanese classic Ova (original video animation), Wicked City (1987), directed by animation master Kawajiri Yoshiaki; and another live-action adaptation of the titular novel, The Wicked City (1992), produced by legendary Hong Kong director, Tsui Hark, and directed by Hong Kong's multi-talented Peter Mak Tai-kit, who just passed away last year in 2023.
Following the screening of The Wicked City (1992), there will be an after-screening talk, Yokai in Urban Sci-fi,...
- 3/15/2024
- by Adam Symchuk
- AsianMoviePulse
Pupil Slicer has been pushing the boundaries of what heavy music is for quite a while now and received critical and fan acclaim for their 2023 album Blossom . Blending elements of numerous genres, the album (which made its way to many a Top 10 End of Year list last year) is a microcosm of the types of anime vocalist Kate Davies and drummer Josh Andrews like to watch. Read all about how anime weaved its way into the writing process, how their anime journey started, and Shinji-core in the conversation below! You received a ton of acclaim for your most recent album, Blossom . How exciting was it to get that album out into the world? Kate : It’s been sick. We sat on the first album for way too long before it came out and we were sort of bored of it by the time it was released. Whereas with this album,...
- 3/2/2024
- by Alex Lebl
- Crunchyroll
(Welcome to Ani-time Ani-where, a regular column dedicated to helping the uninitiated understand and appreciate the world of anime.)
Fantasy is not a common genre in anime. Though most of the shows premiering each season have fantasy elements, they are mostly isekai that borrow more from JRPGs than literary fantasy and focus more on a power fantasy than an adventure. There are exceptions, of course, like "Ranking of Kings" and the Dungeons & Dragons campaign-turned-anime "Record of Lodoss War."
Now, we have a new anime that fully understands what makes fantasy unique and effective for storytelling. This is the anime fans of "Lord of the Rings" have been waiting for, a fantasy epic unlike any other — "Frieren: Beyond Journey's End."
The premise is simple: the Demon King has been slayed and the party of heroes who defeated him return home. Their 10-year-long adventure meant a significant journey that eternally...
Fantasy is not a common genre in anime. Though most of the shows premiering each season have fantasy elements, they are mostly isekai that borrow more from JRPGs than literary fantasy and focus more on a power fantasy than an adventure. There are exceptions, of course, like "Ranking of Kings" and the Dungeons & Dragons campaign-turned-anime "Record of Lodoss War."
Now, we have a new anime that fully understands what makes fantasy unique and effective for storytelling. This is the anime fans of "Lord of the Rings" have been waiting for, a fantasy epic unlike any other — "Frieren: Beyond Journey's End."
The premise is simple: the Demon King has been slayed and the party of heroes who defeated him return home. Their 10-year-long adventure meant a significant journey that eternally...
- 2/29/2024
- by Rafael Motamayor
- Slash Film
Los Angeles, CA – Iconic Events Releasing, a company specializing in distributing special engagement theatrical events to theatres, highlights one of anime's most poignant and critically acclaimed films as it invites fans to theatrical screenings of Tokyo Godfathers at special theatrical events across North America from December 11-13 in the latest installment of Anime Expo Cinema Nights.
Anime Expo Cinema Nights invites you to celebrate Tokyo Godfathers, the acclaimed holiday classic from master director Satoshi Kon, as it returns to theaters to celebrate its 20th anniversary with a 4K restoration under the supervision of the original art director and producers.
Ax Cinema Nights is a year-round movie event series celebrating the best new and classic anime films by bringing them to theaters across North America. It provides the passionate fan community with immersive and unforgettable experiences beyond the annual Anime Expo.
Tokyo Godfathers 20th Anniversary (Sony Pictures)
Screens Dec. 11th (sub), Dec.
Anime Expo Cinema Nights invites you to celebrate Tokyo Godfathers, the acclaimed holiday classic from master director Satoshi Kon, as it returns to theaters to celebrate its 20th anniversary with a 4K restoration under the supervision of the original art director and producers.
Ax Cinema Nights is a year-round movie event series celebrating the best new and classic anime films by bringing them to theaters across North America. It provides the passionate fan community with immersive and unforgettable experiences beyond the annual Anime Expo.
Tokyo Godfathers 20th Anniversary (Sony Pictures)
Screens Dec. 11th (sub), Dec.
- 11/21/2023
- by Adam Symchuk
- AsianMoviePulse
Godzilla Minus One, the latest edition in Toho’s monster franchise and the closing film at this year’s Tokyo Film Festival, has locked a deal for distribution in the UK and Ireland.
The Glasgow-based distribution outfit Anime Limited will release the pic in UK and Irish cinemas on December 15. The wide rollout will also include IMAX and 4Dx screens.
Godzilla Minus One is written and directed by Lupin III filmmaker Takashi Yamazaki. The pic is set for a local release on Nov 3 from Toho and comes 70 years after the first film. Synopsis reads: After the war, Japan has been reduced to zero. Godzilla appears and plunges the country into a negative state. Against the most desperate situation in the history of Japan, how — and with whom —will Japan stand up to it?
Alongside writing and directing duties on Godzilla Minus One, Yamazaki also supervised the visual effects. The film stars Ryunosuke Kamiki,...
The Glasgow-based distribution outfit Anime Limited will release the pic in UK and Irish cinemas on December 15. The wide rollout will also include IMAX and 4Dx screens.
Godzilla Minus One is written and directed by Lupin III filmmaker Takashi Yamazaki. The pic is set for a local release on Nov 3 from Toho and comes 70 years after the first film. Synopsis reads: After the war, Japan has been reduced to zero. Godzilla appears and plunges the country into a negative state. Against the most desperate situation in the history of Japan, how — and with whom —will Japan stand up to it?
Alongside writing and directing duties on Godzilla Minus One, Yamazaki also supervised the visual effects. The film stars Ryunosuke Kamiki,...
- 10/25/2023
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
Iconic Events Releasing, a company specializing in distributing special engagement theatrical events to theatres, brings the action and bold visual storytelling of anime to the big screen as it announces a slate of upcoming nationwide theatrical events for the latest installment of Ax Cinema Nights.
A different acclaimed anime feature will be screened at over 300 theatre locations across the country beginning in September and continuing through February 2024.
Celebrated films will include a Satoshi Kon Film Festival that will screen 3 of the legendary Director's most renowned anime feature films – Perfect Blue 25th Anniversary, Tokyo Godfathers 20th Anniversary, and Paprika, as well as special presentations of Ghost In The Shell and Cowboy Bebop: The Movie. Both subtitled and dubbed screenings are scheduled.
Ax Cinema Nights is a year-round movie event series celebrating the best new and classic anime films by bringing them to theaters across North America. It provides the passionate fan...
A different acclaimed anime feature will be screened at over 300 theatre locations across the country beginning in September and continuing through February 2024.
Celebrated films will include a Satoshi Kon Film Festival that will screen 3 of the legendary Director's most renowned anime feature films – Perfect Blue 25th Anniversary, Tokyo Godfathers 20th Anniversary, and Paprika, as well as special presentations of Ghost In The Shell and Cowboy Bebop: The Movie. Both subtitled and dubbed screenings are scheduled.
Ax Cinema Nights is a year-round movie event series celebrating the best new and classic anime films by bringing them to theaters across North America. It provides the passionate fan...
- 8/25/2023
- by Adam Symchuk
- AsianMoviePulse
Satoshi Kon is an artist most commonly known for his limited, yet striking output of feature films, including “Perfect Blue”, “Millennium Actress”, “Tokyo Godfathers”, and “Paprika”. However, prior to his film debut, Kon had actually gotten his start as a manga artist, or mangaka. The work he produced in this field, though equally limited as his film output, was similarly impressive. The most notable,and the most famous of these works is “Opus,” a mind-bending dreamlike piece of metafiction, which foreshadows the themes and style of Kon's future projects.
on Amazon by clicking on the image below
The manga begins in the midst of a climactic scene featuring a confrontation between the main protagonist Satoko and her nemesis. This is the first example of “Opus”‘s many illusions, as the scene is revealed to simply be a draft for an in-universe manga titled “Resonance” currently being drafted by its author.
on Amazon by clicking on the image below
The manga begins in the midst of a climactic scene featuring a confrontation between the main protagonist Satoko and her nemesis. This is the first example of “Opus”‘s many illusions, as the scene is revealed to simply be a draft for an in-universe manga titled “Resonance” currently being drafted by its author.
- 7/6/2023
- by Palomo Linares
- AsianMoviePulse
For years, Awesome Art We’ve Found Around The Net has been about two things only – awesome art and the artists that create it. With that in mind, we thought why not take the first week of the month to showcase these awesome artists even more? Welcome to “Awesome Artist We’ve Found Around The Net.” In this column, we are focusing on one artist and the awesome art that they create, whether they be amateur, up-and-coming, or well-established. The goal is to uncover these artists so even more people become familiar with them. We ask these artists a few questions to see their origins, influences, and more. If you are an awesome artist or know someone that should be featured, feel free to contact me at any time at theodorebond@joblo.com.This month we are very pleased to bring you the awesome art of…
Joel Herrera
Joel Herrera is a Usaf Veteran,...
Joel Herrera
Joel Herrera is a Usaf Veteran,...
- 7/1/2023
- by Theodore Bond
- JoBlo.com
Genre filmmaker Guillermo del Toro (Pan’s Labyrinth, Crimson Peak) made headlines last week when he announced via THR that he plans to soon focus exclusively on animated films.
“Animation to me is the purest form of art, and it’s been kidnapped by a bunch of hoodlums. We have to rescue it. [And] I think that we can Trojan-horse a lot of good shit into the animation world,” del Toro candidly told the outlet. He’s not wrong; a rich world of stunning animation exists beyond films targeting young audiences. That includes horror, of course.
This week’s streaming picks highlight the storytelling that animation can achieve and the various techniques and styles employed to capture them. These five animated horror movies vary in tone and style, from stop-motion to 2D traditional and beyond, finding haunting beauty in grim realities.
Here’s where you can stream them this week.
For more Stay Home,...
“Animation to me is the purest form of art, and it’s been kidnapped by a bunch of hoodlums. We have to rescue it. [And] I think that we can Trojan-horse a lot of good shit into the animation world,” del Toro candidly told the outlet. He’s not wrong; a rich world of stunning animation exists beyond films targeting young audiences. That includes horror, of course.
This week’s streaming picks highlight the storytelling that animation can achieve and the various techniques and styles employed to capture them. These five animated horror movies vary in tone and style, from stop-motion to 2D traditional and beyond, finding haunting beauty in grim realities.
Here’s where you can stream them this week.
For more Stay Home,...
- 6/19/2023
- by Meagan Navarro
- bloody-disgusting.com
Developer Atelier Qdb’s psychological horror narrative adventure Decarnation, which features music from Silent Hill composer Akira Yamaoka, arrives today on the Nintendo Switch and PC via Steam.
Inspired by iconic 2D adventure-horror games and cult movies from the likes of David Lynch, and Satoshi Kun’s Perfect Blue, Decarnation takes place in Paris, 1990. Gloria is at the end of her rope. A struggling cabaret dancer dealing with the fraying of her relationships, career, and self-esteem, she takes on a new artistic endeavor sponsored by a mysterious benefactor.
Wander into the daunting depths of a world dripping with disturbing beasts lurking within Gloria’s life and, more frighteningly, her mind. Survive twisted mini-games and equally depraved mind matches. Challenge puzzle-solving skills, rhythm, reflexes and more through 15 different types of gameplay in a series of phantasmagorical environments designed to bring tormented souls to their breaking point. Defeat despicable monsters and confront...
Inspired by iconic 2D adventure-horror games and cult movies from the likes of David Lynch, and Satoshi Kun’s Perfect Blue, Decarnation takes place in Paris, 1990. Gloria is at the end of her rope. A struggling cabaret dancer dealing with the fraying of her relationships, career, and self-esteem, she takes on a new artistic endeavor sponsored by a mysterious benefactor.
Wander into the daunting depths of a world dripping with disturbing beasts lurking within Gloria’s life and, more frighteningly, her mind. Survive twisted mini-games and equally depraved mind matches. Challenge puzzle-solving skills, rhythm, reflexes and more through 15 different types of gameplay in a series of phantasmagorical environments designed to bring tormented souls to their breaking point. Defeat despicable monsters and confront...
- 5/31/2023
- by Mike Wilson
- bloody-disgusting.com
Anime legends, producer Masao Maruyama and director Gisaburō Sugii, as well as U.S. animation producer and distributor Gkids, have joined global multimedia company N Lite and N Lite Japan to produce “Mfinda,” a first Afro-anime film which will be the subject of an in-depth first look at June’s Annecy Int’l Animation Film Festival.
Selected amongst the pitches this year at Annecy’s MIFA market in the feature film category, the N Lite original was created by Congolese-American artist Patience Lekien and Christiano Terry, founder-ceo of N Lite.
“Mfinda” follows a 12-year-old Congolese girl who is taken to the mfinda, a primordial forest teeming with spirits, gods and ancestors. There she meets up with another young girl from a different time and together they set out to find the magical Nkisi, vessels that hold ancestral spirits as well as empowering materials or medicines, that will help her find her way home.
Selected amongst the pitches this year at Annecy’s MIFA market in the feature film category, the N Lite original was created by Congolese-American artist Patience Lekien and Christiano Terry, founder-ceo of N Lite.
“Mfinda” follows a 12-year-old Congolese girl who is taken to the mfinda, a primordial forest teeming with spirits, gods and ancestors. There she meets up with another young girl from a different time and together they set out to find the magical Nkisi, vessels that hold ancestral spirits as well as empowering materials or medicines, that will help her find her way home.
- 4/28/2023
- by Anna Marie de la Fuente
- Variety Film + TV
A timeless Daoist quote from the ancient Chinese scripture, the Zhuangzi, goes as follows: “I dreamed I was a butterfly, flitting around in the sky; then I awoke. Now I wonder: Am I a man who dreamt of being a butterfly, or am I a butterfly dreaming that I am a man?” The question has been contemplated time after time: What if our dreams are actually flitting fragments of reality? And what if the reality we experience in our waking hours is only an illusion?
This is the question that Kazuya Konkaku and ‘Perfect Blue’ screenwriter Sadayaki Murai explore through ‘The Dimension Travelers.’ Played by Chiharu Niiyama, highschool girl Midori is the film’s disillusioned protagonist. Midori is simply trying to make sense of her life: She finds school lackluster, her friends boring and her future bleak and uncertain. All of the sudden, a fresh new face enters her...
This is the question that Kazuya Konkaku and ‘Perfect Blue’ screenwriter Sadayaki Murai explore through ‘The Dimension Travelers.’ Played by Chiharu Niiyama, highschool girl Midori is the film’s disillusioned protagonist. Midori is simply trying to make sense of her life: She finds school lackluster, her friends boring and her future bleak and uncertain. All of the sudden, a fresh new face enters her...
- 3/7/2023
- by Spencer Nafekh-Blanchette
- AsianMoviePulse
Horror movies that feature an intense and probing study of its characters’ minds can often be the most terrifying. An external dilemma is scary all on its own, but learning what makes dangerous people tick is something else entirely. The protagonist of Screambox‘s latest release, The Anchor, has her own encounter with an unpredictable person when she receives a disturbing phone call at work. TV newscaster Se-ra (Chun Woo-hee) gets a “tip” from a mother claiming a man has broken into her house. She insists the intruder will kill her after having murdered her daughter. Se-ra, believing this is a sick prank, then doesn’t help the caller. Later, she realizes the grave mistake she’s made.
Jung Ji-yeon‘s first movie isn’t as straightforward as the plot makes it sound. In fact, The Anchor is a twisty thriller full of genuine jolts and pleasant surprises. It’s also confidently made,...
Jung Ji-yeon‘s first movie isn’t as straightforward as the plot makes it sound. In fact, The Anchor is a twisty thriller full of genuine jolts and pleasant surprises. It’s also confidently made,...
- 12/21/2022
- by Paul Lê
- bloody-disgusting.com
Identical White Boys
After bouncing all over the place in November with episodes on Knives and Skin, Starship Troopers, Perfect Blue and Addams Family Values, we’re settling into a few weeks of themed ‘Winter Horror’ discussions. Last week was Joel Schumacher’s deliciously queer camp Batman & Robin and this week, we’re back in Rural Horror territory with the cannibal prequel origin story we didn’t know we wanted in Declan O’Brien‘s Wrong Turn 4: Bloody Beginnings (2011).
In the film, a group of college kids embark on a ski/snowmobile weekend when they get lost in a white-out storm. Seeking shelter in a nearby sanitarium that was the site of a horrific massacre, the group finds themselves hunted by a trio of inbred cannibals: the Hillicker brothers.
As the group is picked off one by one, they struggle to survive both the elements, as well as the...
After bouncing all over the place in November with episodes on Knives and Skin, Starship Troopers, Perfect Blue and Addams Family Values, we’re settling into a few weeks of themed ‘Winter Horror’ discussions. Last week was Joel Schumacher’s deliciously queer camp Batman & Robin and this week, we’re back in Rural Horror territory with the cannibal prequel origin story we didn’t know we wanted in Declan O’Brien‘s Wrong Turn 4: Bloody Beginnings (2011).
In the film, a group of college kids embark on a ski/snowmobile weekend when they get lost in a white-out storm. Seeking shelter in a nearby sanitarium that was the site of a horrific massacre, the group finds themselves hunted by a trio of inbred cannibals: the Hillicker brothers.
As the group is picked off one by one, they struggle to survive both the elements, as well as the...
- 12/18/2022
- by Joe Lipsett
- bloody-disgusting.com
Darren Aronofsky succeeded in capturing an artist's dark, dizzying descent into madness in his brilliant, dynamic "Black Swan," which can be considered among the director's finest works. Intensely atmospheric, moody, and anchored by a bravura performance by Natalie Portman, "Black Swan" shines best when it unravels its narrative complexity via unnerving visuals. Have you ever wondered how the film's subject matter would translate into an intense, charged Broadway performance? Well, it seems like Aronofsky is actually working on a "Black Swan" musical at the moment, and chances are that a musical rendition of 2010 psychological horror will be equally (if not more) haunting on stage.
During an interview with The A.V. Club for the promotion of his latest drama, "The Whale" (read our review here), Aronofsky confirmed that he's working on adapting "Black Swan" into a Broadway musical. The director said:
"We're trying to do the Black Swan musical. We'll see what happens.
During an interview with The A.V. Club for the promotion of his latest drama, "The Whale" (read our review here), Aronofsky confirmed that he's working on adapting "Black Swan" into a Broadway musical. The director said:
"We're trying to do the Black Swan musical. We'll see what happens.
- 12/15/2022
- by Debopriyaa Dutta
- Slash Film
Prolific animator and manga-ka Satoshi Kon had a sustained interest in exploring the nature of reality, particularly the way in which humans interact with their perception of what's real. This thematic fascination encapsulates Kon's body of work, which deal with characters oscillating between objective reality and constructed ones, with the line between the two getting increasingly blurred as the narrative progresses.
Kon's most famous work, "Perfect Blue," which is considered his magnum opus, exclusively revolves around a J-pop star-turned-actor losing their grip on reality while crumbling under the weight of worldly perception, voyeurism, and fractured identity. Similar themes are also peppered throughout "Paprika" and "Millennium Actress" — films that further hone Kon's vision of crafting realistic worlds that harbor something sinister beneath a pretty facade. However, Kon first forayed into these themes as early as 1995, when he collaborated with "Akira" animator Kōji Morimoto on "Magnetic Rose."
Kon's "Magnetic Rose" still...
Kon's most famous work, "Perfect Blue," which is considered his magnum opus, exclusively revolves around a J-pop star-turned-actor losing their grip on reality while crumbling under the weight of worldly perception, voyeurism, and fractured identity. Similar themes are also peppered throughout "Paprika" and "Millennium Actress" — films that further hone Kon's vision of crafting realistic worlds that harbor something sinister beneath a pretty facade. However, Kon first forayed into these themes as early as 1995, when he collaborated with "Akira" animator Kōji Morimoto on "Magnetic Rose."
Kon's "Magnetic Rose" still...
- 12/12/2022
- by Debopriyaa Dutta
- Slash Film
Crunchyroll continues its curation of cinema to its growing catalog this December with a robust schedule of newer and classic films just in time to enjoy during the holiday season, which include Millennium Actress, Liz and the Blue Bird, Penguin Highway, As the Gods Will, and more.
From critically acclaimed director Satoshi Kon, known also for Perfect Blue, Paprika, Tokyo Godfathers, and Paranoia Agent, experience the gorgeous new restoration of one of his greatest works, Millennium Actress. Boasting countless awards, including the Grand Prize in the Japan Agency of Cultural Affairs Media Arts Festival, which it shared with Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away, the film produced by Madhouse is a must-see for anime fans of all ages.
Based on the Sound! Euphonium novel series written by Ayano Takeda, which also was adapted into an anime series and available on Crunchyroll, Liz and the Blue Bird is a spin-off anime...
From critically acclaimed director Satoshi Kon, known also for Perfect Blue, Paprika, Tokyo Godfathers, and Paranoia Agent, experience the gorgeous new restoration of one of his greatest works, Millennium Actress. Boasting countless awards, including the Grand Prize in the Japan Agency of Cultural Affairs Media Arts Festival, which it shared with Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away, the film produced by Madhouse is a must-see for anime fans of all ages.
Based on the Sound! Euphonium novel series written by Ayano Takeda, which also was adapted into an anime series and available on Crunchyroll, Liz and the Blue Bird is a spin-off anime...
- 12/11/2022
- by Rouven Linnarz
- AsianMoviePulse
The films of Darren Aronofsky are not subtle. They are films that you have to confront head on, whether you love them, hate them, or waffle between those two extremes.
Throughout his nearly 25 years of directing features, Aronofsky has crafted celebrated character dramas, bizarre biblical epics and trippy horror films, and somehow almost every single one of those seemingly disparate pictures is unified in its dramatic and thematic bombast. He may be the only Oscar-nominated filmmaker whose most conventional work can be found in a violent full-motion video Windows 95 game.
Here are the feature films of Darren Aronofsky, ranked from worst to best:
8. “The Whale” (2022)
Brendan Fraser plays a creative-writing professor who, after the tragic death of his boyfriend, gains so much weight that his health deteriorates, and his death is now imminent. Surrounded by people who view him as a project, a burden, a tragedy or a monster, his innate decency always shines through.
Throughout his nearly 25 years of directing features, Aronofsky has crafted celebrated character dramas, bizarre biblical epics and trippy horror films, and somehow almost every single one of those seemingly disparate pictures is unified in its dramatic and thematic bombast. He may be the only Oscar-nominated filmmaker whose most conventional work can be found in a violent full-motion video Windows 95 game.
Here are the feature films of Darren Aronofsky, ranked from worst to best:
8. “The Whale” (2022)
Brendan Fraser plays a creative-writing professor who, after the tragic death of his boyfriend, gains so much weight that his health deteriorates, and his death is now imminent. Surrounded by people who view him as a project, a burden, a tragedy or a monster, his innate decency always shines through.
- 12/10/2022
- by William Bibbiani
- The Wrap
Ma-li-bu Bar-bie!
It’s already the end of November, but we had a wild ride this month discussing the dream-like pastel world of Jennifer Reeder’s women-centric Knives and Skin and the 25th-anniversary fascist machismo world of Paul Verhoeven’s Starship Troopers. Then last week we made our second foray into animated fare (after ParaNorman) with Satoshi Kon‘s stunning first film, Perfect Blue. This week, in celebration of Thanksgiving and Netflix’s release of Wednesday (review), we’re visiting the Addamses in Barry Sonnenfeld‘s better-than-the-original sequel Addams Family Values (1993)!
In the film, Gomez (Raul Julia) and Morticia (Anjelica Huston) celebrate the birth of their child Pubert (Kaitlyn and Kristen Hooper), while black widow serial killer Debbie Jellinsky (Joan Cusack) marries Fester Addams (Christopher Lloyd) with the intent to murder him for his inheritance. Plus, teenagers Wednesday (Christina Ricci) and Pugsley (Jimmy Workman) are sent to a summer camp...
It’s already the end of November, but we had a wild ride this month discussing the dream-like pastel world of Jennifer Reeder’s women-centric Knives and Skin and the 25th-anniversary fascist machismo world of Paul Verhoeven’s Starship Troopers. Then last week we made our second foray into animated fare (after ParaNorman) with Satoshi Kon‘s stunning first film, Perfect Blue. This week, in celebration of Thanksgiving and Netflix’s release of Wednesday (review), we’re visiting the Addamses in Barry Sonnenfeld‘s better-than-the-original sequel Addams Family Values (1993)!
In the film, Gomez (Raul Julia) and Morticia (Anjelica Huston) celebrate the birth of their child Pubert (Kaitlyn and Kristen Hooper), while black widow serial killer Debbie Jellinsky (Joan Cusack) marries Fester Addams (Christopher Lloyd) with the intent to murder him for his inheritance. Plus, teenagers Wednesday (Christina Ricci) and Pugsley (Jimmy Workman) are sent to a summer camp...
- 11/28/2022
- by Trace Thurman
- bloody-disgusting.com
Otaku and Kawaii
It feels like November has barely begun, and yet here we are three weeks in. Like most months on Horror Queers, we’ve been all over the place, including the dream-like pastel world of Jennifer Reeder’s women-centric Knives and Skin and the 25th-anniversary fascist machismo world of Paul Verhoeven’s Starship Troopers. Now we’re pivoting for a return trip to Japan with our second foray into animated fare (after ParaNorman) with Satoshi Kon‘s stunning first film, Perfect Blue.
In the film, Mima (voiced by Junko Iwao) is an Idol being groomed for a career jump from singing to acting. Despite the protests of her manager Rumi (voiced by Rica Matsumoto), Mima agrees to a controversial and confronting storyline on the derivative police procedural ‘Double Bind.’ But her shift into increasingly adult fare doesn’t sit well with all of Mima’s controlling fans, including...
It feels like November has barely begun, and yet here we are three weeks in. Like most months on Horror Queers, we’ve been all over the place, including the dream-like pastel world of Jennifer Reeder’s women-centric Knives and Skin and the 25th-anniversary fascist machismo world of Paul Verhoeven’s Starship Troopers. Now we’re pivoting for a return trip to Japan with our second foray into animated fare (after ParaNorman) with Satoshi Kon‘s stunning first film, Perfect Blue.
In the film, Mima (voiced by Junko Iwao) is an Idol being groomed for a career jump from singing to acting. Despite the protests of her manager Rumi (voiced by Rica Matsumoto), Mima agrees to a controversial and confronting storyline on the derivative police procedural ‘Double Bind.’ But her shift into increasingly adult fare doesn’t sit well with all of Mima’s controlling fans, including...
- 11/21/2022
- by Joe Lipsett
- bloody-disgusting.com
I will be the first to admit that streaming debates are not my thing. The vast amount of streaming services that are out there right now makes it extremely hard to navigate the media landscape, and the market seems to be inching closer to reinventing cable. All I want to do is watch my silly little programs -- I don't want to spend minutes combing through different libraries and searching "[Insert Movie Here] streaming" on Google to do so! Unfortunately, this is the climate that I and many others must navigate, and because I'm not smart enough to think of a better solution, I must do the best with what I have.
If you're a horror fan like I am, then navigating the streaming world is even harder. There are just so many movies that either aren't available, are only available on the most niche service possible, or have some sort of limitation to the version that's streaming.
If you're a horror fan like I am, then navigating the streaming world is even harder. There are just so many movies that either aren't available, are only available on the most niche service possible, or have some sort of limitation to the version that's streaming.
- 11/3/2022
- by Erin Brady
- Slash Film
It’s hard to not get overcome with morbid joy every October when streaming services transition over to horror-centric programming to celebrate Halloween in all of its gory glory. It’s becoming more and more common for content providers to curate a full 31 days of scary sights so that audiences don’t have to go a single hour without horror options at their hedonistic disposal. Halloween traditions tend to highlight the live-action mayhem that’s marked this holiday for years, which remain fun, but often have audiences searching for new ways to get scared. Everyone has seen the perennial holiday classics and the endless slew of slasher sequels, but there’s also a rich catalogue of alarming anime that are just as likely to creep out crowds.
There are more options than ever before when it comes to anime streaming services. Multiple channels offer thousands of hours of content that...
There are more options than ever before when it comes to anime streaming services. Multiple channels offer thousands of hours of content that...
- 10/29/2022
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
Satoshi Kon's Perfect Blue Is The Kind Of Anime Masterpiece That Reminds Us Of What Animation Can Be
(Welcome to Animation Celebration, a recurring feature where we explore the limitless possibilities of animation as a medium. In this first edition: "Perfect Blue.")
2022 has been an insulting year for animation. In March, the Academy Awards loudly declared that animation is something for children to enjoy and adults to tolerate before giving out the award for Best Animated Feature, a disrespectful comment that perpetuates the stigma that animated works are "lesser than" because the medium is often enjoyed by younger audiences. HBO Max absolutely obliterated their catalog of animated content as a money-saving measure following the Warner Bros. and Discovery merger, and Netflix has canceled multiple planned animated projects this year, including Mike Judge's "Bad Crimes," which was already in the middle of production. Today, Disney CEO Bob Chapek put his foot in his mouth yet again this year, during Wall Street Journal's Tech Live presentation.
"I always say...
2022 has been an insulting year for animation. In March, the Academy Awards loudly declared that animation is something for children to enjoy and adults to tolerate before giving out the award for Best Animated Feature, a disrespectful comment that perpetuates the stigma that animated works are "lesser than" because the medium is often enjoyed by younger audiences. HBO Max absolutely obliterated their catalog of animated content as a money-saving measure following the Warner Bros. and Discovery merger, and Netflix has canceled multiple planned animated projects this year, including Mike Judge's "Bad Crimes," which was already in the middle of production. Today, Disney CEO Bob Chapek put his foot in his mouth yet again this year, during Wall Street Journal's Tech Live presentation.
"I always say...
- 10/27/2022
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
The key art for Lenara Serazheva's short film, Single Mother, offers a stark, simple image that conveys a lot with a little. Reminiscent of the classic scene from Kon Satoshi's Perfect Blue, which was later appropriated by Darren Aronofsky in Requiem for a Dream, there is a certain cinematic pedigree that, accidentally or intentionally, is tapped into here by Argentinian design house Gruiner. Minimal, very tiny text, does not get in the way of the design, with Title in the lower third, and standard credit block at the very bottom. It is worth nothing the effective use of the vertical here, which is typically done with high ceiling rooms and curtains. Here it is a bit of a paradox given the open vertical space is...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 10/7/2022
- Screen Anarchy
The leaves are withering, the air is turning crisp, and film festival season is well underway — which means even more foreign-language movies to receive raves on the fall awards circuit before getting promptly buried on a streamer. But don't let that happen to "Athena," a staggering French drama that is in danger of falling into the Netflix abyss, crowded out by your "Gray Men" or "Kissing Booth's." Or check out one of last year's forgotten festival darlings in Céline Sciamma's "Petite Maman." And because spooky season is now here, we have a horror anime classic making their streaming debuts, alongside a cyberpunk anime classic. Plus, "Little Women," but make it crime?
Let's fire up those subtitles and get streaming.
Athena – Netflix
Country: France
Genre: Action drama
Director: Romain Gavras
Cast: Dali Benssalah, Sami Slimane, Anthony Bajon, Ouassini Embarek, Alexis Manenti.
"Athena" is a Molotov cocktail of a movie: incendiary,...
Let's fire up those subtitles and get streaming.
Athena – Netflix
Country: France
Genre: Action drama
Director: Romain Gavras
Cast: Dali Benssalah, Sami Slimane, Anthony Bajon, Ouassini Embarek, Alexis Manenti.
"Athena" is a Molotov cocktail of a movie: incendiary,...
- 9/27/2022
- by Hoai-Tran Bui
- Slash Film
There is nothing like a good underground story, especially an underground boxing story. There is no thrill quite like watching a boxer becoming stronger, facing adversity, and eventually being the last one standing in the ring.
There are many great sports anime about virtually every sport out there, from association football and volleyball to ping pong and more. But if you want an underdog sports story that mixes the heightened reality of anime with grounded animation, real-life techniques, and a rare story that moves beyond the typical high-school setting, there is none better than "Hajime no Ippo."
The show follows Ippo Makunouchi, a soft-spoken, gentle puppy of a guy who gets bullied at school because of how well-mannered he is. Things change when he meets a professional boxer named Takamura, who teaches Ippo about boxing. What starts as a way to defend himself and gain confidence evolves into a passion and a career,...
There are many great sports anime about virtually every sport out there, from association football and volleyball to ping pong and more. But if you want an underdog sports story that mixes the heightened reality of anime with grounded animation, real-life techniques, and a rare story that moves beyond the typical high-school setting, there is none better than "Hajime no Ippo."
The show follows Ippo Makunouchi, a soft-spoken, gentle puppy of a guy who gets bullied at school because of how well-mannered he is. Things change when he meets a professional boxer named Takamura, who teaches Ippo about boxing. What starts as a way to defend himself and gain confidence evolves into a passion and a career,...
- 8/26/2022
- by Rafael Motamayor
- Slash Film
"Beauty and the Beast" truly is a tale as old as time, and has been retold in countless ways, like the Ron Perlman and Linda Hamilton TV series of the same name, the Fran Drescher comedy "The Beautician and the Beast," the teen rom-drama "Beastly," or even in an episode of "Hello Kitty's Furry Tale Theater." Recently, legendary Japanese filmmaker Mamoru Hosoda delivered "Belle," a magnificent animated sci-fi fantasy film that thrusts the tale out of the world of old and into the techno future.
The story takes place in the not-so-distant future where the internet has evolved into a legitimate virtual reality called U, where avatars are created by users' scanned biometric information. A teenager named Suzu creates an avatar named Belle who becomes a pop superstar, but everything changes when her virtual concert is interrupted by the seemingly undefeatable fighter The Dragon (or "The Beast"), who she quickly becomes infatuated with.
The story takes place in the not-so-distant future where the internet has evolved into a legitimate virtual reality called U, where avatars are created by users' scanned biometric information. A teenager named Suzu creates an avatar named Belle who becomes a pop superstar, but everything changes when her virtual concert is interrupted by the seemingly undefeatable fighter The Dragon (or "The Beast"), who she quickly becomes infatuated with.
- 8/12/2022
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
Satoshi Kon's "Perfect Blue" has a bit of a reputation for not being the most accessible movie of the legendary animator. While it has gotten easier to obtain over the years thanks to GKIDs' Blu-ray release, it is still once in a blue moon that you can watch it anywhere else. It's a shame, as well, as the story of Mima Kirigoe and her psychological torment is a powerful one that has inspired many storytellers.
In fact, most of Kon's work is a bit difficult to watch on streaming platforms. In July 2021, his movies "Millennium Actress" and...
The post Here's When You Can Finally Stream Perfect Blue, One of the Greatest Anime Films Ever Made appeared first on /Film.
In fact, most of Kon's work is a bit difficult to watch on streaming platforms. In July 2021, his movies "Millennium Actress" and...
The post Here's When You Can Finally Stream Perfect Blue, One of the Greatest Anime Films Ever Made appeared first on /Film.
- 8/11/2022
- by Erin Brady
- Slash Film
Satoshi Kon thought he was making a mere straight-to-video release when he began production on Perfect Blue. To his surprise, the project was rescheduled for theaters. At that point the director had already made Perfect Blue under the assumption it would not be seen by the general public, so it was unclear how everyone would […]
The post Satoshi Kon’s ‘Perfect Blue’ Is a Layered and Unparalleled Psychological Thriller [Horrors Elsewhere] appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.
The post Satoshi Kon’s ‘Perfect Blue’ Is a Layered and Unparalleled Psychological Thriller [Horrors Elsewhere] appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.
- 5/27/2022
- by Paul Lê
- bloody-disgusting.com
“A star is born” is one of those common phrases we often use or read confirming the status of certain individuals considered to be beyond our reach. There is an interesting parallel between the worshiping of stars, musicians, actors or artists, and the status of gods or icons in ancient myths and world religion. Given the status of the cinema screen or the stage of a concert being slightly above the crowd seems to confirm the concept of a group of individuals whose performances, creations and overall persona gives them god-like qualities, a form of being untouched by time or culture, which is more than obvious given the worldwide admiration for people like Marilyn Monroe or Elvis Presley. This so-called “star-phenomenon” is the foundation of acclaimed director Satoshi Kon’s 2001 feature “Millennium Actress”, which tells the story of a Japanese actress whose quest to search for her lost love, has...
- 5/24/2022
- by Rouven Linnarz
- AsianMoviePulse
NYC Weekend Watch is our weekly round-up of repertory offerings.
Japan Society
Ghost in the Shell kicks off “Monthly Anime.”
Film at Lincoln Center
The thematically arranged Hong Sang-soo double features have their last weekend until May—highlights include Tale of Cinema on 35mm and a triple-feature on Sunday.
IFC Center
The new restoration of Inland Empire continues, while Mississippi Masala starts; Eraserhead, The Crow, Twilight, and Derek Jarman’s Sebastiane have late-night showings.
Roxy Cinema
A Nick Zedd program screens Friday; Death in Venice, Traveling Light, and prints of Unstoppable and Lady Terminator play on Saturday; Death in Venice and Unstoppable also play on Sunday, alongside a Yale Film Archive program.
Museum of Modern Art
As retrospectives of Larry Fessenden’s genre house Glass Eye Pix winds down, Buñuel’s Nazarin screens in a new restoration.
Metrograph
The Robert Siodmak retrospective winds down, while three Dracula movies play in...
Japan Society
Ghost in the Shell kicks off “Monthly Anime.”
Film at Lincoln Center
The thematically arranged Hong Sang-soo double features have their last weekend until May—highlights include Tale of Cinema on 35mm and a triple-feature on Sunday.
IFC Center
The new restoration of Inland Empire continues, while Mississippi Masala starts; Eraserhead, The Crow, Twilight, and Derek Jarman’s Sebastiane have late-night showings.
Roxy Cinema
A Nick Zedd program screens Friday; Death in Venice, Traveling Light, and prints of Unstoppable and Lady Terminator play on Saturday; Death in Venice and Unstoppable also play on Sunday, alongside a Yale Film Archive program.
Museum of Modern Art
As retrospectives of Larry Fessenden’s genre house Glass Eye Pix winds down, Buñuel’s Nazarin screens in a new restoration.
Metrograph
The Robert Siodmak retrospective winds down, while three Dracula movies play in...
- 4/14/2022
- by Nick Newman
- The Film Stage
NYC Weekend Watch is our weekly round-up of repertory offerings.
Film at Lincoln Center
A series of thematically arranged Hong Sang-soo double features has begun.
IFC Center
The new restoration of Inland Empire is now playing, while Eraserhead, Dune, Twilight, Mamma Mia!, and Derek Jarman’s Sebastiane have late-night showings.
Roxy Cinema
A 35mm-heavy Alex Ross Perry retrospective is underway; a print of Lady Terminator plays on Saturday; prints of River’s Edge and The Seventh Seal play on Sunday.
Museum of Modern Art
As retrospectives of Larry Fessenden’s genre house Glass Eye Pix and films by Larry Clark continue, The Birds has a screening.
Metrograph
The Robert Siodmak retrospective continues, as does “Pop Plays Itself,” a collection of musicians onscreen; Eden and After plays in Left Bank Cinema; Perfect Blue and Son of the White Mare are in “Late Nights.”
Anthology Film Archives
The Hong-Kong-a-Thon returns, while programs screen in “Essential Cinema.
Film at Lincoln Center
A series of thematically arranged Hong Sang-soo double features has begun.
IFC Center
The new restoration of Inland Empire is now playing, while Eraserhead, Dune, Twilight, Mamma Mia!, and Derek Jarman’s Sebastiane have late-night showings.
Roxy Cinema
A 35mm-heavy Alex Ross Perry retrospective is underway; a print of Lady Terminator plays on Saturday; prints of River’s Edge and The Seventh Seal play on Sunday.
Museum of Modern Art
As retrospectives of Larry Fessenden’s genre house Glass Eye Pix and films by Larry Clark continue, The Birds has a screening.
Metrograph
The Robert Siodmak retrospective continues, as does “Pop Plays Itself,” a collection of musicians onscreen; Eden and After plays in Left Bank Cinema; Perfect Blue and Son of the White Mare are in “Late Nights.”
Anthology Film Archives
The Hong-Kong-a-Thon returns, while programs screen in “Essential Cinema.
- 4/7/2022
- by Nick Newman
- The Film Stage
NYC Weekend Watch is our weekly round-up of repertory offerings.
Museum of Modern Art
Peter Bogdanovich’s very funny, never-before-seen Squirrels to the Nuts has an exclusive run (about which more here), while a retrospective of Larry Fessenden’s genre house Glass Eye Pix is underway.
Metrograph
A Robert Siodmak retrospective has started, as has “Pop Plays Itself,” a collection of musicians onscreen, while Resnais, Demy, and Marker lead Left Bank Cinema; Metrograph A to Z continues with Powell-Pressburger and Ray; Perfect Blue and Son of the White Mare are in “Late Nights“; Charles Grodin is paid tribute with screenings of Midnight Run and Clifford.
Anthology Film Archives
A series on imageless films—featuring Hollis Frampton, Guy Debord, and Derek Jarman—is underway while some of Buster Keaton’s greatest works screen in “Essential Cinema.”
Film Forum
Joseph Losey’s great Mr. Klein has been restored, as has Bronco Bullfrog...
Museum of Modern Art
Peter Bogdanovich’s very funny, never-before-seen Squirrels to the Nuts has an exclusive run (about which more here), while a retrospective of Larry Fessenden’s genre house Glass Eye Pix is underway.
Metrograph
A Robert Siodmak retrospective has started, as has “Pop Plays Itself,” a collection of musicians onscreen, while Resnais, Demy, and Marker lead Left Bank Cinema; Metrograph A to Z continues with Powell-Pressburger and Ray; Perfect Blue and Son of the White Mare are in “Late Nights“; Charles Grodin is paid tribute with screenings of Midnight Run and Clifford.
Anthology Film Archives
A series on imageless films—featuring Hollis Frampton, Guy Debord, and Derek Jarman—is underway while some of Buster Keaton’s greatest works screen in “Essential Cinema.”
Film Forum
Joseph Losey’s great Mr. Klein has been restored, as has Bronco Bullfrog...
- 4/1/2022
- by Nick Newman
- The Film Stage
NYC Weekend Watch is our weekly round-up of repertory offerings.
Film at Lincoln Center
A regular performer for Ozu, Mizoguchi, and Naruse, Kinuyo Tanaka is celebrated in a retrospective of films she directed, as restored by Janus, alongside work by her collaborators.
Bam
“Lynchian” mostly does what it says on the tin—and plenty on 35mm—but also includes those influenced: Perfect Blue, Trouble Every Day, and Uncle Boonmee.
Film Forum
Joseph Losey’s great Mr. Klein has been restored, while School of Rock screens this Sunday.
Roxy Cinema
Manhunter and Ikiru screen on 35mm this weekend.
Paris Theater
The all-35mm Jane Campion retrospective winds down with Holy Smoke and Bright Star.
Metrograph
Metrograph A to Z continues; two Muppet movies screen in Play Time; Eyes Without a Face, Vagabond, and The Young Girls of Rochefort lead “Left Bank Cinema“; South Park and Perfect Blue are in “Late Nights.
Film at Lincoln Center
A regular performer for Ozu, Mizoguchi, and Naruse, Kinuyo Tanaka is celebrated in a retrospective of films she directed, as restored by Janus, alongside work by her collaborators.
Bam
“Lynchian” mostly does what it says on the tin—and plenty on 35mm—but also includes those influenced: Perfect Blue, Trouble Every Day, and Uncle Boonmee.
Film Forum
Joseph Losey’s great Mr. Klein has been restored, while School of Rock screens this Sunday.
Roxy Cinema
Manhunter and Ikiru screen on 35mm this weekend.
Paris Theater
The all-35mm Jane Campion retrospective winds down with Holy Smoke and Bright Star.
Metrograph
Metrograph A to Z continues; two Muppet movies screen in Play Time; Eyes Without a Face, Vagabond, and The Young Girls of Rochefort lead “Left Bank Cinema“; South Park and Perfect Blue are in “Late Nights.
- 3/16/2022
- by Nick Newman
- The Film Stage
The BFI today announce full details of a hotly anticipated two-month season dedicated to Anime, running at BFI Southbank and BFI IMAX from 28 March – 31 May. Originally planned for summer 2020 as part of the BFI’s major survey of Japanese cinema BFI Japan, the season arrives, at long last, to entertain and delight anime fans and novices alike.
The programme will include:
· A broad mixture of classic films such as Akira, Ghost In The Shell, Belladonna Of Sadness, Cowboy Bebop: The Movie and Tekkonkinkreet, as well as an early shorts programme spotlighting work from 1917-1946· Previews of new releases including the thrillingly original Inu-oh, high-octane urban fairy tale Bubble and the powerful and thought-provoking short Summer Ghost (2021) followed by a Q&a with director loundraw· Much-loved recent work by major auteurs Mamoru Hosoda, Makoto Shinkai (Your Name) and the late great Satoshi Kon· A spotlight on emerging female talent Naoko Yamada...
The programme will include:
· A broad mixture of classic films such as Akira, Ghost In The Shell, Belladonna Of Sadness, Cowboy Bebop: The Movie and Tekkonkinkreet, as well as an early shorts programme spotlighting work from 1917-1946· Previews of new releases including the thrillingly original Inu-oh, high-octane urban fairy tale Bubble and the powerful and thought-provoking short Summer Ghost (2021) followed by a Q&a with director loundraw· Much-loved recent work by major auteurs Mamoru Hosoda, Makoto Shinkai (Your Name) and the late great Satoshi Kon· A spotlight on emerging female talent Naoko Yamada...
- 3/15/2022
- by Adriana Rosati
- AsianMoviePulse
The death of Satoshi Kon in 2010 from pancreatic cancer at age 46 robbed the world of the chance to catch up with his artistry. In the early 2000s, anime already had die-hard devotees in America, but the art form started to gain traction outside of that fanbase with Disney's advocacy of Hayao Miyazaki's family-friendly films. Kon's madcap fantasias couldn't be marketed the same way, since they dealt with adult subjects and collapsed Japanese history and film history into each other to surreal effect.
Kon's first feature film was 1997's "Perfect Blue," the story of a pop singer who announces that she's giving up music for an acting career and...
The post The Classic Dark Anime That Inspired Darren Aronofsky appeared first on /Film.
Kon's first feature film was 1997's "Perfect Blue," the story of a pop singer who announces that she's giving up music for an acting career and...
The post The Classic Dark Anime That Inspired Darren Aronofsky appeared first on /Film.
- 1/13/2022
- by Kristian Lin
- Slash Film
When we think of the term “auteur” or “auteur theory” we usually include directors such as Alfred Hitchcock or Stanley Kubrick given the diversity in their work, the amount of creative control they had and the recurring themes in their features. Especially the latter is interesting because Kubrick has managed to leave his footprint in the world of film, even though he has only produced a small number of films, in comparison to Hitchcock that is. Given this definition, director Satoshi Kon, although he helmed even a smaller number of features, should deserve the title as well, especially since features like “Paprika” or “Perfect Blue” are considered masterpieces of the genre and remain influential sources for filmmakers all over the world. In his documentary “Satoshi Kon, The Illusionist” French director Pascal-Alex Vincent, who previously made “Miwa, A Japanese Icon” about actor Akihiro Miwa, tells the story of arguably one of...
- 8/14/2021
- by Rouven Linnarz
- AsianMoviePulse
"He couldn't forgive the slightest error or failure." Carlotta Films has released the first official trailer for a documentary film titled Satoshi Kon: The Illusionist, a profile of the acclaimed Japanese filmmaker and artist and manga creator Satoshi Kon. This doc is premiering at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival this month premiering in the Cannes Classics retrospective section, partially because it's by a French filmmaker named Pascal-Alex Vincent who has a deep love and appreciation for Japanese culture. Satoshi Kon passed away suddenly in 2010 at the rather young age of 46. He is best known for his acclaimed anime films: Perfect Blue (1997), Millennium Actress (2001), Tokyo Godfathers (2003), and Paprika (2006). This documentary is a "fascinating tribute to the man who changed the face of animated cinema, with exclusive interviews [with] Mamoru Hosoda, Darren Aronofsky, Jérémy Clapin, and Mamoru Oshii." This looks like it's going to be an excellent look at his life, examining his flaws...
- 7/6/2021
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
“A star is born” is one of those common phrases we often use or read confirming the status of certain individuals considered to be beyond our reach. There is an interesting parallel between the worshiping of stars, musicians, actors or artists, and the status of gods or icons in ancient myths and world religion. Given the status of the cinema screen or the stage of a concert being slightly above the crowd seems to confirm the concept of a group of individuals whose performances, creations and overall persona gives them god-like qualities, a form of being untouched by time or culture, which is more than obvious given the worldwide admiration for people like Marilyn Monroe or Elvis Presley. This so-called “star-phenomenon” is the foundation of acclaimed director Satoshi Kon’s 2001 feature “Millennium Actress”, which tells the story of a Japanese actress whose quest to search for her lost love, has...
- 2/16/2021
- by Rouven Linnarz
- AsianMoviePulse
Although his career as feature director only consists of four movies, the legacy of Satoshi Kon and his works, such as “Perfect Blue”, “Tokyo Godfathers” and “Millennium Actress” lives on to this day and continue to define what animation can do. Kon’s last feature work “Paprika” continues his blend of science-fiction, thriller and psychological drama, and has been widely hailed by critics as probably his best work. Animated by production company Madhouse while produced and distributed by Sony Pictures Classics, “Paprika” was widely released in many states and further cemented Kon’s reputation as one of the great masters of his craft with regard to storytelling and expanding the possibilities of filmmaking, most specifically animation. Interestingly, exploration and the existence of borders are at the core of what defines “Paprika”, which, like Kon’s other works, deals with the limits of our perception and what we consider reality.
Buy...
Buy...
- 1/3/2021
- by Rouven Linnarz
- AsianMoviePulse
Shine a spotlight on one of anime’s most celebrated directors with two acclaimed cult classics from the late Satoshi Kon: Millennium Actress returns to the UK & Ireland after a long absence, joining his critically acclaimed Perfect Blue to headline a Screen Anime film festival channel line-up that showcases the mature stories that can be found in Japanese animation.
In addition to this exciting double bill, the Holy Grail War takes a shocking turn in Fate/stay night Heaven’s Feel II. lost butterfly, the dark fantasy follow-up to our September line-up’s Festival Favourite which proved a huge hit with fans, and the Psycho-Pass: Sinners of the System trilogy of films that broadens the world and characters of the cyberpunk crime series. They are also joined by our bingeable series, Anonymous Noise, a romance about the power music has to join people together.
The Screen Anime November/December...
In addition to this exciting double bill, the Holy Grail War takes a shocking turn in Fate/stay night Heaven’s Feel II. lost butterfly, the dark fantasy follow-up to our September line-up’s Festival Favourite which proved a huge hit with fans, and the Psycho-Pass: Sinners of the System trilogy of films that broadens the world and characters of the cyberpunk crime series. They are also joined by our bingeable series, Anonymous Noise, a romance about the power music has to join people together.
The Screen Anime November/December...
- 11/26/2020
- by Adam Symchuk
- AsianMoviePulse
Winner of this year’s Jean-Luc Xiberras Award for First Film at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival, Yifan Bao’s “The Town” is a stellar Satoshi Kon-esque debut chafing against censorship and conformity. Like the late Kon’s thematic emphases on the physical and fantastical (as seen in features like “Perfect Blue” (1997)), Bao’s film dabbles in the the psychological struggle between looking for one’s self-identity with social acceptance.
In the quiet local of “The Town,” everyone – or at least, everyone who’s someone – wears a mask. These aren’t like your average face masks, however; only successful applicants can alter their facial appearance forever. The masks are commonly-acknowledged symbols of respectability. Masks make people beautiful, masks make marriage easier, masks bring everyone closer together — or so it goes.
However, for Ruoqing – one of the mask factory’s best craftsmen – the prospect of wearing a mask of...
In the quiet local of “The Town,” everyone – or at least, everyone who’s someone – wears a mask. These aren’t like your average face masks, however; only successful applicants can alter their facial appearance forever. The masks are commonly-acknowledged symbols of respectability. Masks make people beautiful, masks make marriage easier, masks bring everyone closer together — or so it goes.
However, for Ruoqing – one of the mask factory’s best craftsmen – the prospect of wearing a mask of...
- 7/26/2020
- by Grace Han
- AsianMoviePulse
Exploring the tenuous relationship between idol and fan, Yoshikazu Takeuchi’s “Perfect Blue: Complete Metamorphosis” follows the idol known as Mima as she begins to shed the image of innocence, in a bid to further her career. Existing in opposition to Mima’s desire to transcend her past is a nameless fan whose dangerous obsession leads to anger as he perceives the change as the work of outside sources. The man’s decline and drive to protect his ‘muse’ leads him down a path of murder, as he decides he must purify himself and others to match that sainthood he projects on the singer. As Mima’s career begins to take off because of her choices, the odd letters from the fanatic cause a scare but don’t prepare her for the violent clash with her biggest fan.
It is unlikely that many readers will be approaching...
It is unlikely that many readers will be approaching...
- 5/29/2020
- by Adam Symchuk
- AsianMoviePulse
In collaboration with LantarenVenster, Camera Japan will screen Tokyo Godfathers at 19:00 on Tuesday, March 24 at LantarenVenster in Rotterdam.
Tokyo Godfathers is a modern classic by Kon Satoshi, a renowned director of Japanese animation. Kon, who passed away in 2010 at the age of 46, also directed Perfect Blue and Paprika.
Storyline:
One Christmas Eve, three homeless people – a middle-aged alcoholic named Gin, a former drag queen named Hana, and a dependent runaway girl named Miyuki – discover an abandoned newborn while searching through the garbage. A search for the parents of the child ensues. During their efforts their respective pasts catch up with them as they learn to look ahead to the future.
Anime is usually seen as something typically Japanese, even representing the country and its culture. But the Japanese animation industry has a long history of interaction with Asia, North America, and Europe. From the early days of Astro Boy,...
Tokyo Godfathers is a modern classic by Kon Satoshi, a renowned director of Japanese animation. Kon, who passed away in 2010 at the age of 46, also directed Perfect Blue and Paprika.
Storyline:
One Christmas Eve, three homeless people – a middle-aged alcoholic named Gin, a former drag queen named Hana, and a dependent runaway girl named Miyuki – discover an abandoned newborn while searching through the garbage. A search for the parents of the child ensues. During their efforts their respective pasts catch up with them as they learn to look ahead to the future.
Anime is usually seen as something typically Japanese, even representing the country and its culture. But the Japanese animation industry has a long history of interaction with Asia, North America, and Europe. From the early days of Astro Boy,...
- 3/10/2020
- by Rhythm Zaveri
- AsianMoviePulse
In his short-lived career, Satoshi Kon released nothing but bonafide anime classics and Tokyo Godfathers is no exception. Often touted as the most accessible of the Perfect Blue and Paprika director’s filmography, Tokyo Godfathers is a warm, Frank Capra-esque comedy that has flown under the radar in the Western hemisphere since its release in 2003. But 17 years later, Tokyo […]
The post ‘Tokyo Godfathers’ Trailer Debuts the First English Dub for Satoshi Kon’s Classic appeared first on /Film.
The post ‘Tokyo Godfathers’ Trailer Debuts the First English Dub for Satoshi Kon’s Classic appeared first on /Film.
- 2/28/2020
- by Hoai-Tran Bui
- Slash Film
The year 1997 was a milestone in Kon’s career for two reasons: the release of this particular movie in cinemas, and the initiation of his collaboration with Madhouse Inc., who sheltered his genius until his last birth.
“Perfect Blue” was initially meant to be a live action TV series; however, after the Kobe earthquake in 1995, the production studio suffered extensive damages resulting in budget cuts, up to a point that solely allowed the shooting of an Ova. Nevertheless, even though the shootings were roughly half-completed, Madhouse decided to distribute it as a feature film.
Originally, the script was to be based upon the homonymous book by Yoshikazu Takeuchi; however, after close inspection by Kon and Sadayuki Murai, the co-writer of the script, they asked and eventually received permission to alter the story.
Mima Kirigoe, a member of the largely popular J-pop band Cham, announces during a concert...
“Perfect Blue” was initially meant to be a live action TV series; however, after the Kobe earthquake in 1995, the production studio suffered extensive damages resulting in budget cuts, up to a point that solely allowed the shooting of an Ova. Nevertheless, even though the shootings were roughly half-completed, Madhouse decided to distribute it as a feature film.
Originally, the script was to be based upon the homonymous book by Yoshikazu Takeuchi; however, after close inspection by Kon and Sadayuki Murai, the co-writer of the script, they asked and eventually received permission to alter the story.
Mima Kirigoe, a member of the largely popular J-pop band Cham, announces during a concert...
- 12/2/2019
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
This week, the /slash Film Festival, Austria’s biggest Fantastic Film Festival, starts its projectors in Vienna to screen a broad catalog of dark and twisted treats. From September 19 until September 29, the 10th edition of the Festival will also present a promising Asian selection.
Six Asian feature films and four animations are among the total number of 70 movies that can be seen in two charming old-town cinemas. The so-called “/asian” selection starts with “The Scoundrels” (2018), the debut of Taiwanese director Hung Tzu-Hsuan. From the Philippines comes Erik Matti’s “The Entity” (2019). An elegant horror-thriller about a secretive family history that is packed with suspense. In cooperation with the Japannual Film Festival, /slash presents the Japanese entry for the selection – “The Fable” (2019) by Kan Eguchi. The Manga adaption is a mixture of over the top action sequences and utterly disarming humor. Highly anticipated is also Won-Tae Lee’s “The Gangster, The Cop,...
Six Asian feature films and four animations are among the total number of 70 movies that can be seen in two charming old-town cinemas. The so-called “/asian” selection starts with “The Scoundrels” (2018), the debut of Taiwanese director Hung Tzu-Hsuan. From the Philippines comes Erik Matti’s “The Entity” (2019). An elegant horror-thriller about a secretive family history that is packed with suspense. In cooperation with the Japannual Film Festival, /slash presents the Japanese entry for the selection – “The Fable” (2019) by Kan Eguchi. The Manga adaption is a mixture of over the top action sequences and utterly disarming humor. Highly anticipated is also Won-Tae Lee’s “The Gangster, The Cop,...
- 9/19/2019
- by Alexander Knoth
- AsianMoviePulse
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