The Boy and the Heron

broderic on December 27, 2023

With his return from retirement and with retirement seemingly forever suspended, Hayao Miyazaki brings about his latest film, The Boy and the Heron, ten years from his last. It is with a lot of anticipation that I went to the theater to watch. Is he still as great as story teller? Is he still one of the best anime directors, even film directors? Yes and yes. But.

The film is okay. It rehashes a lot of Miyazaki tropes. It felt like a mash up of Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle, and Castle in the Sky. It was just fine. Glad he’s doing films, but sometimes I wonder if maybe he should retire for good. Let’s hope his next film, if there is one, may not be in another ten years.

3 of 5 stars.

Macross Frontier: The False Songstress

broderic on July 2, 2022

Macross Frontier is my favorite Macross, because the legs of the love triangle have two of my favorite idol singers in the Macross saga, Sheryl Nome and Ranka Lee. Throughout the series, these two had really great songs to sing. Is there anything better than Diamond Crevasse?

Macross Frontier: The False Songstress is the film that came out just after the anime series. It was released way back in 2008 and was part one to a two part series to wrap up the Macross F saga. This was the film that sort of summed up the series. It did not do a great job at it. In fact, if you never saw the series, then you would be lost. It took all the story points of the series and condensed them. It took a few minutes from every episode, sliced them to form an incoherent movie, and let it run for about two hours.

I was really looking forward to this, but I was sorely disappointed. It wasn’t helped that the showing started with 10 minutes of a blank screen. Seriously, it was a mess.

1 of 5 stars.

Weathering With You

broderic on February 7, 2020

Weathering With You is Makoto Shinkai respectable followup to his fantastic, world-wide hit, Your Name. It also follows the template to much of his work: star-crossed lovers, separated by a distance, eager to realize the fate that was meant to be. Sometimes it adheres to it too much as this one really just reminded me of the previous film. His style could be a blessing or a curse. I found it rather pleasant and kind of wish for more.

Weathering With You is about a ‘weather girl,’ a girl that can control the weather. In this instance, rain. In the Japan of the film, it is a rainy season that lasts every season. The people wish for it to stop and only one person can make it pause for a few hours — the ‘weather girl.’

At first, she is a myth pursued by the main protagonist as a reporter for a shlock paper. He had run away from his home in the provinces. He was taken in by the paper’s owner/writer/editor, and he was tasked to debunk that myth. He founds out that it wasn’t. That it was real and he’s all for protecting (and profiting) the girl.

When the citizens take too much from her, the protagonist protests and wishes for her to stop using her powers. Let the rain fall so that he can continue to love her.

I did like the film. I wish it wasn’t too much like his previous. I’m hopeful that the next Makoto Shinkai anime is something different. I’m hopeful that it is also familiar.

3 of 5 stars.

For Kyoto Animation

broderic on July 27, 2019

Haruhi OP – made me the weeb I am today.

It’s been a week since the fire in Japan at Kyoto Animation studios. If you are just hearing about it the story is rather sad. Thirty-four employees of this famed animation studio were murdered by some nut via an arson attack. There were about another thirty survivors all in various conditions. It was the most tragic of crimes in Japan since the days of World War II.

Kyoto Animation means a lot to me. It has produced some of my personal favorite anime. K-ON! and Haruhi come to mind. Haruhi being my re-introduction into the anime world. K-ON! really is so good it’s my favorite of all time. This studio has done really fine work both in television and in the movie theatres. You can’t beat the K-ON! Movie, and you really can’t beat A Silent Voice movie. Both will make you cry. really is so good it’s my favorite of all time. This studio has done really fine work both in television and in the movie theatres. You can’t beat the K-ON! Movie, and you really can’t beat A Silent Voice movie. Both will make you cry. Cry like the news from Japan…

I pray for those souls lost in this senseless attack. I pray for those survivors. I pray for the studio to come back and give us some more beautiful anime.

Link of the Day [7.27.18]

broderic on July 27, 2018

Long time no see! I am making my way through the 14th year of this blog in slow motion. Perhaps I’ll finally write those reviews of movies that I have seen. There’s a few, but I am lazy and haven’t bothered.

Anyway this blog isn’t shuttered just yet. Still meaning to post things. I guess I’ll try with something interesting in the idol world.

It’s Sally! Read up on this American doing idol things as an anime voice actress in Japan. Anime! It’s kooky!!

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2018/07/27/music/sally-amakis-life-animated-idol-pop-star/#.W1uXAqOpjVR.blogger

Mary and the Witch’s Flower

broderic on February 4, 2018

Mary and the Witch’s Flower is the first film from some of the animators from Studio Ghibli after the chief anime director Hayao Miyazaki stopped making films. They had to do something. They did this.

The film is very similar to many of the Ghibli films you have watched. I’m not sure if that’s on purpose. It is based on an English children’s book which many of Ghibli films were: Arrietty, Howl’s, Marnie. This one’s based on a book called, “The Little Broomstick.” A story of a young girl finding herself in a magical world. Sounds familiar right? There is flying, too! And a broomstick and cat familiar! Studio Ghibli is alive!

Now if you think that it was a good idea to follow the Ghibli template, you will like this movie. Many Ghibli fans will be pleased. I was a little. But I wish to see more from my anime. I think Studio Ponoc, the film makers, have a bright future. They can stick with the tried and true, but I know that they have something in them to make an anime masterpiece.

Overall, I’ll watch most anime flicks that come to the States just because I want more of them to come to the States. You should, too. If this comes to a theatre near you, please watch it.

3 of 5 stars.

“Matthew has been staring at me all day… and I like it.”

broderic on September 30, 2017

Link of the Day [9.30.17]

They gave us Sally. #天城サリー 22/7

If you don’t know, then you don’t know.

It’s an idol anime group in which one of the members blew up fandom because she was born in America. Ans she sounds American. But the thing is that on her SHOWROOM you can really talk to her. In fact she answered my question which is the first time in any of the idol SHOWROOMs that I’ve watched that that happened. Because she understands English. Also, she’s cute AF.

Anyway, today’s link takes you to the group she’s a part of. Get to know them.

http://www.nanabunnonijyuuni.com

“Why did we go to Hawaii together?” “That was a dream.” “Oh… Wait a minute, I’m pretty sure it wasn’t.” “All right then. How was it?” “Not that good, actually.” “I’m sorry.”

broderic on September 30, 2017

I should’ve posted this when I first started writing it. Now the opening doesn’t run right. But so what here we go…

While the world was watching football, I caught In This Corner of the World at The Charles. A second movie in the theatre this weekend? Yo!

The film is an anime set in Japan around the time of the second world war. It’s main protagonist gets married and spends her time in Kure, the main naval base. It’s around the mountains from Hiroshima. World War 2 and Hiroshima? You know where the story is leading.

The film is slice of life like. Following her travails as she copes with her new family and new life. She also dodges bombs and the war as America bombs her city. Finally, the Bomb is dropped and it really messes up her life.

That’s the film.

Not bad. I liked it. But I like all kinds of anime. YMMV.

3 of 5 stars.