Our man on the ground, T.R. Racki, watched the world premiere of To You in the Beyond at Anime Expo 2026. The film releases in Japan later this year. A sixteen-year-old girl washes ashore on a remote Japanese island. Her first word in the year 2026 is “1974.” Kazuki, a fifteen-year old boy, takes refuge… Read More Review: To You in the Beyond
Anima, the narrative feature debut by director Brian Tetsuro Ivie, is described as a sci-fi comedy drama. It’s also a road movie. That’s a lot of labels for a 96-minute film to carry. And while Anima touches all those notes with an understated sincerity, it’s probably best described more simply: it’s a story about two… Read More Review: Anima (2026)
It’s concert time for the band Primary Color! Lead guitarist and vocalist Kana Ichikawa is about to belt out a brand-new song called “To Be Continued”. What’s so special about this song? Well, it was co-written by her little brother, the cringe lord, love-struck dork, Kyotaro Ichikawa, and is based on his feelings about his… Read More Film Review: The Dangers in My Heart: The Movie
A young lady, on the run from an entire army division, and aided by dozens of operatives risking their lives. An “Informationist” charged with guarding her, whose secret may be even more explosive than her own. Will these two make their escape? And what explosive secrets do they hold, and powers do they possess, to… Read More Review: Thou, As My Knight…, Vol. 1 (Light Novel)
Kenichiro Akimoto’s directorial debut is nothing if not ballsy, taking on Hollywood action film royalty and effectively rebooting one of the most highly rated sci-fi films of all time. And it absolutely holds its own, and then some. All You Need Is Kill adapts the same source material—the light novel by Hiroshi Sakurazaka—as Doug Liman’s… Read More Film Review: All You Need Is Kill
The 100-meter dash may be the most prestigious competition in modern athletics, but can such a short, straight race really make for engaging animation? This was the question driving director Kenji Iwaisawa as he approached this ambitious adaptation of the popular five-volume web manga by Uoto, Hyakuemu. Iwaisawa’s solution, he explained at the film’s world… Read More Film Review: 100 Meters (Hyakuemu)
There’s something satisfying about an old-fashioned revenge story—seeing justice served and the bad guys getting their just deserts. But what is the price of vengeance? And what sort of culture does it breed? These are some of the questions Mamoru Hosoda explores in his latest film, Scarlet, a reimagining of Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Scarlet retains the… Read More Film Review: Scarlet
Interested in watching thoughtful, human-centered conversations with people connected to anime?
Watch Something Genuine, our interview series that cuts through the noise and focuses on the people behind the costumes, in front of the mics, and watching anime, just like you and me. Season two premieres on May 27th.