Anime Review: Black Rock Shooter OVA
I wasn’t sure what to expect from Black Rock Shooter‘s anime debut. If nothing else the franchise has become a great example of the power of the Internet, as original artwork and character designs by artist huke inspired a song by Supercell, which together have spawned an increasing variety of figures and merchandise and – at last – a 50-minute anime, released for free (with various subtitles!) in both physical and digital media. There’s no doubting that Black Rock Shooter is a phenomenon and this OVA has been surrounded by hype, but have animation studio Ordet succeeded in applying a worthwhile story to huke’s fantastic designs or is this nothing more than a lengthy advertisement to sell more merchandise?
Anime on Blu-Ray: Evangelion 1.11 – You Are (Not) Alone
By now I’m sure all anime fans are well aware of the Rebuild of Evangelion, so I won’t waste much time with introductions here. All you need to know is that it’s a four-movie retelling and re-imagining of the groundbreaking anime series Neon Genesis Evangelion. It’s supposed to be a way for existing fans to see the series in a new way while also giving newcomers a more streamlined narrative. Let’s get straight into it to see what the first film, You Are (Not) Alone, makes of that aim.
Anime on Blu-Ray: Ponyo
Ponyo is the latest feature film from legendary anime master Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli, first released in Japanese cinemas in 2008 and now available on DVD and blu-ray just about everywhere. The film follows the eponymous Ponyo, a goldfish who befriends a young boy named Sosuke and subsequently longs to become human herself. Although the premise draws obvious inspiration from Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Mermaid, Miyazaki’s story is as inventive as you would expect and brings an entirely fresh perspective to the concept. It’s a more unconditionally kid-friendly film than the studio’s more recent efforts like Howl’s Moving Castle or even Spirited Away, but that only serves to broaden its appeal as a film that is truly for all ages. Charming, heartwarming and visually spectacular, Ponyo shouldn’t disappoint long-time Ghibli fans and has surely attracted plenty of new ones. Because the film is not particularly new, I won’t dwell any longer on the film itself – I’d be doing little other than elaborating on the praise I’ve already given anyway – so let’s look at why blu-ray is the best way to experience Ponyo.
Anime on Blu-Ray: The Sky Crawlers
The Sky Crawlers (スカイ·クロラ) is a film by director Mamoru Oshii (of Ghost in the Shell fame) originally released in 2008. It had just been released on DVD and BD in Japan when I was there earlier last year, so it caught my attention and I looked forward to a local release. Based on a novel by Hiroshi Mori, The Sky Crawlers is set in an alternate version of our world where aerial war is waged between rival corporations. The film follows a group of young pilots known as Kildren, who never age beyond adolescence. Despite their youthful appearance (and sometimes behaviour) the Kildren are actually experienced and hardened combat pilots, though the nature and implications of their condition play a key role in The Sky Crawlers‘s plot.
Anime on Blu-Ray: Origin – Spirits of the Past
Origin: Spirits of the Past is a film by anime studio Gonzo – their first theatrical feature production, originally released in 2006. The film takes place in a dystopian future where forestation has reclaimed much of the Earth after genetic modification resulted in sentient trees. The basic premise is quite an interesting one – if … Read more
Movie Review: The Place Promised In Our Early Days
The Place Promised In Our Early Days is a film by Makoto Shinkai, most recently of 5 Centimetres Per Second fame. Following his debut Voices of a Distant Star (of which you can read my review here) this is Shinkai’s first full feature-length film and was a full scale production, unlike the mostly self-made Voices. As … Read more
Movie Review: James Cameron’s Avatar
I usually like to have a movie playing in the background while I’m writing a review, but of course in the case of new cinema releases that’s not really possible. Instead, I’ll have to rely on the fresh memories from tonight’s screening of James Cameron’s Avatar, and you will have to deal with the residual … Read more
Anime on Blu-Ray: Sword of the Stranger
Sword of the Stranger is a samurai action film that follows the story of Kotaro, a young boy on the run from soldiers from the Ming Dynasty. Initially accompanied only by his dog, Tobimaru, Kotaro soon finds an unlikely protector in the form of a ronin with no name (unless you count “No Name”). It’s … Read more
Movie Review: Assassin’s Creed – Lineage
It’s Assassin’s Creed II week! I have to hand it to Ubisoft for their promotion for this game. They haven’t bombarded us with so many videos that I feel I’ve seen half the game like so many publishers do these days, but they have given us a very impressive prologue to the story in the … Read more
Movie Review: Voices of a Distant Star
Voices of a Distant Star is a twenty-five minute film by Makoto Shinkai of 5 Centimetres Per Second fame. Much like 5cm, Voices is about the relationship between two teenagers kept apart by both time and space and there are many thematic similarities between the two films. However, where 5cm is grounded firmly in reality, … Read more
