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Month: June 2018

Maquia: When P.A. Works Blooms – Effectively Raising A New Generation Of Animators

Maquia: When P.A. Works Blooms – Effectively Raising A New Generation Of Animators

Sayonara no Asa ni Yakusoku no Hana wo Kazaro, localized in English-speaking territories as Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms, is without a doubt one of the most noteworthy anime movies of 2018. Its affecting story and astonishing production values deserve the recognition they’re getting and then some, but this film’s significance extends beyond its artistic merits. This project is a decisive step in studio P.A. Works’ current plans, and an unprecedented opportunity to grow.

Summer 2018 Anime Preview

Summer 2018 Anime Preview

Summer season is upon us! To be perfectly honest, anime’s strongest creators are for the most part taking a bit of a break, but that only means that curation is even more important. It’s time to detail which upcoming shows have gathered the strongest creative crews under premises with potential!

Kase-san and Morning Glories: A Couple’s Small Miracle

Kase-san and Morning Glories: A Couple’s Small Miracle

Asagao to Kase-san / Kase-san and Morning Glories’ very existence is a small miracle. A project that wasn’t meant to be, until a couple of people in particular fought for the chance to animate a sweet yuri manga they loved with such enthusiasm that it’s led to the existence of this wonderful theatrical OVA. It’s time to explain their struggles, the fascinating encompassing vision behind this piece, and the unusual set of influences that led to it – from a very…

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A New Step For A Silent Voice’s Team: Liz And The Blue Bird Impressions [Annecy 2018]

A New Step For A Silent Voice’s Team: Liz And The Blue Bird Impressions [Annecy 2018]

The team behind A Silent Voice, captained by Naoko Yamada, has returned with a fascinating little film that challenges regular anime production methods to organically interweave visuals and sound, applies mathematical concepts to the depiction of interpersonal relationships, and crafts gorgeous scenes in entirely non-standard ways. For those of you looking forward to Liz and the Blue Bird, this is what you should expect from this quietly unique experience. And don’t worry, no narrative spoilers ahead!

Production Highlights – Aikatsu Friends! 11 and Recap

Production Highlights – Aikatsu Friends! 11 and Recap

With a key episode in the bag and the series reaching its first turning point, it’s time for us to return to the world of Aikatsu Friends! for some more coverage – not just of the wonderful episode #11, but also of how the production has fared since the beginning and the way they’ve built Mio’s textured character in particular.

Production Highlights – My Hero Academia 49-50

Production Highlights – My Hero Academia 49-50

My Hero Academia had been building up to something big, not just in this arc but throughout the whole series. Only the best would have satisfied all the viewers who were looking forward to All Might’s deeds depicted in all their heroic glory – and that’s exactly what we got. The result was an all-time high not just for this series but for action anime as a whole, which also forces us to look towards the future to understand how it…

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Ghibli Star Kosaka Kitaro Confronts The State Of The Theatrical Anime Industry: Okko’s Inn [Annecy 2018]

Ghibli Star Kosaka Kitaro Confronts The State Of The Theatrical Anime Industry: Okko’s Inn [Annecy 2018]

The massive success of anime movies in recent times is causing a quick, big expansion in this field. We’re now getting all sorts of movies by high-profile anime creators, to the point that the comeback of studio Ghibli-affiliated Kosaka Kitaro to direct a movie 11 years after Nasu: A Migratory Bird with Suitcase doesn’t seem all that extraordinary anymore. Unfortunately, it’s not all good news – Okko’s Inn is a fascinating little film that showcases many of the problems that creators in…

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Masaaki Yuasa Masterclass: Science Saru’s New Movie Revealed [Annecy 2018]

Masaaki Yuasa Masterclass: Science Saru’s New Movie Revealed [Annecy 2018]

Beloved director Masaaki Yuasa has returned to France, to the same Annecy setting where last year he was given an award for his joyous film Lu over the Wall. Accompanied by other key figures from the project, he hosted a retrospective of his career as director, and even unveiled their all-new project. Tune in for all the details!

Mamoru Hosoda’s New Film: Mirai Of The Future Impressions [Annecy 2018]

Mamoru Hosoda’s New Film: Mirai Of The Future Impressions [Annecy 2018]

Mamoru Hosoda’s new movie Mirai no Mirai / Mirai of the Future has screened at the Annecy International Film Festival, and after watching it and meeting the man himself, we’ll be providing our non-spoilery impressions of his immensely enjoyable work. It feels quite important in this case, since it’s fairly different from what you might be imagining!

When Anime Localization Upsets Its Creators: To Be Heroine

When Anime Localization Upsets Its Creators: To Be Heroine

Though at this point we should know better than this, edited versions of animated series that go against the wishes of the creators and upset the team that made them are still a factor sometimes. To Be Heroine is a sad reminder of what can happen when the localization of anime goes wrong, made even worse by the fact that most viewers aren’t even aware of what’s going on because the compromised version is the one being broadcast in Japan and…

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