When a Ping Pong anime series was first announced in early 2014, I had to ask: Why? Taiyo Matsumoto’s manga had already been adapted to film back in 2002. Directed by first-timer Fumihiko Sori with a script by rising star Kankuro Kudo, the film launched the career of actor Shido Nakamura. It even came with songs by Supercar and Boom Boom Satellites. I couldn’t imagine anything better than that. When I learned Masaaki Yuasa was directing the series, I became even more curious – and confused. Yuasa was one of my all-time favorite anime directors (and still is.) His 2007 science fiction series Kaiba changed my vision of what TV anime could be. He would have been a great fit to adapt Yuasa’s epic No. 5 . Instead he was hired to go back over old ground. I didn’t understand why at the time. Now I recognize that of all Matsumoto’s comics,...
- 4/11/2024
- by Adam Wescott
- Crunchyroll
Warning: contains plot spoilers for The Boy and the Heron.
The English-language title of Hayao Miyazaki’s latest feature at Studio Ghibli is misleadingly simple. The Boy and the Heron suggests an Aesop-like fable in the vein of The Ant and the Grasshopper or The Hare and the Fox. The film itself has nothing like the clarity of a fable. It’s crowded, at times to the point of narrative incoherence, with enchanting but mystifying episodes that elude a single reading.
It’s the story of Mahito, a boy in 1940s Tokyo who loses his mother in a wartime fire. A year later, his father remarries her sister and starts a new family, moving them out to the aunt’s childhood countryside home. There, Mahito is plagued by a menacing heron who lures him to a mysterious tower built by his grand-uncle with the promise of seeing his mother alive.
The English-language title of Hayao Miyazaki’s latest feature at Studio Ghibli is misleadingly simple. The Boy and the Heron suggests an Aesop-like fable in the vein of The Ant and the Grasshopper or The Hare and the Fox. The film itself has nothing like the clarity of a fable. It’s crowded, at times to the point of narrative incoherence, with enchanting but mystifying episodes that elude a single reading.
It’s the story of Mahito, a boy in 1940s Tokyo who loses his mother in a wartime fire. A year later, his father remarries her sister and starts a new family, moving them out to the aunt’s childhood countryside home. There, Mahito is plagued by a menacing heron who lures him to a mysterious tower built by his grand-uncle with the promise of seeing his mother alive.
- 1/19/2024
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
After Hayao Miyazaki took three years to finish the initial storyboard for “The Boy and the Heron”, it became obvious that he needed help. With diminished stamina and failing eyesight, the legendary anime auteur was no longer able to control everything. So he invited Takeshi Honda (“Neon Genesis Evangelion”), the supervising animator on his hybrid CG/2D short “Boro the Caterpillar,” to join his upcoming feature.
Honda was flattered and told Miyazaki that he would think about it because he was already committed to “Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time,” the franchise film finale. “But at that time, Miyazaki san said, ‘I don’t have time — there is no one in the Miyazaki family who is over 80 years old.’ I thought it was a big deal,” Honda told IndieWire over Zoom through an interpreter.
Honda couldn’t refuse Miyazaki (now 82) and proceeded to spend the next seven years on a journey of a lifetime,...
Honda was flattered and told Miyazaki that he would think about it because he was already committed to “Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time,” the franchise film finale. “But at that time, Miyazaki san said, ‘I don’t have time — there is no one in the Miyazaki family who is over 80 years old.’ I thought it was a big deal,” Honda told IndieWire over Zoom through an interpreter.
Honda couldn’t refuse Miyazaki (now 82) and proceeded to spend the next seven years on a journey of a lifetime,...
- 12/28/2023
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
The Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia announces its complete program. There are still a few surprises to be confirmed, like the closing gala, but they have already put together the final list of films that will be screened at Sitges 09. Below you’ll find the titles of each film and their sections as well as links for the films that we have already reviewed here on Sound On Sight. Opening Film [Rec]2. Paco Plaza and Jaume Balagueró. 2009. Official FANTÀSTIC In Competition Section Accident. Soi Cheang. 2009. Accidents Happen. Andrew Lancaster. 2009. The Children. Tom Shankland. 2008. [1] Cold Souls. Sophie Bartes. 2009. The Countess. Julie Delpy. 2009. Les Derniers Jours Du Monde. Jean-Marie and Arnaud Larrieu. 2009. Dogtooth (Kynodontas). Yorgos Lanthimos. 2009. Dorian Gray. Oliver Parker. 2009. Enter The Void. Gaspar Noé. 2009. Grace. Paul Solet. 2009. [2] Heartless. Philip Ridley. 2009. Hierro. Gabe Ibáñez. 2009. La Horde. Yannick Dahan and Benjamin Rocher. 2009. Ingrid. Eduard Cortés. 2009. Kinatay. Brillante Mendoza. 2009. Metropia. Tarik Saleh. 2009. Moon.
- 9/19/2009
- by Ricky
- SoundOnSight
The full lineup has been announced, and among the load of genre fare that's been running the fest circuit are the world premiers of:
Vincenzo Natali's latest, Splice, which we're all excited about.
Simon Fellows twisted adaptation Malice in Wonderland (trailer)
Along some of our personal favorites:
Black Dynamite (friggin awesome)
Swiss scifi flick Cargo (trailer)
Pater Sparrow's incredible Stanislaw Lem adaptation 1 (review)
The Mo Brothers Indonesian slasher Macabre (review)
Atm (get it?) horror-comedy The Human Centipede (review)
Full list after the break.
Opening Film
[Rec]2. Paco Plaza and Jaume Balagueró. 2009.
Official FANTÀSTIC In Competition Section
Accident. Soi Cheang. 2009.
Accidents Happen. Andrew Lancaster. 2009.
The Children. Tom Shankland. 2008.
Cold Souls. Sophie Bartes. 2009.
The Countess. Julie Delpy. 2009.
Les Derniers Jours Du Monde. Jean-Marie and Arnaud Larrieu. 2009.
Dogtooth (Kynodontas). Yorgos Lanthimos. 2009.
Dorian Gray. Oliver Parker. 2009.
Enter The Void. Gaspar Noé. 2009.
Grace. Paul Solet. 2009.
Heartless. Philip Ridley. 2009.
Hierro. Gabe Ibáñez. 2009.
La Horde. Yannick Dahan and Benjamin Rocher.
Vincenzo Natali's latest, Splice, which we're all excited about.
Simon Fellows twisted adaptation Malice in Wonderland (trailer)
Along some of our personal favorites:
Black Dynamite (friggin awesome)
Swiss scifi flick Cargo (trailer)
Pater Sparrow's incredible Stanislaw Lem adaptation 1 (review)
The Mo Brothers Indonesian slasher Macabre (review)
Atm (get it?) horror-comedy The Human Centipede (review)
Full list after the break.
Opening Film
[Rec]2. Paco Plaza and Jaume Balagueró. 2009.
Official FANTÀSTIC In Competition Section
Accident. Soi Cheang. 2009.
Accidents Happen. Andrew Lancaster. 2009.
The Children. Tom Shankland. 2008.
Cold Souls. Sophie Bartes. 2009.
The Countess. Julie Delpy. 2009.
Les Derniers Jours Du Monde. Jean-Marie and Arnaud Larrieu. 2009.
Dogtooth (Kynodontas). Yorgos Lanthimos. 2009.
Dorian Gray. Oliver Parker. 2009.
Enter The Void. Gaspar Noé. 2009.
Grace. Paul Solet. 2009.
Heartless. Philip Ridley. 2009.
Hierro. Gabe Ibáñez. 2009.
La Horde. Yannick Dahan and Benjamin Rocher.
- 9/12/2009
- QuietEarth.us
The 2009 edition of Montreal’s Fantasia Festival has announced their complete list of Audience Awards winners, a list that includes a whole lot of Twitch faves and more than a few films that will soon be screening here in Toronto as part of Toronto After Dark. Here’s the complete list.
Best Asian Film
Gold: Love Exposure (Japan) – Sion Sono
Silver: IP Man (Hong Kong) – Wilson Yip
Bronze: Thirst (South Korea) – Park Chan-wook
Best International Film
Gold: 8th Wonderland (France) – Nicolas Alberny, Jean Mach
Silver: Ex-aequo
Embodiment Of Evil (Brazil) – Jose Mojica Marins
Must Love Death (Germany) – Andreas Schaap
Bronze: Black (France) – Pierre Laffargue
Best Quebec Film
Gold: Sans Dessein – Caroline Labrèche, Steeve Léonard
Silver: The Ante – Max Perrier
Bronze: Crawler – Sv Bell
Best Animated Film
Hells (Japan) – Yoshiki Yamakawa
Guru Prize for Most Energetic Film of the Festival
Gold: Yatterman (Japan) – Takashi Miike
Silver: IP Man (Hk) – Wilson Yip...
Best Asian Film
Gold: Love Exposure (Japan) – Sion Sono
Silver: IP Man (Hong Kong) – Wilson Yip
Bronze: Thirst (South Korea) – Park Chan-wook
Best International Film
Gold: 8th Wonderland (France) – Nicolas Alberny, Jean Mach
Silver: Ex-aequo
Embodiment Of Evil (Brazil) – Jose Mojica Marins
Must Love Death (Germany) – Andreas Schaap
Bronze: Black (France) – Pierre Laffargue
Best Quebec Film
Gold: Sans Dessein – Caroline Labrèche, Steeve Léonard
Silver: The Ante – Max Perrier
Bronze: Crawler – Sv Bell
Best Animated Film
Hells (Japan) – Yoshiki Yamakawa
Guru Prize for Most Energetic Film of the Festival
Gold: Yatterman (Japan) – Takashi Miike
Silver: IP Man (Hk) – Wilson Yip...
- 8/3/2009
- by Todd Brown
- Screen Anarchy
The 13th edition of Montreal’s Fantasia film festival wrapped up its frighteningly successful run this week, with movie highlights aplenty and 40 percent of the screenings selling out. Now the jury and the public have spoken on their favorites, and the fest has revealed their award winners in all categories. Check ’em out below!
Jury Prizes: Feature Films
Best Feature Film: Breathless (Yang Ik-june) Jury Special Prize: Love Exposure (Sion Sono) Best Male Performance: Yang Ik-Jun, Breathless Best Female Performance: Hikari Mitsushima, Love Exposure Best Director: David Russo, The Immaculate Conception Of Little Dizzle Best Screenplay: Nicolas Alberny and Jean Mach, 8th Wonderland Best Cinematography: Hideho Urata, The Clone Returns Home Technical Prize: IP Man Special Mention for Best Direction of Child Actors: Tom Shankland, The Children
Jury Prizes: First Features
Best First Feature: White Lightnin’ (Dominic Murphy) Special Mention: Debut performance of actress Eline Kuppins, Left Bank Jury Prizes:...
Jury Prizes: Feature Films
Best Feature Film: Breathless (Yang Ik-june) Jury Special Prize: Love Exposure (Sion Sono) Best Male Performance: Yang Ik-Jun, Breathless Best Female Performance: Hikari Mitsushima, Love Exposure Best Director: David Russo, The Immaculate Conception Of Little Dizzle Best Screenplay: Nicolas Alberny and Jean Mach, 8th Wonderland Best Cinematography: Hideho Urata, The Clone Returns Home Technical Prize: IP Man Special Mention for Best Direction of Child Actors: Tom Shankland, The Children
Jury Prizes: First Features
Best First Feature: White Lightnin’ (Dominic Murphy) Special Mention: Debut performance of actress Eline Kuppins, Left Bank Jury Prizes:...
- 7/31/2009
- by no-reply@fangoria.com (Michael Gingold)
- Fangoria
From April 15th to 19th, Frankfurt transforms into the center of the Japanese film world when the Nippon Connection 2009 opens its doors once again. After giving us a first look at the highlights of the largest festival for Japanese film worldwide, the official site has now been updated with the full program that includes more than 150 feature and short films.
Nippon Cinema 20th Century Boys (Niju seiki shonen), R: Yukihiko Tsutsumi, J 2008
www.20thboys.com All Around Us (Gururi no koto), R: Ryosuke Hashiguchi, J 2008
www.gururinokoto.jp Detroit Metal City, R: Toshio Lee, J 2008
www.go-to-dmc.jp Genius Party Beyond, R: Masahiro Maeda, Koji Morimoto, Kazuto Nakazawa, Shinya Ohira, Tatsuyuki Tanaka, J 2008
www.genius-party.jp/beyond Genius Party, R: Atsuko Fukushima, Shoji Kawamori, Shinji Kimura, Yoji Fukuyama, Hideki Futamura, Masaaki Yuasa, Shinichiro Watanabe, J 2007
www.genius-party.jp/genius01 Gs Wonderland, R: Ryuichi Honda, J 2008
www.gs-w.jp Hells Angels,...
Nippon Cinema 20th Century Boys (Niju seiki shonen), R: Yukihiko Tsutsumi, J 2008
www.20thboys.com All Around Us (Gururi no koto), R: Ryosuke Hashiguchi, J 2008
www.gururinokoto.jp Detroit Metal City, R: Toshio Lee, J 2008
www.go-to-dmc.jp Genius Party Beyond, R: Masahiro Maeda, Koji Morimoto, Kazuto Nakazawa, Shinya Ohira, Tatsuyuki Tanaka, J 2008
www.genius-party.jp/beyond Genius Party, R: Atsuko Fukushima, Shoji Kawamori, Shinji Kimura, Yoji Fukuyama, Hideki Futamura, Masaaki Yuasa, Shinichiro Watanabe, J 2007
www.genius-party.jp/genius01 Gs Wonderland, R: Ryuichi Honda, J 2008
www.gs-w.jp Hells Angels,...
- 3/13/2009
- by Ulrik
- Affenheimtheater
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