At the altar of Japanese animation stand two masters – Hayao Miyazaki (who is near retiring from filmmaking) and the late Isao Takahata, both of whom are almost universally considered the gold standard for an entire nation’s cinema, and the success it has seen all over the world. However, they’re not the only ones who…

As we’ve seen over the years, Disney-Pixar often make use of a variety of sources, whether directly or simply through mere allusion, when creating their films. Oftentimes, it’s easy to see what inspired a particular film, whether it be an existing text, a social idea or the most abstract concept. However, while watching their latest…

On occasion, we tend to encounter the kind of film that builds the viewer up to feel a happiness rarely experienced, and then subsequently dismantles all of it as we plunge into the depths of despair after having encountered a story that is as uplifting as it is deeply upsetting. There’s a reason why the…

Something quite interesting happens when we look beyond the confines of major studios, particularly when it comes to contemporary animation – we discover new and revolutionary works that change our perspectives and present us with something entirely unique and exciting. While they have been doing some wonderful work recently, Pixar and Disney have been overtaken…

When it comes to the work of Bill Plympton, there is often a lot to unpack. In some instances, it’s sometimes better to just dispose of all the luggage in general, since dissecting every frame of his striking animated films is a fascinating, but incredibly challenging task – but for anyone with as twisted a…

There are few filmmakers who are so associated with artistic integrity and unrestrained, pure expression of their vision, the mere mention of their names evoke a wealth of emotions in any viewer who has experienced their films. Hayao Miyazaki is undeniably one of the most beloved directors to ever work in the medium, with his…

For a film that dares to call itself Soul, Pixar’s latest offering is running worryingly low on it. It’s always a difficult situation when the famed animation studio releases something new, only to reveal itself to not be quite what was promised. We’ve seen them disappoint almost as many times as we’ve seen them succeed…

There’s a peculiar quality of certain artists that comes with a combination of high-quality creativity being associated with them, and longer periods between producing new work. Hayao Miyazaki is one of the most beloved filmmakers of his generation, not only because his films are revolutionary and brilliant, but also because they’re produced so rarely, each…

Hinako Mukaimizu (Rina Kawaei) is a young girl venturing out into the terrifying world, finding herself in a seaside town in which she has enrolled to attend university, where she plans to study oceanography. This isn’t an interest borne out of nothing, since she has always been enamoured with the sea, spending many pleasant days…

I’d like to break from decorum for just a moment and speak on a personal note. This review is one that I have been anxiously awaiting to write for a while now. For those of you who have followed me for a while, you’ll know that I normally commemorate milestone reviews with films that are…