Hesse

Story
When it comes to the detective genre, we've seen it all—from locked room mysteries to train-stopping murders to classic Holmesian whodunits. In a genre that's become repetitively stale, Un-Go blends both old and new sensibilities into its narrative, shape-shifting into something unique. Although loosely based on the post-war Tales of Crime in the Meiji Era by Ango Sakaguchi, Un-Go sets itself in motion along a near future timeline. With one foot planted firmly in the tradition of Japanese detective fiction, and the other in... See full review

Story
My first impressions of Tiger & Bunny were skeptical at best; a show about mascot superheroes plastered with corporate logos brings to mind some dubious product placement anime. Or even worse, the cutesy title could've foreshadowed some hybrid ecchi fest involving bestiality. Luckily, T&B isn't as shallow as it might suggest; instead, it's an unabashed parody that celebrates its superhero roots as well as deconstructs them. In the corporatized world of Sternbild City, commercialism is king; heroes not only fight crime... See full review

Story
Sky Crawlers takes off with a stunning action sequence; two fighter pilots engage in a dogfight as speeding bullets rip an aircraft's backside. Don't let the dramatized trailers fool you, this film is anything but a adrenaline-pumping thriller. On the contrary, many will find Sky Crawlers snooze-worthy due to its sluggish pacing and introspective plotline. Indeed, the movie's melancholic tone and bleak, listless characters will leave some confused or bored stiff. With that said, I loved this film. Sky Crawlers doesn't subscribe... See full review

“There are two types of people in the world: those who do what they’re told, and those who are true to themselves” -Saku For those young disenchanted days, Beck: Mongolian Chop Squad plays out like a national anthem. Beck enlivens the notion that realism and idealism go hand-in-hand. Sure, life can be cruel, but dreaming isn’t hopeless. We grow up to accept the harsh reality, but it is our naive aspirations that make life worthwhile. Despite the one-in-a-million odds of becoming a famous musician, artists take risks to follow their passion. Beck takes this bittersweet existence... See full review

Story
As the spiritual successor to Brain-Base’s summer sensation Baccano!, Durarara!! makes use of that madcap, schizophrenic style that made Baccano! memorable. Based on the light novel series by Ryohgo Narita, Durarara!! is an urban fairytale of unnatural proportions; it takes seemingly random plotlines, jumbles them up, and then pieces them back together. This puzzle of a story takes place in Ikebukuro... See full review

Story
Can television and film match the artistic greatness of novels or poetry? Or is there something lost-in-translation from page to screen? This is the main issue whenever an adaptation is at hand. Aoi Bungaku is no exception to these age-long questions, but does it succeed in this respect? As with most modern adaptations, Aoi Bungaku has large shoes to fill. The series adapts six stories from classical Japanese literature. Among these works include Osamu Dazai’s magnum opus, "No Longer... See full review

Story
"Whatever will be, will be"—this is the mantra of My Neighbors the Yamadas, a charming collection of vignettes that ring true to life itself. This unique Studio Ghibli film revolves around the daily exploits of the Yamadas, your modern, dysfunctional Japanese family. Together, this atypical (yet typical) family navigates the ups and downs of the mundane.  Whether it be buying groceries at the supermarket, curling up under a... See full review

An old art teacher of mine once tried to define the sublime; in essence, the sublime is something said to be simultaneously shocking, horrifying, and awe-inspiring.  Like a surrealist painting or a Dadaist sculpture, Paprika is a film of the sublime.  Words fail to describe the visual splendor and terror of the film’s journey into the subconscious mind.  Nothing is quite as frightening one’s dreams—a place where tell-tale signs of repressed memories and fragile psyches emerge.  While examining the nature of our dreams, the film’s entity is a dream in... See full review

Story: 9/10 What do a delusional recluse, an obsessive otaku, and a misfit missionary have in common?  Utter insanity would be the right phrase to describe the crazy-fest that is Welcome to the NHK!.  A black comedy set in modern day Tokyo, Welcome to the NHK! follows the not-so-normal lives of four young adults as they struggle to find meaning in an often unforgiving world. Sato Tatsuhiro, a lazy and neurotic shut-in, is an unemployed hikkikomori who sleeps 16 hours a day and isolates himself from the human race.  Welcome to the NHK! is all about Sato’s... See full review