animation

  • Makoto Shinkai’s Suzume Shows the Apocalypse the Door

    Makoto Shinkai’s Suzume Shows the Apocalypse the Door

    In Suzume no Tojimari, as the “Doors of Disaster” appear across Japan, a young girl — Suzume — and her friend Souta must find a way to close them. They open in places of abandonment and lonliness, and there is a lot of incredible sets that have been painted for this series. The main characters…


  • Claydream Is an Inspiring Yet Cautionary Show-Biz Tale

    Claydream Is an Inspiring Yet Cautionary Show-Biz Tale

    Claydream, Marq Evans’ new documentary about animator Will Vinton, addresses the elephant in the room immediately: yes, this is the guy who lost his company to his most deep-pocketed investor, Nike founder Phil Knight. It’s something that looms over the film, but it’s not the only melancholy element that colours this portrait of Vinton’s life…


  • The Adorable, Tragic Tale of Osamu Tezuka’s Unico Lives Again

    The Adorable, Tragic Tale of Osamu Tezuka’s Unico Lives Again

    This unicorn may look cute — and he certainly is — but don’t let his whimsy fool you. Unico was created by Osamu Tezuka, the legendary “god of manga” and creator of Astro Boy, who gave this adorable unicorn an edge that captivated Japanese readers of the ‘70s — as well as author Samuel Sattin.…