2019 brought both tragedy and triumph to Japan's anime industry
While the anime world was rocked by a fatal arson attack at the studios of Kyoto Animation, a diverse range of new films and series gave the year a creative boost.
2019 saw just a few glimmers of hope in an otherwise mediocre year for Japanese film
The year predictably saw new iterations of long-running anime favorites top the box office, but the year's truly interesting films lay much further down the financial rankings.
Makoto Shinkai's anime 'Weathering With You' nominated for Annie Awards
The anime film "Weathering With You" by Makoto Shinkai has been nominated in four categories in the 47th annual Annie Awards, including best animated independent feature, the international animated film society ASIFA-Hollywood said Monday. Two other anime directed by Japanese were nominated in the same ...
Gkids brings anime's best to big screens in the U.S.
Though relatively unheralded, Gkids scored the rights to U.S. re-releases of the work of anime giants — including Isao Takahata and Makoto Shinkai — by only showing them in cinemas.
Japan saw a generational and international shift for anime in the 2010s
The 2010s were dominated by a batch of new animators, bringing success stories to the big screen in Japan and overseas, while traditional TV anime gave way to streaming productions
U.S. anime market matures in 2019
With collaboration between nations increasing, the U.S. is seeing new opportunities in its anime market
The real Tokyo locations from Makoto Shinkai's anime movies
Tokyo serves as the backdrop for several films by Makoto Shinkai. The renowned anime director has approached the megapolis from multiple angles ranging from the urban decay of this year's "Weathering With You" to the sleek, modern aesthetic of 2016's "Your Name." Here are a ...
Understanding 'teru teru bōzu,' the ghost-like charms in 'Weathering With You'
While Makoto Shinkai’s latest film, “Weathering With You,” has already been released in Japan, it’s likely anime fans overseas won’t be able to see the movie until 2020. However, there are a few moments in the film that may leave international audiences scratching their ...
Anime director Makoto Shinkai's new film can't shake 'Your Name.' comparisons
Makoto Shinkai’s latest film, “Weathering With You” (“Tenki no Ko”), may have outperformed the director’s 2016 blockbuster, “Your Name.,” at the box office on its opening weekend, but it failed to create many waves on social media in its first week. “Weathering With You,” which ...
Makoto Shinkai isn't afraid of a bit of rain in the pursuit of his art
It has been raining for weeks, but director Makoto Shinkai doesn't seem to mind a bit. The award-winning creator's latest film, "Weathering With You," couldn't have been accompanied by better meteorological conditions than in the weeks leading up to its July 19 release. According to the ...
'Weathering With You': Breezy with scattered showers
Arriving in the middle of a seemingly endless rainy season in Tokyo, "Weathering With You" feels like it's benefitted from an ingenious stealth marketing campaign. Little has been left to chance with Makoto Shinkai's follow-up to "Your Name." The film raked in nearly $360 ...
Cinematically big in Japan: Where film crews lead, fans soon follow
A visit to a film location can add some movie magic to your Japan travels.
