Wolf Children AKA Ōkami Kodomo no Ame to Yuki

Wolf Children AKA Ōkami Kodomo no Ame to Yuki

Studio Chizu

21 July 2012

Anime, Fantasy, Romance

DVD
C-

Romance with a werewolf is one thing, but I don't buy him auditing a college class like that.  Mamoru Hosoda directed and co-wrote, between Summer Wars (which I liked) and The Boy and the Beast (which I didn't).

The Wind Rises AKA Kaze Tachinu

The Wind Rises AKA Kaze Tachinu

Studio Ghibli

20 July 2013

Anime, Historical Drama

DVD
D+

Kind of boring.  Hayao Miyazaki wrote and directed, and this is the sixth of his films in this project.

When Marnie Was There

When Marnie Was There

Studio Ghibli

19 July 2014

Anime, Drama

DVD
B

A twelve-year-old falls in love with the ghost of her grandmother.  OK, not exactly, but there's an awful lot of blushing and secrets and declarations of love for your standard "kid meets a cool ghost" story.  Either way, this is the first Studio Ghibli anime I haven't rejected.  The scenery is gorgeous, the story is compelling, and the voicework is solid.  Yes, I would've liked a different ending, but the one they offer is still moving.

Director Hiromasa Yonebayashi co-adapted the novel by Joan G. Robinson.

Tekkonkinkreet AKA Black & White

Tekkonkinkreet AKA Black & White

Studio 4°C

23 December 2006

Anime, Action?

DVD
D

Boring story, ugly character design, but the backgrounds are pretty good.  Maikeru Ariasu directed.

Tales from Earthsea AKA Gedo Senki

Tales from Earthsea AKA Gedo Senki

Studio Ghibli

29 July 2006

Anime, Fantasy, Historical Drama, Action

DVD

C-

I mostly like the look of this, but I wasn't invested in the surprisingly bloody story.  Gorô Miyazaki co-adapted the Ursula Le Guin novel, with his father, Hayao.

Summer Wars

Summer Wars

Madhouse etc.

1 August 2009

Anime, Sci-Fi, Dramedy, Romance

DVD
B-

I'd seen this before, years ago, and enjoyed it, but I honestly didn't remember much about it, other than that there was a large family.  I think the film does a pretty good job of juggling so many characters and tones and visual styles.  But I can also see why it didn't linger with me.  Mamoru Hosoda wrote and directed, six years before The Boy and the Beast.

Submarine 707 Revolution: The Movie

Submarine 707 Revolution: The Movie

Group TAC

2003

Anime, Sci-Fi?

DVD
D+

I couldn't really follow this either.  Hideaki Anno and Shôichi Masuo co-directed.

Steamboy

Steamboy

Sunrise etc.

17 July 2004

Anime, Historical Drama

DVD
D+

So steampunk, the main character's last name is Steam.  Katsuhiro Ôtomo directed and co-wrote.

A Silent Voice: The Movie

A Silent Voice: The Movie

Kyoto Animation

17 September 2016

Anime, Drama

DVD
D+

Too much bullying, with no adult interference, at least in the first quarter hour.  This is based on the manga by Yoshitoki Oima (hence "The Movie") and directed by Naoko Yamada.

Samurai X: The Motion Picture

Samurai X: The Motion Picture

Gallop etc.

20 December 1997

Anime, Historical Drama, Action

DVD
D+

I've seen some of the Rurouni Kenshin TV series, but I didn't feel drawn into this, no pun intended.  Tsuji Hatsuki directed.

The Red Turtle

The Red Turtle

Studio Ghibli

29 June 2016

Anime, Drama

DVD
C

I gave this twenty minutes because I liked the look of it, but all that time with no dialogue and little hope wore on me.  Michael Dudok de Wit directed and co-wrote.

Porco Rosso

Porco Rosso

Studio Ghibli

18 July 1992

Anime, Historical Comedy, Fantasy, Action

DVD
C-

Once again, I am baffled at what Studio G is trying to get at, but there was potential here.  Hayao Miyazaki wrote and directed.

Pom Poko

Pom Poko

Studio Ghibli

16 July 1994

Anime, Fantasy

DVD

C-

Muddled and meandering, but not charmless.  Isao Takahata directed and co-wrote.

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind

Topcraft

11 March 1984

Anime, Sci-Fi

DVD
C-

For a change, the character design isn't bad for Studio Ghibli, maybe because this technically predates that studio.  But I just wasn't that into the story.  (A dystopia where everyone has to wear masks to stay alive, I've gotten enough of that in real life.)  Hayao Miyazaki directed and co-wrote.

My Neighbor Totoro AKA Tonari no Totoro

My Neighbor Totoro AKA Tonari no Totoro

Toho

16 April 1988

Children's, Anime, Fantasy, Dramedy

DVD
B-

I'm not a big Studio Ghibli fan but even I could see some of the charm of this movie, in its story and the scenery.  I'm just not crazy about the look of the humans.  Hayao Miyazaki wrote and directed.

Millennium Actress

Millennium Actress

Madhouse

14 September 2002

Anime, Historical Drama, Fantasy

DVD
C-

I personally couldn't get into this, but I could see why it was critically acclaimed.  Satoshi Kon directed and co-wrote.

Lady Death: The Movie

Lady Death: The Movie

ADV Films

5 October 2004

Anime, Historical Drama, Horror

DVD
D+

Weird even by anime standards, as a busty medieval blonde finds out that her dad is The Devil and he's eaten her college drop-out boyfriend's soul.  Andy Orjuela directed.

In This Corner of the World AKA Kono Sekai no Katasumi ni

In This Corner of the World AKA Kono Sekai no Katasumi ni

MAPPA
12 November 2016

Anime, Historical Drama

DVD
C-

I found the character design (like how no one seems to age) and some of the dubbing off.  Sunao Katabuchi directed and co-wrote the adaptation of the manga by Fumiyo Kōno.

Kite

Kite

ARMS

1998

Anime, Crime Drama

DVD
F+

This was originally two episodes released to VHS and then edited to one film, which is how it was released in the U.S., but I could make it through only fifteen minutes of the unpleasant content.  Yasuomi Umetsu wrote and directed.

Kimi no Na Wa AKA Your Name

Kimi no Na Wa AKA Your Name

Toho

26 August 2016

Anime, Fantasy, Romance

DVD
B-

Confusing but intriguing story of body-switching, with lovely scenic design and a few good supporting characters.  One of those movies I wish was better than it was.  Director Makoto Shinkai based the screenplay on his book, and he did the superior Children Who Chase Lost Voices five years earlier.