people: Production I.G
2020
'Ghost In The Shell: SAC_2045': A Withered Husk May 18, 2020
Easily the weakest 'Ghost In The Shell' project thus far, but with a tease of hope at the end of its first half
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2017
'Miss Hokusai': An Incomplete Portrait April 07, 2017
With a potentially fascinating story about the daughter of the fabled artist Hokusai and some beautiful production design, it's a shame this unfocused and aimless film isn't better
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2016
On Three Anime Oscar Candidates (Plus Two More, Sort Of) November 14, 2016
Japan has three pictures in the running for Best Animated Feature Film in this year's Oscars, with two others influenced by Japan. It's a shame none of them are likely to win
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'Empire of Corpses': Dead Man's Party July 27, 2016
Label anything 'steampunk' and the label tends to take over, but this fantasy from the late lamented Project Itoh is about more than just clockworks and longcoats
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'Ghost In The Shell: The New Movie': Only New On The Outside April 15, 2016
In the end, all the 'Ghost in the Shell: ARISE' continuity has done is lead us right back where we started
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2015
'009 Re: Cyborg': Parts On Order August 01, 2015
The latest attempt to revamp a classic anime/manga property along modern-day sensibilities is a fizzle, no thanks to a mismatch of material and director
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'Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade': I Therefore Am No Beast February 09, 2015
The best Mamoru Oshii film that Oshii never directed remains affecting and relevant fifteen years later
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'Ghost In The Shell: ARISE: Border 4: ghost stands alone' January 05, 2015
With all four installments of 'ARISE' in place, the whole of it adds up to a breathless but superficial ride, lacking the soul and personality that dignified its predecessors
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2014
'A Letter To Momo': I'll Get By With A Little Help From My Ogres October 24, 2014
Despite some pacing problems and a few fumbled story elements, the first film from Hiroyuki Okiura since 'Jin-roh' is a good-hearted treat
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'Ghost in the Shell': The Dreaming Machine September 26, 2014
Twenty-five years on, one of anime's seminal groundbreakers remains as alluring, intriguing, confounding, and problematic as ever
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'Ghost In The Shell: ARISE: Border 3: ghost tears' September 19, 2014
Part three of 'ARISE' is an improvement on the first two installments, but the ineffable alchemy we saw before in the franchise still hasn't quite manifested itself
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'Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit': Have Spear, Will Travel September 12, 2014
Unfairly overlooked by audiences, this engrossing and intelligent adventure fantasy deserves cherishing -- doubly so now thanks to its welcome re-release
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'HAL': Are 'Lovers' Electric? September 05, 2014
Even while this love story between a human and a robot is sincere and affecting, it's up to the audience to tell if it has one too many twists for its own good
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'Psycho-Pass': Do Androids Dream Of The Silence Of The Lambs? April 07, 2014
Somewhere between 'Blade Runner' and 'SE7EN' lies this show, which sees its dangerous ideas all the way through to the bitter and brilliant end
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'Ghost In The Shell: ARISE: Border 2: ghost whisper' March 10, 2014
The second installment in the 'Ghost in the Shell: ARISE' series eschews insight and thematic complexity for straight-up action
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'Ghost In The Shell: ARISE: Border 1: ghost pain' March 03, 2014
Even if 'ARISE' falls short of the heights of 'Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex', it's still a model of ambition and vision for anime
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'Attack On Titan': Titanic, In Every Sense January 06, 2014
One of 2013's best shows, which manages to both shoot itself in the foot and not be limited by that
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