people: Production I.G


2020


'Ghost In The Shell: SAC_2045': A Withered Husk 
Easily the weakest 'Ghost In The Shell' project thus far, but with a tease of hope at the end of its first half
0 Comments

2017


'Miss Hokusai': An Incomplete Portrait 
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
0 Comments

2016


On Three Anime Oscar Candidates (Plus Two More, Sort Of) 
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
0 Comments
'Empire of Corpses': Dead Man's Party 
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
0 Comments
'Ghost In The Shell: The New Movie': Only New On The Outside 
In the end, all the 'Ghost in the Shell: ARISE' continuity has done is lead us right back where we started
0 Comments

2015


'009 Re: Cyborg': Parts On Order 
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
0 Comments
'Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade': I Therefore Am No Beast 
The best Mamoru Oshii film that Oshii never directed remains affecting and relevant fifteen years later
0 Comments
'Ghost In The Shell: ARISE: Border 4: ghost stands alone' 
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
0 Comments

2014


'A Letter To Momo': I'll Get By With A Little Help From My Ogres 
Despite some pacing problems and a few fumbled story elements, the first film from Hiroyuki Okiura since 'Jin-roh' is a good-hearted treat
0 Comments
'Ghost in the Shell': The Dreaming Machine 
Twenty-five years on, one of anime's seminal groundbreakers remains as alluring, intriguing, confounding, and problematic as ever
0 Comments
'Ghost In The Shell: ARISE: Border 3: ghost tears' 
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
0 Comments
'Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit': Have Spear, Will Travel 
Unfairly overlooked by audiences, this engrossing and intelligent adventure fantasy deserves cherishing -- doubly so now thanks to its welcome re-release
0 Comments
'HAL': Are 'Lovers' Electric? 
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
0 Comments
'Psycho-Pass': Do Androids Dream Of The Silence Of The Lambs? 
Somewhere between 'Blade Runner' and 'SE7EN' lies this show, which sees its dangerous ideas all the way through to the bitter and brilliant end
0 Comments
'Ghost In The Shell: ARISE: Border 2: ghost whisper' 
The second installment in the 'Ghost in the Shell: ARISE' series eschews insight and thematic complexity for straight-up action
0 Comments
'Ghost In The Shell: ARISE: Border 1: ghost pain' 
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
0 Comments
'Attack On Titan': Titanic, In Every Sense 
One of 2013's best shows, which manages to both shoot itself in the foot and not be limited by that
0 Comments

See more Production I.G posts from 2014