The First Slam Dunk

9.5/10

This is a follow-up film to the anime Slam Dunk, and a retelling of the original manga's final match. (Yeah, First Slam Dunk makes it look like a prequel. Very confusing.) In this movie, the Shohoku high school basketball team compete against their rivals the unbeatable Sanno for the championship title. The focus is on not the series' main lead Hanamichi Sakuragi but on Ryota Miyagi, the short but fast member of the team, and gives us his backstory.

This may be some of the most impressive 2D animation of the decade. I've been impressed with how recent animation, even for television, has been able to get closer and closer to manage to duplicate the specific looks of the original manga illustrators' pencilings. This may be one of the closest to a manga page truly come to life I've ever seen. The coloring even feels like the type you'd see used sometimes in manga pages. This is written and directed by the manga's original creator Takehiko Inoue, and the character design and animation looks so good in this. The movement is also really lifelike, like rotoscoping. Even the motion of faceless background characters in the crowd look good.

Characters have a 2D1/2 look to them and sometimes the use of this juxtaposed against regular 2D backgrounds or the use of CGI in general can look a little off sometimes. Also, the coloring of character's hair tapering off at the border of the their heads can look weird. However, none of these issues are deal breakers.

Direction itself is so tight. The baseball scenes are intricately executed. The movie makes you feel the tension at the end and the struggle the players go through against such a powerful team. You don't notice at first, but it becomes apparent as things heat up that the music and sound editing also really complement the game. I loved how the gym (or whatever facility, it's never specified) they're in looks. The flashback scenes for Ryoto also have fine detail that help tell the story.

What differentiates this from other sports movies is that the current plot all takes place during one game; no series of matches building up and not even scenes of the characters preparing beforehand or entering the facility. It turns out that focusing on only one game can really work. It doesn't feel drawn out or boring (in fact things pick up as the game goes on) and really shows the stress and passion that one can have in playing a very important game.

It's a pleasant surprise that the rival team isn't portrayed, as they are often stereotypically done in American movies and television, as jerks, or its coach as an angry or corrupt guy who's consumed with winning. Sure they're a little overconfident with their success and not as charming as their leads, but that's it. They're true athletic forces on the court and that's all they need, and the coach is a shrewd operator.

Ryota's story, though admittedly can't match the game itself, is a well told tale of rising above tragedy and the relationship between him and his mother is something I hadn't seen done in quite this way before. 

The movie works well enough for first time watchers. (I've read that that was Inoue's intent.) You're just thrown in and don't get a lot of backstory on characters, but they tend to fit basic types, so it doesn't take a lot of work to figure what these characters are about.

The back-and-forth between timelines can get a little annoying. For the first half, I was hoping the game scenes would switch back to the flashbacks, so I wanted to see how story points would be resolved or answered and for the second half, I wanted to keep watching the game because I'd gotten so involved. The past scenes also could've been shorter. I commend the movie for saying a lot with little or no dialogue, but it still could've been streamlined.

Fans of the original manga and anime may be disappointed that they've been waiting for the finale to be animated for years, and it turns out to not be a pure adaptation. You don't get to see much of a follow-up after the game (which I assumed would be in the manga). Most importantly, if you were following Sakuragi all this time, you'd might be frustrated that he's second fiddle in the culmination of his story.

Highly recommended. This may be the best sports movie I've ever seen and it looks amazing. I've never been so drawn into a fictional sports match before this.

Lupin the 3rd vs. Cat's Eye

7/10

Having already had Lupin the 3rd team up twice with Detective Conan, the studios have sought a new property to crossover and can fit Lupin's world, one from the 80's. Lupin the 3rd vs. Cat's Eye, on Amazon Prime, brings together prolific anime/manga master thief Lupin the 3rd and his gang and Cat's Eye, a trio of sister art thieves trying to retrieve all the artwork by their missing father. The two groups find themselves in competition for a trio of paintings, which the dangerous Syndicate is also pursuing.

Much how the Lupin/Conan movies felt more like they were set in the Conan world, the tone here feels more like a Cat's Eye film than a Lupin film (at least I think, I don't have a lot of experience with CE), more emphasis is put on the sisters and the movie has a more grounded tone than some other Lupin entries. Not that I'm knocking it. The tone of Lupin has varied frequently over the decades with you getting a bit more lighter Lupin movies over the years than weighty ones, and people who prefer the latter will like this. It's not a hard "adult" title like the early years of Lupin, but there are moments where the situations get more threatening than the majority of the films. 

The sisters are played pretty straight and just aren't as entertaining as the Lupin gang. Also, it hurts the Cat's Eye as main protagonists and believability as professional thieves when Lupin & co. seem quicker on the uptake than them. Lupin is the only member of his group that really gets a chance to shine, with the others just kinda being there. The best use of characters in this are definitely the pairing of Lupin's foe Inspector Zenigato and Cat's Eye's foe detective Toshio Utsumi, who serve as a sort of comic relief. They are both quite similar in goals and outlooks, but their different personalities make things interesting.

As for the basic plot itself, it's solid. I wouldn't say it's the most standout adventure, but it's up there as one of the better Lupin films. Theft/fight scenes are good and everything moves at a steady pace.

The movie utilizes 2d backgrounds with cell shaded 3D characters. Can't say this is the best looking anime I've ever seen, but competent effort was definitely put into this. Backgrounds are detailed and character designs aren't too shabby. However, the filmmakers decided to have the Lupin characters designs changed to fit more into the more realistic aesthetic of the Cat's Eye character designs. Lupin's chin is too short and it bugs me. An interesting detail is that to match the Cat's Eye world, which was very 80's, they had Lupin wear his pink jacket which he wore during that period of time on his third show. Although, I don't think the color blends well with the rest of the scenery.

Kinda recommended. Not a must-watch, but if you're looking for an adventure film, this is a good time. Does stand out a little from the plethora of Lupin films that blend together. 

Dragonball Super: Super Hero

8/10

In this the second DBS film (with screenplay by original DB creator Akira Toriyama), The Red Ribbon Army (from the original Dragon Ball) has rebuilt itself, created new, powerful allies, and are seeking vengeance against Goku and his allies, with Piccolo being the first they set their eyes upon.

If you're walking into this expecting another film like the previous installment the action and lore-heavy DBS: Broly, DON'T. This is more like the first of the DBZ comeback films Battle of the Gods. You get two-thirds of old-school, original DB-style comedy with an impressive battle in the final act. If you love DB for the action, but aren't big on DB's humor, this may not be for you. I, however, had a good time. I thought this was pretty funny and liked the goofy, light-hearted comedy and the unique tone Toriyama brings.

Not to say the fight scenes are anything to scoff at. I wouldn't say they are as good as Broly, some of the best action I've ever seen in animation, but they're not that far off either. The fights are all really impressive, grand, and really well animated. This is the first DB title to use 3D-cell shaded (21/2-D) models, and I thought it worked pretty well. Speaking of the show's appearance in general, I love the look of of the backgrounds and buildings in this. Everything looks really good. 

Be forewarned that the movie sidelines lead Goku and Vegeta, the best fighters in the series. To be honest, I'm not hating the decision. It's a fun shift from the norm to focus on some of the supporting characters. Piccolo really does carry the film. He's basically the serious, competent guy who has to deal with everyone else's eccentricities. 

I also like the new villains in this, they're all pretty entertaining, particularly eccentric and morally complex scientist Dr. Hedo. The two main androids in this Gamma 1 and 2 are admittedly just a reuse of the old trope of the cocky guy/takes-things-seriously guy duo, but they're still decent characters. 

Recommended. I'd say this is my third favorite DBZ movie (below Broly and Battle of the Gods). It may be a step down from the last film, but if you like it when DB is just trying to have fun, I think you'll like this.

Lupin III: Prison of the Past

7.5/10

In this latest Lupin anime TV movie, master thief Lupin and the gang try to break Finnegan, a famous Robin Hood-style thief, out of a formidable prison in the Kingdom of Dorrente.

This is one of the most lighthearted Lupin movies in recent years. The director Hatsuki Tsuji was a key animator during the second series during the eighties, perhaps a reason for it's more playful, old-school feel. 

The movie's creative in a weird way. A lot of unexpected concepts are thrown at you. Though this isn't the first story where Lupin has had to get out of a prison, this is the best executed. In fact the movie manages to be one of the more memorable Lupin entries in general as it does things a little differently than the traditional formula. (Not to say that you won't find certain Lupin cliches in this.)

Movie's entertaining, but I admit it's not perfect. There are a lot of fun ideas, but, especially in the beginning when the exhibition is set up, you also get a bunch of dialogue scenes that are just okay. Some of the random or goofy parts might be too random or goofy, especially if you prefer more adult or serious Lupin. It's difficult to connect point A to point B when it comes to the villain's plan and how he or she got his or her operation set up in the first place. 

The movie does a good job of juggling all the main cast and having them interact with each other. This is one of those situations where Lupin and his rival Investigator Zenigata end up being in the same boat and have to work together. That's always fun because it doesn't happen too often. I'm liking how they handled Zenigata all together here. The script manages to include him in the main story more than a lot of other films. They also play him smart and resourceful here, which not always interpretation of Zenigata does. Interestingly, this special reuses a character other than the main five. (Lupin is like Scooby-Doo in that's it's a small gang of recurring characters.) Zenigata's assistant Goro Yatagarasu returns from Lupin series six. I'm okay with adding someone new to the formula. Since Zenigata isn't on Lupin's side, it makes sense to finally give him a regular to talk to and interact with. Though the movie might lean a little too hard on Goro's being wet-behind-the-years, he's a decent enough character who's endearing in his earnestness. 

Since this is TV, you can't expect the film to be theatrical quality. The budget only goes to far, but the animators are clearly doing the best with what they have. Especially like the backgrounds in this; nice use of color.

Recommended. Not perfect, but it's fun. Not one of the best Lupin entries, but one of the better ones. Definitely more likely to leave an impression than many of the other Lupin films that tend to merge together in your memory.

Belle

7/10

In this new anime film Belle, painfully shy Suzu creates an avatar in the immersive virtual reality cyberscape U. Her new persona Belle becomes a popular web singer. It is in U she becomes acquainted with the beast-like Dragon who's wanted by U's self-appointed security force for causing destruction. She becomes curious about the mysterious figure and tries to find him. Belle is one of those imperfect films that has many great parts to it, but it isn't able to pull everything into a compelling whole. 

Admittedly, this feels like a rehash of various previous concepts from director Mamoru Hosoda, consisting of the digital world (Digimon/Summer Wars), young love (The Girl who Leapt Through Time/Summer Wars), and beast guys (The Boy and the Beast/Wolf Children). However, this manages to stand on its own. Although U feels like it very similar to the cyber world from Summer Wars, which I think has a better design, the U does manage to stand out and feel different. The movie features a surprisingly strong critique of internet culture and celebrity. In fact, I liked some of the brief substory parts about the social media world over Suzu's story.   

Hosoda manages to produce strong characterization with a large cast. It's not uncommon for anime to focus on a character struggling with their personal issues, but the plot has a solid backstory for why Suzu is the way she is. There are many touching moments in this. 

In case you haven't figured out yet, this movie about a character named Belle and and a beast-like character is a clear allusion to the fairy tale Beauty and the Beast. Admittedly, there are points in the film where they adhere a little too closely too the tale and feels a bit obvious, but ultimately the movie isn't married to the concept when it comes to the endgame. I was taken by surprised by what the movie was really going for, and I congratulate it for that. 

The movie's strengths can be its weaknesses. There are TOO many characters, though they've all got personality, and too much stuff going on that stretches things out. The movie doesn't need to be two hours and one minute. I got bored with parts, especially the hundredth scene of Suzu being insecure. (I'm looking at this from a film pacing perspective. I confess that this may be unfair to a movie looking at a character with mental health issues, as anxiety and self-doubt can be an overwhelming experience, and the movie was trying to convey that.) They also could've cut down on the high school relationship stuff. (Again, I may be too hard. This appears to be aimed at a younger, and probably a female audience, and as a 38-year old male, I wasn't the target audience.) 

I applaud Hosoda for the message of the film, but the ending has it's flaws. Like the film as a whole, it goes on too long. When you think it's over, nope there's more. This is one of those movies that can both over explain or under explain. The ending is definitely in the latter category as you'll be left with questions. Actions won't necessarily make sense. (To be fair, this may be a cultural difference situation.)

Character movement in this is really fluid. I have mixed feelings about the design of U. There are character or scenery designs I wasn't a big fan of (a lot of U is just tall skyscrapers), but there are other designs I really like, including the Dragon's home base and the look of Belle. Suzu's songs in this I can't say I remember them after, but they ain't too shabby.  

This is one of the movies where mileage will vary. Some of you will probably be bored, especially if you're not into a lot of those anime teen dramas that seem to be all the rage right now in Japan. Others will love the story and world of U. And, there'll be people like me in the middle. A pity Hosoda couldn't craft something more condensed and stable, for there are parts that truly shine and hint at a film that could've truly been great. 

Demon Slayer: Mugen Train

 

8/10

Demon Slayer: Mugen Train, the film sequel to the anime show Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, continues the adventures of demon slayer Tanjiro, his demon-turned sister Nezuko, and their compatriots as they board a train that has been the source of several disappearances. This movie is the highest grossing in Japan and the first non-American film to top the annual international box office.

This is one of those movies where it helps to see the original show or look up some basic info. at least. (I went in fairly new myself.) It is a direct continuation of the series happening right after the last episode. Whereas a lot of anime films based on shows are original works that tend not to interfere with canon, Mugen Train directly adapts a story arc from the manga. I kind of appreciated this, since a lot of those aforementioned films' stories never feel as strong as the those originating directly from the manga creators, plus the antagonists often feel subpar. This film has a backbone to it.

As someone who walked in new to this, I warmed up to the main cast real quick. Tanjiro in particular is a relatable character. You really end up rooting for him. I did not realize how emotional this movie was going to get as Tanjiro has a lot he has to struggle against. I think this might actually be as good a character piece as an action film. The main villain Enmue, a verbose, theatrical, and sadistic demon with a penchant for strategy, is the type of baddie you love to hate.  

Since the commercials don't really go int detail into what Enmue's main style of attack is, I won't spoil it. It is something that has been done before. However, it's done well enough that it didn't bother me. Heck, I think it's one of the best parts of the film, and it really helps separate this from a lot of other more traditonal shonen anime.

The whole thing looks pretty nice. The movie makes good use of the combination of 2D and 3D animation. The train speeding past the 3D landscape is particularly eye-catching. 

The fight scenes look good too, being creative and ferocious.

Going back to this being based on the manga, this situation does have its setbacks. Usually if something is adapted to film, stuff has to be changed or cut in order to make it more accessible to the audience and fit for time. However, because this film has to connect to the first season of the show and the upcoming second season, plot points and characters couldn't be tossed. The ending feels overextended, going on way past where you'd think it would end. The pacing and structure generally feel odd since the story was intended to be told episodically. 

Overall, I liked this despite not having seen the show. But, I don't quite see why this is top of the box office. It is definitely up there in the top five or ten anime films based on shows, but it doesn't stand as a great work separated from the show like, say, Castle of Cagliostro. At the end of the day, it's a traditional shonen story arc. Fans of Demon Slayer will probably love it. (Like I said, it does have a grand ending.) General anime fans who haven't seen the show, shouldn't have much trouble getting on board. But if you're not big on anime in general, this SHOULDN'T be your entry point. There's so many characters and stuff thrown at you.

Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon- Season 1

8/10

Yashahime is the sequel show to the hit Inuyasha. It stars Towa Higurashi, half-demon daughter of Inuyasha's antihero half-brother Sesshomaru, who was raised in modern times. She finds a way back to her native feudal Japan and teams up with her sister Setsuna, a demon hunter, and Inuyasha and Kagome's quarter-demon daughter Moroha, a bounty hunter, to fight demons and investigate what happened to their parents and why Setsuna can't remember Towa.

Now, this show doesn't match the original. Whereas Inuyasha was mostly based on the stories from the manga by Rumiko Takahashi, this is a purely original work. Without Takahashi, the characters and storylines are missing the particular touch she had. The show feels more like your basic battle of the week-style anime. Also, a lot, but not all, of the demon designs feel pretty generic and uninspired.

But this is all compared to Inuyasha, the show by itself is fairly entertaining. Yashahime is definitely faster-paced than its predecessor, which was a slow burn.   

I was worried about the three leads being copycat characters, but that turned out to be not much of a problem, and I ended up liking them. Setsuna and Moroha are generally similar their fathers, but they manage to be their own characters as well. Towa as the most original of the trio, makes for a fine leader. She's a tough combatant who is also surprisingly sweet and empathetic. I hear the characters' designs are also by Takahashi. They fare better than a lot of the other characters on the show. Towa is pretty distinctive in her all white school boys' uniform. 

The main villain Kirinmaru works pretty well. Naraku, the big baddie in Inuyasha, was a despicable schemer and puppetmaster interested mainly in increasing his own power. The writers for this got the good idea of going in the opposite direction for Kirinmaru. He's a bad dude, but he's got a warrior's code thing going on. Plus, he also seems to see the big picture besides his own goals. 

There is one element in this, which I would consider a spoiler and can't go into details, that is really creepy. I wish they hadn't done that. 

Still as a whole, I recommend this. If you're an Inuyasha fan, you could be disappointed. Overall, though, I found this to be a decent time waster.