Paaaarrrtyyy!!!!

ANI-MOVIES, *Only Yesterday

One of Studio Ghibli's less noted films from the early 90's, Only Yesterday was one not directed by Hayao Miyazaki, but Isao Takahata who is more known for Grave Of The Fireflies and The Tale Of Princess Kaguya. Only recently released in English through GKIDS, this slice-of-life feature unlike most Ghibli movies doesn't deal with otherworldly princesses or spirits meddling with the human world.

Taking place in the early 80s, mid-20's Taeko Okajima decides to spend her week off by leaving Tokyo and going to work on a farm with their recent harvest. During Taeko's journey to the country and while she works on the farm, she keeps flashbacking to her childhood growing up with her family, which apparently showed her dealing with being learning disabled which affected her growing as a person, also slightly stunting her maturity as she's still single. While on her visit Takeo also starts falling for local farmhand Toshio, and she keeps conflicting between her current self along with her childlike self from her memories.

Only Yesterday is one of those Ghibli productions that sort of slipped through the cracks by most American otaku as compared to most of Miyazaki's movies, but GKIDS did an above average release of this for English release. Having Daisy Ridley as the voice of Taeko was a good choice as far as popular actors is concerned, plus other VA regulars like Grey Griffin, Tara Strong, and Mona Marshall filling out the cast. Even non-Ghibli fans will find it charming and an animation miracle.

Rocket Raccoon needs Ulysses Klaue's arm

ANI-MOVIES, *Mazinger Z: Infinity

Since they're bringing back all 70 retro anime, the time had come for yet another Mazinger Z reboot. This recent full-length motion picture acts as a follow-up to the original 70s super robot anime TV series, which out in America was re-branded and dubbed as Tranzor Z(and was also part of the Shogun Warriors toyline!). It takes into account the Great Mazinger anime, but other spin-offs like Mazinkaiser aren't directly referenced in it.

Set a decade after the original TV series, Dr. Hell and his forces are thought to be dead and gone. Former Mazinger pilot Koji Kabuto is now the head scientist at the Photonic Power Plant, and the world is mostly powered by Photonic energy. But an army of evil robots lead by Dr. Hell's right hand men/woman, Baron Ashura and Brocken, who attack the the companion Photon plant in America where Great Mazinger is captured. Meanwhile in Japan, Koji unearths a humongous Mazinger-type robot they call Mazinger Infinity, which also contains a blue-haired teenage girl named Lisa who declares Koji to be her "master". Turns out, Lisa is a cyborg that can coordinate with the Infinity mecha, and she becomes the target of Dr. Hell whose robot army who lays siege to the Mt. Fuji, and captures the Infinity. Koji has to retaliate with his remaining mecha pilots, including a rebuilt Mazinger Z, all before Dr. Hell gains total control of Infinity which will allow him to rewrite reality by folding cosmic forces to his will.

There's some serious development with most of the standard Mazinger Z characters from the original TV anime, and Lisa's arrival hints at what the future has in store for Koji and his longtime partner Sayaka. Junji Shimiz does a good job as director for this feature, although some of the CGI mecha aren't as dynamic as the traditional animated giant robots. If you got the chance to see this in U.S. theaters during its limited run, then you already know it's worth a second look at least for a super robot nostalgia trip!