For this edition of Saturday Anime Night, we’re watching the first four episodes (of 13) from one of the all-time classic anime OVAs, Record of Lodoss War (1990). We will watch a band of medieval adventurers as they trek through dungeons, kill monsters, and collect treasure. Imagine a video game, but as an anime. That is pretty much this series’ tone. It is nevertheless one of the most iconic OVA series out there, owing to its beautiful aesthetic. After that is Blue Giant (2023), one of the most critically-acclaimed anime films of recent years, concerning a young man’s quest to become the greatest saxophone player of all time. To do that, he has to put together the most killer jazz band of all time, too. Will he succeed? I guess we’ll find out. This is by far the best-regarded film of director Yuzuru Tachikawa to date; he has made a couple of Detective Conan movies, and a Bleach movie, and that’s about it.

We’ll start at 9PM EST on Hextube, right here: https://live.hexbear.net/c/movies

Be there, comrades!

Letterboxd:

• Record of Lodoss War: https://letterboxd.com/film/record-of-lodoss-war/
• Blue Giant: https://letterboxd.com/film/blue-giant/

Doesthedogdie.com links:

• Record of Lodoss War: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0100044/parentalguide?ref_=tt_stry_pg
• Blue Giant: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15737898/parentalguide?ref_=tt_stry_pg

CWs for Record of Lodoss War:

• Nudity.
• Objectification of female characters.
• Blood and gore.
• Fantasy violence.
• Cutting of flesh.

CWs for Blue Giant:

• Someone is hit by a truck.
• Blood.
• Broken bones.
• Alcohol.
• Smoking.

Links to movies:

• Forthcoming. I have the files, but the most convenient way to upload them is to replace one of the earlier videos while a later video is playing.

For our fourth and final Astro Boy edition of Saturday Anime Night, we’re not wrapping up just one Astro Boy series, but five of them. We will watch the last episodes of Astro Boy (1963), Astro Boy (1980), Astro Boy (2003), and Atom: The Beginning (2017), followed by the last two episodes (7 and 8) of dark Astro Boy reimagining Pluto (2023)! We’ll laugh. We’ll cry. We’ll say goodbye to Astro a few times over. If you’ve already tuned in for the previous Astro nights, you know the drill. If not, we’ll help you get up to speed. If not, just know that we have watched all these versions of Astro Boy to contextualize the centerpiece of these anime nights, Pluto (2023), which is an adaptation of the manga of the same name by Naoki Urasawa (otherwise best-known for Monster); it is a dark reimagining of the legendary Astro Boy arc “The Greatest Robot in the World”, concerning robo-assassin Pluto’s quest to destroy the world’s seven strongest bots. It has received rave reviews from all corners, so we will finish it off tonight.

We’ll start at 9PM EST on Hextube, right here: https://live.hexbear.net/c/movies

Be there, comrades!

Letterboxd:

• The various Astro Boy series: Sorry, not on Letterboxd.
• Pluto: https://letterboxd.com/film/pluto-2023-1/

Doesthedogdie.com links:

• The various Astro Boy series: Nothing on DTDD or IMDB. Sorry.
• Pluto: Ditto.

CWs for the various Astro Boy series:

• Child abuse.
• Death of child.
• Car crash.
• Gun violence.
• Anti-robot bigotry.
• Cartoon violence.
• Robot slavery.
• Deaths of sentient robots.
• Children in peril.

CWs for Pluto:

• Deaths of animals.
• Blood and gore.
• Gun violence.
• Children in peril.
• Sad ending.
• Explosions.

Links to movies:

• Forthcoming. I have the files, but the most convenient way to upload them is to replace one of the earlier videos while a later video is playing.

For this special Astro Boy edition Saturday Anime Night, the third of four, we are watching yet more versions of Astro Boy. First up is the first episode of the hilariously low-budget Japanese live-action Astro Boy series from 1959, which Tezuka reportedly hated. Let’s check it out. After that, we will watch episodes 1 and 2 of the 1980 Astro Boy anime, covering Astro’s origin story. We have already seen the 1963 and 2009 version of Astro’s birth, so this should make for an interesting comparison. Then, we will move onto the prequel anime Atom: The Beginning (2017), which chronicles the friendship and rivalry between Astro’s two fathers, Dr. Tenma and Dr. Ochanomizu, during their university years. Oddly, they are barely in the first episode, so I guess we will just have to watch the first two. Everything mentioned up to here will provide us with some more context for Pluto (2023), an adaptation of the manga of the same name by Naoki Urasawa (otherwise best-known for Monster), which is a dark reimagining of the legendary Astro Boy arc “The Greatest Robot in the World”. It has received rave reviews from all corners, so we will watch parts 5 and 6 (of 8) tonight.

We’ll start at 9PM EST on Hextube, right here: https://live.hexbear.net/c/movies

Be there, comrades!

Letterboxd:

• The various Astro Boy series: Sorry, not on Letterboxd.
• Pluto: https://letterboxd.com/film/pluto-2023-1/

Doesthedogdie.com links:

• The various Astro Boy series: Nothing on DTDD or IMDB. Sorry.
• Pluto: Ditto.

CWs for the various Astro Boy series:

• Child abuse.
• Death of child.
• Car crash.
• Gun violence.
• Anti-robot bigotry.
• Cartoon violence.
• Robot slavery.
• Deaths of sentient robots.
• Children in peril.

CWs for Pluto:

• Deaths of animals.
• Blood and gore.
• Gun violence.
• Children in peril.
• Sad ending.
• Explosions.

Links to movies:

• Forthcoming. I have the files, but the most convenient way to upload them is to replace one of the earlier videos while a later video is playing.

For this all-Astro-Boy edition Saturday Anime Night, first up (by request) is Astro Boy (2009), the American CGI adaptation of Osamu Tezuka's iconic manga. It's supposed to be okay, and this is the perfect time to watch it, so that's what we are going to do. After that, we will watch episodes 1, 17, and 18 of Astro Boy (2003), which cover Astro’s origin, as well as the iconic “World’s Greatest Robot” arc. These episodes will provide us with the necessary context for Pluto (2023), an adaptation of the manga of the same name by Naoki Urasawa (otherwise best-known for Monster), which is itself a dark reimagining of the aforementioned Astro Boy arc. It has received rave reviews from all corners, so we will watch parts 3 and 4 (of 8) tonight.

We’ll start at 7PM EST on Hextube, right here: https://live.hexbear.net/c/movies

Be there, comrades!

Letterboxd:

• Astro Boy (2009): https://letterboxd.com/film/astro-boy/
• Pluto: https://letterboxd.com/film/pluto-2023-1/

Doesthedogdie.com links:

• Astro Boy (2009): https://www.doesthedogdie.com/media/14212
• Pluto: Nothing on DTDD or IMDB. Sorry.

CWs for Astro Boy (2009):

• Child abuse.
• Death of child.
• Someone soils themselves.
• Flashing lights.
• Car crash.
• Gun violence.

CWs for Astro Boy (2003):

• Slavery.
• Child abuse.
• Cartoon violence.
• Deaths of sentient robots.
• Children in peril.

CWs for Pluto:

• Deaths of animals.
• Blood and gore.
• Gun violence.
• Children in peril.
• Sad ending.
• Explosions.

Links to movies:

• Forthcoming. I have the files, but the most convenient way to upload them is to replace one of the earlier videos while a later video is playing.

For this Saturday Anime Night, first up is Megazone 23 III (1989), the third and final intallment of the series, which has been a Hextube hit so far. It is one of the classic anime films from the old tape-trading days, one of the ones that made Western anime nerds into fans for life, with its pure cyberpunk anime a e s t h e t i c. It’s got guys on motorbikes, robots, explosions, big action scenes, and great animation the whole way through. After that, we will watch the first episode of Astro Boy (1963), which establishes his origin; then, we will watch episodes 23 and 24 of Astro Boy (1980), which covers the iconic “World’s Greatest Robot” arc (note that the 1963 anime, which is readily available, also covers this arc in episodes 116 and 117, but no one has ever subtitled them in English.) These episodes will provide us with the necessary context for Pluto (2023), an adaptation of the manga of the same name by Naoki Urasawa (otherwise best-known for Monster), which is itself a dark reimagining of the aforementioned Astro Boy arc. It has received rave reviews from all corners, so we will watch the first two parts (of eight) tonight.

We’ll start at 7PM EST on Hextube, right here: https://live.hexbear.net/c/movies

Be there, comrades!

Letterboxd:

• Megazone 23 III: https://letterboxd.com/film/megazone-23-iii-part-1-the-awakening-of-eve/
• Pluto: https://letterboxd.com/film/pluto-2023-1/

Doesthedogdie.com links:

• Megazone 23 III: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0160523/parentalguide?ref_=tt_stry_pg
• Pluto: Nothing on DTDD or IMDB. Sorry.

CWs for Megazone 23 III:

• Nudity.
• Sex.
• Attempted sexual assault of woman, though barely anything happens before it is foiled.
• Blood and gore.
• Explosions.
• Obscene language in subtitles.
• Smoking.
• Jump scares.

CWs for Astro Boy:

• Slavery.
• Child abuse.
• Cartoon violence.
• Deaths of sentient robots.
• Children in peril.

CWs for Pluto:

• Deaths of animals.
• Blood and gore.
• Gun violence.
• Children in peril.
• Sad ending.
• Explosions.

Links to movies:

• Forthcoming. I have the files, but the most convenient way to upload them is to replace one of the earlier videos while a later video is playing.

For this extra-long, spooky edition of Saturday Anime Night, first up is The Grudge 2 (2006), continuing our journey through the series from yesterday. A ghost girl continues to scare people to death. Boo! After that is Megazone 23 II (1986), since the first film was a hhit last week. It is one of the classic anime films from the old tape-trading days, one of the ones that made Western anime nerds into fans for life, with its pure cyberpunk anime a e s t h e t i c. It’s got guys on motorbikes, robots, explosions, big action scenes, and great animation the whole way through. It’s not spooky, but whatever, we’re still watching. After that, we’ll watch some actually scary anime: Devilman: The Birth (1987) and Devilman: Demon Bird (1990), a classic OVA about a guy who transforms into a literal demon. They are the best-regarded works of director Umanosuke Iida. The final film for the night is The Wolf House (2018), a Chilean animated surrealist tale of a girl who runs away from home and shacks up in a creepy house in the woods that turns out to be the base of a Nazi cult. Based on a true story, apparently. It is the only feature film to date of directors Cristobal Leon and Joaquin Cocina. This is the highest-rated animated horror film on Letterboxd; superb reviews across the board. Let’s give it a whirl.

We’ll start at 7PM EST on Hextube, right here: https://live.hexbear.net/c/movies

Be there, comrades!

Letterboxd:

• The Grudge 2: https://letterboxd.com/film/the-grudge-2/
• Megazone 23 II: https://letterboxd.com/film/megazone-23-ii/
• Devilman:The Birth: https://letterboxd.com/film/devilman-volume-1-the-birth/
• Devilman: Demon Bird: https://letterboxd.com/film/devilman-volume-2-demon-bird/
• The Wolf House: https://letterboxd.com/film/the-wolf-house/

Doesthedogdie.com links:

• The Grudge 2: https://www.doesthedogdie.com/media/17838
• Megazone 23 II: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0160521/parentalguide?ref_=tt_stry_pg
• Devilman: The Birth and Devilman: Demon Bird: https://www.doesthedogdie.com/media/21518 (this page covers both)
• Summit of the Gods: https://www.doesthedogdie.com/media/855078

CWs for The Grudge 2:

• Domestic violence.
• Animal abuse.
• Dead animal.
• Someone is burned alive.
• Broken bones.
• Death by falling.
• Death of child.
• Death of parent.
• Possession.
• Ghosts.
• Jump scares.
• Shower scene.
• Someone soils themselves.
• Vomiting.
• Mental institution scene.
• Needles.
• Hospital scene.
• Claustrophobia.
• Objectification of female characters.
• Sad ending.
• Drowning.
• Blood and gore.

CWs for Megazone 23 II:

• Nudity.
• Sex.
• Attempted sexual assault of woman, though barely anything happens before it is foiled.
• Blood and gore.
• Explosions.
• Obscene language in subtitles.
• Smoking.
• Jump scares.

CWs for Devilman: The Birth and Devilman: Demon Bird:

• Death of dog.
• Domestic violence.
• Drugs.
• Alcohol abuse.
• Deaths of animals.
• Death of pets.
• Bugs.
• Someone is physically restrained.
• Cutting of flesh.
• Someone is burned alive.
• Amputation.
• Squashed head.
• Genital trauma.
• Eye mutilation.
• Blood and gore.
• Death of parent.
• Possession.
• Demons.
• Shower scene.
• Hospital scene.
• Body dysmorphia.
• Violent mentally-ill person.
• Suicide.
• Flashing lights.
• Ableism.
• Nudity.
• Sad ending.
• Honking car horn.
• Someone is hit by a car.
• Gun violence.

CWs for The Wolf House:

• Stalking.
• Domestic violence.
• Gaslighting.
• Child abuse.
• Deaths of animals.
• Animal abuse.
• Cockroaches.
• Cannibalism.
• Squashed head.
• Finger and toe mutilation.
• Eye mutilation.
• Kidnapping.
• Vomiting.
• Body dysmorphia.
• Misophonia.
• Claustrophobia.
• Shaky cam.
• Flashing lights.
• Antisemitism.
• Sad ending.
• Blood and gore.

Links to movies:

• The Grudge 2: https://vimeo.com/865328446?share=copy
• Megazone 23 II: https://vimeo.com/878840284
• Devilman: The Birth: https://vimeo.com/878837852
• Devilman: Demon Bird and The Wolf House: Forthcoming. I have the files, but the most convenient way to upload it is to replace one of the earlier movies while a later movie is playing.

For this Saturday Anime Night, it's a triple feature. First up is Megazone 23 (1985), one of the classic anime films from the old tape-trading days, one of the ones that made Western anime nerds into fans for life, with its pure cyberpunk anime a e s t h e t i c. It’s got guys on motorbikes, robots, explosions, big action scenes, and great animation the whole way through. The director is Noburo Ishiguro, who also did Macross: Do You Remember Love? (1984), as well as some of Legend of the Galactic Heroes (1988). After that, we’ll watch Doukyuusei: Classmates (2016), a gay romance based on the boys’-love manga of the same name. A preppy and a band kid end up in the same choir class and decide to start practicing together. Did I mention this movie is gay? Director is Shoko Nakamra, who has no other directing credits; nevertheless, she is one of the few women to helm an anime, which makes this stand out by default, even without considering its excellent reviews. Alright, we’ll check it out. The third and last film for the night is Summit of the Gods (2021), which, though French, is based on a manga and wears its Ghibli influences on its sleeves, so I will consider it honorary anime. A mountain climber goes missing while ascending Mt. Everest; a journalist starts climbing mountains himself to investigate the mystery. Superb reviews for this one; let’s check it out. So far, this is hands-down the best-known work of director Patrick Imbert.

We’ll start at 9PM EST on Hextube, right here: https://live.hexbear.net/c/movies

Be there, comrades!

Letterboxd:

• Megazone 23: https://letterboxd.com/film/megazone-23/
• Doukyuusei: Classmates: https://letterboxd.com/film/dou-kyu-sei-classmates/
• Summit of the Gods: https://letterboxd.com/film/the-summit-of-the-gods/

Doesthedogdie.com links:

• Megazone 23: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0160521/parentalguide?ref_=tt_stry_pg
• Doukyuusei: Classmates: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5526028/parentalguide?ref_=tt_stry_pg
• Summit of the Gods: https://www.doesthedogdie.com/media/855078

CWs for Megazone 23:

• Nudity.
• Sex.
• Attempted sexual assault of woman, though barely anything happens before it is foiled.
• Blood and gore.
• Explosions.
• Obscene language in subtitles.
• Smoking.
• Jump scares.

CWs for Doukyuusei: Classmates:

• Woogin’.
• Dudes making out with each other.
• Discussion of sex.
• Cartoon violence.
• Smoking.
• Alcohol abuse.

CWs for Summit of the Gods:

• Suicide.
• Death by falling.
• Death of child.
• Vertigo.

Links to movies:

• Megazone 23: https://vimeo.com/876536413
• Doukyuusei: Classmates: https://vimeo.com/876539448
• Summit of the Gods: Forthcoming. I have the file, but the most convenient way to upload it is to replace the first movie while the second movie is playing.

For this Saturday Anime Night, first up is The Star of Cottonland (1984), the tale of a kitten who thinks of herself as a human and falls in love with a human man. Unfortunately for her, he sees her as just a cat. Magical shenanigans ensue. It is the only film of director Shinichi Tsuji; he is a one-hit wonder. Nice reviews for this one across the board; the term “hidden gem” appears frequently. Alright, we’ll check it out. After that is Pompo the Cinephile (2021), the best-known film thus far of director Takayuki Hirao. It tells the story of a young B-movie director striving to direct his passion project. He recruits a girl to be his star. Hilarity ensues. This one is also well-reviewed, and decently popular, too, so we’ll give it a whirl.

We’ll start at 9PM EST on Hextube, right here: https://live.hexbear.net/c/movies

Be there, comrades!

Letterboxd:

• The Star of Cottonland: https://letterboxd.com/film/the-star-of-cottonland/
• Pompo the Cinephile: https://letterboxd.com/film/pompo-the-cinephile/

Doesthedogdie.com links:

• The Star of Cottonland: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1647467/parentalguide?ref_=tt_stry_pg
• Pompo the Cinephile: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12439248/parentalguide?ref_=tt_stry_pg

CWs for The Star of Cottonland:

• Smoking.
• Cartoon violence.
• Children in peril.

CWs for Pompo the Cinephile:

• Objectification of female characters.
• Gun violence.
• Smoking.
• Cartoon violence.

Links to movies:

• The Star of Cottonland: https://vimeo.com/872337784
• Pompo the Cinephile: https://vimeo.com/872338933

Reddit is a fascist shithole.