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anime

“Promare” is a constantly gorgeous, largely joyous action anime

Promare
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TRIGGER’s debut feature boasts a bevy of color palettes and visual styles that come to life in the new home release from Shout! Factory.

Justin Harrison Posted on May 23, 2020May 23, 2020

“Weathering With You” Is an Animated Ray of Sunshine

Weathering With You
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Makoto Shinkai’s followup to Your Name is another charming coming-of-age tale with a supernatural twist.

Jonah Koslofsky Posted on January 18, 2020January 18, 2020

16 Years Later, “Kill Bill Vol. 1” Still Cuts to the Quick

Kill Bill Vol. 1
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While it divided viewers at the time, Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill Vol. 1 remains a testament to the pop culture gadfly’s desire to hone his action chops.

Rubén Rosario Posted on July 25, 2019July 25, 2019

Fantasia 2019: “The Wonderland” Is a Sweet Ghibli-Esque Fantasy

The Wonderland
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Keiichi Hara’s candy-colored fairy tale is certainly a feast for the eyes, even if its story is skin deep.

Clint Worthington Posted on July 17, 2019July 23, 2019

Remembering the Candy-Coated Spectacle of “Speed Racer”

Speed Racer
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The Wachowskis’ kaleidoscopic 2008 adaptation of the clasic ’60s anime is as bright, bold and weird as the rest of their late-period output.

Chris Ludovici Posted on June 23, 2019August 11, 2020

“Aggretsuko” Screams Its Way Through Another Season of Delicious Feminist Rage

Aggretsuko S2
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The second season of Netflix’s kawaii-metal workplace anime elevates its adorable gimmick with a newfound maturity.

Jacob Oller Posted on June 10, 2019August 11, 2020

“Spirited Away” and the Sophistication of Childhood

Spirited Away
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(Every month, we at The Spool select a Filmmaker of the Month, honoring the life and works of […]

Rubén Rosario Posted on May 31, 2019August 10, 2020

“Howl’s Moving Castle” Is Miyazaki’s Personal Favorite, And It’s Easy to See Why

Howl's Moving Castle
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Howl’s Moving Castle, Hayao Miyazaki’s sprawling, mythic steampunk fantasy from 2004, is one of the master’s more underrated features.

Gregory J. Smalley Posted on May 30, 2019August 10, 2020

The Simple Pleasures of “Ponyo”

Ponyo
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One of Hayao Miyazaki’s lighter, sentimental films is a celebration of ordinary life & parental love as seen through the eyes of a child.

Gena Radcliffe Posted on May 28, 2019August 10, 2020

“Princess Mononoke” & the Beauty of Unpleasant Matters

Princess Mononoke
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One of Miyazaki’s most enduring classics, Princess Mononoke addresses the concepts of violence and hatred in a way young viewers can understand.

Sarah Gorr Posted on May 19, 2019August 10, 2020

Pigs Fly in Miyazaki’s Swashbuckling Sea Adventure “Porco Rosso”

Porco Rosso
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Porco Rosso is yet another swashbuckling adventure in the grand tradition of Hayao Miyazaki, a high-flying caper about a flying pig who’s also a sea pirate.

Ben Kaye Posted on May 18, 2019August 10, 2020

“Castle in the Sky” Is Miyazaki’s Swashbuckling Steampunk Adventure

Laputa: Castle in the Sky
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While it doesn’t have the reputation of Miyazaki’s later works, Studio Ghibli’s sophomore film serves as a lovely steampunk primer to the man’s filmography.

Chris Ludovici Posted on May 10, 2019August 7, 2020

Years Before Studio Ghibli, “The Castle of Cagliostro” Set the Foundation for Hayao Miyazaki’s Work

The Castle of Cagliostro
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Before Studio Ghibli, Hayao Miyazaki honed his craft on one of the liveliest anime action-adventures of all time.

Clint Worthington Posted on May 5, 2019August 7, 2020

Alita Battle Angel Review: A Wild, Ambitious Sci-Fi Adventure

Alita Battle Angel
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Robert Rodriguez and James Cameron adapt the 90s anime to full, Uncanny Valley effect, and if you’re into that sort of thing it excels.

Chris Ludovici Posted on February 16, 2019August 4, 2020
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