What’s with all of the remakes? Kanon is almost here (27 days and counting!), a new Kiminozo project is in the works, Shuffle (of all things) is getting a Director’s Cut, and now, more Neon Genesis Evangelion?
I’d be remiss if I didn’t say Evangelion is special to me as an anime fan - it’s sort of what got me rolling in the wrong direction, after all - but it’s been several years since I last watched the show, and will likely be just as many years yet before I watch it again. Out of sight, out of mind. Still, I can’t help but feel a little excited about this announcement.
I’ve always gotten a kick out of Shinji’s “alternate reality” from the end of the TV series, which was later expanded upon in the Girlfriend of Steel manga and games, a clever repurposing of the Eva franchise that I’ve always hoped to see animated at some point. Unfortunately, GAINAX never delivered on that front, and instead milked their cash cow with one remastered release of the original series after another - something that never really interested me, to be honest, since I’ve always thought the budget, arthouse, “splice the film together with duct tape” feel of the original production is a big part of what makes Eva special. Now, however, GAINAX is promising new material, giving me new hope the Girlfriend of Steel continuity may finally be animated in some form.
Or not. It’s not clear at this point what GAINAX intends to do. Will these new films take place in the original continuity? Will it be the Girlfriend of Steel continuity? Some amalgamation of the two? Something entirely different? I don’t know. Deep down, however, I think I’ll be satisfied no matter what continuity they choose. Even after all these years, I feel the Eva universe and the characters who call it home deserve a second look. My fondest memories of Eva are found within.
Of course, if this new project is indeed an expansion on the original continuity, I offer my condolences to all of the Eva fanboys out there who thought they finally had the show figured out.
The website for Makoto Shinkai’s new film, 5 Centimeters Per Second, is live. Make sure to check out the high definition teaser.
There’s not much more to say at this point. Just watch the teaser. Now.
You know, the Nadesico movie would have been so much better had they ditched the whole Akito/Lapis/Hokushin storyline completely. A few tweaks here and there, and it could be removed with little detrimental effect to the rest of the story. Granted, it would have required cooking up some sort of future for Akito (have him die of food poisoning or something), but anything would have been better than what the existing script had to offer.
Otherwise, it’s a very cool film. That’s why it’s such an awful waste to see so much time devoted to a half-baked, half-coherent, and half-finished plot thread. Ruri deserved better!
Turner Classic Movies recently wrapped up a month-long Ghibli film festival, finishing with the one major Ghibli film I had yet to see, Only Yesterday.
I often feel a bit conflicted when it comes to Ghibli films - those directed by Hayao Miyazaki, in particular. In fact, my favorite Ghibli film is Umi ga Kikoeru, of which Miyazaki had no direct involvement. Quiz me about my favorite anime film directors, and I’m likely to mention Satoshi Kon or Mamoru Oshii before Miyazaki.
Only Yesterday, however, is not a Miyazaki film. Rather, it was directed by his close friend and Ghibli colleague, Isao Takahata. So, it should come as no surprise that, having finally seen the film, it now finds itself among my Ghibli favorites. Poor Miyazaki-san can’t catch a break, it seems.
Along with the bulk of Ghibli’s catalog, Disney owns the North American distribution rights for Only Yesterday. Unfortunately, Disney has shown little to no interest in releasing the film on DVD. I understand their reasons, but it’s a shame nonetheless. Thankfully, as is the case with all Ghibli titles, the R2 DVD release includes English subtitles. I’ll definitely be importing a copy.
I can’t help but think the setup for Only Yesterday - a young adult reminiscing about her childhood - would be perfect for a TV series. Unfortunately, I don’t think the current market in Japan could support such a show. That’s a shame as well.
