Natsume Yujin-cho the Movie: Ephemeral Bond Extended Trailer

Hope to see this soon as I can. US premiere at Anime NYC on November 16, 2018 according to the video info.

"Run with the Wind" anime

"Run with the Wind" is an anime about a group of guys at a college "forced" to enter the track and field team and race a prestigious marathon in Hakone. Fourth year Haiji is scrambling to create a track and field team so he can fulfill his dream to run the Hakone Ekiden which is a two day relay marathon. He needs ten members to make a team and he uses free room and board and some psychological pressure to convince the reluctant students to join. One man is especially hard to recruit, Kurahara, who is extremely talented, but carries some type of baggage from his high school track days. It's refreshing to see a show about people older than high school age. The banter between the guys is funny and the character design looks like the guys from "Haikyuu!" It is well animated and at the end of episode four I was hooked on the show. Give it a try.

Off Topic: "Crazy Rich Asians" and other Hollywood Asian movies

Just saw this movie yesterday.  I remember watching "Joy Luck Club" in the theater (so long ago, the theater is demolished now) and crying my eyes out at the end and being embarrassed because I ran into an old high school teacher all red-eyed walking out.  That was the last big Hollywood "Asian" movie with an all Asian cast except for one guy, the guy from "Pretty In Pink."  I remember my mom talking about "Flower Drum Song" and "Sayonara" and "Love is a Many Splendored Thing" which are other Hollywood "Asian" themed movies.  I don't think Jennifer Jones qualifies as Asian though.  "World of Susie Wong" is a movie I never saw.  I did watch "Better Luck Tomorrow" which was great and "Fast and Furious Tokyo Drift" (lol) also made by the same director Justin Lin.  I know Justin Lin directed one of the new "Star Trek" movies.  I also remember watching "Dim Sum" in a super tiny theater in San Francisco when indie movies were a thing.  Oh yeah I remember watching "Wedding Banquet" in a small SF arthouse theater as well back in the day.  I miss all those indie movies that the old "Siskel and Ebert" movie review show would recommend.  Anyway, I don't know how to process watching this movie.  It was an entertaining rom com which is a genre in a bit of a decline in the age of Marvel movies.  Everyone is gorgeous.  Michelle Yeoh is a queen.  I do admit crying twice in the movie a little bit.  The theater had quite a few Asians in it who laughed and responded at the correct times when you have lived as an Asian in America.  That was a nice experience.  It's not a deep movie, but it doesn't have to be.  It's a fun romance and it doesn't have to be THE ASIAN movie that describes every facet of being Asian American.  Need more Michelle Yeoh though in SOMETHING.   Hmm, do i HAVE to shell out for CBS streaming to watch the new "Star Trek?" Jeez I already have Netflix, Amazon Prime, Crunchyroll, Funimation...

Off topic: "Jane Eyre" 1983 BBC miniseries

I ran across this little gem on Amazon Prime video.  I recall watching bits of this version while I was a kid in the 80s on PBS but never catching the whole thing.  "Jane Eyre" is one book I had to read in school that I genuinely enjoyed reading (besides "Pride and Prejudice").  I am one of those people that is a big fan of the "Pride and Prejudice" miniseries that ran on A&E channel back in the day with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle.  I think this miniseries ranks close to that in my enjoyment of viewing.  The actress who plays the young Jane, Sian Pattenden, is fabulous in her outrage and passion.  She reminded me of Eleven from "Stranger Things" in her looks and acting.  It took me a while to warm up to the quiet acting of Zelah Clarke who plays adult Jane, but when she is onscreen with Timothy Dalton, the quintessential Mr. Rochester, she really lights up the screen.  I think Timothy Dalton nails playing Rochester.  He may be too "good looking" but that doesn't bother me a bit (haha).  He burns up the screen when he rants about his "secret" hidden upstairs when the jig is up and when he tries to convince Jane not to leave at a pivotal moment.  They actually have a popping chemistry together.  Jane's interlude with her cousin St. John Rivers (well played by Andrew Bicknell) and her long consideration and answer to his proposal is also a well done segment of acting.  Anyway, this was an eleven episode (just 30 minutes each) series was a joy to watch.  It may not be in widescreen or high definition, but the acting and writing is a must see for any fan of "Jane Eyre."  Now to watch that adaptation of "A Little Princess" from the 80s...

ペルソナ５ 佐倉双葉「演技力じゃがりこ面接」にチャレンジ！

ペルソナ５ 喜多川祐介「演技力じゃがりこ面接」にチャレンジ！

ISLE OF DOGS | Official Trailer | FOX Searchlight

『銀河英雄伝説 Die Neue These』第1弾ＰＶ: LOGH 2018!!!

"Descending Stories: Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju"

This sequel series is a fabulous show.  Just finished episode 8 and I shed some tears!  Yakumo has carried the weight of continuing the art of rakugo and of the deaths of his loved ones in season one.  He is an old man now and his young successor student Yotaro is becoming a master of rakugo on his own terms.  Yakumo has raised his adoptive daughter who has, let's just say, rather complex feelings for him.  He even now has a grandson that lives with him.  It's a strange family, but a strong family, with complex relationships and everyone in that family loves rakugo.  Will family secrets and catharsis come about by the end of the series?  Will the art of rakugo save everyone?  I hope so.

Utada taped live "Sanjudai wa Hodohodo"

There was a special streamed on December 9 using some fancy 3D VR video that some people couldn't watch properly so it is being made available for streaming in the 2D way from December 16, 2016 to January 10, 2017.   Here is the link: http://www.utadahikaru.jp/hodohodo/  Above is an abridged version on YouTube.  The first half hour is a DJ named PUNPEE doing remixes of her songs, then she answers fan questions (don't know what she said), then she sings “Boukyaku (feat. KOHH)” (with KOHH live) and “Ningyo" from "Fantôme."  Then she is surprised with a cake and looks really relaxed and natural.  At the end of the recorded stream there is also an announcement that PUNPEE's remix of "Simple and Clean" will be on the new Kingdom Hearts game.  I've never played, but it seems like Kingdom Hearts introduced her to a lot of international fans.
There is some Christmas special she is also in that was just broadcast on Japanese TV.  I saw a clip on YouTube and tried to watch some other one but it was copyright blocked.  So it's nice to see some official full performances for free for at least a few days!  It's already December 24 now so only 17 days left!