Tag Archives: Anime

Film Review: Haikyuu!! THE MOVIE: Decisive Battle at the Garbage Dump (2024)

Posted on May 19, 2024 | Leave a comment

When the fourth season of Haikyuu!! started in early 2020 and concluded around July of the same year, I was expecting a fifth season. Given the abundance of material in the manga, a couple more seasons seemed likely. However, the decision was made to produce two movies instead. In February this year, the first movie, Haikyuu!! THE MOVIE: Decisive Battle at the Garbage Dump, was released to great success.

We’ve been anticipating this rematch between Karasuno and Nekoma for what feels like forever, and it exceeded all my expectations. Watching the film made me feel nostalgic because Haikyuu!! is one of my favorite anime series of all time. Seeing it on the big screen with fellow fans was an absolutely incredible experience.

While I would still prefer the story to continue as a series, this movie delivered on all fronts, so I have no complaints. I’m quite satisfied with it. It saddens me, however, that after the second film, it will be over, and only the memories of watching this incredible anime will remain—along with rewatching the entire series in the coming years.

Animation-wise, the film is exceptionally well made and a significant improvement over the somewhat comical and butchered animation of the fourth season. Remembering that still makes me chuckle.

The film is packed with flashbacks, funny moments, and exhilarating scenes from the manga. We get different perspectives from various characters, primarily Kenma and Hinata.

My favorite scenes from the movie include Kenma’s POV of the game. Those few minutes of seeing the play through Kenma’s eyes featured fantastic animation. Another highlight is seeing young Kuroo and Kenma. And, of course, Hinata’s resolve as he was challenged by Kenma to play his best, and vice versa.

The story is, as always, top-notch. The humor was spot on, and the characters—what can I say? Haruichi Furudate is a genius for creating these wonderful characters that we fans have come to cherish over the years and will continue to cherish moving forward.

The movie opens in the country on May 15 and should be available in major theaters nationwide. Be sure to catch it while it’s showing!

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Director: Susumu Mitsunaka
Based on Haikyu!! by Haruichi Furudate
Cast: Ayumu Murase, Kaito Ishikawa, Yuki Kaji, Yuichi Nakamura

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“Haikyuu!! THE MOVIE: Decisive Battle at the Garbage Dump” Lands in the Philippines on SM Cinema!

Posted on April 12, 2024 | Leave a comment

Haikyuu enthusiasts, rejoice! “Haikyuu!! THE MOVIE: Decisive Battle at the Garbage Dump” is officially making its way to the Philippines!

@SM_Cinema has confirmed the exciting news, announcing that the eagerly awaited screening of “Haikyuu!! THE MOVIE: Decisive Battle at the Garbage Dump” will take place somewhere in May exclusively on SM Cinemas as detailed in their post on X.

Following its debut in Hong Kong and Macau on April 11, and Taiwan on April 12, the movie will journey through various markets including Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, and India in May.

The well-loved sports anime will delve into the much-anticipated showdown between Karasuno and Nekoma, promising fans an unforgettable experience.

Having premiered in Japan on February 16, the film has soared to incredible heights, raking in an astounding ¥81.9 billion (~US$541 million) in box office revenue, making it one of Japan’s highest-grossing films of all time.

Can hardly wait for it! All rise, my Karasuno and Nekoma moots!

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Anime Review: Solo Leveling (2024)

Posted on April 11, 2024 | Leave a comment

“Solo Leveling” is a South Korean web novel series by Chugong that has been adapted into a popular webtoon and light novel, and eventually an anime series produced by A-1 Pictures. The narrative focuses on Sung Jin-Woo, in a world where portals connect it to a realm filled with monsters and dungeons. Initially deemed as the weakest hunter, he swiftly transforms into a figure akin to a protagonist in a video game, where strength levels up with each encounter, evoking a sense of gratifying progression reminiscent of classic RPGs.

The allure of “Solo Leveling” lies not only in its captivating storyline but also in its innovative premise. The emergence of gates, unleashing hordes of menacing creatures, sets the stage for a thrilling spectacle similar to the grandeur of “Pacific Rim.” This infusion of sci-fi elements heightens the stakes, propelling the narrative forward with an exhilarating blend of action and intrigue.

Central to the series is Sung Jin-Woo’s evolution, a character arc with both depth and nuance. His transformation evokes parallels to the enigmatic Light Yagami from “Death Note,” as he grapples with newfound power and the moral implications it entails. The last episode very much showed this as he gains the title “Shadow Monarch” and the ability to bring the dead back to life as his “shadow army.” This juxtaposition of strength and darkness adds a layer of complexity to his character, elevating him beyond the confines of a typical protagonist.

(photo via A-1 Pictures)

While I thought the animation quality falls short of the visuals by its contemporaries like “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba” or “Mob Psycho 100,” the discrepancy is mitigated by the sheer strength of its narrative, with its exciting plot twists and compelling character dynamics.

 One area of contention, though, lies in the episodic endings, which often culminate in frustrating and anticlimactic cliffhangers. While effective in maintaining suspense, these abrupt conclusions annoy the hell out of me. Nevertheless, this minor flaw does little to detract from my overall enjoyment of the series.

When it comes to the series’ supporting characters, “Solo Leveling” showcases a diverse ensemble, albeit with less impact. While some secondary characters leave an impression, others fade into the background, their potential untapped. Yet, this is forgivable since this is just the first season.

In conclusion, “Solo Leveling” emerges as a captivating addition to the anime landscape, boasting a compelling narrative and memorable characters. Despite its minor flaws, it left me eagerly anticipating its second season and beyond. As the journey continues, “Solo Leveling” stands poised to captivate audiences with its potential and immersive world-building. I highly recommend it.

You can stream and watch Solo Leveling on Crunchyroll or Netflix if you are in the Philippines.

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Review: The Boy and The Heron (2023)

Posted on March 4, 2024 | Leave a comment

Nominated for Best Animated Feature.

The Boy and the Heron tells the story of a boy named Mahito (voiced by Soma Santoki), who, upon discovering an abandoned tower in his new town, ventures into a magical realm accompanied by a talking gray heron. Mahito, full of longing for his mother, travels to a realm where life and death coexist.

Watching my very first Hayao Miyazaki’s work on the big screen, I cannot help but be enchanted yet again by its meticulous animation. Each scene is a visual spectacle, transporting viewers into a world where everything feels like a new experience, even though the film is very reminiscent of the many Ghibli films from the director that we’ve come to love.

What I really appreciate about Miyazaki’s storytelling is that it is always thought-provoking and contemplative. The pacing of the film was initially slow, and its narrative seems confusing at times, but I think this ambiguity is precisely what makes it a great film because it invites its viewers to dig deeper, prompting exploration of the film’s underlying themes.

After watching the film, I was asking myself, “What did I just watch? But after a few days, while still thinking about what to write for my review, I figured that each viewer’s understanding—or rather, my understanding—is uniquely my own.

The Boy and the Heron is a captivating journey of masterful storytelling with top-notch animation that breathes life into each frame, evoking a poignant resonance that defies easy categorization because it engages its audience on a personal level based on personal experience and perspectives.

It is a testament to the power of Miyazaki’s storytelling. Whether it leaves you yearning for something undefined or sparks a newfound understanding, one thing is certain: Miyazaki’s masterwork is an experience that transcends the boundaries of cinema, leaving an indelible mark on those who dare to venture into its world.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Produced by: Toshio Suzuki
Starring: Soma Santoki, Masaki Suda, Aimyon, Yoshino Kimura, Shonei Hino, Ko Shibasaki, Takuya Kimura

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Review: Ordering Anime Figures from the Mandarake Website!

Posted on February 15, 2021 | Leave a comment

Last February, I’ve posted my experience on ordering anime figures from the AmiAmi website and this time I will be sharing with you another credible website where you can get buy not just anime figures but also dolls, books, magazines, cards, and a whole lot more under the same spectrum.

MANDARAKE was established in 1987 as a pre-owned manga dealer in Nakano Broadway. Now Mandarake is known as one of the largest manga and anime stores in the world.

Placing an order through the Mandarake website is pretty easy. First, you go to their website: https://www.mandarake.co.jp/ and choose your preferred language – available languages include Japanese. English, Spanish, Italian, Chinese and I believe the other one would be Russian (this needs some verification though). Creating an account is very easy too – the website will prompt you to create one before being able to check out: Here’s the link where you can sign up: https://my.mandarake.co.jp/pre/?lc=en (this is in English, so feel free to change it.)

It’s very easy to navigate, you have the option to choose the category on the drop down if want to zero-in on your search but what I do is I usually keep it on “All Items” which gives me more opportunity to see more related products. The thing about Mandarake is that it will show you all of the related products based on the keyword you entered, so this is when you try to filter your searches because it will show you EVERYTHING – including the sold out items from all of their 14 locations nationwide that includes Sahra, Nakano, Complex (Akihabara), CoCoo (Akihabara), Shibuya, LaLaLa (Ikebukuro), Nayuta, Nagoya, Utsunomiya, Umeda, Grand Chaos (Osaka), Fukuoka, Kokura and Sapporo.

Now this is very important because each store actually has separate shipping since they will be coming from different location so if at one transaction for example, you placed orders from three multiple stores, you will be getting three different shipping quotation about a day, or two after placing your order.

Here’s their complete FAQ page for your reference: https://earth.mandarake.co.jp/help/faq-en.html

I’ve only placed multiple order once because I don’t want to missed the opportunity to get the item that I’ve really been looking for a long time and I guess, to make it worth my money I also added small items in it. I was so glad that the shipping was very minimal. The website offers DHL Express, EMS, Registered SAL and Air Small Packet as shipping option and I usually choose EMS, and I’d get the item in about a week.

Here’s that one multiple order I was referring to:

I really just wanted the Nendoroid Petit Edward Elric but I’ve decided to add these cute Bandai Demon Slayer straps because of their size and I pretty much guess that it won’t make a difference on the shipping since it will be placed in a smaller box via EMS based on the guidelines. I was even able to sell them locally for about $27!
And here’s the other order from another location (Shibuya)

You see, it really is very easy to use the website and receiving a bootleg is almost zero. As they’ve mentioned on their FAQ page – all of their products are carefully checked by their staff with the help of their own large database.

So for those of you are who are looking for ‘affordable’ figures (at least more often than not) – Mandarake is another place you can go to, just have to be very careful and wise when placing your orders!

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Review: Ordering Anime Figures from AmiAmi

Posted on March 15, 2020 | 1 comment

I’ve ordered Anime figures from AmiAmi three times now, and I thought I’d let you know about my experience ordering from their website. First, you should know that AmiAmi actually has a physical store located in Akihabara, Tokyo, Japan.

Address: Akihabara Radio Kaikan F4, 1−15−16, Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0021, Japan (source)

I’ve only been to Japan once and I never got to visit Tokyo so I really missed out visiting Akihabara in general but I found out about the store from friends who are fans of anime figures and have been ordering from amiami.com for a while now.

Being one of the  largest shops in Akihabara, they offer a lot of figures – brand new, on bargain sale, pre-owned, as well as pre-order items! Take note that their shop is separate from their online shop which may offer different rates!

My first online order with them was May of last year. I thought I’d try ordering four Nendoroid first. I’m a fan of Bungo Stray Dogs and I just couldn’t resist ordering the Osamu Dazai and Chuya Nakahara Nendoroid figures! I was so glad that the Good Smile Company decided to rerelease them and I got them with discounts from AmiAmi! Such a sweet deal!

The ordering process is easy. First, you go to their website: https://www.amiami.com/eng/ – this is the English version, and it’s also in Chinese. I didn’t create an account first, but once your check out – it’ll prompt you to create an account which is easy peasy too!

The website is very easy to navigate and is very straightforward. There is a category list which includes: Figures, Toys Categories, Scale Models, Character Goods, Book & Games and a lot more. And there is a ranking for New Products, Sale Items, w/AmiAmi bonus, Pre-Owned Items and Bishounen Items. I regularly check the Sale and Pre-Owned items haha!

I haven’t tried pre-ordering from them but they have an FAQ in case you’d like to try it yourself. Of the three instances (so far) I’ve order from them, I chose to combine the shipping of each order since they’re “In-stock.”

In ordering, all you need to do is add your chosen items to your cart and once you’re ready to check out, fill out the necessary information that includes your mode of payment, shipping method and contact information.

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