Anime Writers Reflect on 2018's Notable Animated Film Reviews

A selection of must-see movies released in 2018 for the New Year's holiday. We have lined up a total of five titles, from the latest critically acclaimed films to the hottest titles that have been released on Blu-ray and DVD. Hibike! Euphonium" spin-off "Liz and the Blue Bird," the action-packed "Crayon Shin-chan Bakumori: Kung Fu Boys - La La Land" (Crayon Shin-chan the Movie: Bakumori), and the "Euphonium" spin-off "Liz and the Blue Bird! Kung Fu Boys: Ramen Deran"; the action-packed "Ninja Batman"; the 20th movie "Dragon Ball Super Broly"; the Pretty Cure 15th anniversary movie "HUGt! Pretty Cure Futari wa Pretty Cure All Stars Memories," a film commemorating the 15th anniversary of Pretty Cure.

Liz and the Blue Bird

The main character, Mizore Armoruka, reminds me of my student days when I joined the Animation Research Society. Like her, there were several seniors in the Animation Research Group who, although unsociable, were strangely adored by the students. I was impressed to learn that these seniors were outstandingly talented, with outstanding drawing skills and vast knowledge.
Mizore, who belongs to the brass band club, is another girl who has poured everything she has into the oboe, and many people are drawn to her talent. The first-year students in charge of oboe, the second-year students in charge of trumpet, and even the coach, who is an outside instructor, all try to talk to Mizore on a one-on-one basis, but for some reason, the girls face each other head-on.
On the other hand, Nozomi Urasagi has a cheerful personality and is always surrounded by the club members, but no one is willing to face her head-on. Even the coach, who is told by Nozomi that she is applying to music school, walks away in the other direction to avoid the composition. The talent in "Liz and the Blue Bird" is evident on screen as the ability to turn the other's feet toward you. The "I love you hug" is made into an unforgettable scene only because the two are facing each other.

Crayon Shin-chan Bakumo! Kung Fu Boys - Ramen Deran!

The 26th theatrical version is set in Ayer Town, a Chinatown in Kasukabe. The Kasukabe Defense Force and heroine Tama Lan (Tama Lan), who have mastered the legendary kung fu Punipuniken, face off against a shady organization that uses Black Panda Ramen to turn people violent. The entire film is filled with battle scenes. Ran performs orthodox kung fu, while Shinnosuke plays tricks on his enemies with comical moves. The audience can enjoy different types of action.
The guest voice actor Tsutomu Sekine, who plays Ran's master, is the focus of attention. He passionately played the difficult role of a man who is pierced by the enemy and is only able to speak the line "pan-to-maru-mi-mei. The way he tries to convey all his joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness with "pan-to-maru-me" is funny, but there is also a hint of the sadness of life in the air. The unexpected turn of events at the end of the story and the resolution of the climax are also very "Creshin" in that they do not impose correctness on the viewer.

Ninja Batman

Batman is a content of DC Comics, and no matter what kind of unprecedented storyline is presented in the main story, it must eventually be restored and returned to its original state. While this film is a chaotic tale of Batman going back in time to the Warring States period, it is still a first-class entertainment film that adheres to its principles. Naturally, Batman does not die, nor is he left behind in the past. While keeping the line that must not be crossed under control, the film is packed with deep respect for the original story and flashy action sequences, allowing the audience to enjoy the film with peace of mind.
However, the pastoral part that is interrupted in the middle of the film is a different story. This sequence, which is presented in a different style than usual, is clearly stepping over the line, as if it is trying to leave its mark on the "Batman" film. Combined with the monstrous performance of the cast, including Wataru Takagi as the Joker, it gives the audience a shock that cannot be erased from their memories once they have seen it. If the entire 85-minute running time had been a pastoral part, the 80th anniversary of Batman would not have been celebrated in 2019, and the curtain would have fallen on its history. ...... This is a film so fraught with peril that it makes you feel delusional.

Dragon Ball Super Broly.

The legendary Super Saiyan Broly, who appeared as an original character in past theater versions and left audiences trembling with his overwhelming strength, returns in this latest film. The second half of the film is a series of battle scenes, which will strike you with a sense of intoxication as if you were experiencing an attraction. At first, Goku and his team were supposed to be fighting on an ice field with a blue sky, but magma spewed out from the cracked earth, turning the screen red, and eventually, Goku and his team continued to fight even though they could not tell where they were. The spectacular battles depicted in the drawings and 3DCG are so powerful that they are worthy of an IMAX screening.
The story covers several decades from the birth of Broly to his attack on Earth, and it is important to note that the same cast plays the characters in their childhoods. Masako Nozawa, who plays Son Goku, also plays his father, Bardak. In addition, Shigeru Chiba plays Raditz's childhood, which makes you grin.

HUGto! Pretty Cure Eigari wa Pretty Cure All Stars Memories

Pretty Cure the Movie" has always been a movie that leaves a completely different impression on families who come to the theater with their children, and on the geeks who come alone. This time, the enemy Midden, who steals the Precure's memories, attacks them while uttering the famous lines of the previous Precure. His appearance, combined with the enthusiastic performance of Mamoru Miyano, who played him, is the very essence of a geek playing a bad joke. This could be nothing more than a declaration of war from Toei Animation that "otaku who know all the Pretty Cure characters are the enemy.
We know more about Pretty Cure than the kids waving Miracle Lights in the air. We even know the names and faces of all 55 Pretty Cure characters in the movie, but is that really a good thing, something we can be proud of? As I gazed at the screen with such anguish, I saw Hariham Hariham of "HUGt! Hariham Harry from "Pretty Cure" breaks the fourth wall with ease and speaks to the audience ....... This is a masterpiece that even geeks who have been watching Pretty Cure should rush to the movie theater as soon as possible to check out Harry's tender lines, which even geeks who have been watching Pretty Cure accept.

(Text by Katsunori Takahashi)

(C) Ayano Takeda, Takarajimasya/"Hibike! Production Committee
(c) Yoshito Usui/Futabasha, Shin-Ei, TV Asahi, ADK2018
BATMAN and all related characters and elements (C) & TM DC Comics. (C) 2018 Warner Bros. Entertainment All rights reserved.
(C) Bird Studio/Shueisha (C) "2018 Dragon Ball Super" Production Committee