Tokyo Ghoul

Tokyo Ghoul is set in an alternate reality where ghouls, creatures that look like normal people but can only survive by eating human flesh, live among the human population in secrecy, hiding their true nature in order to evade pursuit from the authorities. Ghouls have powers including enhanced strength and regenerative abilities – a regular ghoul produces 4–7 times more kinetic energy in their muscles than a normal human; they also have several times the RC cells, a cell that flows like blood and can become solid instantly. A ghoul’s skin is resistant to ordinary piercing weapons, and it has at least one special predatory organ called a kagune, which it can manifest and use as a weapon during combat. Another distinctive trait of ghouls is that when they are excited or hungry, the color of their sclera in both eyes turns black and their irises red. This mutation is known as kakugan (“red eye”).

The story follows Ken Kaneki, a student who barely survives a deadly encounter with Rize Kamishiro, his date who reveals herself as a ghoul and tries to eat him. He is taken to the hospital in critical condition. After recovering, Kaneki discovers that he underwent a surgery that transformed him into a half-ghoul. This was accomplished because some of Rize’s organs were transferred into his body, and now, like normal ghouls, he must consume human flesh to survive. Ghouls who run a coffee shop called “Anteiku” take him in and teach him to deal with his new life as a half-ghoul. Some of his daily struggles include fitting into the ghoul society, as well as keeping his identity hidden from his human companions, especially from his best friend, Hideyoshi Nagachika.

Sources: Tokyo Ghoul Manga, Wikipedia

Hoshizora Kiseki (星空キセキ)

A good, but not great anime short film released in Japan over the Internet.

Kozue loves to stargaze and does so regularly. On a trip to view a meteorite, she happens to meet a boy named Ginga. He has a mysterious ability to discover more information about the stars, which he uses to help scientists with astronomical research. Unfortunately, his life is mostly dictated for him, and when carrying out missions, he must always wear a protective suit. Kozue helps Ginga to gradually take control of his life by encouraging him to make his own decisions.

Japanese Title: 星空キセキ(Literally Starry-Sky Miracle)

Rating: NR

Genre: Animation, Sci-Fi, Romance, Short

Directed By: Akio Watanabe, Toshikazu Matsubara

WrittenBy: Akio Watanabe, Kouichirou Itou, Toshikazu Matsubara

Country: Japan

Language: Japanese (Subtitled in English)

Release Date: June 21st, 2006 (Japan), May 10th, 2011 (USA)

Runtime: 27 minutes

Main Characters:

Ginga. (銀河)

A boy who has the ability to discover more information about stars. His life is controlled by scientist who wish to take advantage of his ability.

Kozue (こずえ)

A school girl who enjoys looking at the stars.

Your Name. (君の名は) Kimi no Na wa.

From director Makoto Shinkai, the innovative mind behind Voices of a Distant Star and 5 Centimeters Per Second, comes a beautiful masterpiece about time, the thread of fate, and the hearts of two young souls. The day the stars fell, two lives changed forever. High schoolers Mitsuha and Taki are complete strangers living separate lives. But one night, they suddenly switch places. Mitsuha wakes up in Taki’s body, and he in hers. This bizarre occurrence continues to happen randomly, and the two must adjust their lives around each other. Yet, somehow, it works. They build a connection and communicate by leaving notes, messages, and more importantly, an imprint. When a dazzling comet lights up the night’s sky, something shifts, and they seek each other out wanting something more-a chance to finally meet. But try as they might, something more daunting than distance prevents them. Is the string of fate between Mitsuha and Taki strong enough to bring them together, or will forces outside their control leave them forever separated?

Rating: PG (for thematic elements, suggestive content, brief language, and smoking)

Genre: Animation, Drama, Romance

Directed By: Makoto Shinkai

Written By: Makoto Shinkai

Country: Japan

Language: Japanese (Subtitled in English)

Release Date: April 7, 2017

Worldwide Gross: $358,922,706

Studio: FUNimation

Runtime: 106 minutes

Main Characters:

Taki Tachibana (立花 瀧, Tachibana Taki)

A high school student currently living in Tokyo. He was a 17 year old sophomore attending at Tokyo Metropolitan High School and in the class next to Class C of second year. Taki was actually three years younger than Mitsuha when they started switching bodies. He is also an architect. He is short-tempered but well meaning and kind. He spends time with Miki Okudera, working in a part-time job as a waiter at the Italian restaurant “Il Giardino delle Parole”

Mitsuha Miyamizu (宮水 三葉, Miyamizu Mitsuha)

A high school girl dissatisfied with her life in Itomori, a mountainous and rural town of Gifu Prefecture. She is a 17 year old student in her second year at Itomori High School. She was actually three years older than Taki when they started switching bodies. She ties her hair with dark red braid. She and her sister are maidens of the family shrine. Her mother died peacefully, and her father left home in order to become the town’s mayor. She lives with her grandmother, Hitoha, and her younger sister, Yotsuha, who is in elementary school. Mitsuha wishes to have a better life in Tokyo from respecting the shrine and having a strained relationship with her father.

Weathering With You (天気の子) Tenki No Ko

Set in Japan during a period of exceptionally rainy weather, the film tells the story of a high-school boy who runs away from his rural home to Tokyo and befriends an orphan girl who has the ability to manipulate the weather.

Original Title: Tenki No Ko (Literally “Child of Weather”)

Rating: NR (for suggestive material, some violence and language)

Genre: Animation, Fantasy, Romance

Directed By: Makoto Shinkai

Written By: Makoto Shinkai

Country: Japan

Language: Japanese (Subtitled in English)

Release Date: Jan 15, 2020

Worldwide Gross: $11,100,000

Runtime: 111 minutes

Main Characters:

Hodaka Morishima (森嶋 帆高, Morishima Hodaka)

He is a freshman at Kōzu-shima high school. He ran away from home by ferry to Tokyo. There is no detailed explanation of the reason for leaving home in the film. Because he was a runaway and could not present his identification, he cannot get a part-time job so he had to spend his days at an Internet cafe. He obtains a handgun from the waste bin discarded by Shibata, a criminal who is arrested for possessing a large number of firearms. Hodaka gets into trouble with Kimura, a club owner who tries to recruit Hina, who was looking for a high paying job. Hodaka accidentally fired the gun, trying to threaten him, but the bullet missed. Hodaka is hired by Keisuke, who offers him a job. His life in Tokyo was smooth sailing, but he was pursued by the police for two reasons: the fact that the shot was caught on security cameras and his family had reported him missing.

Hina Amano (天野 陽菜, Amano Hina)

She is a third year junior high school student, born on August 22. She started working part-time at McDonald’s in Kabukicho, but later she was fired because she falsely represented her age. She was 14 years old when she meets Hodaka, but she told him she would be 18 on her next birthday.

By passing through a small shrine gate on the roof of an abandoned building in Yoyogi, she gained the ability to temporarily clear a localized area by praying. But it also came at the cost of her body gradually becoming more transparent with each use of that ability, and turning into water at the end. Initially, she was unaware of this, and even considered the “100% sunshine girl” business to be her calling, but she later realized this when Natsumi showed her a video of a priest of a weather shrine recounting weather maiden lore.

Keisuke Suga (須賀 圭介, Suga Keisuke)

A middle-aged man working in a small occult magazine publishing company. He writes articles for weekly occult magazines, but he makes fun of superstitions and the like, and he thinks his readers do not believe in the content of his articles as much as he does. On his way to Tokyo, he saves Hodaka from falling, which the latter then bought a meal and beer for him in the ship’s dining room. Keisuke gave Hodaka his business card. Later, he hired Hodaka as his assistant when he came to visit him. He used the “100% sunshine girl” service to meet his daughter Moka who had been taken in by his mother-in-law Mamiya. Mamiya would not let his daughter visit him on rainy days because she has asthma.

Natsumi Suga (須賀 夏美, Suga Natsumi)

Keisuke’s niece and a college student working part-time at his office. Hodaka at first thought she was Keisuke’s mistress because of her bewitching appearance, her behavior, calling Keisuke “Kei-chan”, and the fact that she raised her little finger when explaining her relationship with Keisuke. In addition to working at the office, she unsuccessfully worked hard to get a job.

Nagisa (Nagi) Amano (天野 凪, Amano Nagi)

He is Hina’s younger brother studying in fifth grade. At first, he had a bad impression of Hodaka, but when Hina and Hodaka started the “100% sunshine girl” business, he became friends with him. He also became friends with Keisuke’s daughter on the very first day they met. Due to his childhood experience, he makes mature comments that are not typical of elementary students. Hodaka calls him “sempai”.

Okko’s Inn

A lovely anime that you can’t help but fall for the main character and her navigating her new reality.

Based on a series of Japanese children’s novels, written by Hiroko Reijo and illustrated by Asami. Kodansha released twenty volumes between 2003 and 2013 under their Aoi Tori Bunko imprint. A manga adaptation with art by Eiko Ōuchi was serialized in Kodansha’s shōjo manga Nakayoshi. It was collected in seven tankōbon volumes. It was nominated for an Annie Award for Best Animated Feature – Independent.

Plot:

After losing her parents in a car accident, Okko goes to live with her grandmother, who runs a traditional Japanese inn. Okko soon discovers there are spirits that only she can see — welcoming ghosts who keep her company and help her navigate her new environment. The inn’s motto is that it welcomes all and will reject none, and this is soon put to the test as guests challenge Okko’s ability to be a gracious host. Ultimately, Okko discovers that dedicating herself to others is the key to taking care of herself. The latest feature from famed anime studio Madhouse and director Kitaro Kosaka blends immersive, idyllic landscapes with storybook charm. Okko’s Inn delivers a rare ghost story that is firmly grounded in the trials and joys of humanity.

Japanese Title: 若おかみは小学生(Waka Okami wa Shōgakusei!)

Other Titles: The Young Innkeeper Is a Grade Schooler!

Rating: PG

Genre: Anime, Family, Fantasy

Directed By: Kitaro Kosaka

Written By: Reiko Yoshida

Country: Japan

Language: Japanese (Subtitled in English)

Release Date: September 21st, 2018 (Japan), April 22nd, 2019 (USA)

Worldwide Gross: $293,385

Runtime: 94 minutes

Main Characters:

Oriko Seki (関 織子, Seki Oriko) Voiced by: Seiran Kobayashi (Japanese)

Okko (おっこ) Voiced by: Seiran Kobayashi (Japanese)

Makoto Tachiuri (立売 誠, Tachiuri Makoto) Voiced by: Satsumi. Matsuda (Japanese)

Uri-bō (ウリ坊) Voiced by: Satsumi. Matsuda (Japanese)

Matsuki Akino (秋野 真月, Akino Matsuki) Voiced by: Nana Mizuki (Japanese)

Mineko Seki (関 峰子, Seki Mineko) Voiced by: Ichiryūsai Harumi (Japanese)

Obā-chan (おばあちゃん) Voiced by: Ichiryūsai Harumi (Japanese)

Etsuko Tajima (田島 エツ子, Tajima Etsuko) Voiced by: Ichiryūsai Teiyū (Japanese)

Kōnosuke Minoda (蓑田 康之介, Minoda Kōnosuke) Voiced by: Masaki Terasoma (Japanese)

Kō-san (康さん) Voiced by: Masaki Terasoma (Japanese)

Suzuki (鈴鬼) Voiced by: Etsuko Kozakura (Japanese)