The Boy and The Beast

Geekscape Unboxes: The Loot Anime February 2017 Crate!

by Natalie KipperMarch 1, 2017

Gather ’round because it’s time for another Loot Anime unboxing! February’s theme, “Together,” celebrates the bonds shared between friends and family. Although, if you were going by the poster, box art, or phone charm, you might guess it was a “Piracy”-themed box. The series represented this month are One Piece, Mr. Osomatsu, Haikyū!!, and The Boy and The Beast.

The art for February’s poster is illustrated by Cotton Tan. I genuinely believe that the poster leaned too heavily on their item from the pirate anime, One Piece. As a standalone, I didn’t get a “together” vibe from the poster. It was lovely and fun to look at but that is about it. Out of the five items in this month’s crate, four are exclusive. The odd one out is the One Piece figure.

The first item I cracked open was The One Piece Film: Gold Luffy figure, manufactured by Banpresto. It came in a colorful box of relatively large size.

Unfortunately, some assembly is required. The paint job on each of the pieces looked fine when I removed them from their packaging. I will say that putting the figure together was a bit of a hassle. Not on par with a Gundam kit clearly but still more than I anticipated.

Even after Luffy was set into one piece (no pun intended), I could not for the life of me get the figure to stay on its stand. The pegs were too far apart for the placement of the holes on the feet. I eventually gave up which is why you see one of the stand’s naked pegs in the photo.

Loot Crate seems to be into promoting light novels. This is the second month in a row that the included book is a novel rather than a manga. This isn’t a complaint, just an observation. I am actually in favor of this trend. In any case, February comes with The Boy and The Beast light novel.

Next up is a blind bag phone charm from the series Mr. Osomatsu (Osomatsu-san in Japan). You had a chance of getting one of the six Matsuno brothers paired with a food item that represents their personality. And… that is as much as I know. The truth is, I don’t follow the series and with six identical siblings, I think the odds of me figuring out who mine is is slim. Do you know who he is? Please post in the comments!

This month’s apparel item comes to us from the highs school volleyball series, Haikyū!! In case you are wondering, the writing on the shirt says,” Haikyū!! Karasuno High School vs. Shiratorizawa Academy.”

As you would expect, the monthly phone charm ties in with poster art. I noticed that the Loot Crate logo on mascot Yume’s pirate cap is outdated. It was changed mid-February.

The inside of the Loot Anime box transforms into a pirate den diorama for the One Piece figure. Well, when I say “transform,” I mean “open and turn on its side.” Still cute, though.

The “Together” Loot Anime crate felt a little lopsided in terms of theming, with all of the promotional material only really tying into just one of the items. Individually, the items were fine as far as it goes but this wasn’t my favorite of the crates I have received.

March’s theme is “Future” and will feature items from Ghost in the Shell: Arise, Psycho-Pass, Kiznaiver, and Clockwork Planet.

If this unboxing has you interested in subscribing, you can get some money off of your first Crate either by following this link or entering “Geekscape” into the promo code area upon checkout.

[This unboxing was based on a sample provided by Loot Crate. All opinions are my own.]

The Japan Film Festival of San Francisco Announces its Lineup!

by Kari LaneJune 14, 2016

The Japan Film Festival of San Francisco (JFFSF) is back for their 4th year and they recently announced a diverse roster of films!

“This year’s JFFSF proudly presents a broad collection of current and acclaimed Japanese cinema across a variety of genres such as action, sci-fi, documentary, anime, shorts, live music, kabuki theatre, crime mystery, and family drama.”

All films will be presented in Japanese language with English subtitles.

The film festival opens Saturday, July 23rd and runs through Sunday, July 31st at the New People Cinema in Japantown at 1746 Post St., San Francisco, CA 94115 (www.newpeoplecinema.com). Tickets to individual screenings are $15.00 each, unless otherwise noted. All ticket prices include the service fee with no further extra charge.

For the true film aficionado, this year, the JFFSF also offers the special JFFSF Festival Passports. Available for $150 each, a passport grants the holder priority access and seating at all JFFSF 2016 screenings. A complete listing of film summaries, trailers, screening times and advance tickets as well as festival passports are available at: JFFSF.org.

The special Guests of Honor include Director Shinsuke Sato (Gantz, The Princess Blade), who appears in person for the U.S. premiere of Library Wars: The Last Mission, Director Shunji Iwai (Love Letter, All About Lily Chou-Chou, Hana and Alice), who will appear for the California premiere of A Bride for Rip Van Winkle, and Director Ryusuke Hamaguchi, who will appear for the screening of HAPPY HOUR.

“We are honored to welcome three prominent directors from Japan as our Guests of Honor this year,” says Manami Iiboshi, Executive Director of the Japan Film Festival of San Francisco. “It is exciting to share with our beloved audience this rare opportunity to hear about the creative vision behind their films in person. I hope everyone enjoys exploring diversity of Japanese cinema through this year’s program.”

This year’s JFFSF also complements an extensive roster of entertainment also set to take place for J-POP SUMMIT 2016, the weekend of July 23rd and 24th at Fort Mason.

To read about the films playing during the festival see below or go to the festival’s website.

The following films will play at the NEW PEOPLE Cinema on the dates noted beginning on Saturday, July 23rd with screenings continuing until Sunday, July 31st.

Library Wars: The Last Mission ~ Saturday, July 23rd, 12:00pm

Featuring a special in-person appearance by Director Shinsuke Sato (Gantz, The Princess Blade)! In this new sequel to the first Library Wars film, the story is set in a near future where the expression of thought is censored and the media is controlled. Under instructor Atsushi Dojo whom she admires, Iku Kasahara is now a full-fledged member of the Library Defense ‘Task Force’. They are ordered to guard a public exhibition featuring ‘The Handbook of Library Law’ known as the symbol of freedom, with no clue what fate awaits ahead.

J-POP SUMMIT 2016 Presents: IA 1st Live Concert in Japan “PARTY A GOGO!” ~ Saturday, July 23, 3pm

Presented by J-POP SUMMIT 2016, the latest Vocaloid sensation “IA” ‘s first solo concert film, “IA First Live Concert in JAPAN: PARTY A GO-GO,” will have its San Francisco premiere at Japan Film Festival of SF! “IA” is a virtual artist brought to life as part of the VOCALOID™3 with its synthesizing technology, and IA-related videos have collectively garnered more than 100 million views online. Experience the hottest entertainment export from Japan!

Tokyo Short Shorts 2016 ~ Saturday, July 23, 4:15pm

JFFSF’s popular collaboration with Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia teams up to exclusively premiere a collection of special short films directed by a new generation of filmmakers from Japan! Films include: Plan B (Directed by Hatsuki Yokoo), Hana (Directed by Yusaku Okamoto) and Piece of the Future (Directed by Seiki Watanabe), Drifting cloud (Directed by Yuta Sukegawa) and Kerama Blue (Directed by Tsukasa Kishimoto).

Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno ~ Saturday, July 23 at 6:00pm; Sunday, July 24 at 6:30pm; Monday, July 25 at 8:00pm; Tuesday, July 26 at 9:00pm

Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno and Rurouni Kenshin: The Legend Ends are both sequels to 2012’s first Rurouni Kenshin live-action theatrical film. The live-action action movies were filmed back-to-back and cover the Kyoto Arc of Nobuhiro Watsuki’s original historical action manga. Kenshin Himura is a legendary swordsman in the wars accompanying the turbulent fall of Japan’s Shogunate in the 19th Century. Once feared as, ‘Battosai the Killer,” he became a wanderer living peacefully with his companions with the arrival of the ‘new age’ in Japanese history. But now he learns that Makoto Shishio, his crazed successor, is about to overthrow the new government. Can Kenshin stop him without breaking his vow to kill no more and save Japan from destruction?　(**Note: This is not a double feature. Separate tickets must be bought for each screening.)

A Bride for Rip Van Winkle ~ Sunday July 24, 12:00pm

Screening features a special personal appearance by Director Shunji Iwai (Love Letter, All About Lily Chou-Chou, Hana and Alice)! Director Iwai returns with a deceptively beautiful film about a struggling teacher obsessed with a new social-media site, where she meets people that lead her life to an unexpected place. With the wedding with a boyfriend she met online approaching, and with no relatives except for her divorced parents, she makes a questionable decision encouraged by Amuro, a jack-of-all-trades whom she had also met online.

Cinema Kabuki “NEZUMI KOZO: Noda Version” ~ Sunday July 24, 4:00pm

Don’t miss the rare opportunity to experience the authentic and unique beauty of contemporary kabuki performed by some of Japan’s greatest kabuki actors and presented in vivid HD on the big screen! Nezumi Kozo is based on the story of a real-life bandit from the Edo period (19th Century). After his execution, a legend grew that he had been a kind of Robin Hood, sharing his ill-gotten gains with the poor. Written and directed by Hideki Noda and starring Nakamura Kanzaburo XVIII.

Dou kyu sei – Classmates – ~ Monday, July 25, 6:30pm

Based on a popular yaoi (Boys’ Love) manga by Asumiko Nakamura, the film portrays the tantalizingly pure romance between two male high school students, Hikaru Kusakabe, a popular student in a band, and Lichit Sajo, an honor student. These boys would have never crossed paths until they begin to talk through preparing for an upcoming chorus festival together. A sensitive yet refined romantic masterpiece is brought to life.

The Anthem of the Heart ~ Tuesday, July 26, 6:30pm

Creators behind the popular Anohana Movie return with the original anime feature film, The Anthem of the Heart an all-new ode to youth set in the beautiful city of Chichibu, located in Saitama Prefecture, Japan. The story unfolds around Jun Naruse, a girl who is unable to speak from trauma in the past. Through happening to join a musical act with an unexpected mix of students, Jun gradually starts to regain her lost voice.

Solomon’s Perjury (Part 1: Suspicion & Part 2: Judgment) ~ Wednesday, July 27, 6:30pm

A special double-feature presentation.Court commenced with the death of a 14 year-old, and concluded with perjury. On a Christmas morning, the body of a student is discovered on the snow-covered schoolyard below a high rooftop. His death stirred up the latent malice that existed within the school, leading to accusations by an anonymous source claiming to be an eyewitness. A scheme for a new murder, sensational coverage by the mass media, then another victim and yet another… When the teachers have forsaken the students, concerned only with protecting themselves, one female student takes a stand to expose the hidden truth by holding a court trial within the school! Several collaborators come forward who are not intimidated by the pressure exerted by the teachers. Then, a defense counselor from another school comes forward to offer support. And finally, the 5-day trail begins.

The Boy and the Beast ~ Thursday, July 28, 6:30pm

The latest feature film from award-winning director Mamoru Hosoda (Summer Wars, Wolf Children)! When Kyuta, a young orphan living on the streets of Shibuya, stumbles into a fantastic world of beasts, he’s taken in by Kumatetsu, a gruff, rough-around-the-edges warrior beast who’s been searching for the perfect apprentice. Despite their constant bickering, Kyuta and Kumatetsu begin training together and slowly form a bond as surrogate father and son.

Rurouni Kenshin: The Legend Ends ~ Thursday, July 28 at 9:00pm; Friday, July 29, 9:00pm; Saturday, July 30 at 3:00pm; Sunday, July 31 at 6:30pm

Don’t miss the exciting finale in the action-packed Rurouni Kenshin live-action saga!

Being Good ~ Friday, July 29, 6:30pm

Awarded NETPAC Jury Prize at the 37th Moscow International Film Festival, this film is a heart-wrenching portrayal of isolated people caught in downward spirals that also shows how simple acts of kindness can make a difference. Tasuku is a school teacher struggling to deal with his homeroom and his students’ over-protective parents. When he discovers that one of his students is being abused by their parents, he decides to stand up to make a difference.

DASHI & SHOYU: Essence of Japan ~ Saturday, July 30, 12:00pm

This visually striking food documentary is focused on two crucial essence of Japanese cuisine: the delicate soup stock, ‘Dashi,’ and the golden soy sauce, ‘Shoyu.’ Dashi is the bedrock of Japanese cuisine and a distillation of the natural resources of Japan. ‘Shoyu’ is a pillar of Japanese cuisine, which is made of soy that is transformed by a type of mold that exists only in Japan. History and secrets of Umami will be revealed. Screening will feature a special Dashi stock tasting.

Happy Hour ~ Sunday, July 31, 12:00pm

Screening to feature a special personal appearance by Director Ryusuke Hamaguchi! Japan’s up-and-coming director Hamaguchi’s award-winning epic Happy Hour returns to SF Bay Area with the filmmaker himself. This 5-hours-and-17-minutes-long film about the unstable lives of four girl friends in their thirties, played by real women with no acting experience in the past, should be surprisingly gratifying for any movie lover.

About JAPAN FILM FESTIVAL OF SAN FRANCISCO

Launched in 2013, Japan Film Festival of San Francisco is the first and only fully dedicated Japanese film event for the SF Bay Area. This year’s edition will feature a colorful mix of narratives, anime and documentary film premieres and exclusive screenings with special guest appearance at the NEW PEOPLE Cinema in San Francisco’s Japantown from July 23rd (Sat) through August 31st (Sun), 2016. More details and ticket information is available at jffsf.org.

About NEW PEOPLE CINEMA

NEW PEOPLE Cinema is a 143-seat cinema located in the underground floor of NEW PEOPLE in San Francisco. Equipped with a cutting-edge HD digital projection and THX®-certified sound system, NEW PEOPLE Cinema is home for local film festivals and creative events. newpeoplecinema.com

Geekscape Movie Reviews ‘The Boy And The Beast’

by Josh JacksonMarch 3, 2016

As Mamoru Hosoda’s reputation has grown, so have the inevitable comparisons to Hayao Miyazaki’s legendary films. After The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, Summer Wars, and Wolf Children captured the hearts of audiences, showing that the reach of his work expanded farther than the typical anime fan. With The Boy And The Beast, Hosoda brings his unique brand of storytelling to a coming of age tale that takes us to the mystical land of the beasts, one where humans are never to step foot. But when an orphan from the human world meets an outcast from the beast realm, we are left with a touching story of how the connections we form have the ability to fill the holes in our hearts.

The Boy and the Beast introduces us to Ren, a young boy who resigns to a life on the streets after his mother passes away. With no contact with his estranged father and growing resentment in his heart, Ren finds an unlikely home at the side of Kumatetsu, a hot headed bear like beast who declares that the boy will be his new apprentice. Kumatetsu is one of two candidates to become the next lord of his kingdom, but his bad attitude has caused his peers to look down on him while favoring his rival, Iozen. In the hopes that taking in an apprentice will motivate him to work harder and break his bad habits, both Kumatetsu and Ren, (renamed Kyuta by his new master,) fill a void for each other despite their tumultuous relationship. But bringing a human into the Beast Kingdom has its own set of consequences, one that tests their already shaky bond in unimaginable ways.

Throughout the film, it’s this relationship that takes center stage. While neither character is the most likable when we first meet them, (a very intentional choice as you witness their growth in character,) it’s impossible not to root for them regardless when you consider the background each one comes from. We literally have every reason to cheer for Iozen over Kumatetsu considering the former is humble, and level headed despite his power, while Kumatetsu is an arrogant loudmouth who uses his bad attitude to hide the feeling that the lack of support that he gets from his peers really does get to him. As he builds a father/son bond through training Ren as his apprentice however, and watching the two characters emerge from their lonliness side by side is the true highlight of the film.

Yet, once the film gets to about the halfway point, the story takes a sudden turn, one that I felt wasn’t built up to nearly enough to justify the events taking place. Feeling as if there was a need to create a rift between the two protagonists when the first half of the film had so thoroughly built up their bond, I had a hard time believing that the characters could make the choices they did so easily. Once the story does get back on track during the climactic final battle between Iozen and Kumatetsu, the crap really hits the fan, but in the best way possible. This leads to the quick resolution to most of what was foreshadowed at the beginning of the story, but takes such a sudden shift in tone that it’s a bit jarring. Couple that with an abrupt, unsatisfying ending, and we’re left with a second act that’s hard to justify, and a third act that picks up on the action while feeling somewhat disjointed from the type of story it told up to that point. With that said, the final moments leading up to the sudden ending had me completely invested, rewarding me for the emotional investment that I had built with these characters over the short two hours since I had been introduced to them.

Naturally, it’s easier to get engrossed when this world of beasts comes to life through top notch visuals. Shown through some vividly produced animations that are easy to become engrossed in, taking in what you see on the screen is easy thanks to how well the 2D animation flows. This movie serves as a reminder of how not every movie needs to be full of 3D effects for it to be impressive, especially when the film suffers a bit during the handful of moments when 3D is used. Moving at a slower, less fluid pace, these few sections took me out of the story, reminding me of how much better those scenes could have been if the animators had stuck to 2D. Fortunately, the top notch English voice acting and emotional score more than make up for it, leaving the presentation on a high note.

As the credits rolled and I left the theater, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed The Boy and the Beast. Not knowing what to expect when I walked in, I walked out with a strong impression of the characters, their connections with each other, and their ultimate fates. The character growth and development takes center stage, even when the overall narrative takes some unrealistic turns given the little time these scenes had to develop, and the abrupt ending put a damper on the finale. Despite this, The Boy and the Beast stands up well against any of Hosoda’s other works, to the point where anime and non-anime fans alike will find something to love about this movie. If you’re a fan of all things Japan, if you want a sweet story to experience with the family, or you want to see some well animated action in between all the mushy stuff, then a weekend with Ren and Kumatetsu is a weekend well spent.

Final Score: 3.5/5