CREATORVC’s Next Idea: Icons of Anime, Is It Too Late To Provide Your 5cents?

The upcoming Icons of Anime documentary from CREATORVC wants to explore how anime grew into a cultural force in the West. But with decades of academic study, fan history and projects like The Anime Business already covering the territory, finding a fresh perspective may be its biggest challenge.

Icons of Anime MOCKUP
Artwork not final

Anyone on social media or who has supported a project from CREATORVC before may have gotten the news. And if you haven’t heard about Icons of Anime, their next project, there’s not much to get excited about. Quite frankly, they are showing up late. While there are various studies about the fandom from various perspectives, to stand out really means finding something new that hasn’t been done before. Although the survey page is still active, maybe it’s not too late to contribute. Recent podcasts show they are enthusiastic, and Tim Eldred really hopes this can be made.

In the 90s, I had the good fortune to volunteer at a conference and get my education that way. Organized by the Centre for Asia-Pacific Initiatives (CAPI), New Culture for the Masses: The Universal Appeal and Global Reach of Japanese Popular Culture was considered one of the first major academic conferences of its kind focused strictly on modern Japanese pop culture. There were guest lectures examining how various aspects of Japanese media were making a significant impact in the West, and we weren’t restricted to anime.

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Fists, Fangs, and Fantasia: God Skin Delivers an Insane Take on AR Fighting

MMA collides with augmented reality in God Skin, a Thai action film where underground fighters unleash animal-based abilities inside a technologically enhanced arena.

God Skin Movie PosterWhen a movie such as God Skin (หมัดเทวา ท้าเดิมพัน) gets to make its world premiere at Fantasia Film Festival ahead of its own native release in Thailand, I hope what’s presented is more closer to what director Paween Purijitpanya wanted than the workprint I examined ahead of time. And for a proper North American distribution, I can’t wait to see what the final print will look like. That kind of stuff can’t be rushed, especially when the homage to many fighting games are key to this film.

There’s a lot to pack into this action-video game cum MMA movie, so expectations are high. And although there’s a story behind why people are participating in this combat sport, what I was more attracted to is what this movie delivers as theories on how augmented reality fighting games should really look when the right technology is available.

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Aachi and Ssipak, Now Playing on Darkroom! Don’t Let This Punk Rock Epic Slide Away

In a dystopian city where human waste is the only remaining energy source, Aachi and Ssipak are two street-smart thugs get caught in a chaotic, ultra-violent turf war between the government, mutated addicts, and a girl with a new-found power everyone wants

Aachi and Ssipak Title Card
Also available to stream on Crunchyroll and Apple TV+

Now playing on the streaming platform Darkroom is Aachi and Ssipak, and this action film is sure to cause some waves. Directed by Jo Beom-jin and originally released in 2006, what’s special about it is its cult status and that this release arrives just in time to honour its 20th anniversary! Since it’s highly regarded for its punk rock roots and over-the-top action sequences, yes, it’s on the must see list for the weekend! Just be warned, this work is not made for kids to watch.

And best of all, this service is affordable. Memberships are only $2.99.

Synopsis:

In a dystopian future where all natural resources have been depleted, human waste has become the city’s sole source of energy. To maximize energy production, the government incentivizes defecation by rewarding citizens with “Hard” – which are highly addictive, hallucinogenic popsicles. Before long, a group of mutated outcasts known as the “Bojagi Gang” emerges. Having lost their ability to defecate due to severe “Hard” addiction, they are brutally exiled from the city for being “unproductive.”

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All Hail The Metal Messiah! Vividly Restored to 4K, at Fantasia Film Festival and Coming to Home Video Too!

Canadian International Pictures screened the 4K restoration of Tibor Takács’ Metal Messiah at Fantasia Film Festival, and if you missed it, fret not. A Blu-ray release is expected to be announced later this year.

Metal Messiah 1978 Movie Poster
Played at Fantasia Film Festival on July 25, 2026 at the Salle J.A. De Sève

Because I wasn’t born in time and be of the right age to witness Metal Messiah back in 1977, whether in theatres, if it ever reached Victoria’s Roxy or Vic Theatre, or later on VHS, discovering it now feels surreal. With it’s recent 4k remaster, some scenes only look that much more cosmic when considering the how well it’s been colour balanced. Although some video artifacts remain, this movie would not be what it is, a product of the times. Even today, I wasn’t sure what to expect from a story so deeply rooted in an era still firmly rooted in The Cold War.

Today, it’s a cult film that embodies the raw spirit of Toronto’s early punk movement. And when looking back at my own discovery of the stylings of Iggy Pop and Ziggy Stardust, I’m sure either would’ve appreciated what writer-director Tibor Takács (The Gate, Sabrina the Teenage Witch) accomplished here. What he made feels like hard-boiled detective fiction colliding with This Is Spinal Tap, only with a far more philosophical edge.

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When All Is Lost? The Galactic Ghoul Is the Last Hero You Wanna Call!

Wildly campy and packed with puppets, absurd performances and homemade effects, The Galactic Ghoul proudly embraces the charm of those B-Movies of yesteryears, and get Lexx about it.

The Galactic Ghoul Movie Poster
Played at Fantasia Film Festival July 28, 2026 at the Cinéma du Musée

The Galactic Ghoul is one of those crazy fun films which recalls more than a few well known and lesser known screwball sci-fi epics. No, we’re not talking about Red Dwarf. Instead I believe this film is the love child of Lexx and MST3K and the individual grew up watching Spaceballs set on repeat! This work written and directed by Simon Harrisson is a laugh a minute, and honestly, I could not take it seriously even if I tried.

This film ranks right there in the same spectrum as 1000s of Beavers, even though the genres are different. Also, I must note Vincent Hoss-Desmarais helped write this work, and it wouldn’t be fair to not mention him too. They might have taken inspiration from Lost in Space too, and I say that with fondness when considering some of the costume and surreal designs that tained the later seasons.

And honestly, I like to know which one of the two is the Space Adventure Cobra fan! There’s some vibes from this anime as the film follows the misadventures of Oscar Bravo (Vincent Hoss-Desmarias), Lieutenant Foxtrot (also Hoss-Desmarias, for reasons made known later in the film) and Xenon (Michael Richard). For part of the story, they weren’t working together, but when they do, it seems they are better off as partners than rivals.

When both are wanting to gain Queen Xaltalusia XXIII’s (Katherine Isabelle) favour, they better be careful in what they want to reap! But she’s the bad guy, right? After managing to collect a mystic stone (basically, the last remnants of a destroyed world) to give to her, they go their separate ways. As Oscar wants to stay behind, he’s the brave idiot who becomes a consort of sorts. And that’s when things get kinky and weird.

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With Zsazsa Zaturnnah Here, Hope Is Not Lost!

Sometimes, checking out the original film helps too before catching the animated version of Zsazsa Zaturnnah, which is just as campy, hilarious and fun! This is the other superhero movie that must be seen this year!

Zsazsa Zaturnnah
Played at Fantasia Film Festival on July 20, 2026 at the Salle J.A. De Sève

Some newcomers may wonder whether Zsa Zsa Gabor and Zsazsa Zaturnnah are one and the same. They are not. Although both are glamorous queens capable of making many hearts flutter, there’s far more to the latter than meets the eye. Created by Filipino comic book artist Carlo Vergara, this superheroine became a cultural sensation and an important champion of LGBTQ representation in the Philippines.

Outside the country, she remains relatively unknown, and that’s where the 2026 self titled animated movie comes in. It retells her origin story for a new generation while shifting the focus towards themes that have followed the character since her 2002 debut. For those unfamiliar with her history, this alternative to Wonder Woman first appeared in the graphic novel Ang Kagila-gilalas na Pakikipagsapalaran ni Zsazsa Zaturnnah.

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