Our Ultimate Guide is Here! Spotlighting All The Essential Fantasia Film Festival 2026 Shorts You Can’t Miss

Fantasia Film Festival 2026’s shorts programs reveal a strong thread of folklore, mythology, cultural traditions, and strange discoveries. And in part one of a week long guide, we dive into which works we’re very eager to see:

Fantasia Film Festival 2026 poster
Event runs from July 16 to August 2, 2026. Montreal, Quebec.

In addition to a lot of cake, I believe Fantasia Film Festival 2026 has plenty of other treats in store for those headed to Montreal! Not only is this the festival’s 30th anniversary, but the programmers have pulled out all the stops to make every section feel special. Returning favourites like Hayop Ka! (review link) appear in the retro lineup, while three outstanding documentaries celebrate the craft of filmmaking. And yes, I’m sure plenty of fans will be cheering for The Origins of Ultraman too!

Before I get to my top twenty picks of the festival, I want to shine a spotlight on the various short film programs. While I haven’t had the chance to see every entry yet, I’ll be keeping an eye on YouTube and other streaming platforms to see which shorts become available internationally after the festival. Great discoveries don’t always come through the festival circuit alone. Sometimes they’re quietly waiting to be found online by those willing to dig a little deeper.

Along with a summary of each film, I’ve marked the title that has my attention with an image. Together, these selections reveal one of the biggest trends I noticed this year: folklore, mythology, and cultural traditions are woven throughout many of Fantasia’s short film programs.

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Vampire Princess Miyu, Back From The Dead … But For How Long?

40 long years (or two decades resting) won’t matter much for Vampire Princess Miyu! MediaOCD/AnimEigo’s next release brings back the original video animation that introduced this young girl to anime fans in the 90s. An Interview with a Vampire’s Claudia better look out!

Vampire Princess MiyuAnimEigo and MediaOCD

The resolution bump required to bring Vampire Princess Miyu back to home video is certainly needed to showcase why the original still matters. This latest rerelease features the classic U.S. and UK dubs alongside the original Japanese stereo track. However, it arrives without extensive extra features, largely due to the strict licensing time constraints parent company MediaOCD faced to get prints out to the masses.

That time crunch extended to the packaging, which utilizes a pure white case reminiscent of GKIDS’ release of Evangelion: 3.0+1.11 Thrice Upon a Time. This minimalist design works beautifully. It represents a canvas of purity before corruption can taint anyone’s soul, a visual metaphor that feels entirely apt when considering the tragic background of the titular character.

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Spending My Animated Summer with Netflix

Before we take the week off in recognition of Canada Day and the Fourth of July, even we have to offer our picks on how to spend the start of an animated summer with Netflix. More lists and reviews will be coming after we recharge!

Animated Summer with NetflixJuly is surprisingly quiet for viewers wondering what to watch on the streaming front. Apple TV+ and Prime Video are largely relying on returning series, making it easy to begin your animated summer with Netflix. Disney+ also has a couple of worthwhile additions.

Aside from Sparks of Tomorrow (see my preview), there are no major original animated premieres until August. Fortunately, the wait isn’t long. Kyoto Animation returns with an original television series, Ricky Gervais makes his animated sitcom debut for the streamer, and one of manga’s most influential classics receives a fresh reimagining.

Sparks of Tomorrow
July 5

Sparks of Tomorrow Anime

Produced by Kyoto Animation and based on Hiro Yūki‘s light novel 20 Seiki Denki Mokuroku, the series unfolds in an alternate version of early 20th century Kyoto where steam technology flourishes instead of electricity. The story follows Kihachi Sakamoto, a young inventor who dreams of ushering in a new age alongside his older brother. After tragedy tears those dreams apart, he crosses paths with Inako Momokawa, the daughter of a sake brewer, and together they rediscover hope through science and innovation.

The project also marks Minoru Ota‘s directorial debut and showcases Kyoto Animation’s painterly backgrounds inspired by Impressionist artwork.

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Godziburst Rises From the Depths! Doctor Moreau Would Approve.

Godziburst arrives in North America with customizable Godzilla action figures, interchangeable parts, and a web series for kaiju fans to enjoy. And we got all the lists here!

GodziburstFor fans who love creating their own kaiju monster mash, Bandai Namco Toys & Collectibles America’s Godziburst will soon arrive in this side of world to please. Who doesn’t want to customize their favourite TOHO monster? Rather than focusing solely on screen-accurate recreations, the new product line encourages collectors to swap parts, create entirely new monsters, and build their own stories.

After its successful debut in Japan last year, these figures are preparing to land on North American shores. Pre-orders are now open through Godzilla.com and Amazon. The figures are expected to arrive at retailers later this summer. While many fans will undoubtedly dream of building a multi-headed beast, a proper King Ghidorah body would still be needed, and the socket system would have to support that level of customization.

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In Toy Story 5, How Many Friends Are Needed?

Pixar shifts the spotlight to Jessie in Toy Story 5, delivering a heartfelt story about growing up, moving on, and finding human connection in an increasingly digital world.

Toy Story 5 Soundtrack CoverAnyone who grew up watching Woody (Tom Hanks) and Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) won’t find them at the centre of the action. In Toy Story 5, the focus shifts to Jessie (Joan Cusack) as the new “Justice of the Peace,” and as for the others, they’ve been busy. While the cowboy is spending his best days with Little Bo-Peep (Annie Potts) to rescue abandoned toys, Buzz has an eye on the cowgirl, an idea first introduced in the second film. The allusions are there, and choosing not to rush that relationship is a smart move.

But do we really need more tales? I’d say yes. After 31 long years, most fans have either moved on or are waiting to see what PIXAR does next.

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Free RPG Day 2026: The Dice, Minis and Quickstarts I Want Most

Free RPG Day 2026 returns with exclusive dice, miniatures, folk horror, cosmic dread, and beginner-friendly tabletop adventures worth hunting down.

Free RPG Day logoFree RPG Day is almost here, and it remains one of my favourite events of the year. I always look forward to picking up Quickstart rules that introduce players to new TTRPG worlds, and as always, I always pay attention to the hardware offered. Whether that is with dice, custom notebooks or miniatures, they turn the day into an adventure itself!

Not every item is simply available to grab. Participating stores set their own limits, and some may require a small purchase or participation in an in-store event. That is only fair, especially when it helps discourage unswarthy individuals from scooping up everything. For die-hards, though, spending the day at the store is part of the ritual. Many retailers host one-shots, giving curious newcomers a chance to try a game before committing to a full rulebook.

As for what’s noteworthy is what Marvel Comics is offering, a Secret Wars Expansion Preview for the Marvel Multiverse Role-Playing Game. It includes a Battleworld adventure, an original map, and a glimpse at what the full tabletop experience will offer. I played TSR’s take on Secret Wars years ago, and a lot has changed in the lore since the Jim Shooter era. It was a fun time, and for the latest, I’m definitely wanting to check. As for what’s ahead, the following items are what I am most eager to find.

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