Category: Animation

Mamoru Oshii at the Metrograph. A Cinematic Tribute to a Master

Metrograph honours Mamoru Oshii with restorations of Angel’s Egg and The Red Spectacles, plus influences from Tarkovsky to Yamatoya. It’s a must see for fans of this master auteur!

Mamoru OshiiVenue: Metrograph, 7 Ludlow St, New York
Dates: November 15–23

Among anime fans, Mamoru Oshii stands apart for his singular art-house aesthetic. Though most know him as a director, understanding the depth of his writing means looking closely at his filmography. Angel’s Egg remains his first truly original work, while Urusei Yatsura: Only You (1983) and Urusei Yatsura 2: Beautiful Dreamer (1984) were where his unique voice first began to shine. From there, his contributions to some of the most influential anime of the 90s cemented his reputation as a visionary.

With Avalon (2001), Oshii explored the harmful effects of virtual reality long before it became a plaything of today, and parts of that story (written by Kazunori Itō) resonate. Through its existential themes, he explored what it means to live and dream inside a machine—ideas that would echo throughout science-fiction cinema for decades.
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The Secret Storylines K-Pop Demon Hunters 2 Needs

It’s official: K-Pop Demon Hunters 2 is happening, but fans may wait years. If the sequel leans into folklore, side stories and stronger character arcs, it could become a rare animated follow-up that truly matures with its audience.

K-Pop Demon Hunters movie posterIt’s official—K-Pop Demon Hunters 2 is a go. Fans, however, will have to wait perhaps four years before it arrives. That’s a tough pill to swallow for anyone hoping to see Rumi, Mira, Su-Min, and the rest of the team back in action. What made the debut spectacular was its blend of folklore and modern Korean pop culture—especially Rumi’s reluctant connection to the demon world, which now puts her at a crossroads between fame, duty, and peace.

Although the wait will be long, hopefully it’ll all be worth it. Fans have expectations—especially in seeing what’s next for the lead, and whether her demon boyfriend will come back. That forbidden attraction is what drew me into the tale. The trope is a variation on the Legend of the White Snake, a classic story where a goddess falls for a mortal man. Here, the roles are reversed, giving the story a fresh emotional dynamic. The beliefs about what happens to the soul are also distinct from other cultural takes, which makes this story feel uniquely Korean.

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From Nostalgia to Grit: Racer X and Speed Racer Reignite the Track

Racer X and Speed Racer return in a bold comic reboot, blending high-octane action with emotional depth, stunning art, and a shared universe in the making.

Racer X Vol 1 Trade Paperback
Catch Racer X as a trade paperback Feb 2026. Preorders available on Amazon USA

Mad Cave

Racer X and Speed Racer are back on track to rejuvenate an age-old franchise that not every anime fan may remember. Sure, the Wachowski Brothers (as they were known then) gave us a live-action version, but not everyone was exactly heading to theatres for it. That film was praised for its wildly colourful, hyper-stylized visuals, though its faithfulness to Tatsuo Yoshida’s original creation is debatable.

I loved it for those visuals alone—it’s a surreal fusion of anime and pop-art sensibility that only this team of filmmakers could dream up. And that hubba-hubba in the trailers? Well….

The new comics take a more grounded approach, which feels like the perfect evolution. Both stories explore the emotional and moral engines driving their heroes, especially the bond between Speed and Rex. Rather than just focusing on life in the fast lane, they bring heart, regret, and family legacy to the forefront.

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Autumn Animated Series Guide and Beyond. What’s Best to Watch and What’s Best to Avoid

Late 2025’s slate of cartoons mixes fairy-tale mysteries, anime eco-adventures, and Afrofuturist visions. A few sparkle, some stumble, but each animated series reminds us what’s ripe for storytelling.

Autumn 2025 animated series guideWhen the autumn slate of television programming for youths is in full gear, just what we enjoy watching isn’t always going to be offered on the big three—Amazon Prime, Netflix or Hulu. There’s some great animated series in the world of streaming rather than network for obvious reasons. Luckily, the last stretch of 2025 has a few curious newcomers and oddball experiments worth watching—or at least watching for. Some shimmer with potential, others… less so (Armorsaurs, we’re side-eyeing you). As to be fair for Devil May Cry, they deserve honourable mention despite having started in Spring than Fall.

The Sisters Grimm (Apple TV+)
October 3

The Sisters Grimm animated series posterA darkly charming fairy-tale mystery that balances heart and humour, The Sisters Grimm is Titmouse Inc.’s spin on Michael Buckley’s novels. Here, Sabrina and Daphne get suddenly orphaned when their parents disappear. They go live with their grandmother and when they learn there is more to their dad than meets the eye, what they do next is hardly surprising. They must navigate challenges of looking out for each other in a world where fairy tales are real!

Smart writing, lush design, and a tone that doesn’t talk down to its audience—it’s Apple’s most confident foray into youth fantasy since Wolfwalkers. And if you’ve seen DreamWorks Curses! you’ll recognise the storytelling model used too!

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Galaxy Express 999 The Complete — Who’s On Board to Ride This Cosmic Soul Train Again?

After decades of waiting, Galaxy Express 999 is finally making its full journey to Blu-ray. MediaOCD’s 113-episode release lets fans relive the classic odyssey of Tetsurō and Maetel in its complete, remastered form — no edits, no compromises.

Galaxy Express 999 The Complete TV Series

Available to preorder on Amazon USA

After decades of half-available sets, fuzzy fansubs, and waiting on stars to align in hopes there’s a complete set release than part, Galaxy Express 999 the animated series is officially making its full journey to Blu-ray. MediaOCD‘s online shop has listed this 113-episode TV series, and it’s ready to ride November 25, 2025! This title is from Discotek and it replaces prior releases which only offered part of the story.

For a certain generation, they most likely saw the theatrical version. There’s a lot of content deleted for a sleek take on a very melancholy tale. The train made dozens of stops, saw the characters like Tetsurō and Maetel slowly mature and Count Mecha—well, that’s a detail best not spoiled. And for many, they may well say this anime was when they were first introduced to Captain Harlock!

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Lesbian Space Princess Misses Nothing in Its Campy Cosmic Quest for Love

Lesbian Space Princess is a bold, hilarious animated space adventure from Emma Hough Hobbs and Leela Varghese. Mixing camp sci-fi, queer identity, and heartfelt storytelling, it turns cosmic chaos into a surprisingly emotional journey of self-worth.

Lesbian space princess main posterPlease check local listings for theatrical runs

What makes Emma Hough Hobbs and Leela Varghese’s adult animated feature Lesbian Space Princess unique is how it blends self-discovery with queer themes—and sets it all in space! It recalls Lexx, the cult Canadian sci-fi series with strong adult sensibilities. Here, the heroine Saira (Shabana Azeez) heads to the stars not to save her home planet, but to find Kiki, her ex-lover who wants nothing more to do with her. She’s hoping for a second chance—but can that happen?

Like the said series, she steals a “Problematic Ship” (Richard Roxburgh) and takes off in search of her lost love. She leaves the sanctuary of her homeworld, aptly named Clitopolis. If echoes of The Rocky Horror Picture Show don’t come knocking—because I couldn’t help wondering if the planet Transsexual from the system Transylvania might be nearby—then I don’t know what will. No shared universe is implied here, and I’m glad!

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