Tag: 2026

Island FanCon 2026 Convention Report: Still Working It Out

Island FanCon returned to Langford for its third year, and the question of what it wants to be is still being answered. Here’s what worked, what didn’t, and why The Viking Group’s shadow looms over all of it.

Island Fancon 2026As Island FanCon enters its third year, it faces an uphill climb. Managing expectations will be tough. What exactly is it trying to be? The identity introduced from the get-go is obvious: help the City of Langford grow. When this event is sponsored by The Viking Group, that detail is hard to miss. And this year, they’re the first thing everyone spots when entering the arena.

When this event is one of the few gatherings still existing for Greater Victoria, geeks are noticing. As for comparing it alongside larger regional conventions in the Lower Mainland, anyone attempting to do so doesn’t really understand the difference between fan-run and corporate.

When this event’s cousins, Metro Con and Northern Fan Con, share the same vibe, expectations need to be lowered accordingly. And as the Island show is still shaping its identity, patience is required. Some attendees come looking for something similar to Fan Expo Vancouver, and honestly, that’s not what Island Fan Con is about. It’s not a full-scale show, and it was never meant to spotlight every geek operation in the municipality.

Continue reading “Island FanCon 2026 Convention Report: Still Working It Out”

Annecy 2026: Top Ten Picks on What To Look Out For

From steampunk anime and folk fantasy to surreal satire, musical odysseys, and unsettling horror from around the world, Annecy 2026 promises to have a bit of everything for fans of animation. That includes previews on upcoming streaming series.

annecy 2026Every year, the Annecy International Animation Film Festival offers a fantastic glimpse into what’ll be headed to theatres, streaming or television soon. While not everything will be made available for other regions, especially with European made works, I’m always holding out hope. At Annecy 2026, this year’s selections have me excited. From steampunk alternate histories and existential animated satire to folk fantasy and deeply personal musical odysseys. Several projects also continue the growing trend of international co-productions blending artistic traditions from Europe and Asia in ways that feel genuinely fresh.

Here are some of the standout titles currently catching our attention.

Continue reading “Annecy 2026: Top Ten Picks on What To Look Out For”

Another World at the LA Asian Pacific Film Festival. A Chinese Reimagining of a Japanese Novel.

Although the number of animated releases from Hong Kong are few and far between, just what’s offered in Another World are insightful looks at the human character, and this film is no exception.

Another World Movie PosterAMC Atlantic Times Square 14
May 3, 2026, 6:00 pm (buy tickets here)
* Mild Spoiler Alert

Although Tommy Ng’s animated adaptation of Naka Saijō’s novel Thousand Year Ghost differs from its source, that’s likely because the original’s intent is hard to comprehend cleanly. It’s possible this work is more like a huge anthology than a focussed tale about one individual. Another World is more digestible. At its core, we follow Gudo (Suet-Ying Chung), a child-like supernatural being searching for the meaning of life. As one of many soulkeepers guiding spirits toward reincarnation, he understands that not all will pass on. Those weighed down by guilt or resentment risk becoming “Wraths,” not ghosts in the traditional sense, but manifestations of unresolved emotion taken to their extreme.

These beings linger in the living world, causing harm. Stopping them isn’t Gudo’s role; others handle that. What stands out is how observational the movie feels. There’s no grand rebellion against cosmic order, just quiet witnessing. This lad’s presence adds to that unease. The mask he wears, or what may simply be his face, seems to act like a chamber, giving his voice a different resonance. We hear him as though he’s speaking from an empty room. The sound design brilliantly reinforces that he’s not from our world, but another one, which perfectly suits the film’s title.

Continue reading “Another World at the LA Asian Pacific Film Festival. A Chinese Reimagining of a Japanese Novel.”

This May on Netflix: Five Genre Picks Set to Start the Fire and Entertain

Action, anime, K-drama, animation, sci-fi. May on Netflix is covering a lot of ground, and these five genre picks are the ones worth clearing your evening for.

Five Genre Picks on Netflix for MayNext month looks to be good on Netflix, especially for those curious about what The Duffer Brothers’ next project is. Although they are not helming the work, what’s offered in these five genre picks for May looks solid.

Whether you’re in the mood for a Thai action film with some serious John Wick energy, a slow-burn supernatural series from the team behind Stranger Things, or an anime adaptation manga readers have been waiting years to see, there’s real variety here. We’ve rounded up five picks worth circling on your calendar.

My Dearest Assassin

(Film) | Streaming May 7

My Dearest Assassin (Film)Thailand has been quietly building a reputation for punchy, emotionally grounded genre cinema, and this Netflix Original leans right into that. Lhan was born with a rare blood type that made her a target from childhood. After her parents are murdered, she’s taken in by House 89, a secretive assassin clan that becomes her found family. Years later, the man who killed her parents returns, and this time she’s not running.

The film blends close-quarters action choreography with a genuine romance between Lhan and Pran, the heir to House 89. Director Taweewat Wantha (Death Whisperer) brings a horror filmmaker’s instinct for tension to the fight sequences. One-time film drop, no waiting.

Continue reading “This May on Netflix: Five Genre Picks Set to Start the Fire and Entertain”

Free Comic Book Day and Comics Giveaway 2026: My Top Picks on What To Grab May 2nd

Free Comic Book Day 2026 and the inaugural Comics Giveaway Day are both on my radar this year, and there’s a surprisingly fun mix of titles worth watching. From Greatest American Hero to Journey to the West, these are the free comics that are must grabs.

Free Comic Book DayAfter the demise of Diamond Distribution as being the main depot to find comics, and advertise Free Comic Book Day 2026 in their catalogue, it’s harder to know ahead of time what will be released. Thankfully we have the Internet. However, not everyone makes the effort to look ahead. And not everyone knows that there’s “two” events instead of one to cover all the publishers. According to The Beat, there was once a plan to have three, but it’s been scaled back.

Not only is there the normal FCBD, there’s also Comics Giveaway Day. As far as I’m concerned, it’s one and the same, just under different distribution channels. There was supposed to be a third, but when Oni Press threw its support behind the original event, the momentum behind that idea collapsed with it.

Continue reading “Free Comic Book Day and Comics Giveaway 2026: My Top Picks on What To Grab May 2nd”

Level Up Your Game: A Nerd’s Guide to Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival 2026

The Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival returns for 2026 with a lineup full of intriguing discoveries. From animated shorts to offbeat late-night programming, here are some standout picks worth seeking out at this year’s event.

Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival 2026The Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival returns for 2026 with a packed slate that rewards a bit of digging. Beyond the headline titles, it’s often the smaller works, especially in animation and side programming, where the real surprises tend to surface.

This year feels particularly strong in that regard. Whether by design or coincidence, animation has a noticeable presence, adding texture to an already diverse lineup. Now in its 43rd year, LAAPFF continues to offer plenty to explore across its five-day run. Here are my picks worth seeking out:

113 Words For You Today

A team of workers is sent to planet Gliese 12b to build a gravitational portal. To survive the cold, each person is limited to 138 words per day. Soo chooses his words carefully. Even a groan from pain feels like a loss. When a blizzard hits, he risks everything to retrieve a vital crystal, too reserved to ask for help. Lost in the storm, he survives the night in a crashed cable car.

Returning at last, exhausted but alive, he picks up the phone, calls Earth, and waits. When the line connects, he smiles and proudly says, “Hi sweetie, I saved 113 words for you today.”

113 Words For You Today

Continue reading “Level Up Your Game: A Nerd’s Guide to Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival 2026”