Tag: Based On Book

Going ‘Back to the Past’ is No Stormy Ride In This Tribute

A long-awaited follow-up to a beloved TV series, Back to the Past delivers time-travel spectacle, nostalgic fan service, and lingering questions about destiny, even if some ideas feel better suited to a longer format.

Back to the Past 2026 Movie PosterWell Go USA
Mild spoiler alert

No prior knowledge of the 2001 Chinese TV series A Step into the Past is required to enjoy Back to the Past (尋秦記). Those familiar with the series will spot how the film connects to its small-screen origins, though the transition isn’t seamless. The budget behind the more ambitious stunt work doesn’t always disguise the green screening, and a bit of suspension of disbelief is definitely required. Still, it’s manageable. My lingering question is how much of Ken’s troops and equipment were conveniently waiting to be teleported along with him. There is an answer, and I won’t spoil where the technology came from.

Although the film took many years to reach screens following the series finale in 2001, fans of the historical drama about Hong Siu-lung (Louis Koo), a modern man trying not to distort the past too much for fear of altering the future he knows, will feel right at home. Over the course of the series, he becomes part of a trusted inner circle and is eventually made Grand Tutor. Much of the story revolves around avoiding temporal paradoxes, and anything essential is neatly recapped in the film’s introduction.

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Gou Tanabe and the Missing Adaptations: 5 Untranslated Lovecraft Manga Still Hiding Out

Along with what “Dreams” are made of, we look at what works of Gou Tanabe are currently out there that are graphic novel adaptations of the Cthulhu mythos. Our focus is on his untranslated Lovecraft manga.

Gou Tanabe's Call of Cthulhu untranslated Lovecraft mangaWhile organizing my collection of untranslated Lovecraft manga and graphic adaptations, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something essential was missing. There’s a handful of Gou Tanabe’s works that exist in French or Italian editions, yet still haven’t seen print in North America. When Zack Davisson mentioned they’ve remained untouched, it felt less like an if and more like a slow, deliberate waiting game. He translated the recent releases and is clearly eager to tackle what’s missing. That comment dates back over a year to Emerald City Comic Con, and as fans of this series, all we can do is wait, and hope it doesn’t drive us mad.

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Cosmic Horror in 2026: The Ultimate Guide to Upcoming H.P. Lovecraft Films, Graphic Novels and More!

In the world of sequential art, Cosmic Horror in 2026 neverf goes out of style. Presented here is a preview of what’s currently on shelves and coming soon! Plus a handy checklist for your pull list.

Cosmic Horror in 2026There’s further Cosmic horror in 2026 that is sure to destroy! And as this genre never really goes out of style, just what one can find in the sequential arts make up part one of a three part series, where I dive deep into nearly everything that’s coming out!

I will begin with visual interpretations of the classics. Cinematically, they can be summed up with two releases–Iron Lung (limited theatre run beginning Jan 30) and Dreamlands. The former is about surviving the deep oceans and the other, well, the title speaks for itself. While the latter is a crowdfunded release and passion product, it’s tough to say if this work be ready for this year’s H.P. Lovecraft Film Festival.

In part two will be a look at Gou Tanabe’s slate of works and offer a checklist. Last will be the videogames to put fans of H.P. Lovecrafts works straight into the forefreont. After RailGods of Hysterra (review link) stalled due to some design issues, I’m still curious what other titles might pick up the pace.

In this preview, here’s what’s expected to roll out in 2026.

The Manga Master Returns:
Gou Tanabe’s The Dunwich Horror

The Dunwich Horror Japanese Edition

The Dunwich Horror Japanese Edition

For many of us, the gold standard for Lovecraftian art is Gou Tanabe. After his Eisner-nominated runs on At the Mountains of Madness and The Shadow Out of Time, Dark Horse Manga is expected to bring the English translation of “The Dunwich Horror” to North American fans in 2026. The news is not official, but that is what industry insiders are saying. Without this, Necronomicon cannot make its proper debut in Tanabe’s world of horror.

His ability to draw the “indescribable” is unmatched in the manga world. Nearly everyyone is excited to see how the Whateley family will spring to life, and also depict what Wilbur will transform to. And along with the invisible terror of Sentinel Hill stalking the land, there’s plenty of expectations to craft in the minds of every reader.

A Dreamlike Departure:
The Last Day of H.P. Lovecraft

The Last Day of H.P. LovecraftComing early this year from BOOM! Studios, we have the conclusion of the English adaptation of The Last Day of H.P. Lovecraft. With this tale near compledtion (the last issue slated for Feb release), this isn’t a straight adaptation of a story, but a surreal, semi-biographical fever dream. Written by Romuald Giulivo with haunting art by Jakub Rebelka, the story follows a dying Lovecraft as he wanders through a visionary version of Providence, confronting his own creations. It is high-art horror at its finest.

IDW & Top Cow:
The Thing on the Doorstep

Top Cow The Thing in the DoorstepImage Comics and Top Cow are diving into the Cthulhu Mythos with a five-issue miniseries of “The Thing on the Doorstep,” starting February 11, 2026. Written by Simon Birks and illustrated by Willi Roberts, this adaptation promises to lean into the psychological body-horror of the original text. It’s a great entry point for those who want a more traditional “floppy” comic experience rather than a thick graphic novel.

The Masters of the Macabre
Bernie Wrightson & François Baranger

For those who prefer their horror with a “classical” dark aesthetic, 2026 offers two heavy hitters:

  • Creepy Presents: Bernie Wrightson (Dark Horse Comics): Releasing February 3, 2026, this collection is a must-have. While it spans several horror tales, it features Wrightson’s legendary adaptation of “Cool Air.” Seeing Wrightson’s meticulous ink work on high-quality modern paper is the closest thing to a religious experience a horror fan can have.
  • The Shadow Over Innsmouth (François Baranger): Following the massive success of his illustrated The Call of Cthulhu, French artist François Baranger is finishing his cinematic take on the fish-folk of Innsmouth. The English edition via Design Studio Press is expected in mid-to-late 2026. These are oversized volumes that feel more like “concept art for a movie that doesn’t exist” than a traditional comic.

Cosmic Horror in 2026 Checklist

  • January 14: The Last Day of H.P. Lovecraft #3 (BOOM! Studios)
  • February 3: Creepy Presents: Bernie Wrightson (Dark Horse)
  • February 11: The Thing on the Doorstep #1 (Image/Top Cow)
  • February 11: The Last Day of H.P. Lovecraft #4 (BOOM! Studios)
  • Late 2026: The Dunwich Horror (Dark Horse Manga)
  • Late 2026: The Shadow Over Innsmouth (Design Studio Press)

Which of these are you adding to your pull list? Let us know in the comments if you’re team Tanabe or team Wrightson!

Sources & Press Releases

Top Ten Animated Films You Must See in 2026

2026 is stacked with animated films from around the world, from high-concept sci-fi to nostalgic franchise returns. Here are ten releases to watch, sorted by date, and why each one might matter.

Animated Films 20262026 is shaping up to be a huge year for animated films. If it’s the ill-fated number three (Star Trek fans will get the reference), hopefully the Angry Birds and Minions can weather the storm. But as for other works, there’s plenty to choose from. For some studios, they are finally taking the risk, but we still don’t have a date for one particular film that I’ll address at the end.

And I’m not limiting myself to works coming out of the Los Angeles area. Also, maybe those movies I’ve been reporting on as still not getting a North American release may see movement. I’m not holding my breath for it, but you never know! This year, this list reflects not just what’s coming, but why it matters.

Meikyū no Shiori

Meikyū no Shiori Movie Poster Release: January 1, 2026 (Japan)

Directed by Shōji Kawamori from a screenplay by Taichi Hashimoto, this high-concept science fiction drama treats smartphones as literal gateways to alternate realities. After Shiori Maezawa breaks her phone, she finds herself trapped inside an alternate Yokohama, a world where another version of herself already exists, and is making a mess of things. It’s a quietly unsettling premise that bends identity, technology, and isolation into something intimate and strange.

Charlie the Wonderdog

Charlie the Wonderdog Movie Poster Release: January 16, 2026

When a boy’s best friend, who happens to be a cat, is abducted by aliens and returned profoundly altered, chaos follows. Charlie, the family dog, is suddenly forced into hero mode as the world tilts sideways around him. It’s goofy, loud, and oddly sincere, balancing superhero parody with the simple question of what loyalty actually looks like when everything changes. This is a movie that looks heavily inspired by Pixar, and yes, there are tacos.

Les Légendaires – Le Film

Les Légendaires – Le Film Movie Poster Release: January 28, 2026 (France)

Based on the popular French comic series, this fantasy adventure reunites the heroes of Alysia, once legendary warriors now trapped in the bodies of ten-year-olds after a magical catastrophe. When the sorcerer Darkhell threatens the world again through the mystical Gaméra tree, the group must come together, reputations in tatters, childhood awkwardness and all, to fix what they broke. As a beloved franchise that leans hard into classic European fantasy beats, what’s to lose?

Goat

Goat Movie Poster Release: February 13, 2026

Sony Pictures Animation delivers an all-animal sports comedy set in the brutal world of roarball, a full-contact league dominated by the biggest and fastest creatures around. Will, a small goat with oversized ambition, earns a spot on a pro team and promptly disrupts everything. It’s a familiar underdog story, but the setting and kinetic animation style suggest it could be sharper than expected.

Doraemon: New Nobita and the Castle of the Undersea Devil

Doraemon: New Nobita and the Castle of the Undersea Devil Movie Poster Release: February 27, 2026 (Japan)

The 22nd-century robot cat returns for the franchise’s 45th feature, reimagining one of Doraemon’s most beloved underwater adventures. When Nobita and friends set up camp on the ocean floor, they stumble into a hidden civilization and awaken the ominous Devil’s Rock Castle. Nostalgia meets modern animation tech in a story that leans heavily on friendship, curiosity, and the terror of things stirring beneath the waves.

Hoppers

Hoppers film poster Release: March 6, 2026

Pixar finally swings for something truly offbeat. Scientists develop technology that allows humans to “hop” their minds into robotic animals, and a nature-loving teenager uses it to protect a threatened habitat by becoming a mechanical beaver. It’s strange, playful, and philosophical in that very Pixar way, even if comparisons to horror games will inevitably sneak into the discourse.

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie poster Release: April 3, 2026

Inspired by the Galaxy games, Mario, Luigi, and company head into space to face Bowser Jr. among the stars. Bright, energetic, and unapologetically colourful, this sequel expands the Mushroom Kingdom in every direction at once. Whether or not it dodges franchise fatigue, it’s hard not to be curious about how far Nintendo is willing to let this universe stretch.

Coyote vs. Acme

Coyote vs. Acme poster Release: August 28, 2026

Rescued from limbo by Ketchup Entertainment, this long-delayed Looney Tunes project finally sees the light of day. Wile E. Coyote sues Acme Corporation over decades of catastrophic product failures, resulting in a legal comedy built on slapstick logic and deep self-awareness. It’s an oddball entry in a crowded year, and one of the few mainstream animated films willing to get genuinely satirical.

Forgotten Island

Forgotten Island temporary poster Release: September 25, 2026

DreamWorks explores Filipino folklore in a story about memory, friendship, and identity. When two youths are stranded on the mysterious island of Nakali, they discover that returning home may require sacrificing the very memories that bind them together. Early materials suggest something quieter and more emotionally driven than the studio’s usual output, with real potential to surprise.

The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender

The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender poster Release: October 9, 2026

Set between The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra, this long-gestating animated feature finally gives Aang his own post-series story. With a new global threat looming, the now more experienced Team Avatar must step back into action. After multiple delays and shifting release plans, there’s hope this one finally lands, and lands well.

The throughline here isn’t nostalgia or spectacle alone, it’s ambition. As for where Studio Laika’s Wildwood is, that’s because there’s no official distributor yet. Analysts are saying it will have to release soon. And when studios are clearly willing to experiment again, for this fan, all I can say is that it’s about bloody time!

How Fast Can The Sisters Grimm Grow? A Dreamy Fairy Tale That’s Familiar.

Apple TV+’s The Sisters Grimm is a six-part fairy tale that blends danger and wonder. With Titmouse’s animation and Studio Ghibli-like heart, it lets children become the heroes in a world where belief shapes destiny.

The Sisters Grimm Movie PosterApple TV+ has delivered one of the most enchanting surprises of the season. The Sisters Grimm, adapted from Michael Buckley’s novels and animated by Titmouse, takes the frayed edges of fairy tales and makes them feel dangerous again. Though its formula feels familiar, that’s part of its charm—it carries a touch of Studio Ghibli’s wonder in the character dynamics.

The bond between Sabrina (Ariel Winter) and Daphne (Leah Newman) forms the show’s heart, and its central question—who chooses to believe, and why? They’re almost like Satsuke and Mei in My Neighbour Totoro. This series remembers what the Brothers Grimm once understood: the forest doesn’t merely hold stories—it creates them.

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Heidi Rescue of the Lynx and the Hayao Miyazaki Connection

Yes, we even need an aside from Fantasia Film Festival. Heidi Rescue of the Lynx is a continuation, especially if you know the story from Heidi, Girl of the Alps already.

Heidi- Rescue of the LynxNow Playing in Cinemas Across the UK and Ireland.

Heidi Rescue of the Lynx continues a beloved story, capturing the same charm and warmth found in Johanna Spyri’s classic Swiss tale—while also welcoming a new generation of fans. I first discovered this story through the 1970s animated series Heidi, Girl of the Alps, one of Hayao Miyazaki’s earliest projects. His work on the screenplay and production art—centered on nature, kindness, and emotion—would shape many of his later cinematic works.

At the time, shows like Lupin the Third and The Rose of Versailles introduced me to European stories told through anime. But Heidi stood out. It had a quiet, heartfelt tone that stayed with me. Its characters and designs even helped inspire others, like Mei in My Neighbor Totoro. Over the years, Heidi has returned in a few new versions. Most of them stayed close to the original story.

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