Happy weekend, everyone.
I hope everyone is doing fine.
This is the first of a two-part trailer post (six trailers today, six tomorrow) and it comes almost a week after recording a podcast about the Shohei Imamura film The Eel. I spent most of last week watching Imamura films.
This week just flew by and I haven’t consumed as much, just the anime for Blade of the Immortal, I Think We’re Alone Now, and Leaving DC, which are on Amazon Prime, and POP! which was at the Osaka Asian Film Festival. Here’s my review for POP!. I also posted a news item about a double-bill of Toshiaki Toyoda films playing in Chicago’s Music Box cinema and a new project by the director.
What are some of the first films of the weekend?
Junk Head 
ジャンク ヘッド「Janku Heddo」
Release Date: March 26th, 2021
Running Time: 99 mins
Director: Takahide Hori
Writer: Takahide Hori (Screenplay),
Starring: Takahide Hori, Atsuko Miyake, Yuji Sugiyama,
This is a stop-motion animation from Takahide Hori. It’s based on a short which is available online to watch. With the aid of a small crew, including animator Atsuko Miyake, he made this feature. Junk Head has been invited to many different film festivals such as Raindance and it finally got a general release courtesy of Gaga in Japan.
Synopsis: Some time in the future, massive environmental damages has left the world so polluted that humans find it difficult live on it. Meanwhile an artificial workforce that was created to do hazardous tasks rebelled and went underground. Thousands of years later, while humanity has mastered genetic manipulation, all of the chemicals have led to a breakdown in the human genome leading to the loss in the ability to procreate. An explorer is sent underground to investigate tales of human mutants to find a way to revitalise humanity but this is where dangerous things lurk…
The Blue Danube 
きまじめ楽隊のぼんやり戦争 「Kimajime gakutai no bon’yari sensou」
Release Date: March 26th, 2021
Duration: 105 mins.
Director: Akira Ikeda
Writer: Akira Ikeda (Script),
Starring: Ko Maehara, Hiroki Konno, Hiroki Nakajima, Naoya Shimizu, Manami Hashimoto, Hairi Katagiri,
This is the fourth feature film from Akira Ikeda whose work, Anatomy of a Paper Clip (2013) was a highly acclaimed award-winner of the jury nominated HIVOS Tiger Award at the 2014 Rotterdam International Film Festival and the Dragons and Tigers Award for Young Cinema at the 2013 edition of the Vancouver IFF. It appears this was produced under the auspices of NDJC and it played at last year’s Tokyo FIMeX.
Synopsis: In a fictional town where war with the neighbouring town across the river is ingrained in everyday life, people know that every day, 9 am to 5 pm, is the time for war. Rouki, a soldier in the town, becomes fascinated by music heard from across the water. Meanwhile, rumours of new weapons and troops coming to the town spread, and the citizen’s lives change.
Kiba: The Fangs of Fiction 
騙し絵の牙「Damashi-e no kiba」
Release Date: March 26th, 2021
Duration: 113 mins.
Director: Daihachi Yoshida
Writer: Ichiro Kusuno (Script), Takeshi Shiota (Original Novel)
Starring: Yo Oizumi, Shinya Tsukamoto, Shiro Sano, Takumi Saitoh, Mayu Matsuoka, Elaiza Ikeda, Jun Kunimura,
This film is based on a novel by Takeshi Shiota. The author wrote his work with actor Yo Oizumi in mind as the lead – his easygoing personality and smooth talk giving off a lovable vibe while he secretly has “fangs,” The novel became a best seller and not a movie has been made.
Synopsis: Like many other companies in the publishing industry, Kunpusya Inc. is suffering from the recession and sales are down across books and magazines. More misfortune follows with the death of the CEO. A power struggle arises over who will take his place with executive manager, Tomatsu (Koichi Sato) trying to overhaul the company. He tasks an editor of a struggling magazine with reviving their fortunes, This editor is Hayami (Yo Oizumi), and he is a smooth talker. Hayami, together with rookie editor Takano (Mayu Matsuoka), go out to recruit new writing talent from rival publications for their magazine but lies and betrayal litter the way.
Girlz und Panzer das Finale Part 3 
ガールズ＆パンツァー 最終章 第3話 「Ga-ruzu & Pansha- Saishuushou dai 3 go 」
Release Date: March 26th, 2021
Duration: 48 mins.
Director: Tsutomu Mizushima
Writer: Reiko Yoshida (Screenplay),
Starring: Ai Kayano (Saori Takebe), Mai Fuchigami (Miho Nishizumi), Ikumi Nakagami (Yukari Akiyama), Mami Ozaki (Hana Isuzu), Yuka Iguchi (Mako Reizei),
Production Studio: Actas
Synopsis: The film will depict the finale of the battles between Ooarai Girls Academy and other schools where girls operate tanks. The clash in this instalment is with Chiba Monogakuen as well as glimpses of Saunders University High School and Kuromorimine Jogakuen in the second round of the Winter Track Cup.
K4 Company THE MOVIE Cardboard of the Day 
K4カンパニー THE MOVIE あの日のダンボール「K4 Kanpani- The Movie Ano hi ni danbo-ru」
Release Date: March 26th, 2021
Duration: N/A
Director: Seito Nakajima
Writer: Yu-ki Takabayashi (Script), Nizista (Original Story)
Starring: Shohei Komatsu, Takeaki Masuyama, Takuya Masumoto, Kento Hama, Jun Kasama,
Synopsis: The online variety show “K4 Company,” which is hosted by four voice actors, Shohei Komatsu, Takeaki Masuyama, Takuya Masumoto, and Kento Hama, has been made into a movie where the boys and their company, “Turtle Creative,” take part in a corporate competition. Each of the boys has a talent and personality trait, Masuyama being the hot-blooded project leader, Masumoto, a realist, Hama, a talented and efficient engineer, and Komatsu, a beloved guy who handles chores. Pressure puts a strain on their relationship and their competitor “King Rabbits” are truly tough…
SHORT TRIAL PROJECT 2020 
Release Date: March 26th, 2021
Duration: N/A
Director: Asami Tomatsuri, Ryo Sato, Ryota Shinnami, Kei, Fuga Yaegashi, Hisao Ogura,
Writer: Asami Tomatsuri, Ryo Sato, Ryota Shinnami, Kei, Fuga Yaegashi, Hisao Ogura, (Script),
Starring: Mikihito, Nana Yanagisawa, Sekidai Miura, Kokoro Tabata, Raiku, Maitei, Kaoru Kodo, Keiji Kajiwara,
Synopsis: The 2020 version of “SHORT TRIAL PROJECT”, an omnibus film project made up of shorts from new talents. Past participants include director Shinichiro Ueda of One Cut of the Dead and director Michihito Fujii of The Journalist.