Reviews

AWN’s latest survey highlights under-the-radar animated shorts that are currently making their way through the festival circuit - or are newly available...

AWN’s latest survey highlights under-the-radar animated shorts that are currently making their way through the festival circuit - or are newly available for online viewing.

With ‘Cowboy Bebop’ director Shinichiro Watanabe’s newest anime launching this Sunday, AWN columnist Andrew Osmond reviews a classic series the legendary filmmaker made in 2004… set in samurai...

Animation From Japan is in Full Bloom ANIMATIONWorld

The Spring Anime Season: From Superheroes to Green Gables

Anime columnist Andrew Osmond has been looking at some of the new shows that started streaming this month.

In 2D, 3D, Anime, Comics, Digital Media, People, Television | ANIMATIONWorld | Columns: Do You Know Your Anime? | Geographic Region: All

Animated Shorts of the Month ANIMATIONWorld

Binocular Briefs - April 2025

AWN’s latest survey highlights under-the-radar animated shorts that are currently making their way through the festival circuit - or are newly available for online viewing.

In 2D, 3D, People, Short Films | ANIMATIONWorld | Columns: Binocular Briefs | Geographic Region: All

A Pervasive Sense of Cool! ANIMATIONWorld

Before ‘Lazarus’: Swordplay and Hip-Hop in ‘Samurai Champloo’

In 2D, Anime, CG, Digital Media, Films, Music and Sound, People, Television, Writing | ANIMATIONWorld | Columns: Do You Know Your Anime? | Geographic Region: All

The Animation GOAT ANIMATIONWorld

Ne Zha’s Journey From Hand-Drawn Classic to All-Time Champion

Andrew Osmond crosses over to Chinese animation this week, to consider ‘Ne Zha 2,’ the highest grossing animated film in the world.

In 2D, 3D, Anime, CG, Films, People | ANIMATIONWorld | Columns: Do You Know Your Anime? | Geographic Region: All

Theaters Filled with TV Anime ANIMATIONWorld

‘Witch Watch,’ or Watching TV Anime on the Big Screen

AWN columnist Andrew Osmond reviews this week’s cinema preview of the series, coming to both Crunchyroll and Netflix in April, reflecting on the rise of TV anime in American theaters and elsewhere.

In 2D, Anime, CG, Comics, Digital Media, Films, People, Television | ANIMATIONWorld | Columns: Do You Know Your Anime? | Geographic Region: All

The Power of the Spoken Word ANIMATIONWorld

The Power of the Voice: ‘Flower and Asura’ and ‘Wave, Listen to Me’

AWN’s anime columnist Andrew Osmond looks at 2 series about the spoken word, though he doesn’t necessarily subscribe to the notion that the idea of animation celebrating what Chuck Jones referred to as ‘animated radio’ shows the medium’s decline.

In 2D, Anime, Comics, Digital Media, People, Television, Voice Acting, Writing | ANIMATIONWorld | Columns: Do You Know Your Anime? | Geographic Region: All

Striving for Pop Stardom ANIMATIONWorld

‘Trapezium,’ or How To Subvert an Idol Singer

AWN’s anime columnist Andrew Osmond looks at a new film streaming on Crunchyroll about a plucky group of female singers that tells a familiar enough story… with an intriguing twist.

In 3D, Anime, Books, CG, Digital Media, Films, People, Television | ANIMATIONWorld | Columns: Do You Know Your Anime? | Geographic Region: All

2 Tales of Haunted Investigators ANIMATIONWorld

The Dark Mysteries of Naoki Urasawa

AWN’s anime columnist Andrew Osmond looks at 2 intricate mystery-thriller anime serials on Netflix: the real-world drama ‘Monster,’ inspired by ‘The Fugitive,’ and the sci-fi ‘Pluto,’ about the humanity of robots.

In 2D, Anime, CG, Comics, Digital Media, People, Television | ANIMATIONWorld | Columns: Do You Know Your Anime? | Geographic Region: All

A Bond Like No Other ANIMATIONWorld

Re-VIEW: ‘The Wild Robot’ – A Vision of Nature

Great cinema has the fundamental superpower to help an audience see the world through different eyes, and in Chris Sanders’ remarkable, gorgeous film, we watch the mechanical eyes of a domestic robot, Roz, stranded on a remote island, struggle to make sense and adapt to the sometimes harsh, always challenging natural world she encounters.

In 3D, CG, Films, People, Voice Acting | ANIMATIONWorld | Blogs: VIEW Conference Spotlight | Special Events: VIEW Conference | Geographic Region: All

Kids and Their Smart Glasses ANIMATIONWorld

When Totoro Meets Old-School Cyberpunk: The Boggling 'Den-Noh Coil'

AWN’s anime columnist Andrew Osmond enthusiastically recommends an older anime title, set in a world with smart glasses, originally broadcast in 2007, currently streaming on Netflix.

In 2D, AI, Anime, CG, Digital Media, People, Television | ANIMATIONWorld | Columns: Do You Know Your Anime? | Geographic Region: All

Dare for Greatness ANIMATIONWorld

‘Medalist’: A Look at the World of Sports Anime

AWN’s anime columnist Andrew Osmond discusses the show – currently streaming on Hulu - about an 11-year-old girl determined to become a champion figure skater, and how it fits into the universe of sports anime.

In 2D, Anime, CG, Digital Media, Films, People, Television | ANIMATIONWorld | Columns: Do You Know Your Anime? | Geographic Region: All

A Historical Rom-Com Detective Story ANIMATIONWorld

A Hit Anime with a Difference: ‘The Apothecary Diaries’

AWN’s anime columnist Andrew Osmond considers the popularity of the historical-mystery series, now streaming on Crunchyroll.

In 2D, Anime, Digital Media, People, Television | ANIMATIONWorld | Columns: Do You Know Your Anime? | Geographic Region: All

Vampire Messiahs Oh My! ANIMATIONWorld

‘Castlevania: Nocturne’ or What is This Anime Thing Anyway?

The popular Netflix series isn’t anime, is it? AWN’s anime columnist Andrew Osmond wades into the definition debate.

In 2D, Anime, CG, Digital Media, Films, People, Television | ANIMATIONWorld | Columns: Do You Know Your Anime? | Geographic Region: All

Battle of the Titans ANIMATIONWorld

Anime’s Robot Titans: Weighing ‘Gundam’ and ‘Macross’

AWN’s anime columnist Andrew Osmond dives into not one but two huge science-fiction franchises.

In 2D, Anime, Digital Media, Films, People, Television | ANIMATIONWorld | Columns: Do You Know Your Anime? | Geographic Region: All

Smile and Say Cheeeese! ANIMATIONWorld

Re-VIEW: ‘Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl’ – Celebrating The Human Touch

Aardman’s newest stop-motion film finds our hapless inventor and faithful canine companion wrestling with a 21st-century issue that is making headlines around the globe - the rise of AI - before concluding that there are some things a machine just can’t do; now streaming on Netflix.

In CG, Digital Media, Films, People, Stop-Motion, Voice Acting | ANIMATIONWorld | Geographic Region: All

Watch Out for Expired Snacks ANIMATIONWorld

‘Zenshu’: The Superpower of Animation

AWN’s anime columnist Andrew Osmond looks at MAPPA’s comedy fantasy, one of the best shows currently streaming, now on Crunchyroll; but first he discusses the often mis-identified universe of TV anime.

In 2D, Anime, Digital Media, Films, People, Television | ANIMATIONWorld | Columns: Do You Know Your Anime? | Geographic Region: All

Worth the Run Time ANIMATIONWorld

‘In This Corner (and Other Corners) of the World’: A Story Rethought

AWN’s anime columnist Andrew Osmond discusses the much-extended version of Sunao Katabuchi’s acclaimed 2016 war drama film, ‘In This Corner of the World,’ now available on Crunchyroll; but first he asks, ‘When did animated films get so long?’

In 2D, Anime, Digital Media, Films, People, Television | ANIMATIONWorld | Columns: Do You Know Your Anime? | Geographic Region: All

Yes My Precious! ANIMATIONWorld

‘The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim’: A Tokyo Take

Japan catches up with the Middle-Earth anime that most of the world has already written off as a flop – AWN’s anime columnist Andrew Osmond was there to see it.

In 2D, Anime, Books, CG, Films, People | ANIMATIONWorld | Columns: Do You Know Your Anime? | Geographic Region: All, Asia

Osmond on Anime ANIMATIONWorld

‘Dan Da Dan’ and the Magnificent Science SARU

Anime columnist Andrew Osmond discusses the recent smash series and how its production studio worked with ‘Scott Pilgrim’ and Naoko Yamada.

In 2D, Anime, Comics, Digital Media, Films, People, Television | ANIMATIONWorld | Columns: Do You Know Your Anime? | Geographic Region: All

Osmond on Anime ANIMATIONWorld

Taking a Look at ‘Look Back’

Journalist and animation expert Andrew Osmond returns to AWN’s pages after almost 20 years, explaining his reshaped attitude - from skeptic to convert – towards anime while sharing his review of Kiyotaka Oshiyama’s newest film.

In 2D, Anime, Comics, Films, People | ANIMATIONWorld | Columns: Do You Know Your Anime? | Geographic Region: All

Ho Ho Ho! ANIMATIONWorld

Re-VIEW: ‘That Christmas’ – A Seasonal Film for Life

Set in a charming coastal town during Christmas, Simon Otto and Locksmith Animation’s new film explores themes of empathy, compassion, and human connection, weaving stories of love, resilience, and community through the perspectives of children and adults; now streaming on Netflix.

In 3D, Digital Media, Films, People | ANIMATIONWorld | Blogs: VIEW Conference Spotlight | Special Events: VIEW Conference | Geographic Region: All

Never Lose Your Imagination ANIMATIONWorld

Re-VIEW: ‘The Imaginary’ - A Story to Believe

With breathtaking animation and a heartfelt narrative, Studio Ponoc’s hand-drawn animated film celebrates the unrestrained magic of childhood imagination while addressing universal themes of loss, memory, and the enduring power of stories.

In 2D, Anime, Books, CG, Films, People, Voice Acting | ANIMATIONWorld | Blogs: VIEW Conference Spotlight | Special Events: VIEW Conference | Geographic Region: All

Tindle’s Ultraman Is Here! ANIMATIONWorld

Re-VIEW: ‘Ultraman: Rising’ - A Balance of Heart and Mind

Shannon Tindle’s new 3DCG feature combines breathtaking visual design with a heartfelt story that explores themes of family and identity through the journey of a young athlete, Ken Sato, struggling to balance his life as a baseball star and a giant superhero when suddenly faced with raising a baby kaiju.

In 3D, CG, Digital Media, Event, Films, Music and Sound, People, Reviews, Voice Acting | ANIMATIONWorld | Blogs: VIEW Conference Spotlight | Special Events: VIEW Conference | Geographic Region: All

Straddling the Earth and Cosmos VFXWorld

Re-VIEW: ‘Oppenheimer’ – Clarity of the Fractured Lens

Christopher Nolan’s 7-time Oscar-winning biopic invites audiences to share the ‘father of the nuclear bomb’s insight and vision through extraordinary images of exploding stars, spinning atoms, and esoteric phenomena that depict his co-existence between earthly and cosmic realms and begs the question: ‘Is he blessed or cursed?’